How Rechargeable Solar Lights Work
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Solar Light Basics
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Solar lights are used in landscaping, especially gardens and yards in areas that receive a lot of sunlight. Although the light they produce is dim and usually a bluish or whitish ambient sort of light, the solar lights do not need to be plugged into any existing electrical grid and can be placed anywhere, as long as they are exposed to enough sunlight.
In form, rechargeable solar lights (for gardening purposes) are simple, composed of a stake for planting in the ground, a light emitting diode protected and enhanced by plastic coverings, and a flat solar panel on top of the light. Within the device is a battery, usually lithium ion, that can hold a substantial charge despite its small size. Other types of rechargeable lights skip the stake-like base, but are similar in other regards. Most of the work is done by the solar panel on the top of the device, which consists of two different parts: the solar cell, and the light sensor.
Lighting Process
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The solar cell takes in sunlight and turns it into an electrical charge. Most solar cells are made of doctored silicon and use a form of chemical reaction to produce electricity as the surface portion of the cell is heated by the sun. Electrons are encouraged to move to the back part of the cell, which holds a different charge from the front portion, and in the process they are diverted as a current--a current, in this case, that travels to a lithium ion battery where it is held until it is needed.
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Light Sensors
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The light sensor portion detects the presence of light falling on the solar panel. When the light measured falls below a certain point, the sensor triggers the battery to open the current to the light-emitting diode, which then begins to glow. This is what causes the solar light to turn on as the sky darkens. When the sky lightens again with dawn, the sensor tells the battery to switch off and conserve its power, which is then replenished throughout the day. LED lights are used in these applications because they produce the largest amount of light for the smallest amount of current, and are extremely durable and able to function in a simple and long-lasting process.
Of course, these parts do not last indefinitely. Some manufacturers recommend that the batteries should be replaced every year, but most batteries can last longer than this, especially the lithium ion varieties.
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