When it comes to solar lights (or anything solar-powered, for that matter), people tend to have several misconceptions about them. Whether you own them or not, it would be understandable if you assumed that these lights would last forever, never needing repairs or replacement.
Still, people tend to forget that even though they harness ‘renewable energy’, the components themselves aren’t going to last forever. No matter what kind of solar lights you own, they’ll eventually start to get dim or stop working entirely.
But can you do anything to revive them? The answer is YES! To restore solar lights that have stopped working, you must first identify the source of the problem.
Why Solar Lights Stop Working, And What You Can Do About It
Before you can identify the solution, you must first figure out the cause. You can narrow it down by checking the batteries, the sensor, the location of the solar light, the solar panels on the light, and checking for any water seepage in the light itself. Once you’ve identified the cause, reviving your solar lights will become much more manageable.
Check out these five potential issues that might cause your solar lights to stop working and what you can do about it.
The Solar Light’s Batteries
Like any other solar-powered device, your solar lights have batteries in them. The purpose of those batteries is straightforward: they store any power generated by the solar panels before channeling it towards the LED lightbulbs. However, if those batteries do not charge up correctly, that could be a reason why your solar lights stopped working.
Here’s a fix you could try: solar lights usually have an on/off switch somewhere on them. Turn that switch off and leave the solar lights outside for a full day or two. That’ll give your solar lights at least 24 hours to charge its batteries completely. Then, try to switch the light back on and see if it works at night as it should.
If the lights work again, it could mean that the batteries just needed more time to charge. If they don’t, that might mean the problem is elsewhere.
The Lux Sensor
Another source of the problem could be the lux sensor. All solar lights have them; it’s the sensor that detects whether or not it’s dark out, and activates the lights.
Testing the sensor is easy. All you have to do is cover the sensor with your hands or with a cloth to make it think that it’s already night-time. If your solar lights come on, that means that the sensor is perfectly fine. Those lights might not work at night because it’s detecting another source of light that’s making it think it’s still daytime.
However, if covering it doesn’t do anything, that might mean that you have a problem with the sensor itself. It’s not easy for you to change those sensors on your own, since it’s not a DIY-type of job. Instead, you should bring the light back to the store or the manufacturer that sold it to you and get them to replace it. If the lights are still new and the warranty is valid, you might be able to get a free replacement since the sensor is faulty.
Where You’ve Placed The Solar Light
For a solar light to work correctly, you must place them in an ideal location. The solar panels on the light must receive direct sunlight for as many hours a day as possible. Experts would also recommend that you point your solar panels South to maximize its ability to capture sunlight.
Just as mentioned earlier, having enough sunlight will ensure that the batteries in the solar light recharge completely to provide you with light when the sun goes down.
Here’s the problem. Sometimes, solar lights are in the perfect location when you first install them. However, gradually over time, tree branches and other plants may grow in such a way that they block the sunlight from reaching our solar lights, often without you noticing.
So, if your solar lights have been around for a while but only recently stopped working, it’s best to check where you’ve placed them. Re-evaluate if that’s the best spot, or move the lights somewhere else and see if they’ll work then.
The Condition Of The Solar Panels
Sometimes, all the different components of the solar lights are working correctly except for the solar panels themselves.
The first thing you need to know about those solar panels of any kind will gradually deteriorate over time. No matter how expensive they are, solar panels will slowly lose their ability to convert sunlight to energy over time. If your solar lights are ancient, that might be part of the problem.
However, if your solar lights are still relatively new, check the panels to make sure that they’re clean. Sometimes, all you need to do is wipe those solar panels clean with a damp rag just to get the dust off. Or, maybe branches, leaves, or other garden debris may have fallen on them, blocking those panels from receiving direct sunlight.
The worst-case scenario in this regard would be if hardened falling debris like rocks or more massive tree branches fell on those panels and ruined them entirely. If that’s the case, then you have a more significant decision to make. You might find that it’s impossible or too expensive to repair only the solar panels in your lights. Instead, you’d be better off buying a whole new set of solar-powered lights for yourself.
Checking For Water Seepage
Don’t forget to inspect your lights to make sure that water hasn’t found its way inside of them.
Solar lights, especially if you place them outdoors and exposed to the weather, can sometimes experience water seepage. Too much water inside those lights could cause the light bulbs, the battery, or even the wiring inside to short circuit, making the entire thing useless. If you find that this is the case, then there’s nothing else you can do but get new lights.
Don’t be sad or disappointed about it. Think of it as an excuse to get yourself some brand new solar-powered lights!
How Long Will Solar Lights Last After Reviving Them?
So, let’s suppose that you identified the reason why your solar lights stopped working and one of the fixes above worked. Obviously, you can’t keep reviving your solar lights every time they stop working, all the way until the end of time.
Solar Lights Last 3-4 Years In Total
Just like anything else, solar lights have a limited lifespan, you see. So, to know how long more you have left with the solar lights you own, count back to the day you bought them.
From that point in time, solar lights typically last between three to four years in total. The LEDs which emit light can last much longer than that, usually up to ten years. However, it’s the other components in solar lights that are bound to become fault after about four years.
As mentioned before, solar panels gradually deteriorate and become less and less efficient at converting energy. At the same time, the batteries and wiring can also become fault after a few years.
If or when these things happen, it’s probably a good sign that you should buy yourself some new solar-powered lights. Again, that’s no reason to be disappointed. Solar technologies are continually improving with time, so whatever new solar lights you buy will definitely be more efficient than the ones you’re replacing.