Solar-powered street lighting: types of autonomous lamps and applications

What to look for when choosing?

The choice of lamps must be approached carefully. First of all, focus on the area of ​​\u200b\u200byour site and its features.

If the area is not large, then the lamps should not be very powerful, because a large amount of light in a small area can have a bad effect on your vision.

• How to choose an energy-saving lamp for the home - types, characteristics and application features (105 photos)

• How to choose a waterproof lamp: types, selection rules and classification of modern models (110 photos)

• The best chandelier options for the hall: selection criteria and design advice. 75 photos of beautiful and original solutions

Also pay attention to the battery capacity. If you live in an area where the sun is constantly shining and there is almost no bad weather, then buying lamps with a large battery capacity is the right choice.

Autonomous lighting: pros and cons

Solar street lighting has both advantages and disadvantages. Before seriously considering such a possibility, it is better to evaluate this alternative from all sides.

Advantages

The advantages of solar street lighting include:

1. 100% autonomy. Any light source does not depend in any way on other street lamps, or on the problems that arise unexpectedly in a conventional electrical network.
2. Mobility. Light fixtures are not static. Since there are no wires, they can be moved to any place on the site where maximum light is currently needed.
3. Complete security. Due to the fact that there are no conductors and electrical connections on the site, the risk of electric shock is excluded.
4. Possibility of automatic adjustment. Such light sources can be turned on and off by pre-setting the parameters, time.
5. Ease of installation. All activities - installation, configuration - the owners can perform without outside help.
6. Small sizes. The compactness of the devices makes it easy to carry them to the right place.
7. A chance to get any number of different appliances, but not worry about electricity bills.
8. Serious cost savings required for expensive traditional lighting of the local area.
9. Acceptable price of some models, it allows you to install devices in different places.
10. Environmentally friendly, which means safety for people and ease of disposal.

Another plus of autonomous lighting is a wide range of these devices. It facilitates the design of the local area in accordance with the developed design. A solar lantern is a one-time investment, as it does not require any energy costs.

Flaws

Nothing is perfect under the sun: autonomous street lighting also has its weaknesses. The downsides rightfully include:

1. "Slavish" dependence of solar lamps on external factors. Cloudy weather, rain, snow leads to the impossibility of intensive battery charging, and this directly affects the performance of the equipment.
2. Irregular glow. This is the different brightness of the bulbs. At first they work at full capacity. The more the battery is discharged, the worse the lighting becomes.
3. The duration of the autonomous light sources. The resource of work depends only on the capacity of the battery, and it decreases over time.
4. Mobility. This plus automatically turns into a minus if intruders suddenly enter the site, since it will not be difficult for them to take away the devices.
5. The need for constant care. The surface of outdoor solar panels gets dirty, so it needs to be cleaned regularly.
6. Battery malfunctions. Such troubles occur in adverse conditions: both at high and at low temperatures.
7. The inevitability of another purchase: cooling systems for those regions where heat is a common, familiar condition.
8. Mandatory dismantling in areas with severe winters: appliances are removed in late autumn and returned in spring.
9. The need to install equipment only in well-lit areas.
10. The high price of the highest quality models.

Many "Achilles' heels" of such autonomy are eliminated by connecting powerful batteries, combining all lighting devices into one system, and using solar power plants. These measures make it possible to level the shortcomings, however, along the way, they reduce the mobility of equipment and increase its cost.

If you think about the victory of pluses or minuses, then the former outweigh, since they have a huge advantage on their side - the possibility of a significant reduction in the cost of almost “golden” electricity. Over time, solar equipment will not only pay off, but also begin to make a profit.

Troubleshooting Solar Lights

If the lamp stops shining, then check if the contacts inside it have oxidized

Carefully disassemble the case, clean the contacts of the battery and batteries from oxides

Oxidation of contacts often causes moisture to get inside, especially with inexpensive devices. In this case, after cleaning after assembly, treat the body joints with sealant.

In another case, the source of failure is a broken wire. In a darkened room, check the soldering points. If a break is detected, then you can attach the wire in place by cold welding. You can also change the wire completely and tighten the contacts.

If these methods did not help, then it is worth checking the battery for performance. Perhaps he has exhausted his resource and needs to be changed.

If the replacement of the battery did not help, then the battery has become unusable - a replacement is required.

Types of solar lamps

It's not hard to see why solar-powered appliances are so popular these days. Of course, it's great that such lighting allows you not to pay for electricity, but for many, the main advantage is still the ability to mount fixtures without wiring. All that is needed is to take the device out of the box and place it, for example, near the track. Most models have darkness sensors, so you don't even have to think about turning on the light - everything happens automatically.

