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