How Long Do Solar Lights Last?
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How Long Do Solar Lights Last?
By Michael Zhang || Updated on 18th Sep 2024
Michael Zhang is a seasoned professional with 15 years of experience in the solar lights industry. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in product design and developing, gaining valuable expertise and insight into the industry. Known for his dedication and professionalism, Michael has contributed significantly to the growth and success of various solar lights projects. His extensive knowledge and hands-on experience make him a trusted authority in the field, and he continues to innovate and excel in his role.
Have you ever worried about the lifespan of these solar lights? Are you worried that the solar lights will break down after a few months?
However, different manufacturers have different quality requirements for solar lights, so it is difficult to generalize the product lifespan. Some products may break down in a month, but some can be used for several years. As their lifespan shortens, they will gradually become darker. Many factors such as installation location, weather, and usage habits will affect their lifespan. However, with proper maintenance, the lifespan of solar lights can be effectively extended.
With many years of experience in solar manufacturing, we will provide you with an in-depth analysis of the lifespan of solar lights. At the same time, we will also share some professional tips to help you extend the lifespan of these solar lights. So, let’s get started:
Table of Contents
Average Lifespan Of Solar Lights
The average lifespan of a solar light is usually between 1 and 5 years, depending on the quality of its raw materials and the conditions of use. The efficiency of solar panels gradually decreases over time, while rechargeable batteries usually last around 1 to 3 years. High-quality solar lights can last longer. However, lower quality products tend to have shorter lifespans and inconsistent performance. As the lifespan is over, they start to get dimmed or cannot be turned on.
Factors Influencing Solar Light Lifespan
There are many factors that determine the lifespan of a solar light, and the superposition of different factors determines the ultimate lifespan of the product, so it is especially important to understand these factors.
Battery
Common types of rechargeable batteries used in solar lights include nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), and the differences in their respective performance and lifespan will also determine the lifespan of the overall light fixture.
Nickel-metal hydride batteries (Ni-MH): These batteries are usually more environmentally friendly than nickel-cadmium batteries, but their energy density is relatively low and their lifespan is usually 500 charge/discharge cycles, about 1 year-2 years of use. Over time, the battery capacity will gradually decline, resulting in shorter lamp lighting time.
Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion): Li-ion batteries have a higher energy density and longer service life, typically lasting 500 to 1,000 charge/discharge cycles, with a lifespan of about 2 to 3 years. Compared to Ni-MH batteries, although Li-ion batteries are relatively more expensive, they are more efficiently charged and maintain better performance after prolonged use.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4): With 1000-2000 cycles and a lifespan of about 3-5 years, LiFePO4 batteries are the most expensive, but they also correspond to the most stable performance and the longest usage time.
Solar Panel
Solar panel is one of the most critical components in solar lights, which is responsible for converting solar energy into electricity and charging the battery. Therefore, the quality of the solar panel directly affects the service life of the solar light.
There are two main common solar panel materials, monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon, which have different performance in efficiency and life span.
Monocrystalline silicon is currently the most efficient solar cell material, usually with a conversion efficiency between 18% and 22%. Monocrystalline panels are characterized by their ability to provide higher energy output in less sunlight and their more stable structure, which can have a lifespan of up to 25 years or more.
Polycrystalline silicon has a relatively low conversion efficiency, usually between 15% and 17%, with the advantage that it is cheaper to produce, but its performance is slightly inferior to that of monocrystalline silicon. In terms of lifespan, polycrystalline silicon solar panels usually have a lifespan of about 20 years.
Lamp Shell Material
UV-resistant plastic or corrosion-resistant metal fixture housings can effectively resist UV radiation, avoid material embrittlement, discoloration or cracking, and extend the life of the fixture. Poor quality plastics are prone to aging under bright light, resulting in lamps and lanterns can not be used normally.
Industrial-grade ABS plastic or aluminum alloy lamps and lanterns shell can ensure that the lamps and lanterns have good sealing, to avoid moisture penetration into the internal circuitry, to prevent short-circuit and corrosion, thus greatly improving the durability of the lamps and lanterns.
For coastal areas or high humidity environments, salt and moisture in the air can cause corrosion of the luminaire’s housing, especially the metal parts. If the housing is made of materials that do not have anti-corrosion properties, the luminaire will soon rust, affecting its appearance and function.
LED Chip
High-quality LED chips have higher luminous efficacy, which means they can produce more light while consuming the same amount of electricity. This means that efficient LED chips reduce the energy consumption of the lamps and thus extend the life of the solar panels and batteries.