This technology is developing very quickly. Solar-powered lamps are looking more and more attractive, their glow is getting brighter, and the uptime is increasing. To understand which device is right for you, you need to familiarize yourself with the range and main types.

• Lamps on short stands are characterized by low price and ease of installation. You simply press the leg into the ground and installation is complete.
• Hanging lanterns are attached to the ceiling of the gazebo, on tree branches or on the fence. They can be used as a decorative item.
• To illuminate the fence, LED spotlights are often used, the power of which is equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent lamp.
• Street lights mounted on a leg or pole. Used in parking lots, large yards or gardens. Also used for road lighting.
• Wall-mounted solar lamps are used to illuminate the facade of the building.

About the appointment of "solar" lamps

When buying lighting fixtures for the garden, it is important to consider what function they will perform. In total, there are three groups of lighting: decorative, for paths and spotlights

Decorative lamps

Decorative lamps add pleasant lighting to your yard. They mark a specific place, their purpose is not at all related to the maximum illumination of the territory. Due to the weak light emission, the service life of decorative lighting significantly exceeds that of solar-powered counterparts. It is a fairly common occurrence when decorative lighting works for several nights in a row, being charged in one bright sunny day.

Charging of devices occurs fully even in cloudy weather. Usually these lamps emit not white, but yellow light, some models are even capable of flickering and creating a flame effect. Due to the yellow color, the electricity consumption of such lamps is reduced. In addition to the aesthetic function, decorative autonomous lamps are also used to illuminate potentially dangerous places. This is a tool storage area, an area with decorative landscape elements, and so on. Lamps-decorations are the most affordable, have a relatively low cost.

Lights for paths

These lamps illuminate the roads and trails on the site. Such devices, as a rule, require several along the entire track. This approach allows you to secure the path as much as possible. There are several ways to mount them: they can be hung, stuck into the ground, or simply put on the surface. Light in such devices is always directed downwards.

Most walkway lights are equipped with manual switches.In this way, the charge is saved, and the devices are used only when necessary. The most convenient fixtures are equipped with motion sensors that turn on automatically when an object approaches the track. This type of flashlight provides medium power lighting and belongs to the middle price category.

Searchlights

This type of autonomous lamps is itself powerful, so such devices are expensive.

It is important to understand that high power does not imply light output similar to the characteristics of a 100-watt spotlight. The maximum power of a stand-alone floodlight resembles a 40-watt incandescent lamp, and this is quite enough

Most appliances are designed in such a way that they can be mounted in a variety of ways. You can illuminate the entrance to the house, the plot or the parking lot with spotlights. As a rule, these solar-powered lamps are characterized by increased durability. Undoubtedly, all such lamps are protected from weather conditions and direct sunlight, but in this case the level of protection is much higher. Design features allow you to get more light at low temperatures.

What to make a ceiling lamp

Before telling what forms can be used in the manufacture of a ceiling lamp, let us recall the requirements that must be observed when making the luminaire body on its own:

• The solar panel should be located outside on top of the product so that it is well lit during the daytime.
• All butt joints between structural elements must be carefully sealed (circuit components are afraid of moisture).
• LEDs must be placed in the transparent part of the ceiling.

Otherwise, everything will depend only on your imagination, personal preferences and the materials at hand. One of the simplest options is to use a glass jar as a ceiling lamp (for example, for storing bulk products) with a wide neck and a tight lid:

• make a hole in the lid and pass the wires from the solar panel through it;
• fix the solar panel on the outside with a sealant;
• on the inner surface we mount the battery compartment and circuit elements;
• LEDs are located at the bottom of the jar.

As a practically finished case, you can successfully use a food container made of transparent plastic. On sale there is a large number of such products of various sizes and shapes (round, square, rectangular). The choice will depend on the size of the solar panel and the number of LEDs.

Pros and cons of solar powered appliances

Like any device, solar lighting has its advantages and disadvantages, which are better to know in advance.

Advantages of rechargeable lamps

The main advantage of such devices is their cost-effectiveness: since electricity, gas, kerosene or other energy sources are not required for the operation of products, lighting costs are significantly reduced.

