| The use of solar powered lighting is on | | | | LED's (Light Emitting Diodes) instead of |
| the rise. Driven by high energy costs | | | | conventional incandescent bulbs. LED's |
| and environmental concerns, an | | | | are semiconductors that act like tiny |
| increasing number of consumers are | | | | light bulbs when an electrical current |
| choosing solar as an alternative to | | | | passes through them. They are very |
| traditional "hard-wired" landscape | | | | efficient, don't have a filament that |
| lighting. Ease of installation, low | | | | burns out, and produce very little heat. |
| operating costs, and minimal maintenance | | | | That doesn't mean you will not find |
| are also contributing to the increased | | | | solar powered lights that have halogen |
| demand. But how do solar lights work? | | | | or fluorescent bulbs, but LED's are by |
| First let's examine the basic components | | | | far the most common light source. |
| of a solar light: | | | | - Electronics - Solar lights also have |
| - Case - This is the light fixture | | | | various electronic components and |
| itself. Cases come in all shapes, | | | | sensors that control functions like |
| colors, sizes and materials. | | | | charging the batteries and turning the |
| - Solar Panel - This is the business end | | | | lights on automatically when it gets |
| of a solar light. Also called a solar | | | | dark. Some even have integrated motion |
| cell or photovoltaic, the solar panel is | | | | sensors. |
| the part that creates electricity from | | | | Now that we know the components, let's |
| sunlight. It's often integrated into | | | | put it all together... Sunlight strikes |
| the light fixture, but can be a separate | | | | the solar panel, creating electricity. |
| unit that connects to one or more | | | | An electronic component directs this |
| fixtures with a thin wire. It's | | | | electricity to the rechargeable battery |
| important to note that the solar panel | | | | for storage. When it gets dark, a |
| makes, but does not store electricity. | | | | sensor activates the light, allowing the |
| Without sunlight, the flow of | | | | stored electricity from the battery to |
| electricity stops. | | | | flow through the LED. The LED glows and |
| - Batteries - Rechargeable batteries | | | | we have light. |
| store the electricity produced by the | | | | Yes, the science behind all of this |
| solar panel. The size and number of | | | | solar magic is a bit more complex, but |
| batteries vary based on the design of | | | | now you know the basics. Essentially, a |
| the fixture. The energy stored in the | | | | solar panel charges batteries that power |
| batteries is actually what powers the | | | | the light. Now why didn't I say that in |
| light. | | | | the first place? |
| - Light Source - Most solar lights use | | | | |