Why Your Solar Lights Not Working

Why Your Solar Lights Not Working: If you are new to solar lights, you may not know much about their functions. In this case, you’ll be happy to know that these lights are simple and easy to install. Most solar lights have a light element that consists of multiple LED bulbs. As for powering the solar lights, they have a solar light that charges the built-in battery so that the light can run all night. In addition to these main components, solar lights may have a light detector that can automatically turn on your solar lights at night.

Do you have some solar lights not working correctly anymore and would like to know what the problem is? You will find this article very helpful. Although solar lights can withstand changing weather, some parts of them may be damaged or have some troubles. But this doesn’t mean that their functions are completely ineffective. What could cause them to not work?

solar angel lights 6

The following may be some of these reasons:

1. Battery pull tabs/pull bars

Most solar lights have battery pull tabs or pull bars between the battery and the battery terminals. These tabs are used to preserve the battery life of the lights during shipping. If your solar lights aren’t working properly after you open the box and try to charge them, the battery tabs may still be in place.

2. Dirt on the solar panel

As we mentioned earlier, insufficient sunlight may be the reason why your solar lights are not working. Dirty panels are also an obstacle. The dust might even become so thick that no sunlight reaches the panels. As a result, the batteries won’t charge at all. Before you think the batteries are dead, make sure the panels are clean. If there are fallen leaves on the solar panels, remove them.

3. Not receiving enough sunlight

If your solar panels are in the shade, they cannot receive enough sunlight to charge the batteries. You need to move them to a place where they can receive direct sunlight for a few hours. If there are weeds or bushes around your solar lights, you may choose to keep them trimmed short. This will get enough sunlight to keep the batteries fully charged.

4. Too close to other light sources

The solar light is equipped with a sensor of photovoltaic cells that can detect any light, including artificial light. Therefore, if there are other light sources such as house/garage lights, street lights, or neighbor’s lights shining towards your solar lights, this could be the reason they are not working properly. Move the lights to a different place and see if that solves your problem.

Solar jellyfish lights with 7 colors changing LED 5

5. Water buildup in the panels

Although solar lights are waterproof and weather resistant, sometimes residue or water can build up inside the panel and damage the internal wiring and circuitry. If you have been using solar light for a considerable amount of time, the sealant tends to get old and become less effective. To check if there is water in the solar panel, you can take the panel off.

6. The battery has reached the end of its life

In most cases, solar lights don’t work properly because the batteries have run out of power. So you may need to see if they are damaged or too old. Broken batteries can lead to acid leaks, which can cause permanent damage to the electrical components. The batteries in these also do not hold enough power to charge the solar lights. Even if they can be lit, the lighting time will not be very long. Therefore, if bad batteries are to blame for your solar lights not working, you need to replace them. (It is necessary to ensure that the voltage and capacity of the new rechargeable battery are the same as the old battery.)

How do I fix my solar light batteries?

It’s easy to forget that the rechargeable batteries in solar lights have a lifespan of about three years. During this time, you will notice that the battery becomes less efficient. But how do you test for a drop in battery efficiency? It’s best to test the lamp’s runtime when it is first discharged. If your light used to work for 12 hours and now it only works for 8 hours, your battery is losing its ability to charge.

Try deep charging techniques

Sometimes, your battery does not have enough power to charge your lamp. In this case, trying 72-hour charging technology may have positive results. This technique helps your battery reach its maximum capacity by charging it over a long period. To use this technique, do the following:
Turn off your lights
Place them in a sunny place and let them charge for at least 72 hours
Try it again

If this method does not work, consider testing your solar lights with a regular battery (same voltage). If the light comes on, then it is clear that the problem is either that your batteries are not charging (faulty) or that the solar panel is bad.

solar bubble lights 9

7. The solar lights have faulty sensors

The function of the sensor is to react to darkness, allowing the solar light to be turned off during the day and on during the night. If there is a problem with the sensor of the solar light, it will not distinguish between day and night. But how do you tell if it is the cause of your solar lights not working? You can check it at night by covering the sensor with your hand or a cloth. If it brings light, it’s working perfectly fine. On the contrary, if it is defective, it will show no light.

8. LED bulb not working

Another possible problem is that the LED bulb itself does not work correctly. In this case, your solar light will not turn on even if the solar panel, batteries, and sensors are working correctly. Unless the LED bulb is replaceable, there is nothing you can do but get a new solar light.

9. Don’t charge solar light through glass

Glass windows may appear to be completely transparent, but solar panels are known to work much less efficiently if they receive sunlight through them. Unless necessary, always keep your solar light outside and expose it to direct sunlight.

10. Restart your solar lights

A time-honored method that works with any electronic device. Sometimes all you need to do to get your lights working again is turn them off and back on.

solar fan for car 2

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does it mean when a solar light flashes?
If your solar light is flickering, it could be one of the following 3 reasons:
The wire connecting the battery to the LED is loose.
Your light is in flickering mode.
The battery is low (almost dead).

2. Why is my solar light on during the day?
If your solar light is on during the day, it just means that your light sensor is broken. Don’t worry, this problem is easy to fix. All you need to do is disassemble the light, clean the sensor thoroughly, then reassemble it and test it again. If it is still broken, then you just need to replace the old sensor with a new one and your solar light will work properly.

3. Can I use regular batteries in a solar light?
Actually, no. Regular batteries such as alkaline batteries are not a good choice for solar lights. Mainly because they are designed to be disposed of after they have run out of energy. If the solar light batteries are more than three years old, replace them with more modern products such as NiMH and Li-Ion batteries. They are great batteries and will serve you well for years before they lose their ability to recharge.

In some cases, your solar lights may stop working which can be very frustrating. Please try the solutions above. If there is no way to repair it, then get a better-looking light.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *