Question : Why my solar garden lamp doesn’t works anymore?
20.06.2013
Question :Why does my solar garden lamp doesn’t works anymore?
Many customers come into the store with their solar garden light in hand and disappointment on their faces. Often, these lights were purchased to embellish their beautiful garden and unfortunately, this year, the famous lamp no longer works. Why?
Garden lamp, solar and batteries, a love that lasts?
Basically, these lamps are made-out of a light, a solar panel and a battery. The panel charges the battery and the battery turns on the light. Technically, these lamps are made to last. But why do they stop working when Spring arrives? Again, the climate in Quebec is the key problem. In Texas, we don’t even think to ask such a question...
Full charging power in summer… but in winter?
In summer, the charging system built into the lamp, is usually perfect to charge and use the lamp to its full potential. The lamps self-discharge in the evening and the next day, the sunlight generally provides enough energy to recharge them. Unfortunately, autumn and winter come back to cool our enthusiasm.
In the fall, people tend to neglect their flowerbeds, which is normal. However, with fallen leaves and the accumulation of snow afterwards, solar panels do not have the same exposure time and consequently, the energy required to charge the battery. The battery are then systematically discharged during the winter.
A matter of chemistry ...Battery chemistry.
In fact this type of device is generally designed with a NiMH or LiFePO4 battery. This chemistry are perfect for managing multiple cycles of charging and recharging every day but their life span fall dramatically when the battery is discharged over a long period of time (worse with extreme cold winter).
What you should do, to have your garden lamps working next spring?
1 - When the batteries are charged, they can last much longer, even in the cold. The best thing to do is to remove the snow on top of the buried lamps in order for the sunlight to activate them.
2- Use an adequate charger. This winter, you must take inside your lamps and remove the batteries in order to recharge them about every two months or so. The following season, you will find them in top shape. Depending on the battery used by the manufacturer of the lamp, not all chargers are compatible. We recommend that you see one of our experts who will recommend you the correct charger.
Yes, but what do I do this year?
This year, if your garden lights do not work, the batteries are probably completely discharged and it is probably too late. In this case, we advise you to go see one of our Batteries Experts store closest to you to change the battery. Our batteries are excellent as well as our prices.
Have fun gardening and enjoy the summer!
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