Illumination of the territory adjacent to the house is one of the key points in arranging a suburban area. Today, as a worthy alternative to decorative lamps connected to power supply, analogues using solar cells are increasingly being used.
How lawn solar powered lamps work and what parameters to consider when choosing products, we will consider in the article.
The principle of operation of solar-powered lamps
Solar-powered lawn lamps in most cases are used as additional illumination of landscape compositions on the site and open remote corners of the garden.
Such lighting devices are a real salvation in those situations when it is not economically profitable to equip electric lighting on the street or there is simply no way to lay out cumbersome cable switching.
With the help of lawn lamps it is convenient to highlight a playground or a gazebo in a recreation area, to frame garden paths and flower beds with a lawn with a light outline
The principle of operation of solar-powered lamps is simple. The battery built into the device case under the influence of ultraviolet rays produces an electric current. This electric current also recharges the battery. He, in turn, energizes the connected LED, which, spending the energy accumulated during the day, illuminates the next 1.5-2 meters in the dark.
The main elements of solar lamps are:
- Storage battery. An element in the form of a dark glass is located in the upper part of the lantern in order to accumulate a maximum of daylight.
- LED matrix. A source that emits light when an electric current passes through it.
- Electric battery.
- Light sensor - photosensitive element.
- Microprocessor. This element, depending on the voltage, corrects the glow of the LED, and when the battery is discharged to the minimum mark, it completely turns it off. In budget models, this function is performed by a transistor.
- Photocell. A semiconductor device made with a solar battery in one common unit. Its main function is to turn on the lighting device and convert light energy into electrical energy.
The duration of the device depends on the battery capacity. Solar lights with a full battery charge last about 8 hours.
The photosensor built into the device’s housing reacts to the degree of shadowing of the area, due to which the lamp lights up independently after dark, and goes out at dawn
All lawn lights of this type are equipped with LED lamps. This decision is explained by the fact that led lighting consumes very little energy and does not create a flicker of the light flux. This is especially true for low performance photo panels.
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Solar-powered luminaires for lawns will provide stable lighting in the dark for safe movement around the site
Lawn lights powered by a battery that collects solar energy collected by a battery can also be powered by a battery. For lighting in autumn and winter, just change the power source
Depending on the degree of natural illumination of the site and on the intensity of UV, either each device or a group of devices is equipped with a solar battery
The owner of the suburban allotment does not have to contact the electricians to organize street lighting. Lawn illuminators with a solar battery can be supplied without problems on their own
Depending on the height of the “legs” of the lamp, it can be used for different purposes: to highlight movement paths or interesting landscape objects on the site
Submerged models look great. Like all types of lamps from solar panels, they are economical, practically do not consume mains electricity, rarely fail
In the manufacture of lawn fixtures using materials that are resistant to all types of external influences: mechanical, biological, atmospheric
When choosing luminaires for arranging lawns in a country or suburban area, you should take into account the time of charging the device and local weather conditions
Walkway Lighting
The device with a solar battery
Solar battery in lamp design
Easy mounting and dismounting
Illumination of ornamental plants
Original submersible models
Spectacular highlight for an alpine hill
Daytime lawn lighting
LED lamps can be of various colors. This makes it possible to select the highlight of the desired shade, creating spectacular color pictures on the lawns.
Advantages and disadvantages of devices
The main advantage of such lighting devices is that their quality of work does not depend on weather conditions. This is due to the fact that ultraviolet rays are able to penetrate even through a curtain of clouds.
The life of rechargeable devices determines only the duration of daylight hours, for this reason in winter and off-season the glow from solar lawn lamps comes out very dim
Among the indisputable advantages of such lawn lamps should also include:
- Autonomy - the ability to place each lamp, regardless of other lighting fixtures, anywhere in the garden.
- Environmental friendliness - devices do not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere and do not harm the environment.
- Cost-effectiveness - lanterns do an excellent job of their task and at the same time consume electrical energy.
