Solar lights are a popular and eco-friendly lighting solution that harnesses the power of the sun.
Solar Lights will take 4 to 12 hours of full charge to work under bright sunlight. Once they have enough power, they will automatically turn ON when the sun goes down.
This article gives an overview of the time takes to work for common solar lights, which include the following solar light types.
- outside solar lights
- fence solar lights
- garden solar lights
- pool solar lights
- deck solar lights
- string solar lights
1. Outside Solar Lights
Outside solar lights, which are often used to illuminate walkways or patios. Typically Outdoor solar lights need to be exposed to sunlight for about 4 to 8 hours to fully charge their batteries. The solar light’s battery is a Li-Ion type 3.7 Volt battery. It has a 6 Volt small solar panel which provides 60 to 90 ( mA) mili ampers.
Brands like MIHANI, LITOM and URPOWER, known for their high-quality outdoor solar lights, recommend this charging period for optimal performance.
2. Fence Solar Lights
Fence solar lights, used for adding a glow to fences and gates, also require around 4 to 6 hours of sunlight exposure for a full charge. They do have a 3.7 V li-ion battery with a 6 Volt solar panel. Since fence solar panels have a higher probability to receive direct sunlight, they will charge quickly.
Brands such as GIGALUMI and SolarGlow are popular choices for fence solar lights.
3. Garden Solar Lights
Garden solar lights, designed to beautify and brighten garden spaces, need about 4 to 12 hours of sunlight for a full charge. Renowned brands for garden solar lights include TomCare and Aootek.
4. Pool Solar Lights
Pool solar lights, used to create ambient lighting around or in swimming pools, require approximately 5 to 10 hours of sunlight exposure for a full charge. Since pool solar lights are 30% small compared with the common garden solar lights, their inbuilt solar panels are small too. Therefore, they will require a higher amount of solar charging time in order to work.
Some of the well-known brands for pool solar lights are GAME and Esuper.
5. Deck Solar Lights
Deck solar lights, used for illuminating decks and patios, also need around 4 to 12 hours of sunlight for a full charge. Brands like URPOWER and JACKYLED are popular for deck solar lights.
6. String Solar Lights
String solar lights, often used for decorative purposes during festive seasons or parties, require about 4 to 8 hours of sunlight exposure for a full charge. The built design of string solar lights was different compared with traditional outdoor solar lights.
String solar lights have a separate mountable solar panel holder (1.5-meter cable as well) with a moveable solar panel. Therefore, it can mount in a place where solar power is maximum and gets charged quickly. This will result in a lower time period to start work for the first time.
Some of the popular brands for string solar lights include Brightech and Joomer.
How to Charge Solar Lights for the First Time?
Charging solar lights for the first time is a straightforward process. Here are the steps:
- Unpack the solar light and ensure all parts are included.
- If the solar light has a protective cover, open it.
- If the solar light has a switch, turn it to the ON position.
- Place the solar light in a location where it will receive direct sunlight.
- Allow the solar light to charge for about 6 to 12 hours.
what time do solar lights come on?
Solar lights will automatically tune ON when the sun goes down, around 6 to 7 pm. This will be changed depending on the outside environment’s light conditions. Even, at night there are European countries like Norway that do not become dark (seasonal changes). In this case, solar lights will not turn ON.
Do Solar Lights Work Straight Away?
Solar lights do not work straight away after being exposed to sunlight. They need time to charge their batteries. Once the batteries are fully charged, the lights will automatically turn on when they detect low levels of light, generally after sunset.
How to Charge Solar Lights Without Sun?
Solar lights can be charged without direct sunlight, although it may take longer. Here are the steps:
- Clean your solar panels to ensure they can make the best use of limited light.
- Power a high wattage incandescent bulb that can produce a decent amount of lighting with high brightness.
- Place your solar light as close to the incandescent bulb as possible with the photovoltaic cell facing towards the light source.
- Allow the light to charge for a few hours and then check to see if it is charged.
How to Charge Solar Lights Indoors?
Charging solar lights indoors is similar to charging them without sun. Here are the steps:
- Power a high wattage incandescent bulb that can produce a decent amount of lighting with high brightness.
- Place your solar light as close to the incandescent bulb as possible with the photovoltaic cell facing towards the light source.
- Allow the light to charge for a few hours and then check to see if it is charged.
What is the Sign of the Complete Charge of the Solar Light?
You will know if your solar light is fully charged if it turns on when you press the switch. Depending on the type of solar light, it will be able to produce a dim or bright light. If the light is dim, it likely still needs more time to fully charge.
Does Wintry Temperature Hamper the Charging Process of Solar Lights?
Yes, colder temperatures can decrease the runtime and charging capabilities of solar lights, while hotter temperatures can cause the batteries to overheat and the solar panel to lose its efficiency. However, solar lights are designed to operate in a variety of different climate regions and to withstand harsh weather conditions, including heavy rain and snow.
How Long Do Solar Lights Last at Night?
Once fully charged, solar lights can last for 8-12 hours during summer months and 6-8 hours in winter. However, the actual duration can vary depending on the quality of the light, how often it is used, and the weather conditions in which it is used.
Eng. Matthew Joseph Nandirio is the Founder of walkingsolar.
After graduating from the University of Houston in 2002, matt started working as a Solar Electrical Engineer for several multi-national solar energy companies.
He has a wide range of experiences including solar system requirement analysis, planning, maintaining, debugging and even solar device development through research.
He now shares his 20 years of expertise through his articles on the walkingsolar website.
Further, he is also the author of two books on Solar Technology, “Solar Power for Villages” and “DIY Solar System for Dummies”.