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Do you have solar lights in your garden but find that they are not as bright as you would like? We ask why are my solar lights dim, and give you 7 easy tips on how to make your solar lights brighter!
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The success of solar lighting‘s liberty to be installed without electrical cabling as long as the sun can be seen, has seen them adopted across the world and mass produced from a broad range of manufacturers across a variety of quality and price points.
Broadly speaking, the lower the price and quality, the lower the brightness and longevity of illumination. The better quality systems cater for better battery life and output. However, even more expensive systems can loose their brightness, so let us show you how to boost solar lights.
Solar lights not bright enough can be due to:
The LED light source is a fixed item within your solar product, so changing the output of LED isn’t an option unless you go and buy a new system. Knowing how to make landscape lights brighter could be a quick and free fix by following our 7 tips on how to make your solar lights brighter.
It is important to make sure that the solar panel is in direct sunlight for as much of the day as possible. If there is a tree or other object blocking the sun, then move the light to a different location.
If you have a large garden, it’s possible that the solar panel is not getting enough direct sunlight. In this case, try moving the light to a different location in your garden.
Placing the panel in the ground may also help to increase its brightness as it will be easily moveable as the seasons change and planting grows. Summertime plant growth can quickly overshadow a panel that is clear to face the sun throughout the other seasons.
The solar panel can become dirty over time, which will affect how well it absorbs sunlight. Use a soft cloth to clean the panel and remove any dirt or debris.
We have a full article on how to clean a solar lights check it out.
Solar lighting installed outside and exposed to the elements will build up grime over the lens, causing a filtering iof the light through a layer of dirt.
The fix is a good old Windex and paper towel. Spray the Windex on to the paper towel and wipe clean. For really stubborn areas or watermarks left behind use a toothbrush dipped in soapy water to scrub it clean.
The rechargeable batteries in solar lights will eventually lose their charge, which will affect how brightly the light shines. If the batteries seem to be losing power and not lasting as long during the night, replace them with new ones. Most solar products allow for new batteries to be installed.
We ask, how long do solar lights last?
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| EBL LSD AA Rechargeable Batteries |
| Low Self Discharge NiMH AA batteries for long lasting power supply for high stress environments, like cold temperatures - recommended for outdoor solar lighting. |
| Check USA Price Check UK Price |
GREAT BUY |
Take a look at a rechargeable battery and you will notice on the side there is a mAh number. The 1.2V will remain the same from AA batteries but the lower the mAh your lights have the weaker supply, so the brightest part of the illumination time is shorter than a battery with a higher mAh. Typically it will be 2400mAh and above.
You can also opt for a high quality LSD high capacity AA battery, typically known as a NiMH battery (Low-Self Discharge Nickel Metal Hydide). A good quality Low Self Discharge battery will retain a greater capacity to recharge over time than other rechargeables due to it’s greater resilience under stress, for example cold temperatures.
If you find that your solar lights are not as bright as they used to be, try changing the angle of the solar panel. Sometimes a slight adjustment can make all the difference. Over time with the changing in temperatures, the panel may move and droop, so check that it’s in an optimal position facing the centre of the suns movement throughout each day.
If you find that none of the above tips work, then you may need to modify your solar lights. There are a number of ways to do this.
The better the charge, the longer the brightest part of the run of light will last. You may notice that towards the end the lighting fades and you ask why are my solar lights dim? This can be deferred for longer with a full charge.
So you will find that a solar panel opposite and close to a white wall will charge the batteries more efficiently and therefore more quickly, by reflecting light back towards the panel.
If your panel is on a dark wall which soaks up the precious commodity of light the most, consider adding a reflector around it that bounces the light back towards the panel.
Think about channeling light into the panel as if it is like adding fuel to a car. Spraying gas all over the car will see very little go into the tank, so it is with light too. The efficiency of charging and therefore extended brightness is enhanced with the best direction of light into the panel.
A reflector can be created from aluminum foil or even anything painted white paint. The bigger the surface area of reflector, the better as long as it points the light into the panel.
So the key to brighter solar lighting is good maintenance. Keeping them clean, well positioned and with fresh batteries they will feel like new. You may have to resort to moving their position or funnelling more light into the panel but hopefully, these tips have helped you to make your solar lights brighter!
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