Considering how fossil fuels are running out, and other crucial environmental factors, solar power is a great way to generate electricity! And why not? Solar lights are eco-friendly, easy on the pocket, and straightforward to install.

But, there is a usual issue faced by many solar light owners! Are you tired of your outdoor solar lights losing their shine?

Solar garden lights are meant to make your porch area brighter, and if they cannot provide enough light, some steps and tricks can be adopted.

Following these tips, you can easily make that solar light purchase worth a long ride! Read on, folks.

Key Takeaways

  • Solar garden lights work by converting sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells, which store energy in batteries and use it to power LED bulbs at night. This automatic on/off system makes them environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
  • To make your solar lights brighter, you should regularly clean the solar panels for maximum sunlight exposure, place them in areas with ample sunlight to optimize performance, and invest in high-quality solar panels for brighter and more efficient lighting.
  • Regularly check and maintain your solar panels, lenses, batteries, and components to ensure they operate at peak efficiency and brightness.

How Do Solar Garden Lights Work?

The basic mechanism behind every solar power run machine is the conversion of sun rays into electricity. This electricity is stored in the cells to light up the LEDs at night! Upon exposure to direct sunlight, photovoltaic cells or solar cell in the solar lights initiates this process.

A solar cell in the garden lights contains a semiconductor, which can sometimes conduct electricity. This semiconductor is a part of the reaction with sunlight to produce charged particles (known as electrons) flow. These particles create the electric current, which is shifted into the battery.

This battery is, thereby, the chemical energy storage system!

Direct sunlight has a second photosensitive system called a Photoresistor. A photoresistor is an intelligent technology device that is the one to switch the lights on once the sun sets and it’s night.

This photoresistor utilizes a semiconducting material that controls the electricity flow. The difference is that the semiconductor disallows the flow of electricity in daylight hours but enables the power flow at night once it stops receiving sunlight exposure.

The Flow of Electricity

The electricity from the battery during the night lights up the LED bulb or light-emitting diodes. This is the same light that works during the night until the sun rises the next day. The sunrise will once again cause the photoresistor to stop the electricity flow.

Outdoor Solar LightThis ability of solar garden lights to automatically turn on or off is one of the main reasons they are environmentally friendly. You also save the money spent on the electricity bill by saving energy.

Solar lights are a perfect fit for outdoor lighting. More so, because they do not require any extra cables and are pretty safe plus weatherproof at the same time. Solar lights usually have cabling, a circuit board, and other components. Although, these two form the main elements of the entire mix.

All in all, solar garden lights have some neat and rather delicate technologies. To ensure that the solar lights run at their peak performance, you should aim to protect all these elements and keep the solar light in an area with peak sun exposure.

In the coming sections, we will go through a stepwise breakdown into making your solar light brighter. With a few efforts here and there, you can have solar lights in the brightest form ever!

Step By Step Guide to Increase The Brightness of Solar Lights

Now comes the main part of the article! How can we make our many solar lights brighter? Let’s go through some of the commonly used and tested routes to opt for this endeavor to make them shine brighter!

Clean the Solar Panel Properly

We cannot stress enough how essential it is to clean the light panel of your solar system.

The solar panel in your solar lights is one of the main contributing assets in producing electricity and maintaining the flow of electrons.

These solar panels consist of very small cells which absorb the sun’s energy and sunlight from the sky. It alters this solar power or sunlight exposure into battery power after receiving enough sunlight.

Moreover, the solar panels attached to the roof can attract water, dust, or even snow on their panel surface. This is one of the leading reasons why your solar light isn’t bright anymore. At all costs, you must try to keep the solar panel clean and remove excess debris!

  • The dust particles or the snowflakes block the sunlight from reaching the solar cell, which is responsible for altering the sun’s energy to the electricity used to run appliances. If you experience any such occurrence, cleaning the solar panels thoroughly is best.
  • Cleaning these solar panels might not be the easiest task ever. Since all the elements are connected with electricity and battery, you should pay attention once you clean the solar light. Additionally, you can use a light brush while cleaning the solar panels to avoid any damage.
  • Once all the dirt is out of the system, you should use a mild detergent, water, and a soft sponge to clean any other dirt on the panels. We would suggest you not use a strong cleaning chemical.
  • Do not leave any water on the solar panels, though. Post-cleaning the solar panels with detergent, wipe the extra water from them, and pat them dry.