- Reliability - the device cases protect the built-in batteries well from dust and moisture, and therefore they can be safely installed on lawns near water sources.
- Easy installation - to install the device, you do not need to use any components and additionally install the equipment.
The design options for lawn lamps are diverse, so it’s convenient to select them for the landscape design already created on the site.
The only drawback of solar-powered luminaires is their vulnerability to subzero temperatures. Therefore, in the winter, portable devices are best removed in a closed, warm room.
The main types of lawn lamps
Despite the fact that the solar-powered lanterns on sale are famous for their variety, there are only two types of lawn lamps. The reason for this is the fact that with this type of lighting the emphasis is not on the covered area of the equipment, but on its decorative component.
The main requirements for a lawn lamp: it must be compact, but at the same time effective and besides harmoniously fit into the landscape, and not stand out against the background of the composition by a foreign body
Lawn lamps are of two types: decorative models and structures on the legs. Each has its own characteristics.
Decorative models for flower beds
Models of a decorative type are devices with a wide base, which are convenient to install on any flat surface. The design designs of the cases of such devices are infinitely diverse.
Decorative lamps are produced in the form of figures of fantastic heroes, cute animals, fancy miniature houses and even precious stones.
Lawn lamps in the form of animal figures or fairy-tale characters are able to make a harmonious addition to a rock garden or rockery
The main feature of decorative lighting is that it creates a muffled light that covers only a small radius around the device.
Leg constructions
Such lighting devices require fixation by deepening. The luminous element, made in the form of a ball or cone, is located on a small leg.
Lamps on the leg are used to emphasize the contours of lawns and lawns, delimiting flower beds and highlight paths in the garden. The height of such models leaves about 30 centimeters. When deepening the legs, the backlight is located almost on the surface of the lawn.
Lamps on the foot in the dark will help to focus on the beautiful landscape compositions of the site and highlight paths for moving around the garden
To create decorative accents and cover a large area with illumination, lawn lamps with a leg length of about half a meter are used. The pointed rods of such products are crowned with cases with luminous elements, made in the form of flowers with openwork foliage, or soaring birds or fluttering butterflies.
The following selection of photos will introduce a typical design of a lawn lamp powered by solar energy:
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All luminaire models presented to the Russian consumer include a housing with working devices and a leg with a tip for installation in the ground
The location of the working case relative to the earth's surface, the variant and the lighting created by the device depend on the height of the leg
All built-in solar panels are approximately the same in area. It is equal to or slightly more than 9 cm²
Inside the plafond, all the working devices of the lamp are located: a photoresistor, a controller of the received charge, and an LED providing a luminous flux
Almost all models of lawn luminaires are equipped with batteries, necessary for the backlight to work on cloudy days, and a switch. If you need to save power, you can easily turn them off
In luminaires more expensive, the working part of the device is equipped with conical mirror diffusers that enhance the lighting effect
In inexpensive models of lawn lamps, the price of which varies within 50 r, there are ordinary diffusers that do not give a comfortable light flux
If a LED with a wide angle of illumination is installed in the device, there is no need to use a mirror conical diffuser. The flow is increased without mirrors, such devices are often not too expensive budget
Features of the design of the lamp housing
High leg lawn lamp
Solar battery fixtures
Components of the working part of the device
Back switch
Conical mirror diffuser
Low-cost conventional diffuser
Wide-angle diode
We also recommend reading our other article, where we talked about how to organize solar-powered street lighting in our own area. More details - follow the link.
Competent selection criteria
Lawn lamps are designed for outdoor use, and therefore the housings of such devices are made of materials resistant to atmospheric precipitation. Best copes with the task plastic or metal.
To prevent the appearance of foci of rust and further corrosion, metal products are coated with powder paint
When choosing a device, follow the rule: the larger the battery area, the more intense the return of solar energy will occur.
Two more parameters are of no small importance:
- Modification of the photocell.
