You purchased solar garden lights. They were working just fine until a while ago. They appear dimmer, and you wonder how to make your solar garden lights brighter and even last longer.
You can do two things to make your solar garden lights brighter or at least appear brighter. One solution is to clean your solar panels and lights thoroughly. Another is to install a reflective material that will make your lights seem shiny and new.
Let’s check out all the options to make your outdoor lighting as bright as possible.
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How Do Solar Garden Lights Work? [Why Do They Lose Their Brightness?]
Battery charging occurs inside the light housing of solar-powered landscape lighting fixtures.
Small light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs that batteries power at nighttime provide accent illumination for flowerbeds and paths.
It is possible that these solar lights have not always been as bright as you would like them to be, or that they are losing some of their brightness.
Age and the environment may impact lightbulbs’ performance, but with regular maintenance, your lights should continue to shine as brightly as possible for the least amount of money.
How To Make Solar Garden Lights Brighter?
1. During the early hours of the day, inspect the top portion of each solar light or the solar panel housing. Most solar-powered lamps have a solar panel on top, but they also may have a separate panel box.
Clean the solar panel surface of each lamp of any debris with a brush and a damp paper towel. When there is even a small bit of dirt or other debris on the panel, it will prevent the sunlight from reaching the panel and prevent it from fully charging the battery.
2. To make sure the cleaned solar lights receive sunshine, monitor them during the day. Stray plant leaves or a few hours of shade may obstruct the lights, so check them occasionally. Solar lighting needs sunlight to reach the solar panels so they could charge the battery. If necessary, move the solar lights to a location with more sunlight.
Mostly, you can solve the problem by moving the lights only a few feet away, allowing you to maintain the lights where you had originally intended them to be.
3. After dark your solar lights should appear more vibrant. However, if you want to clean them, wait until daylight to remove the lid from the dim light’s solar panel housing. Turn the lid counterclockwise. If it doesn’t come off, you might need a small screwdriver to remove the screws. Clean out the buildup of debris within each solar panel housing. Water and dirt may leak into the housing because of the rain and winds, and prevent them from operating properly.
Check for debris around each light’s battery and remove it.
Additionally, check each battery compartment area for corrosion and, if you find it, remove the battery.
Roll a piece of fine-grit sandpaper around a toothpick and use it to remove corrosion gently rubbing the metal. Place a new battery, reassemble the light, and place it back in its location.
Are There (Other) Ways To Make Solar Garden Lights Brighter?
Find out where the solar panel receives the most sun throughout the day.
For at least six hours, the solar panel needs to be in direct sunshine. Place the solar panel in a location where it will get uninterrupted, all-day sunlight.
Solar garden lights cannot work properly at night if they are in a shady area.
Depending on the type of solar garden light, attach a reflective material.
You should fasten the reflecting material to the bottom of the solar light once you choose the location of the light.
The solar lighting will appear brighter because of the reflection.
Finally, use a soft cloth to clean the solar light’s glass cover.
This will make it more likely that the solar panel’s light will shine directly into the glass cover rather than being dispersed.
Using a higher voltage battery is another technique to increase the brightness of your solar garden lights.
The voltage will increase, giving the light bulb more power and increasing brightness.
Keep in mind that LED lights can create a brighter light and are more energy-efficient than conventional bulbs.
What To Do if Solar Garden Lights Are Not Working?
1. Make sure the lights are on
Some people overlook the fact that their lights have an on/off switch, so this is just a reminder.
2. Check the battery for a pull tab
Only new solar lights have a pull tab. If you haven’t done that, remove a pull tab from the battery.
3. To test the light, completely cover the panel
During the day, solar-powered garden lights aren’t working. Therefore, cover the solar panel to mimic full darkness. Just by doing so, you’ll see whether the lights are working.
4. Check the solar panel for dirt
Clean the solar panel because a dirty solar panel cannot receive a full charge.
5. Place the solar panel in the correct position
Place the solar panel in an area where it can receive sunlight throughout the day, or it might not receive a sufficient charge.
6. Test your solar garden lights using regular batteries
If solar-powered lights are not working, something may be wrong with the batteries. They may not receive the charge or cannot hold it. If the lights work on regular batteries, undoubtedly the cause of the malfunction is in the rechargeable batteries or the solar panel.
7. Switch off the solar lights and leave them to charge for at least 72 hours
Some solar-powered lights will charge their batteries even if you don’t turn them on. Thus, by turning off the solar lights, you will give the battery a chance to receive a full charge for a few days.
8. Contact the retailer
If all else fails, contact the retailer, as your lights should come with a warranty.
Why Is It Important To Clean the Solar Panel?
The solar panel gathers energy from the sun to charge the batteries that operate the garden solar lights. Anything that prevents the solar panel from getting sunlight may adversely affect your solar lighting.
