Remember to remove any alkaline batteries after testing and install the correct type of batteries based on manufacturer recommendations and instructions. So if you just bought a new solar light and if it’s not working, you definitely should check this out. Most solar lights have a little sensor to check darkness. 2. Place the light at proper location, make sure you switch them OFF so that they get fully recharge, wait for 24 hours and start using them. Can the lights be relocated? Solar lights typically stay off automatically by day as they are busy converting the light into energy to be stored in the batteries. The back side of the solar panel was covered in an insulating goop, so it took some work to uncover the polarity markings. Why do you need them? Why does your garden have to be in complete darkness during the night? Wipe loose dust or debris away with a dry, soft cloth. Advertisement. 7 Reasons Your Outdoor Solar Light Not Working and How to Fix 1. 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. You should know how long you have had your lights and whether or not it is time to replace them. Like other electronic devices, solar lights are made using several different components. Newly manufactured solar lights will have the latest technology and improved efficiency. There might also be a factory defect and the light doesn’t turning ON. Method 2 of 2: Using Artificial Lighting Last but not least, In case the above listed fixes not work for you, feel free to contact the vendor and get it fixed or replaced. However, the light sensor on works if the power switch is on. Problems and Solutions, Solar Powered Lights: Questions and Answers, Solar Powered Watches: Frequently Asked Questions. 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. This is a very common scenario for most of the people using solar lights for the first time. Here are easy Do It Yourself steps to troubleshooting your Solar Christmas/String Lights. It’s recommended that you do this on a regular basis (e.g., once a month) in order to keep your solar lights working as effectively as possible. You can install some solar landscape lights. Ensure that your solar lights are on. This will provide the solar panels with enough sunlight to fully recharge the batteries and allow the lights to function all through the night. Now you know that there are ways to correct them. Take note of the minimum time required for a full charge. I unsoldered the wires and swapped positions. Replacement solar lights can be shipped to you within a few days. In this blog post we listed 7 most common problems and how to fix them, so without a further ado lets dive into the details. Please note that removal and replacement of batteries may void the warranty on the solar lights. That fixed my light. Please note that this will only be possible for some solar lights and this should only be done for testing. 1. The Fairy lights normally come with an initial battery charge, so will nearly always work straight out of the box for the first night without fail, it is also possible the battery will last for the second or even third night in some cases. Check to see if your solar lights have a pull tab at the battery compartment and remove it. Even if only one battery in the light doesn't work, the light itself won’t work. Most of the outdoor solar garden lights come with ON/OFF button, and... 2. Check the review section of site where we have reviewed some of the best selling solar powered lights you can bank on! The LEDs themselves can last ten years or more. The light turning ON after a few hours of sunlight, during the day. A battery like this produces about 1.2 volts and can store a maximum of approximately 700 milliamp-hours. If you’re struggling with yours then try out a couple of our handy tips to see if you can get them working … Highly Efficient Solar Panel: this solar garden light supported with powerful solar panel and built-in rechargeable Ni-MH battery, lights up for 8 hours after getting fully charged. If there’s a plug, make sure it’s plugged in. If it isn’t the battery, it is more than likely the lamp. Here we discuss the length of life for solar lights (spoiler alert: a long time) & how long they stay on for at night. This is another no-brainer, but still… 3. Whether your solar lights are new or have been around for a while, we can help you identify and rectify some of the most common problems. You can remove the batteries from the light and replace them with regular alkaline batteries. After their normal life span (typical couple of years) they tend to stop working or start performing poorly. This one is for the newly purchased items only. The panel on new solar lights should only require minor cleaning if necessary. If you decide to purchase new lights we can recommend the best solar lights for your needs. check these Top 10 best solar lights. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging of your solar lights. Remember that solar lights like everything else have a life span. Why are my solar lights not working at night? That being said, you may want to check if the light is working during the daytime to simulate darkness. Only use the alkaline batteries to test the solar lights, do not leave them in your lights because alkaline batteries are not rechargeable. If it’s well after dusk and your light hasn’t come on cover the panel, if it does decide to work you know there’s another source of light hitting the solar panel that’s tricking the light into thinking it’s still daylight. Like other electronic devices, solar lights are made using several different components. It's also important to wash the panel covering periodically wth soap and water to keep it clean. Contact customer service and provide a full and clear description of the problem. It is important to know the warranty period on any solar lights that you have purchased. The issue can be dead batteries, damaged internal components or even location. 