In addition, higher luminous efficacy reduces excessive heat generation, which lowers the temperature of the LED chip and slows down its aging process.
PCBA
The circuit design of PCBA directly determines the working stability and durability of the lamps. A good circuit design ensures that each electronic component works stably and harmoniously, and avoids problems such as overheating and short-circuiting.
If the design is not appropriate, it may lead to too much or too little current, which may damage the components and shorten the life of the lamps. Therefore, the design of PCBA should not only meet the functional requirements, but also give full consideration to heat dissipation and current management to ensure long-term stable operation.
Benefits of Long-Lasting Solar Lamp
Cost Effectiveness: Long-life solar lights reduce the need for frequent replacements, thus saving on the cost of new lights and long-term installations.
Energy Savings: Long-life solar lights rely on renewable solar energy, minimizing electricity consumption and thus lowering utility bills.
Low Maintenance: Durable solar lights require less maintenance, minimizing labor costs and downtime.
Environmental Impact: Longer lifespan reduces waste from discarded lamps, conserves resources, and contributes to a greener, more sustainable environment.
Reliability: High-quality, long-life solar lights provide consistent lighting over time, increasing safety and availability, especially in outdoor or remote areas.
Durability: These lights are built to withstand harsh weather conditions and maintain performance even in challenging environments, giving users peace of mind.
Increase Property Value: Durable solar lights can enhance the appearance and functionality of a property, improving aesthetics and potentially increasing property values.
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How Can You Extend The Lifespan Of Solar Lights? – Pro Tips
Although the life of solar lights are determined in the manufacturing process, but some of our habits in the use of the process may extend the service life, so let’s take a look at what are the factors:
Clean Solar Panels Regularly
Solar panels are susceptible to being covered in debris such as dust, leaves and bird droppings, which can affect charging efficiency. Clean solar panels regularly to ensure maximum light absorption and maintain charging efficiency.
Choose a Suitable Mounting Location
Avoid installing your solar light under the shade of a tree or in a place where there is no direct sunlight for a long period of time. Ensuring that the solar panel can receive enough sunlight every day will help prolong the life of the battery.
Proper Storage
If you live in an area with long winters, it is recommended to remove the solar light and store it indoors during the winter or when it is not in use for a long period of time to prevent damage to the batteries and circuits from low temperatures and snow.
Replace Batteries Regularly
Although the batteries in solar lights usually last 2-3 years, checking the performance of the batteries regularly and replacing aging batteries in a timely manner ensures that the lights continue to work properly.
Avoid Extreme Weather Exposure
Retract solar lights indoors before extreme weather such as strong storms and heavy rains to avoid damage to the lights. Prolonged exposure to harsh environments can accelerate component deterioration.
Check Wiring And Connections
Regularly inspect the circuitry and wiring of your fixtures to make sure there are no loose or corroded connections. Good circuit maintenance will prevent fixture failure due to poor contact.
Reason Why Solar Lights Lifetime Claiming May Be Inaccurate
The main reason why life expectancy statements for solar lamps may not be accurate is because of the differences between the environment in which the product is actually used and the laboratory test conditions.
In laboratories, lamps are usually tested under ideal conditions, but when actually used outdoors, factors such as weather changes, temperature extremes, dust and humidity can affect the performance of solar lamps.
In addition, some manufacturers may exaggerate the lifespan of their products for marketing purposes, ignoring the actual durability of key components such as battery quality, LED chips and solar panel efficiency.
Product Range and Specialties
They only have solar street lights, including integrated street lights and split street lights, covering different powers suitable for various projects.
Key Strengths
Bluesmart is a company that specializes in solar street lights. Therefore, their price and quality are relatively good. At the same time, they also have certain innovation capabilities. If you are looking for a supplier that specializes in solar street lights, you can choose them.
Wrapping Up
In a conclusion, the lifespan of solar lights depends on the comprehensive service life of each component, usually 2-5 years, when choosing solar lights, as far as possible, choose high-quality and durable products, so as to reduce the cost of frequent replacement and maintenance, in addition, after reading this article, I believe that you fully understand the factors that determine the lifespan, by mastering this knowledge, you can be more judiciously choose the solar light products that suit your needs!
FLIGREEN, as a leading solar light supplier in China, we only focus on producing high quality solar light products with the most authentic and long-lasting quality assurance, if you have a need for products, you are welcome to contact our sales team.
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