You Can Use Solar Powered Garden Lights To Add To The Beauty Of Your Home

by Mathew Satcher If you want additional illumination in and around your garden at night, you should consider investing in solar powered garden lights. The additional lighting along paths and walkways will provide safety when walking at night. It may deter animals from raiding your garden. Intruders tend to stay away from well-lighted homes and buildings.


The design of outdoor solar lights is quite simple. There are usually only five components that make up the design. The solar cell collects the sun's energy. It is stored in the battery. The controller directs the flow of energy from the battery to the light. The photoresister measures the amount of daylight to signal when turning on the LED light needs to be activated. Solar lights are easy to install, since no wiring is required.


Installation of an outdoor solar light requires simply finding a location that receives several hours of direct sunlight each day. The lights can be placed on stakes into the ground in most instances. If there is not enough direct sun, the lights may not store enough energy to stay illuminated all night.


The power from the sun is collected by the solar cell. This power is transferred to the battery for storage during the daylight hours. Only a small amount of voltage is produced by a small cell. The amount of current created depends on the size of the solar cell. It is also dependent upon the amount of sunlight received.


It is important to realize that a single solar light won't be able to illuminate a large area. These lights are usually arranged periodically along a walkway. They illuminate enough space to allow the individual using the path to avoid stumbling on rough ground. Some garden lights have more than one solar cell wired to a battery through a diode. The battery is typically a standard AA NICAD battery that stores up enough power to last through the night except on cloudy or short winter day. A fully charged battery will provide light for about fifteen hours.


When night falls, the solar cell quits producing power and the photoresister signals the controller that the LED should be turned on. The controller board takes power from the photoresister, the battery and the solar cell. The instructions and the power are redistributed as appropriate. When there is a signal from the photoresister that it is dark, the controller is signaled to turn on the LED using power from the battery.


Solar light costs are higher than standard lights. The extra expense is due in part because of the cost of manufacturing for the NICAD batteries and for the silicon crystals used in the lights. These crystals must be produced under clean room conditions. Even though solar lights cost more than standard lights, you never have to pay utility costs in order to use them.


Solar powered garden lights are a worthwhile investment in your surroundings. They add definition to walkways in your lawn or garden areas. They can be used to outline plantings or flower beds. Walkways are made safer for traveling at night.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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