Cleaning a solar panel frequently is vital, since dust, and debris can reduce its effectiveness.
How to Clean the Solar Panel on Garden Lights?
We advise cleaning the solar panel with a dry or moist cloth.
If the panel is dusty, you might also use a window or glass cleaner.
We advise against using abrasive cleaning agents on your solar panel.
High-quality solar lights are made to last for many years after you buy them.
How Long Do Solar Lights Last?
The lifespan of the batteries in outdoor solar lights is between three and four years before you will need to replace them. The LED lights can last up to ten years or longer.
When the lights cannot keep a charge and illuminate the space throughout the night, it is time to change the parts.
A few other things can also impact your outdoor solar lights’ durability.
We can reduce the longevity of solar lights if we place them close to artificial light sources.
Place your outdoor solar lights in direct sunshine, far from your house or street lights, as the sensors that trigger your solar lights may cause them to turn on in low light and malfunction.
Two factors affect your solar garden lights. The first one is their location, and the second is the cleanliness of the solar panels. Wipe the panels every other week so that sufficient sunlight reaches the surface of the panel.
While most solar lights can withstand harsh weather, they work best when they receive direct sunlight. If you worry about whether the weather will affect your solar lights, store them in a dry and safe place.
How Long Do Solar Lights Stay On?
If your outside solar lights are exposed to enough sunshine to fully charge (about eight hours), they will start to shine as it gets dark out, around sunset.
Depending on how well panels absorb the light, lights may occasionally stay on longer or turn off sooner. Again, you can help guarantee your lights are operating at their best by placing them in the ideal location (in direct sunshine, away from shadows, or covered by plants).
Consider using a timer or turning the lights off and putting them away for a while if you are worried that the batteries in the lights are being used excessively. Before choosing a permanent location for your lights, test out a few different options.
The battery dying, feeble light from inadequate sunlight absorption or general light dysfunction are common issues. The solar light’s age or the solar panels’ cleanliness may be the cause of these problems.
Before going to buy new lights if you are experiencing problems with your current ones, check the batteries and clean the panels to see if that solves the issue.
Solar lights do not require power and can be used for several years before needing to be replaced, so the cost savings over conventional outdoor lighting can be seen right away.
The batteries should survive for roughly two years before needing to be replaced. With proper maintenance, rechargeable batteries can last longer.
LED lights can last for 10 years or more before they burn out.
The two best things you can do for your lights’ longevity are to locate them in a fantastic area with plenty of direct sunlight and to keep your solar panels clean.
Do LED Bulbs Wear Out Over Time?
As LED lights have an extended lifespan, many people have shifted from outdated incandescent or halogen bulbs.
While conventional bulbs only survive a few thousand hours, the lifespan of LED lights is 50,000 hours on average.
You will need fewer bulb replacements, which saves time and costs less money.
In traditional electric lights, the filament heats up to produce light. This filament gradually burns out as it gets hotter and weaker over time.
LED lights use a semiconductor to illuminate rather than a filament to produce light.
However, even LED lights wear out in time. The two terms used to describe this phenomenon are lumen detedeteriorationled degradation.
Over the course of degradation, LED lights get darker and dimmer. The most popular L70 rating in the US refers to the time it takes for lumen output to fall below 70%. Besides L70, there are also L50, L80, and L90, which are also common because this is the point at which the brightness of the light noticeably reduces.
The degradation of luminosity is not a linear metric. It may begin gradually, but once it falls below 70%, it may accelerate.
Is Investing in Solar Garden Lights Worth It?
Solar garden lights are a great way to add light to your yard without breaking the bank.
Unlike traditional electric lights, solar lights rely on the power of the sun to operate. You’ll never have to worry about running extra wiring or increasing your electricity bill.
Solar lights are easy to install and come in different styles to fit any garden. In addition, solar garden lights are an environmentally friendly option, as they don’t produce harmful emissions.
So, why is investing in solar garden lights worth it?
Solar garden lights are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to light up your yard. They’re easy to install and require no extra wiring or electricity, making them a brilliant choice for anyone looking for an affordable lighting solution.
Final Thoughts
You bought solar yard lights, and they were operating smoothly until recently. You are wondering how to make your solar garden lights brighter and perhaps even last longer because they seem to get dimmer.
To make your solar garden lights brighter, or at least appear brighter, there are two main things you can do. Cleaning your solar panels and the lights is one option. Installing a reflecting material is another option for making your lights appear brighter.
However, solar LED lights (and all LED lights) lose their brightness over time, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
You may wonder if investing in solar garden lights is worth it. The answer is a definitive yes.
Solar lights are very versatile. You can use them to light up your entire garden or stress specific areas. Besides, they are environmentally friendly and cost-effective, as they rely on the energy of the sun to power them.
Investing in solar garden lights is a great way to enhance your outdoor space while being environmentally conscious.