The money spent on the purchase of solar lamps can be quickly returned due to savings on regular electricity bills

In addition, the advantages of such lighting equipment include:

• Environmental friendliness. The use of solar energy reduces the consumption of non-renewable natural resources (natural gas, oil, coal).In addition, solar-powered lighting devices do not emit harmful substances and do not harm the Earth's atmosphere.
• Convenient installation. Due to autonomous operation, solar lamps do not require connection to wires, installation of a cable, connection to the network. This ensures comfortable operation of the devices, eliminating emergency situations that often occur due to wire breaks.
• Mobility. Lanterns can be freely moved within the boundaries of the summer cottage or outside it.
• Complete safety at work. Solar-powered lamps can be touched without fear of electric shock.
• Automatic mode of operation. Devices do not need to be forced on and off: with the help of a controller, the light turns on immediately after dark and goes out when the sun comes up.
• Big choice. The range of lighting devices is extremely large. On sale you can find a variety of models that differ in power, size, shape, design, color.

However, such lighting has its drawbacks.

Disadvantages of lighting fixtures

Among the weak points of such structures are:

• Dependence on the activity of the sun. Short daylight hours in autumn or winter, as well as cloudy weather, can prevent the lanterns from getting the right amount of sunlight, which is why their charge will only last for a short time (4-5 hours).
• The complexity of the repair. Lamp batteries are not repairable, which is why faulty fixtures most often require replacement.

Despite the fact that some models are designed to operate in a temperature range from -50 to +50 ° C, in winter there are often failures in the operation of batteries that collect and store the energy generated by solar devices.

Best Ground Garden Lights

Soil lamps can be installed directly into the ground. They have pointed fittings, which simplifies the installation of the device in the ground. The easiest option would be to buy lamps that use solar energy. Experts liked the following models.

Novotech Solar 357201

Rating: 4.9

Affordable price and stylish design allowed the ground lamp Novotech Solar 357201 to win gold in our review. The model is powered by solar panels, which allows you to quickly and easily organize the lighting of the yard or tourist camp. The Hungarian manufacturer has used high-quality materials, as well as good dust and moisture protection (IP65), so that the lamp serves consumers for a long time. The experts liked the chrome-plated body, plastic cover and low power consumption (0.06 W). It is recommended to use LED lamps with a color temperature of 4000 K as a light source.

Users flatter about the long warranty period (2.5 years), they like the soft neutral light, optimal dimensions and reasonable cost.

• affordable price;
• quality materials;
• stylish design;
• durability.

not detected.

TDM ELECTRIC SQ0330-0133

Rating: 4.8

Many design and landscape projects can use TDM ELECTRIC SQ0330-0133 ground luminaires. They are perfect for illuminating entrance groups, garden paths, flower beds, etc. The lamp stand is made of chrome-plated steel, and plastic is used to make a matte spherical shade. The height of the lamp is 34 cm. The manufacturer has provided for a change in the color of the glow.The kit includes a solar battery, the battery life of which reaches 8 hours. The model takes the second place in our review, yielding in power consumption (0.6 W) and degree of protection (IP44).

Domestic homeowners like the elegant appearance of the lamp, low price, lightness and compactness.

• low price;
• elegant design;
• long battery life;
• long service life.

insufficient moisture protection.

Globo Lighting Solar 33793

Rating: 4.7

The modern style has an Austrian lamp Globo Lighting Solar 33793. The model is distinguished by a high (67 cm) chrome-plated stand and a large spherical shade. The manufacturer equipped his product with four LED lamps, each of them consumes only 0.07 W of electricity. The LEDs are powered by a solar battery, the voltage in the network of the structure is 3.2 V

The experts drew attention to the complete set, along with the lamp comes a solar battery and 4 lamps. The model takes the third place in the review due to the high price and the degree of moisture protection IP44.

Russian consumers highly appreciated the brightness of the glow (up to 270 lm), beautiful design, and rich equipment. Of the shortcomings, only the high price is noted.

• bright light;
• full set;
• low power consumption;
• ease of installation.

high price.

Arte Lamp Install A6013IN-1SS

Rating: 4.6

Italian style is noted by experts in the design of Arte Lamp Install A6013IN-1SS. The model is distinguished by a flat, upward-pointing ceiling. A cartridge with an E27 base is installed inside, into which it is recommended to screw a 100 W light bulb. The body of the product is made of steel, which is protected from corrosion by heat-resistant paint.For the manufacture of the ceiling, the manufacturer used transparent glass. The experts attributed reliable protection against dust and moisture (IP65), as well as an 18-month warranty, to the pluses of the model. The luminaire is powered by a 220 V household power supply.