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. 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. 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. Once this light source has gone and night has fallen, solar lights will illuminate. In many cases, solar lights stop working because the plastic covering the solar panel gets cloudy. The 2 wires from the back side of the solar panel to the small circuit board were installed backward. Most of the outdoor solar garden lights come with ON/OFF button, and that button needs to be turned ON. Locate the switch and make sure it is on. Now we are big fans of solar lights, but we do understand that they can cause some people a lot of issues. There Is ON/OFF Button & It’s not turned ON. While regular alkaline batteries may be the right size, they are not the right type for long term use. But before you buy new rechargeable batteries test the solar light by putting alkaline battery (regular batteries). The seller may also have replacement batteries for your solar lights. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Look for a pull tab by the battery compartment. Use good quality batteries for brighter lighting and longer illumination times. You just bought a solar powered light, you un-boxed it, installed at your preferred location and noticed that the solar light is not working! Thus you need to make sure that panel is clean and don’t have dust or anything. Most solar lights will have a limited time warranty. Move solar lights to an area of darkness to … The problem happens when the factory charge runs out, causing the lights to not turn on when the night comes. Many solar lights have an on/off switch to enable full control of the light. In some cases, it may be necessary to contact the retailer. If they don’t, then solar light battery needs to be changed. The information above is general in If the batteries are charged the light should illuminate. Solar Panel On Top Of Solar Light – Keep Clean! Your Solar Light is Too Close in Proximity to Another Light Source At Night Our solar lights are equipped with a photocell. (They do!) Ideally, solar yard lights should be placed where they can get sunlight for at least six hours straight. It is important to consider the cost of possible solutions and then make a decision. Do not let your solar lights get caked with dust and dirt. You may have to explore other options for charging your solar light batteries if sunlight is not available. If solar panel not getting the required sun light than the LED won’t work or can’t produce the brightest light as you would have expected. 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. Overall, we do hope that you are able to identify any problems that are preventing your solar lights from working. Additionally, retailers usually have a return policy on units that arrive damaged or not working. If you notice that your solar light isn’t working or it’s coming on at strange times, the simplest fix you can try is the following: Make sure the solar light is turned on. If the battery is what you think is the problem, replace them. Solar lights save the energy they get from the sun all day long and usually do not work during the day time because the energy is utilized in the night and the energy is being stuffed in the batteries as well. Generally speaking, the batteries in outdoor solar lights can be expected to last about 3-4 years before they will need to be replaced. There are some visual results that you can use to know exactly what’s wrong with the light, things like: The light is placed in a spot where there isn’t enough sunlight. An outdoor solar light fixture gets its power from the sun. https://www.thesolaradvantage.net/solar-lights-come-on-during-the-day Normally a solar light should get 4-5 hours daily direct sun light to effectively charge the batteries and shine brightly during night hours. The battery is a completely standard AA Nicad battery. So get your hands dirty and start fixing your outdoor solar lights. We don’t want you to be without lights for too long so let’s get started. Poor quality batteries will have very low storage capacity and this will affect the performance of the light during the night. 50 £15.98 £15.98 In other cases, the lights were already installed and worked well for a period of time but have now stopped working. 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. Clean your solar lights every so often. In some cases, the problem will be brand new solar lights that are not working. Moving solar lights to darker areas is usually better. What powers the solar string lights at night are AA batteries. That’s something you should consider. 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. nature and should not be used to diagnose all faults related to solar lights. 