Solar lights therefore come fitted with a rechargeable battery, which can store energy from the sun in the day time and then hold on to it until night time when it is used to power the lights. There might also be a factory defect and the light doesn’t turning ON. Now we are big fans of solar lights, but we do understand that they can cause some people a lot of issues. A solar light has a simple charging circuit inside it. This energy is then used at night to power the light. Poor quality batteries will have very low storage capacity and this will affect the performance of the light during the night. Here we discuss the length of life for solar lights (spoiler alert: a long time) & how long they stay on for at night. But before you give up, take time and go through the steps mentioned above and see what you’re lacking or missing. 2. If more extensive cleaning is required, dip a cloth or sponge in slightly soapy water, wring out most of the moisture and wipe the solar panel. Even if only one battery in the light doesn't work, the light itself won’t work. Battery Failure. So obviously the lights do not work during the day. Solar lights usually arrive with the batteries already installed. One more common issue faced by many home owners that their solar lights are not as bright as when they were new. You may have to explore other options for charging your solar light batteries if sunlight is not available. This is another no-brainer, but still… 3. You can remove the batteries from the light and replace them with regular alkaline batteries. Believe it or not, solar lights have on/off switches. The information above is general in lights come in different shapes and styles. This will allow the light to charge during the day and also work at night. If you decide to purchase new lights we can recommend the best solar lights for your needs. This is a very common scenario for most of the people using solar lights for the first time. Do not let your solar lights get caked with dust and dirt. A damaged housing may allow moisture to enter and cause internal components to fail. If it isn’t the battery, it is more than likely the lamp. This is especially true for inexpensive landscaping lights. You should know how long you have had your lights and whether or not it is time to replace them. Remember to remove any alkaline batteries after testing and install the correct type of batteries based on manufacturer recommendations and instructions. Solar lights not working? If you have fully charged the batteries but suspect that they may be the reason why your lights are not working, we recommend that you conduct a test. Check to see if your solar lights have a pull tab at the battery compartment and remove it. Most solar lights will have a limited time warranty. The manufacturer or retailer will be very helpful in solving some problems and should be consulted whenever there are major problems with solar lights you have purchased. 7 Reasons Your Outdoor Solar Light Not Working and How to Fix, Difference between NiCd vs. NiMH Batteries, Landscape Lighting: Things Every Homeowner Should Know About, Secure Your Home and Office using Solar Security Lights, 10 FAQ about Different Watt Lights and Ballasts, Litom 20 LED Solar Motion Sensor Security …, Paradise Solar Lights – Streetlight-Style Lamp Post …, Highgate Stainless Steel Solar Lights (6 Packs) …, Frostfire Wireless Motion Sensor Solar Light Review, Lycheers Multicolor, 17meter, 100 LED Solar Fairy …, Nite Guard Solar Powered Predator Control Flash …, Top 10 Best Solar Powered Lanterns Useful …, 10 Best Solar Charge Controllers to Buy …, Top 10 Best Outdoor Solar Lights For Garden 2019. If you see declined brightness in light, then it’s a time to change the batteries. To get the best performance from a new one, let the battery charge in the sun during the day and turn off the light at night for 2 or 3 days. But before you buy new rechargeable batteries test the solar light by putting alkaline battery (regular batteries). Most newly purchased solar lights come with rechargeable batteries. However, in order to do so you need to understand what exactly the problem is with your solar light, and whether or not it’s really an issue in first place or just an ignorance of something. So if you cover the panel the solar lights might start working if there isn’t any other source of light is reaching to the panels. Contact the seller before opening the light to find out if this may void your warranty. Once you know how solar power lights works and the basics or using it, you’ll be better equipped to fix the problem. The back side of the solar panel was covered in an insulating goop, so it took some work to uncover the polarity markings. Wipe loose dust or debris away with a dry, soft cloth. If you have had your solar lights for years and they have stopped working it may just be that they have reached the end of their useful life. Generally speaking, the batteries in outdoor solar lights can be expected to last about 3-4 years before they will need to be replaced. Thus you need to make sure that panel is clean and don’t have dust or anything. Carefully inspect these components for cracks and other signs of damage. As they do not require electricity, power outlets or even wires solar-powered lights are ideal for use outdoors as they can provide just as much illumination as regular lamps, but without the hassle. There is no broken cable and it is not the battery because I have just replaced it. Why do you need them? Can the lights be relocated? Are there trees or buildings that are blocking the sunlight and preventing the batteries from being fully charged in the daytime? It is recommended that you contact the seller before taking such actions. In some cases, the problem will be brand new solar lights that are not working. We don’t want you to be without lights for too long so let’s get started. If you have had the unit installed outdoors for an extended period, harsh weather conditions may have caused discoloration, cracks in the housing or rusting of metal parts. For that reason it’s a good idea to clean your panel every now and then and put it at a safe place when not in use i.e. Contact customer service and provide a full and clear description of the problem. In many cases, solar lights stop working because the plastic covering the solar panel gets cloudy. Move solar lights to an area of darkness to … Here are easy Do It Yourself steps to troubleshooting your Solar Christmas/String Lights. (They do!) Many people ask if our lights work at winter after having a poor experience in the past, normally with very cheap budget type lights. 7 Reasons Your Outdoor Solar Light Not Working and How to Fix 1. You will have to observe the lights during the day and make changes if necessary. Newly manufactured solar lights will have the latest technology and improved efficiency. Thinking about buying solar lights for your outdoor area but not sure how long they stay on for? After their normal life span (typical couple of years) they tend to stop working or start performing poorly. The Next Best: Aootek 3 Mode Outdoor Solar Lights Top Feature #1: 3 modes – auto-on all night, motion sending bright, motion sensing dim Top Feature #2: 450 lumens The high points: bright, 3 different modes, reasonable charging/working time, easy to install The low points: must be mounted to a wall or fence, switch for modes is difficult to reach after installation check these Top 10 best solar lights. Here are some steps you can take to test your solar lights: Outdoor solar lights are usually equipped with a light sensor for automatic operation at night. Push the batteries back in place and try the light again. An outdoor solar light fixture gets its power from the sun. In other cases, the lights were already installed and worked well for a period of time but have now stopped working. Ideally, solar yard lights should be placed where they can get sunlight for at least six hours straight. Do you live in a northern state? If batteries are not in stock, recommendations about other suppliers can be made by the retailer. Testing your solar lights may involve opening the housing or battery compartment to check the batteries. Like other electronic devices, solar lights are made using several different components. It is important to know the warranty period on any solar lights that you have purchased. Panda will newest product, sensitive to light, auto on at night and auto off at the sunrise; Convenient to use, no further wire or installation required. Some solar lights have the light sensor located in the solar panel. Solar lights can be super reliable and charge even in cloudy days to give a decent amount of light output, but you’ll struggle to find any cheap solar lights of this quality on offer in the UK. Overall, we do hope that you are able to identify any problems that are preventing your solar lights from working. Most common malfunctions are easily fixable. Take note of the minimum time required for a full charge. 50 £15.98 £15.98 Unfortunately, in many cases the light will have to be replaced. Any thoughts? Please note that this will only be possible for some solar lights and this should only be done for testing. Dust and other accumulated residues can very much affect the charging process. 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