In the reviews, domestic users praise the Italian lighting fixture for its modern design, high degree of protection, and large lighting area (5.6 sq. M.). The downside is the high price.

• Italian style;
• reliable design;
• high degree of protection;
• large area of ​​illumination.

high price.

Globo Lighting Solar 33271

Rating: 4.5

Homeowners are satisfied with the battery life, the brightness of the luminous flux (270 lm), and the reliability of the design. Among the shortcomings should be attributed to a small area of ​​​​illumination.

Solar Street Lights: Pros

Thus, the advantages of street lamps on solar panels include:

• free electricity;
• ease of installation in hard-to-reach regions with no stationary power supply;
• ease of installation without laying cables and obtaining permits;
• environmental safety for humans, which is confirmed by the relevant licenses;
• long service life, which depends on the operation of the battery and can reach 15 years;
• automatic mode of operation with programming on and off;
• lack of ultraviolet radiation, which does not require cleaning from insects.

The device and principle of operation of solar-powered lamps

The main elements of a solar lamp

The luminaire consists of the following structural parts.

Solar battery (or panel).The main element of the lamp, the most expensive. The panel consists of photovoltaic cells, in which the energy of the sun's rays is converted into electrical current through photovoltaic reactions. The electrode material used is different. It is on them that the efficiency of the battery depends.

Battery. It accumulates the electrical current that the panel produces. The battery is connected to the battery using a special diode. A diode conducts electricity in one direction only. In the dark, it becomes a source of energy for light bulbs, and in the light, it feeds the controller and other automation. Nickel metal hydride or nickel cadmium batteries are commonly used. They cope well with many charge-discharge cycles.

Light source. The most commonly used LED bulbs. They consume a minimum amount of energy, emit little heat, and serve for a long time.

Frame. All of the listed components are enclosed in an external case. It must be resistant to direct sunlight, precipitation, dust and dirt. Sometimes the solar battery is placed separately, and the lamp itself is in a different place. Often a ceiling is placed on top of the case, which performs protective functions and scatters the light flux in space.

Controller (switch). A device that controls the charge/discharge process. Sometimes the controller performs the function of a photo relay - it is responsible for automatically turning on the light when it gets dark. Some models have a manual switch.

Lamp support. The case is placed on a metal support: a pole or other leg. Depending on the purpose, the support is made in different heights.

The principle of operation is as follows: the sun's rays fall on photovoltaic cells and are converted into electric current. The current through the diode enters the battery, which accumulates a charge. During the day, when it is light, a photo relay (or manual switch) prevents the battery from being discharged. But with the onset of darkness, the battery begins to work: the electricity accumulated during the day begins to flow to the light source. LEDs begin to illuminate the space around them. At dawn, the photorelay works again, the lamp stops working.

Schematic principle of operation

On a sunny day, there is enough energy to operate the lamp for 8-10 hours. When charging on a cloudy day, the operating time is reduced several times.

Autonomous power plants

Installation for lighting SEU-1

A good source of electricity in all weather conditions are universal solar power plants SPP.

Installation of SPP does not require excavation and cable laying.

Installations for lighting small settlements have proven themselves well. From the required load and the duration of sunny days, the following models are used:

1. The SEU-1 model is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 45-200 Ah. The peak power of the solar battery is 40-160 watts.
2. The SEU-2 model is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 100-350 Ah. The peak power of the solar battery is 180-300 watts.

If it is necessary to increase the power of the SPP, it can be combined into a single power system. Installations are convenient for generating and storing electricity outside settlements. From the SPP, it is possible to supply electricity for the operation of pedestrian indicators and traffic lights.

The use of solar energy for high-quality street lighting is expensive.But over time, all costs will pay off due to energy savings.

Varieties of solar lamps

The model range is wide, attention should be paid to the power and mounting point. There are more powerful lamps to illuminate the yard, and there are devices with a soft diffused beam that creates a pleasant atmosphere.

Types of stand-alone lamps:

• Columnar. The modules are mounted on racks with a height of 1-1.5 m or more. Weighty structures require installation in the ground with preliminary deepening. There are models of surface installation with fasteners on the platform.
• Models with a leg pointed at the end. The length of the stand is up to 1 m, the tip fits comfortably and firmly into the ground. Lamps can be placed anywhere and any way.

• Wall. Made in the form of lanterns of various types, designs. Fixation on any plane.
• Embedded. Convenient for installation in stairwells, walkways, steps.
• Suspended. Installation is extremely simple - on a hook or loop.