Things you may not know about solar  street lights ..

"Solar energy" is a "wonderful" existence, which is both energy-saving and environmentally friendly, while always giving people a mysterious feeling of "being both distant and close".

"At a distance", solar energy can be applied to photovoltaic power stations in deserts, plateaus, and islands; "up close", it can also be used on residential photovoltaic roofs, photovoltaic caravans on the road, and photovoltaic street lamps that we see everywhere every day

Both distant and within reach.

Solar energy, whether near or far, pervades every corner of our lives, bringing us the most perfect gift from nature.

With the development of the low-carbon economy, solar lighting technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Today, we will start with the most common solar application around us - "solar street lights".

What is a solar-powered street lamp?

Solar street lights are powered by crystalline silicon solar cells, store electrical energy in maintenance-free valve-regulated sealed batteries (gel batteries), use ultra-bright LED lamps as light sources, and are controlled by intelligent charging and discharging controllers. They are used to replace traditional utility-powered street lights.

What is solar energy?

Solar energy refers to the thermal radiation energy emitted by the sun (see the three modes of heat transfer: radiation), primarily manifested as the commonly mentioned sun's rays. In modern times, it is generally used for power generation or to provide energy for water heaters. Since the birth of life on Earth, it has primarily relied on the thermal radiation energy provided by the sun for survival. Since ancient times, humans have also understood how to dry objects in the sun and used it as a method of preparing food, such as making salt and drying salted fish. In the context of diminishing fossil fuels, solar energy has become an important component of human energy use and continues to develop. The utilization of solar energy includes two modes: solar thermal conversion and photovoltaic conversion. Solar power generation is an emerging renewable energy source. Within billions of years, solar energy is an inexhaustible and ideal energy source.

What is a solar-powered street light?

Solar street lights are powered by crystalline silicon solar cells, store electrical energy in maintenance-free valve-regulated sealed batteries (gel batteries), use ultra-bright LED lamps as light sources, and are controlled by intelligent charging and discharging controllers. They are used to replace traditional utility-powered street lights.

The working principle of solar-powered street lights

During the day, under the control of the intelligent controller, the solar panels absorb solar energy through exposure to sunlight and convert it into electrical energy. The solar modules charge the battery pack during the day, and at night, the battery pack provides power to the LED light source, achieving the lighting function. The DC controller ensures that the battery pack is not damaged due to overcharging or overdischarging, and it also features light control, time control, temperature compensation, lightning protection, and reverse polarity protection.

Composition of solar energy

1. Solar panel

Solar panels are the core and most valuable component of solar street lights. Their function is to convert solar radiation into electrical energy, which can be stored in batteries. Solar cells primarily utilize monocrystalline silicon as their material, forming a P-N junction similar to that in diodes. Their working principle is analogous to that of diodes.

2. Solar controller

The most crucial component in a solar lighting system is the controller, whose performance directly impacts the system's lifespan, especially the battery's lifespan. The controller utilizes an industrial-grade MCU as the main controller, which controls the on and off of MOSFET devices through measuring environmental temperature and detecting and judging parameters such as voltage and current of the battery and solar cell modules, achieving various control and protection functions.

3. Storage battery

Due to the extreme instability of the input energy in solar photovoltaic power generation systems, it is generally necessary to configure a battery system for operation. Commonly used batteries include lead-acid batteries, Ni-Cd batteries, and Ni-H batteries. The power of solar cells must be at least four times higher than the load power for the system to operate normally. The voltage of solar cells must exceed the operating voltage of the battery by 20% to 30% to ensure normal charging of the battery. The capacity of the battery should be at least six times higher than the daily consumption of the load.

4. Light source

The choice of light source for solar street lights is a crucial indicator of whether the solar lighting fixtures can function properly. Generally, solar lighting fixtures utilize low-voltage energy-saving lamps, low-voltage sodium lamps, induction lamps, or LED light sources.

LED light source boasts a long lifespan, reaching up to 1,000,000 hours. It operates with low voltage, eliminating the need for an inverter, and offers high luminous efficiency, with domestic models delivering 50Lm/w and imported models 80Lm/w. As technology advances, LED performance is expected to further enhance. The author believes that using LED as the light source for solar street lights is a trend.

5. Lamp pole and lamp housing

The height of the lamp post should be determined based on the width of the road, the spacing between lamps, and the illumination standard of the road. Regarding the appearance of the lamp housing, after collecting information on solar lamps from abroad, we found that most of them prioritize energy efficiency over aesthetics. The appearance of the lamp is not highly demanding; it just needs to be relatively practical.

Characteristics of solar energy

Energy conservation: Utilizing solar photovoltaic conversion to provide electric energy, which is inexhaustible.

Environmental protection: no pollution, no noise, no radiation.

Safety: There is absolutely no risk of accidents such as electric shock or fire.

Convenience: Easy to install, without the need for wiring or invasive excavation, and without concerns about power outages or restrictions.

Long lifespan: The product boasts high technological content, featuring an intelligent design with control systems and accessories sourced from international brands, ensuring reliable quality.

High-quality: technology products, green energy, with users attaching importance to technology, enhancing green image, and elevating grade.

Low investment: One-time investment is equivalent to that of AC power (AC power investment includes the total cost of power transformation, power intake, control box, cable, engineering, etc.). One-time investment yields long-term benefits.