Today, every owner of a private home can install self-contained lighting on the house, garage in the garden or on the lawn, without laying power cables. LED device that runs on solar panels, will be a real boon when selecting the lighting of the entrance area in a multi-storey apartment building or pathways to the entrance. It can be a wall or street lamp, ground-level garden light, a portable LED spotlight, which tourists, fishermen and hunters dream about.
The main difference between LED solar-powered light from conventional models is that its work does not depend on the presence of an electrical network. The device does not need to be connected to the wiring with 220V. This property allows you to freely use the lamp in the woods, in the field, at work, in the country house, where periodically there is no light.
How does It Work?
The design of the solar panel light includes four obligatory elements:
- LED, which generates the light flux;
- thin-film, mono- or polycrystalline panel – a device that collects solar energy and then converts it into electrical energy;
- sensor (sensor). It is used to turn the light on and off;
- battery, which provides the supply and storage of electricity.
Standalone LED model is equipped with a solar panel that charges it. The panel connects to the built-in battery lamp, and that, in turn, during the day light is charged by the sun. A charged battery ensures operation of the lantern at night. The flashlight can shine for 6 to 15 hours.
Thin-film, mono- and polycrystalline solar panels have a similar structure. They combine photovoltaic converters – semiconductor devices that convert solar energy into direct electric current. When a panel is exposed to the rays, electrons vibrate, thus producing electricity.
The collected energy is sent to a convector to be converted into electric current. Electricity is stored in a battery. After sunset, the twilight sensor is triggered: it automatically turns on the light. In the morning, the sensor turns off the light and starts the panel in accumulation mode. The sensor is a light-sensitive chip responsible for turning the device off and on.
Where are Solar LED Lights Used?
Solar LED devices can be used not only outside but also inside. Indoor use involves the installation of solar panels on the well-lit side of the roof or facade of the building. Much more often such models are installed outdoors. They come in wall-mounted, park-mounted, lawn-mounted. The only condition – the equipment must be installed in places accessible to sunlight. Then during the day the battery of the lamp will be fully charged and its power will be enough for night lighting. Wall models are attached to the facade of the house, office building, outbuildings. Such illumination often decorate urban structures. Park and lawn variants are used to illuminate plots of land, gardens, flower beds, etc.
Some models are equipped not only with light sensors, but also with motion sensors.
These sensors are triggered at the slightest movement in the coverage area – the spotlight is instantly turned on. The motion sensor is built into the body of the product. The sensor’s operating range can be 12 m or more. Such equipment will provide protection of the territory from intruders, will help to strengthen the security of the house.
Model Advantages
LED lights and spotlights can work in both summer and winter. They need light to power them, not heat. However, in winter, their charge can decrease: the light day becomes shorter, cloudy weather prevails.
The peculiarity of LED solar panels, is that they can operate at temperatures down to -25 ° C, without losing their properties.
These models are characterized by absolute safety, a wide range of power, the availability of high-capacity lithium-ion battery, mobility and ease of installation. The design line has a wide range of options: we can pick up products of different shapes and sizes.
The main benefit of a solar-powered light is that you will not pay for electricity. Natural sources will work for you, causing no harm to the environment.
When buying a LED lantern or solar-powered spotlight, you should pay attention to:
- the power of the device;
- the size of the model and method of installation;
- battery capacity and charging time;
- the strength of the light flux, its angle of dispersion;
- type of solar panel;
- autonomous operation time.