How to Troubleshoot Solar Outdoor Lights
Solar lights are an energy-efficient way to illuminate the outside of your house. They add the convenience of being able to place the lights anywhere without having to worry about how close or far away they are from an electric outlet. This convenience is sometimes hampered, however, when solar lights don't perform properly. When your solar lights won't turn on, you can perform a few simple troubleshooting steps to fix the problem. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Evaluate the solar light's location. Take a day to watch and evaluate how much sun is actually shining on the solar panel. Sometimes tall trees, overgrown bushes or shrubs will block the sun from reaching the solar panel. A spot that seemed ideal in the beginning of the summer can soon become overshadowed by garden shrubbery.
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Adjust the solar panel angle. Sometimes the light is located in the right spot but all that is needed is to turn the panel a degree or two towards the sun.
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Check the solar panel. Oftentimes solar lights don't illuminate because the solar panel is dirty or damaged. Make sure there is no debris on the solar panel that will prevent it from fully utilizing the sun's energy. Additionally, check the solar panel for cracks or breaks in the panel connectors.
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Check the battery terminals. If the solar lights were installed quite a while ago, there is a possibility that dirt or even an insect is blocking the battery compartment, preventing the batteries from touching the positive and negative terminal inside the solar light.
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Test the battery. Old batteries may not have enough life to illuminate a solar light. The battery may need to be recharged or replaced.
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Inspect the LDR (light dependent resistor). The LDR is the trigger that tells the solar light when to turn on. A defective or broken LDR will not be able to tell the solar light when to illuminate.
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Tips & Warnings
Check the owner's manual for the LDR location for your model of solar light.
References
- Photo Credit solar energy image by Catabu from Fotolia.com
