Solar Lights?

Question

The ones that have solar panels and and when night time comes they automatically turn on. How do they work? This is for a DIY project I want to try. Also how much power to solar panels generate? What size do solar panels come in? Do they come in the small size that are on solar lights? Also can you buy those solar panels and where?

Answer 1

Hi,

How they work is straightforward:

1- The built-in or stand-alone solar panel coupled with a charger will recharge the batteries during day light.
2- when night falls a photocell will detect the change of luminosity and will trigger the light.
3- The same photocell will switch of the light at sunrise

Can you tell me more about your DIY project? May be I can help you.

Answer 2

1) Well, since the solar panels themselves aren't generating electricity when the lights turn on/it is dark out. They generate the electricity during the day, and store it in a battery. Then there is a element in the circuit which detects when it is night, at which point it connects the lights to the batteries and you have light! :)

2) Solar panels can generate any range of power. From say 1.2 Watts to 200 Watts are common. And the size obviously varies according to the power. The more power, the more solar cells needed, and the bigger the panel.

3) The 1.2 Watt solar panel can be bought at:

http://store.altenergystore.com/Solar-Electric-Panels/1-to-50-Watt-Solar-Panels/Kyocera-12W-12V-Mini-Solar-Panel/p718/

I hope that helps!
-Nick

Answer 3

My dear, this is a ton of questions which can fill a whole book....!
How does it work?
The solar panel charges a (rechargeable) AA battery during the day. At dawn, a photo-sensor (usually a so-called LDR) "tells" a transistor that it is getting dark, and the transistor turns-on a little LED (light emitting diode).
How much power to solar panels generate?
Depends on the size. Roughly (at today's technology) it is about 5 Watt per square foot (30 x 30 cm).
What size do solar panels come in?
From 1 square centimeter to one square meter, and anything in-between.
Do they come in the small size that are on solar lights?
Obviously, yes.
Also can you buy those solar panels and where?
*I* can, because I know where I live.....how about you?
Have a look at http://www.mrsolar.com/ there are resellers like this in almost every country.

Answer 4

The solar light works by the solar panle to power generation, the battery energy storage, the controller controls the battery charge and discharge.Firstly,solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it to electricity during the day,and then electricity charge battery by solar controller, electricity is stored into battery,at night,battery release electricity to power the LED by controller.
There are several kinds of solar panels,so the power is different,you can choose one according to your need. the size obviously varies according to the power. The more power, the more solar cells needed, and the bigger the panel.
If you want solar panels or want more info,please browse the following website,it will help you.www.himin.com

Answer 5

Solar lights include 3 main parts, panels, controller, battery and LED lights.
In the daytime, sunlight irradiate on the panels and converted into electric throuth photovoltaic, the battery is charged by controller. In night, the LED light is turned on , when arrival the set time or the sunlight is bright enough, the light is turned off.

Answer 6

These are the size solar panels you can get at hobby shops - look online for specifications at

http://radioshack.com

or

http://jameco.com

Answer 7

are you a chair ub that helped build light in the sky for god,.

Answer 8

yo yep