Solar lamps how they work – 7 Often Asked Questions!

When I bought my new solar lamps, I was wondering how they worked. So I did some research to find out more about it.

So how solar lamps work? The light falling on the battery during the day is collected by a photovoltaic cell. This is why it is so important that it covers the whole top cover of the lamp. The saved energy is then transferred to the battery. This energy is then transferred to an LED bulb.

Outdoor solar lighting is not only an original decoration of our gardens.

Its operation is also environmentally friendly. There are many more advantages of outdoor lighting in the house – it does not generate electricity costs and is ideal for hard-to-reach places.

Curious? Let’s take a closer look!

1. Solar Lamp – What is it?

Outdoor solar lamps are a great way to illuminate the area economically. They operate based on solar panels and convert solar energy into electricity.

Solar garden lamps are increasingly being installed outside single-family houses, larger residential buildings, as decorations of housing estates, and even sports and industrial facilities.

Solar lamps on the balcony, at the gazebo, the lighting of the terrace or garage are also a good idea.

Such lamps are increasingly replacing traditional electrical systems and are safer and require no wiring.

What is more, there is such a wide range of solar lamps on the market that everyone will surely choose the right outdoor solar lighting to arrange their garden.

Solar ball lamps and hanging lamps are particularly versatile – they fit perfectly into glamorous and classic places.

Also, the solar ball lamps are particularly easy to clean, and the hanging solar lamps are ideal for decorating terraces and gazebos.

Check out the 15 most interesting solar lamps!

What Are The Best Solar Powered Garden Lights

2. How do Solar Lamps Work?

To work correctly, the outdoor solar lighting of a house needs the sun and the elements in the lamp are the battery, the solar module, and the photovoltaic effect.

During the day, the module absorbs sunlight and converts it into energy by using the photovoltaic effect.

The energy generated is stored in a battery and waits for darkness to start working – then the solar lamps in the garden begin to shine.

This is due to the automatic dusk detector, which switches the lamps from standby to light mode.

So if you think about how external solar lamps work, you can answer the question simply by recharging them with solar radiation.

An interesting solution is also a solar lamp with a motion sensor.

This kind of solar garden lighting is activated when there is a movement, so it is an ideal detector for uninvited guests.

What’s more, a motion detector lamp is also economical because it doesn’t waste light if there’s no need to light up the area around it.

3. How to Charge Solar Lamps?

The duration of the lamp operation depends mainly on the season, clouds, geographical location, and installation location.

How to charge solar lamps so that the solar garden lighting works well?

The lamp should be installed in an area with as much light as possible, and solar lamps on the balcony on the sunny side are also a good idea.

Placing a solar lamp in a shady place will prevent its battery from fully recharging and may not be enough for the entire night.

One more important question is: How long do solar lamps last?

A fully charged battery is usually enough for 8-10 hours of operation, but some models can shine for up to 20 hours!

When choosing the right place for solar lamps for your garden, remember about a few rules: Solar lamps in the garden must be away from artificial light sources (e. g. street lamps or garage lighting).

Otherwise, the device will not turn on automatically; If the battery is fully charged, the lamp should be cleaned regularly, preferably with a damp cloth; the individual solar lamps should not be too close together as they will flicker.

The appropriate distance should be checked in the manufacturer’s recommendations; It is advisable to place the lamps in a soft surface because hard surface prevents the devices from being fixed securely; The economical solution is a motion detector lamp that only works in certain situations.

How to Clean the Top of Solar Path Lights

This video shows you how to clean the top of solar path lights within a few seconds and for under $1.

4. Solar Lamps – How Long do They Take to Charge?

A solar lamp exposed to high light levels can charge for 5-6 hours

Solar lamps – how much do they charge in case of light clouds or less sunlight? Seven to eight hours.

It is worth noting that if the garden lamp was covered with snow, dust, or other impurities, its battery should be fully charged for at least 12 hours.

An interesting option can also be external solar LED lamps, in which the bulbs are replaced very rarely.