- Type of glass for shade.
Polycrystalline stone is the basis for the manufacture of solar cells installed in budget models of street lamps. In operational parameters, it is inferior to multi - and single-crystal silicon.
The most reliable are the photoelectronic elements of the modules made on the basis of single-crystal silicon. In direct contact with the air, they are instantly coated with a protective oxide film, which does not interfere with light scattering. But due to this, they are characterized by increased resistance to climatic changes and chemical influences.
To obtain an effect in which the main part of direct rays and half of the scattered ones are reflected, it is better to choose lamps with glass having a smooth surface
Regarding the ability to reflect and scatter light rays, tempered glass products have the best qualities. If you want to create scattered radiation, preference should be given to models with reflex structured glasses.
The nuances of installing lighting
It is necessary to place the luminaires with mounted solar panels so that the sun's rays hit them in a direct path.
Lanterns can be arranged in small groups, using elements of the same size and shape, or "scatter" around the site, creating the effect of randomness
Lawn models are equipped with a special leg made in the form of a peg. To fix the lighting device on the surface, you only need to deepen the peg into the ground. You can do this manually. The main thing is not to make excessive efforts so as not to break the device.
If you have to install in dense rammed earth, then before deepening the peg, you need to prepare a place. To do this, at the point of the alleged location of the lighting device, the earth is loosened with a pitchfork or shovel, and then a recess is made. After installing the legs of the device, it remains only to gently ram the earth around it and level the surface.
Care for such lighting devices is to periodically clean the enclosures of devices from dust and dirt. And the main thing in this case is to remove dust and adhering small debris from the upper side of the housing where the solar battery is located. Wipe better with a damp soft cloth to minimize damage to the protective film applied on top.
With proper care, as indicated by manufacturers of solar cells, lawn lighting devices are able to properly last from 5 to 10 years
To remove strong impurities from plexiglass, it is allowed to use detergents designed to wipe the glasses. It is not allowed to use abrasive pastes and powders for this purpose, since they are contraindicated in plexiglass.
As noted above, in the winter, portable lighting is better to clean the house. The exception is only all-season models that can easily withstand any temperature fluctuations and negative environmental influences.
Ways to eliminate the main types of breakdowns
The most common malfunction of lighting devices of this type is a violation of the relationship between the battery and the power container. This occurs as a result of the oxidation of particles at the junctions. Some "craftsmen" solve the problem by tapping the device. But such actions give only a short-term effect and, moreover, can damage the equipment.
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Extremely simple structural lamp
Battery Replacement Required
Broken or oxidized wire
The appliance briefly burns and goes out
If the contact is interrupted due to the displacement of the battery relative to the contacts of the container, you need to remove the battery, and then carefully pull out the negative spring.You can eliminate the drawback by disassembling the lamp: you need to clean the contacts of the battery poles and the power container with a piece of sandpaper.
In the future, in order to prevent the battery from shifting, it can be fixed in the housing using double-sided tape.
There are situations when, as a result of long storage of the flashlight in the shade, the battery stops charging. In this case, you need to use a tester to check the voltage on the battery. Voltage indicators should be in the range of 1.1-1.4 V. If the measured values correspond to the normative values, you need to place the lamp on the maximum illuminated area in order to recharge the battery.
An analysis of the structural features and characteristics of devices on photocells will help you in choosing luminaires for landscaping the local area.
How is a flashlight with a built-in solar battery:
Overview of LED luminaires for lawns and flower beds:
Lighting a suburban area through the use of solar-powered lamps is quite profitable and economical. Having placed such illumination in your garden, you can easily achieve an effect in which even little-representative herbaceous plants that do not have special aesthetic value in the daytime “play” in the evening hours.
And what kind of lawn lamps do you use in your suburban area? Please share your experience and photos of the fixtures. Tell us if you are satisfied with the operation of the devices. Leave your comments in the block under the article.