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 Most common malfunctions are easily fixable. If the lights have faulty solar panels, they will not recharge the batteries during the day but they will still light up at night since the batteries still have a lot of juice. To get the best from your newly purchased solar light, let the batteries fully charge for the first time before switching them ON. Cover the lens or take the unit inside a dark room to test it. Most newly purchased solar lights come with rechargeable batteries. The lights that come on at dar… These perfect lighting sources are commonly installed: 1. in the garden; 2. in the yard; 3. along the pathways and driveways; 4. above the front entry. A customer service representative will be able to offer advice based on your description of the problem. 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. Just make a quick check to verify this is the case. Wondering how long the devices are functional for & if they are worth the expense? One more common issue faced by many home owners that their solar lights are not as bright as when they were new. A damaged housing may allow moisture to enter and cause internal components to fail. 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. Make sure you place your light at a location where it gets direct sun light. Rechargeable batteries are everywhere these days, in pretty much all our electronics from smartphones to cameras. Like all batteries, the one in the fixture has a limited life usually between 2 and 3 years, but eventually, the battery will fail. At the end of this article you will probably able to fix the most common problems and able to make your light work as intended. At dawn, the light detector sensor will turn the lights off and start recharging the battery again. All Solar lights work in winter as long as the Solar panel receives enough daylight to power up the batteries to a point that the light can function assuming no faults. There are several possible problems that you need to check before you pinpoint and fix the issue. If your solar lights are not working, this can be an opportunity for you to upgrade. You will have to observe the lights during the day and make changes if necessary. If the light comes on then the sensor is working. Solar lights don’t work during day time, in order to check them during day time you need to simulate darkness. Is it worth trying to fix your old lights or should you invest in new lights? However, one could change out the LED(s) if they are indeed found to be the failing component. Some solar lights comes with a pull button on the battery and it need to be removed before you turned on the light. There is no broken cable and it is not the battery because I have just replaced it. Some solar lights have the light sensor located in the solar panel. Adelaide Solar Repairs was established in 2011 by Patrick and Jackie, who were already working in the solar industry, and they saw more and more solar companies closing, and inverter manufacturers disappearing and not honouring warranties. In motion sensor solar lights, the light sensor may be behind the frosted lens. Testing your solar lights may involve opening the housing or battery compartment to check the batteries. In many cases this simple thing is ignored by many people and this is one of the main reasons why your solar light isn’t working as expected. 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. This energy is then used at night to power the light. If your solar lights are not working it is recommended that you visually inspect the solar panel, housing, and lens of solar lights. Other things to consider are seasonal variations and weather patterns. Thinking about buying solar lights for your outdoor area but not sure how long they stay on for? After more than 6000 repairs, they can call themselves the leading solar repair company in Adelaide. Solar Powered Mosaic Glass Ball Garden Lights,Avril Tian Color Changing Solar Night Lights,Waterproof Rechargeable Solar Table Lights Lamp for Indoor or Outdoor Decorations 4.5 out of 5 stars 241 £12.50 £ 12 . After installing the light in your outdoor garden, later they tend to get dirty, you will notice reduced lighting time. A solar light has a simple charging circuit inside it. Looking to buy new solar lights? It is recommended that you contact the seller before taking such actions. Battery Failure. It seems such a waste to have less than half the lights working. This technique is known as a “deep charge” in the solar lighting industry. Most home owners and gardeners get exhausted and frustrated with why their solar lights not working at all or not brightest as it should be. The solar cells are wired directly to the battery through a diode (which prevents the battery's current from flowing back through the solar cell at night). Use a soft cloth at first to remove dust and debris. They are simply too expensive to manufacture and the British consumers will not pay it. Our lights are designed to work from dusk-to-dawn, and the photocell is what triggers the light to turn on and to turn off. Unfortunately, in many cases the light will have to be replaced. That might cover solar panel and block the sunlight. If you see declined brightness in light, then it’s a time to change the batteries. This is especially true for inexpensive landscaping lights. This could be one of two issues if the lights worked at one point; the battery as above, the lamp or a blown fuse. 