Besides, outdoor LED lamps will also work well as lighting patios, gazebos, gardens, and terraces.

LED solar lamps also have motion and light sensors.

5. How to Store Solar Lamps in Winter?

Most models can be outside all year round, but it’s a good idea to hide the lamps in your home or garage when it’s cold. This means that the battery will last longer.

However, if we think about how to store solar lamps in winter, the right conditions are as follows: room temperature and dry room.

It is also advisable to provide the battery with an artificial light source, in which case it will be partially charged.

If you have solar lighting in your home throughout the winter, completely discharge it once a month and recharge it.

Longer storage of solar lighting in the home reduces its productivity. Similar storage conditions should have solar led lamps.

6. Do Solar Lamps Shine in Winter?

It is known that solar garden lamps work well in summer, but do solar lamps shine in winter, when often the sun is not visible at all?

Yes, solar garden lamps can also be used as e. g. terrace lighting in winter.

Modern panels used in solar lamps allow charging batteries even on very cloudy days. It is worth remembering, however, that in the winter season, the lamps are particularly exposed to snow, rain, and snowmelt.

In order to work properly, they must be free from dirt and snow.

7. Why Aren’t my Solar Lamps Working?

If you are wondering why your garden lamp is not working, one of the three answers is usually the correct one: it is too close to other lamps, it is dirty or has been incorrectly stored during winter.

Another reason why solar lamps do not shine is water.

If we took care of our equipment before and it was fully charged, then the batteries should work correctly.

Properly selected solar lamps for the garden are ideal for places where the problem is the supply of electricity.

Their use will not only make it possible to highlight the beauty of your garden but will also contribute to savings and care for the environment.

It is worth remembering that a particularly interesting solution is an outdoor lamp with a motion sensor, which operation is extremely economical.

Construction of a Solar Lamp

However, before answering the question of how solar lamps work, it is necessary to familiarize themselves with their construction.

The device consists of several elements. There is a handle at the bottom and the lampshade is located higher up.

There is a light source in the middle of the housing – most often LED bulbs. They consume no electricity, and they produce strong light.

At the very top, there is a solar battery covered with a photovoltaic cell.

Make sure that the cell covers the entire surface!

Some manufacturers place single stripes on the top that do not cover the entire surface of the battery, which is bad.

If you remove the diffuser and turn the housing upside down, the light source will appear.

Under the light source, there is a battery connected to the system.

That, of course, is not all, because there is the question of the building of the system and the battery itself.

However, this is a matter for specialists and professionals. The design of these components depends on the size of the solar lamp.

Magical Conversion of Solar Energy Into Light

Since the construction of solar lamps has been clarified, their operation must now be dealt with.

The light falling on the battery during the day is collected by a photovoltaic cell.

This is why it is so important that it covers the entire upper surface of the lamp.

The energy collected by the photovoltaic cell is transferred to the battery, which stores the energy.

This energy is then transferred to a light source; usually, an LED bulb.

Why Solar Lamps Work Only When it is Dark?

It’s not complicated either. The system referred to above is responsible for turning on the light when the solar battery receives energy from our nearest star.

Simply as soon as the sunlight falls, the lamps automatically switch on.

It happens late at night when it’s dark.

To find out, you can do a little experiment.

Cover the photovoltaic cell of the solar lamp with your hand, and the system will detect less light and automatically switch on the lamp.

Solar Lamp – How Does it Work?

Are you wondering what a solar lamp is? This is nothing more than a normal lamp but with a battery, which is exposed to the sun during the day – and thus recharges and stores energy in batteries.

After dusk, the lamp uses the stored energy to illuminate the surroundings.

Solar Lamps With the Twilight Sensor

In their case; you do not even have to remember to switch them on because they start by themselves.

Motion sensor lamps, on the other hand, will work well in places that are to be illuminated only occasionally – for example at the entrance to a garage or on a path leading to the front door.

How Long Does a Solar Lamp Last?

That, of course, depends on the model. During the day, however, the solar lamp should be fully charged – depending on the battery capacity it will illuminate to about 8-12 hours.