5 Ways to Charge Solar Lights Without the Sun
Solar lights are best charged by the sun. However, if you’re in the midst of winter or you’re garden doesn’t get much sunlight, there are other ways to charge your lights.
It’s true that your lights will still charge on a cloudy day when the sun isn’t present.
However, it’ll collect and run on less energy, causing them to die quicker.
Follow our expert tips below to ensure that your solar lights run more efficiently, even when the sun isn’t out. You no longer have to settle for a dull and lifeless garden.
1. Incandescent Bulb Charging
Solar lights are designed to harness power from the sun.
However, some of the light wavelengths that are emitted from incandescent bulbs can be absorbed by the photovoltaic cells in the solar panels on your light fixture.
Simply position an incandescent bulb over the solar panels, as close as you can, to maximise light absorbency. Allow the future to be charged for 6-12 hours, and use a 60-watt to 100-watt bulb for faster charging.
2. Fluorescent Lighting
Fluorescent lights emit a broad spectrum of light which can be absorbed by the photovoltaic cells in solar panels.
Place your solar panel light fixture under a fluorescent light bulb as close as you can to the bulb. Leave the solar panels to charge for 6-12 hours, similar to the last option.
For faster charging, opt for Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) or tube lights.
3. LED Light Charging
As LED bulbs produce bright, consistent lighting, they serve as a great alternative to sunlight for charging solar panels.
To charge your solar lights, position the solar panel as close as you can to the light bulb, ideally a few inches away.
Once again, leave the lights to charge between 6 and 12 hours so they run efficiently. For a quicker job, use high-efficiency LED bulbs, such as headlamps and torches.
4. Mains Power Supply
Many solar lights are equipped with USB ports or connectors for charging by electricity.
This means that during cloudy, rainy, or darker days, you can charge your solar lights by plugging them into a mains power outlet. If your light doesn’t come with an adaptor, use a traditional USB charger.
Leave the lights to charge for several hours to reach full power.
5. Reflective Surface
One innovative technique to increase the efficiency of solar panels is to direct more light onto them with reflective surfaces.
Mirrors, aluminium foil, or specially designed reflectors can direct light onto solar panels. Positioning one or more of these around the panels increases the amount of light hitting the photovoltaic cells.
The reflectors should be angled strategically to collect direct or ambient light and focus it onto the solar panel.
Ensure the reflective surfaces are free from dirt or dust, and adjust the surfaces as necessary as the sun changes position.
Choose Light Supplier for your Solar Lights
At Light Supplier, we provide a variety of solar lights to help you switch to environmentally friendly lighting solutions at home.
Our solar wall lights are ideal for illumination of front and back gardens at night. They will deter intruders and provide safety without using any electricity.
Browse our LED lighting solutions today to find the perfect option for your home.