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The Solar Lights FAQs


Powered by sunlight, solar lights offer warm, subtle accent lighting for your home in a way that is environmentally friendly. Then with more and more people getting into solar powered lights, the questions about their durability and usage are arising.

You may be wondering, Can solar powered lights get wet? How do solar garden lights work and why are they not working? ... If you stuck having any question about installing, using and maintaining your solar lights, you're not alone. Just read on for finding the answers to your questions.







THE OUTLINE OF SOLAR LIGHTS FAQs
How do outdoor solar lights work?
Can solar powered lights get wet?
Will solar lights charge while it's cloudy or raining?
What to do if your solar powered lights aren't working?
How to maintain outdoor solar powered lights well?



How do outdoor solar lights work?


Solar-powered lighting consists of multiple layers of silicone and chemicals, and the process of how it works is quite simple - it uses the power of the sun to excite positive and negative charges which generate electricity.

During the day, the solar panel inside your lighting will convert the energy of sunlight into direct electrical current then store it in the battery, and meanwhile, the intelligent controller, photoresistor, will work to prevent the solar panel from overcharging the battery bank. Then, detecting the absence of light when the sun goes down, this photoresistor will activate the battery to supply the electricity to the light until it is all used up or the photoreceptor shuts off the light as daylight reappears. This process will go cycle repeats every single day as long as the light is getting enough sunlight to generate power.



Can solar powered lights get wet?


While solar lights are designed to be waterproof, they can only resist normal amounts of water like rainfall, snow or sprinklers, and for the most part, they can easily be damaged when they are soaked in water for any reason like being exposed to flooding, windstorms or extreme storms. That's to say, whether a solar light can get wet or not depends on how much water it's exposed to.

Surely, to ensure your solar powered lights maintain their efficiency and lifespan, there are some ways that can prevent them from potentially being submerged into the water:

yes Always remember to remove your lights, turn them off, and safely store them indoors until the weather has improved.
yes Placing the solar lights into some hanging fixtures like a pendant lamp or wall lamp is always good to keep them working well, as we cannot control the weather. Plus, hanging lights are also perfect for porch lights.



Will solar lights charge while it's cloudy or raining?


In general, it is a common belief that when you charge solar-powered objects outdoors, this will be with the sun. However, as the solar panels use the energy from daylight and not direct sunlight, solar lights still charge even on the cloudy or rainy days. For one, there is light in the sky, your solar powered lights will work. Then, the dark thick cloud will absorb far more daylight than thin white clouds and will in turn reduce the output of the panel, which is actually beneficial to your solar powered lights for charging. That said, even on a cloudy and rainy day your panels are still working away and your solar lights will do collect some charge meanwhile.



What to do if your solar powered lights aren't working?


Aside from being lack of sunlight, any possible reasons like the problems with the battery or dirt on the solar panel may all cause your solar lights to stop working. So, if you're struggling with the stop-working issue, try out a couple of our handy tips below to get your solar lights working again.


enlightened Have You Turned Your Solar Lights on?

Not knowing that there is an on/off switch that is usually located on the underside of the lamp itself is the most common reasons why users fail to turn their solar lights on. So, whenever you're ready to use your solar lighting, remember to make sure you have set the switch in the on position ahead of all, or the light won't turn on no matter how much power the battery has.


enlightened Have You Removed the Pull Tab on The Battery?

Commonly, there is a pull tab on the battery of the newly purchased solar lights, which is a safety feature put in place for storage and transport, but your light won't work until it's removed. In this case, check for a pull tab if your new light doesn't work.


enlightened Have You Cleaned the Solar Panel?

Cleaning the solar panel routinely is quite important, as dust and dirt can be the obstruction for the panel to absorb the sun's rays and then impact the amount of charge it received. For cleaning, using a dry or damp cloth to gently wipe the panel clean is recommended, and you could also use window or glass cleaner if the panel is particularly dirty. But notice that, don't use any abrasive materials to clean your solar panel, as there is Brillo pads, scorers and/or bleach included.


enlightened Have Your Solar Lights Gotten a Full Charge?

Solar lights won't work smoothly if they have not got a full charge. So, to ensure your lights get a full charge of sunlight, turn it off for a day or two to allow a long charging period.


enlightened Contact the Manufacturer or Retailer

To these days, almost all solar lights do come with warranties and you can get a new one or even a refund if they aren't working properly. So, if all tips we mentioned above fails, kindly contact the manufacturer or retailer that you purchased your lights from, and they may be always ready to replacing, refunding and giving you some troubleshooting hints, too.



How to maintain outdoor solar powered lights well?


Solar lights can last for a long time when they're being well-maintained. First off, clean periodically dust or mud from your solar outdoor lights with soapy water and a soft cloth, as such, your solar lights can easily store energy for the night. Then, replace the batteries if needed to maintain the maximum capacity. In general, most solar lighting will last about two years if you take care of them. But since they can easily be damaged when they receive a lot of rain or snow, you'd better not use them outside but switch them to the off position and store them in a dark, dry place during rainy or snowy seasons.




For this post, we've got you covered on these most frequently asked questions. If you still have further questions about installing, using and maintaining solar lights outdoor, simply click on "CHAT WITH US" to leave your message, and our lighting expert will get back to you within 24 hours.