All Answers to Questions on Solar Lights

We receive many questions about the operation of solar lights, their installation, maintenance and how to use them to get the maximum benefit from the use of this decoration solution.

Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions.

When should solar lights be preferred?

Solar lights have the advantage of being extremely versatile and easy to install. They do not require you to lay electrical cables, which in some cases can even be dangerous, giving you maximum versatility in positioning them wherever you wish.

Prefer them when you have difficulties connecting to the mains and want to use them mainly during the summer period.

Consider that solar lights, as well as battery lights, do not have the same lighting capacity as mains-powered light string, so opt for these lights if your need is mainly to decorate and not to illuminate.

Solar lights are not professional products, they are therefore recommended for use in the home or for small set-ups in public places.

How long does it take to recharge solar lights?

The charging time of solar lights is a function of several factors:

• Amount of sun exposure during the day;
• Panel type: size and thus battery charging power;
• Battery type: size, battery chemistry and level of wear;
• Initial charge level.

On average, you can keep the solar panel exposed between 5 and 8 hours, during the summer period, before getting a full charge.

At first use, we recommend extending this exposure period by 50% or 100%.

Can I use solar lights during winter?

Solar lights recharge when the sun is shining, so in theory they can be used in winter. In practice, however, the limited sun exposure at that time can prevent the battery from being fully recharged, resulting in low brightness and a short battery life.

We therefore advise you to consider purchasing solar lights for a predominant use during the summer period.

Do solar lights really need the sun to recharge?

The solar panel only achieves its maximum performance when irradiated by direct sunlight. If it is illuminated by artificial light or sunlight filtered by glass, its recharging efficiency is limited.

The panel must be positioned and oriented in a place where it receives maximum sunlight during the day. In this regard, attention must be paid to any obstacles, such as trees or shrubs, that could shade the panel during the day and thus hinder its full charge.

In our catalogue you will find some solar lights that come with a solar panel with USB charging. This way, if there has been little sunlight during the day, you can quickly recharge the integrated battery via a common smartphone power supply.

What maintenance is required for solar lights?

Solar lights are convenient because, once installed, you can forget you have them. Thanks to the light sensor, they switch on and off automatically.

However, if you want to keep your solar lights efficient and long-lived, you need to provide these quick and easy tasks:

• Clean the panel regularly with a damp cloth: even the formation of a layer of dust negatively affects the panel's ability to produce energy;
• Check for possible shading of the panel during the day: after positioning the panel, check whether during the day the presence of shrubs or plants prevents the panel from receiving maximum sunlight. Then consider changing the position of the panel, its orientation or the removal of shading objects;
• Switch off the decoration if you are not using it: if you do not need the solar lights for a while, use the ON/OFF button to switch off the light sensor. This will prevent them from switching on in the evening and unnecessarily discharging the battery. Remember that batteries always have a certain number of charging cycles before they lose their efficiency.

Can I use solar lights all year round?

Solar lights can technically be used all year round, but at certain times, such as during winter, solar exposure is limited and the battery may not be fully recharged.

In this case, we recommend solar lights that have more charging alternatives.

In our catalogue you have two possibilities to choose from:

• Solar lights with charging also via USB: this way you can recharge the integrated battery with mains power and a simple smartphone power supply;
• Smart Connect solar lights with multi-power: this series of lights can be powered not only by the solar panel, but also by a conventional battery holder or a current transformer. This gives you maximum flexibility of use in all conditions.

Bear in mind, however, that the built-in battery has a certain number of recharges, so we recommend that you do not leave the decoration on when it is not needed during the year.

How to install solar lights?

Solar lights are great because they create a cosy atmosphere and at the same time bring many advantages:

• Cheap and environmentally friendly: due to the lack of energy consumption, they produce no harmful emissions;
• Safe: thanks to low operating voltage;
• User-friendly and simple: thanks to the fact that they can be installed wherever you want, regardless of the proximity of electrical sockets.

However, there are a few simple tricks that will help you get the most out of your solar installation:

• Position and orient the solar panel so that it has maximum direct solar radiation throughout the day;
• Pay attention to any obstacles that may block sunlight during the day: shrubs, trees or shadows from buildings or shelters;
• Do not install solar lights near street lights or other light sources: all solar lights have a built-in light sensor on the panel that only activates the lights when it is dark. If other ambient lights irradiate the panel during the night, the lights will not turn on;
• Make the solar panel easily accessible for regular cleaning: dust or dirt is an obstacle to battery charging;
• Avoid placing lights and the solar panel within reach of the lawn irrigation jets.

What is the operating time of solar lights?

The operating time of solar lights is naturally a function of the amount of energy stored by the internal battery during the day. We can provide some tips, especially related to usage, to get the most out of your solar decoration.

The solar lights are designed to illuminate at least 6-8 hours of operation on a full battery charge.

In addition to bearing in mind the above tips on installing and maintaining lights, the main thing is to prevent batteries from continuing to run down even when not needed.

Precisely to prevent this from happening, here are a few tips for use:

• Use one of the preset light effects: steady light is the most energy-consuming mode of operation because all LEDs are constantly lit, but if you choose a light effect you will consume less energy;
• Use the ON/OFF button to turn the lights on when you need them: batteries lose efficiency as they go through charge and discharge cycles. Therefore, avoiding unnecessary recharging of the battery when not needed will help keep it more efficient;
• Use the timer function: thanks to the light sensor, which is always present, the decoration automatically switches on in the evening but stays on all night, even when you don't need it. The timer allows you to switch it off after 3, 5 or 8 hours of operation, thus preserving the battery charge, which will need less time the next day to reach full charge.

If you still have doubts, we invite you to contact us, or, if you want to learn more about how solar lights work, you can read our complete guide to solar lights.