Outdoor Solar Lighting
Solar lighting is one of the most
innovative concepts of our times. It is because it's so
environmentally friendly.
Outdoor solar lighting
uses the same process to generate power as the
solar
panels on your roof (or that you could install on your
roof, if you chose to). Basically, it uses photovoltaic (PV) cells,
which collect and convert solar energy into electricity.
The PV cells use semiconductors to absorb the sun's light, which
interacts with the silicon and other elements to create electricity.
The electricity flows through wires which power the battery, which
in turn powers the light. This is an extremely simplified
explanation, but it will give you the general idea of how solar
cells work. They can only create electricity from direct sunlight,
which is why solar lighting needs a battery in order to be able to
light up the night. More info about solar lights
In order for the batteries to retain a continuous charge, the
solar
light fixture must be in a location that receives full
sunlight for most of the day. If it only receives partial sun,
because it's blocked by trees or another building, or because your
region has lots of cloudy weather, the batteries will run down
sooner, and your fixture will provide light for a shorter amount of
time.
Most outdoor solar lighting fixtures have a backup power system
which uses
rechargeable batteries. Solar lighting fixtures which use
a low amount of electricity often use small AA Ni-Cad or NiMh
batteries. But more powerful solar lighting fixtures (like flood
lights) use a sealed lead acid battery.
Photo sensors that automatically measure light levels (like the kind
that tells your camera when to use its flash) are built into the
solar light fixtures. They monitor light levels and turn the fixture
off at dawn and on at dusk. But make sure there are no artificial
light sources (like a street light or flood light) that may give a
false reading and prevent the light from turning on.
Outdoor
solar lighting usually uses LED
bulbs. They use less power than incandescent bulbs and , with a
lifespan of about 20 years, are much longer-lasting. Until recently,
solar lighting overall has not been as bright as lighting powered
directly by direct current electricity. But the newest super bright
LEDs can now illuminate as well as halogen bulbs.
Resources:www.solar-part.blogspot.com