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. Many people ask if our lights work at winter after having a poor experience in the past, normally with very cheap budget type lights. Batteries typically have a life span of about 2 years, so they are the common cause of solar lights not working when they have been running every night for a couple of years. Are there trees or buildings that are blocking the sunlight and preventing the batteries from being fully charged in the daytime? 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. Believe it or not, solar lights have on/off switches. Push the batteries back in place and try the light again. Make sure you check them during the night time and/or simulate the darkness by covering the sensor with your hand, cloth or something, after covering it if the light turn ON, then its fine. So obviously the lights do not work during the day. But before you give up, take time and go through the steps mentioned above and see what you’re lacking or missing. They can be built-in right into the deck. If you do have to open the light, please proceed with caution. Once you know how solar power lights works and the basics or using it, you’ll be better equipped to fix the problem. Provide the name and model of your solar lights and any battery related information to the seller. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon(.com, .co.uk, .ca etc) and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. Solar lights that are exposed to artificial light at nighttime will not turn on because they rely on low-levels of light to determine whether it is nighttime or not. rainy or winter season. 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. On some models the lights may blink because the DAY/NIGHT sensor is built into the solar panel. Carefully inspect these components for cracks and other signs of damage. Contact the seller before opening the light to find out if this may void your warranty. How many times have you come across situation like this and regret about buying the solar lights? Do a test run by covering the solar panel. Is your house located in a village or in a distant area? lights come in different shapes and styles. If the batteries are not properly charged, the performance of the light will be affected. If the plastic looks cloudy after wiping it down with a damp soft cloth, apply a coat of clear nail polish once the panel dries completely. During winter, sunlight may be limited and this will affect the charging of the batteries. 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. It is definitely an irritating experience for sure, and you want to be done with it. We have provided common problems and solutions to help you. If batteries are not installed then you must follow the instructions included with the lights or have a capable person install them for you. Dust and other accumulated residues can very much affect the charging process. Solution: Dirt, dust, or mud may be on the solar panel, therefore it cannot absorb the sun’s energy and charge the batteries. In some cases, the problem will be brand new solar lights that are not working. Test the sensor by covering the solar panel to simulate darkness. There Is a Pull Button and You Ignored It. 3- Cover the solar panel The mechanism of the solar light is to recharge in the morning and work at night when it is dark. While typical solar light operate on the same principles, remember that solar Any thoughts? Solar lights not working? Solar lights that have been installed for a while may have cloudy solar panels. Overcast skies will have the same effect. In other cases, the lights were already installed and worked well for a period of time but have now stopped working. If batteries are not in stock, recommendations about other suppliers can be made by the retailer. This will allow the light to charge during the day and also work at night. New solar lights may have a battery tab that must be removed for the battery to energize the circuit. Inside a solar lighting unit are the solar panel, light sensor, LEDs, batteries and a motion sensor for security lights. Clean the solar panel with a non corrosive cleaner to resolve this problem. Solar lights usually arrive with the batteries already installed. After cleaning the solar panels you can proceed to testing of the light. In general, solar lights should be located where they can receive direct sunlight for at least 8 hours during the day. A sensor that allows our solar lights to detect light. Do you live in a northern state? 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Make sure you place your light at a location where it gets solar lights not working at night sun light to on... First to remove any alkaline batteries after testing and install the correct type of batteries may void your warranty outdoor! To enable full control of the problem in new lights we can the. Damaged internal components or even location waste to have less than half lights! Proximity to Another light Source at night this and regret about buying the solar lights the! Several possible problems that are blocking the sunlight a period of time but have stopped. To testing of the outdoor solar garden lights come with rechargeable batteries the! In a village or in a distant area sensor, LEDs, batteries and the... Control of the light again before they will need to make sure it is definitely an irritating experience sure. Outdoor solar lights that have been installed for a while may have to explore options! 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