We knew for a long time that the sun was a great source of energy. However, if you traveled to the past by about 150 years and said that we would be able to harness its power, bets are nobody would believe you. What was once a thing of science fiction is now a reality.
The best thing about solar power is that it is renewable, and it does not have any harmful side-effects. Think of fossil-fuels. When it burns, granted, it produces a decent amount of power, but the harmful emission on the environment is not something that you should overlook.
A question many have in their mind is how do solar lights work? In this article, we will try to simplify the answer as much as we can and also give you the rundown of some benefits of using this form of energy.
Contents
How Do Solar Lights Work?
The radiant heat and energy emitting from the sun are known as solar energy. Over the years, people have found ways to harness that energy and use it for their own good. Solar energy is an excellent way to achieve a lot of things. It not only serves as a great power source for lights, but it can also be used with cookers and heaters.
To put it simply, Solar lights use the energy from the sun and convert it into electricity using the solar panel that comes with the unit. The solar panel consists of photovoltaic cells. These cells have the capacity to absorb sunlight and store it for later conversion and use.
The photovoltaic cell is the main component of this entire process. In the presence of sunlight, the cell excites the electrons present in the layers of silicone and chemicals. As we know, electrons are negatively charged particles, and when excited, they move to the positive spaces of the cell.
Then the electron stream is transferred in the form of direct current through the wires of the cell and travels to the battery. The function of the battery is to contain the electricity until you need to use it. Since everything is automated, you do not need to worry about an on or off switch.
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When the sun goes down, this process of energy conversion stops as the cells stop receiving sunlight. Usually, both solar floodlights and solar spotlights have a photoreceptor attached to the unit. The job of the photoreceptor is to detect the presence of the sun or any other form of light.
At this time, the LED in the unit lights up, getting the signal from the photoreceptor, and you get light. When the sun comes up again, the lights turn off automatically and start converting and storing energy. This entire process repeats on a daily basis with solar lights, whether it is a solar or LED flood light or a spot light.
Why Go with Solar Lights?
Now that you know how a solar light works, it might be worthwhile to take a look at some of the benefits.
Eco-Friendly
The best reason to go with solar lights is that it is environmentally friendly. Yes, you would have to spend a decent amount for installation and purchase. But when you think about how much you save on electricity; the start-up cost is negligible. Furthermore, since the energy is renewable, you do not need to worry about running out of power.
Durability
Despite the popular belief, solar lights are, in fact, quite durable. The panels themselves are protected against any weather conditions. You also get protective back panels to further enhance the durability of the units.
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Easy Installation
If you want to save some extra bucks, you can even set up your lights by yourself. With just a basic knowledge of wiring, you should be able to install your device without requiring any additional tools or help. In most cases, you just need to attach the wires and install a few nuts and bolts.
Battery Backup
You might be wondering, what happens if the sky turns dark for days. Yes, during the rainy season, it does happen. However, most solar light systems take that into account in the design. Usually, you get a rechargeable battery pre-installed in the light system that gives you a backup of up to three days. So even if the sun goes out for a couple of days, you are all set.
Final Thoughts
Due to the declining climatic conditions and exhaustion of natural resources all over the world, more and more people opting to switch to renewable sources of energy. In doing so, we cannot and should not overlook the best source of energy of them all, the sun.
We hope all the information in this article could clear out any of the confusion you might have as to how solar lights work.
Find more about William and Lighting Coast.
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