Check The Sunlight Exposure

The solar light will only shine bright if it receives the maximum energy from the sun. One of the classic mistakes newbies make is the location of the solar lights, wherein they cannot receive sunlight and, thus, cannot produce enough energy.

Solar Light with BatteryIf you place them under a tree or even a house wall, it will be difficult for them to emit brighter light.

Want to know a magnificent idea? You can even inspect the solar lights to determine how many sunlight hours are required to make them run properly.

  • The first step to finding the right place for solar lights is to locate areas in your garden or terrace with enough sunlight. Once you have some places in mind, you can easily shortlist the ones that suit the aesthetics of your place and would go well with the background.
  • Just a little change in the setting with more sunlight can go a long way to make the solar lights shine bright.
  • Also, once in a while, keep checking sunlight exposure to the solar lights. If the solar light captures enough sunlight, you can spot it through the brightness of the light-emitting diode or LED bulbs.

Try To Invest in High-Quality Solar Panels

It can be enticing to purchase cheaper solar lights! A solar light manufacturer might be able to attract you towards cheap solar lights, but what about the long-term productivity and the battery’s performance? Do you think spending your money and eventually landing with dim lights is worth it? We don’t think so!

Different brands produce different qualities of solar lights. Some have a varied light casing; the others might have another battery pack. The fact of the matter is that you should buy a high-quality solar panel to have the best experience and the least problems.

All these high-quality panels will produce a brighter light than the other solar panels. So, they are a better pick in terms of the LED light.

A conversation with a professional who has some idea about the right solar panels can be helpful in understanding which solar panels to buy.

By purchasing a good one from the hardware store, you will help yourself and the environment.

Check The Panels and The Lenses

Both the battery and light casing play an important part in working the solar light. Let’s start with the lenses first! You mustn’t try to rush the process of checking the solar fixture.

It is not a one-day job, and you should take time and precision to do so. Check them regularly to see if they work fine or are properly fixed. You should also monitor if any light is being blocked by dust on the lenses.

Checking the panels will also be useful to figure out if any battery fixes are required or if you need any wire tighteners. You might even have to replace and put a new LED light. Moreover, there is a high probability that a replaceable bulb will be available.

Check The Batteries

We cannot stress enough that batteries are the biggest reason to brighten solar garden lights! Upon checking, if they are not in the best shape, you should buy new battles. They are the main component of the solar light, and you must ensure they are working at their peak performance.

Solar LightEven though the battery is meant to last long, it cannot sustain for 30 years, which is the average life of a solar panel. Sooner or later, you will have to replace them for the well-being of your solar panel and to make solar lights brighter.

If you do not change the batteries for long, they can directly affect the solar panel through corrosion or rusting.

Additionally, we suggest you go through the user manual you get with the solar panel to check the correct place for the batteries to be set.

Take out the old batteries and check for any leakage. Try locating any white powder or dust around the batteries or the solar panel. Use grit sandpaper to clear all the leakage and dust if you find some.

After doing so, put in the new batteries carefully. It is best to use a very clean cloth to wipe that area and produce maximum brightness. With these steps, you can have a very strong light in your garden or terrace.

Examples of Solar Lights

Our Expertise in Solar Lights

At Solar Panels Network USA, we’re here to provide you with valuable information and support regarding solar lighting. With our experience and understanding of the solar lighting industry, our team of experts is prepared to assist you in finding the right lighting solution for your needs. Whether you’re interested in improving your outdoor spaces, conserving energy, or adopting a more sustainable approach, we’re well-equipped to help. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or inquiries.

Wrapping Up

So, that’s a wrap on how to make solar lights brighter! We hope this article cleared some of your doubts and provided you with easy and effective ways to brighten up the solar garden light!

With these tips, you will enable the photovoltaic cells in your solar lighting to run with their maximum efficiency to make solar garden lights brighter! Remember to keep the solar panel clean, and check the sunlight exposure, the batteries, and the lenses to have some bright solar lights!

About the Author

Solar Panels Network USA stands at the forefront of solar energy solutions, driven by a team of seasoned solar engineers and energy consultants. With over decades of experience in delivering high-quality solar installations and maintenance, we are committed to promoting sustainable energy through customer-centric, tailored solutions. Our articles reflect this commitment, crafted collaboratively by experts to provide accurate, up-to-date insights into solar technology, ensuring our readers are well-informed and empowered in their solar energy decisions.