Why do solar lights stop working?

Solar lights will fail to operate if they aren't receiving sufficient sunlight to maintain battery charge. As a first step, relocate your solar light to a sunnier location to determine if this resolves the problem.

Will solar lights work in winter?
Solar lights will function during winter if they receive adequate daylight to power their nighttime operation. Even in colder months when you're indoors avoiding inclement weather, your lights will still absorb available (though reduced) natural light. However, remember that limited sunlight directly impacts performance - you'll notice significantly dimmer light output during winter months.

Can street lights affect solar lights' performance?
Yes, street lights can impact solar lights' performance. Solar lights utilize light sensors designed to activate only in darkness. When installed near street lights or in brightly lit areas, these sensors may misinterpret ambient light as daylight, preventing the solar lights from turning on.

Can solar lights charge through glass?
Solar lights don't rely on the sun's heat - they're powered by sunlight. Yes, solar lights can charge through glass as long as they receive regular access to natural sunlight. However,
charging through glass may reduce your light's efficiency by up to 50%.

Solar lights charge in shade?
This depends on your definition of 'shade': If you place your solar lights behind a wall that receives minimal daylight, they likely won't charge sufficiently. If positioned under a shady tree, sunlight will peek through the branches and leaves to reach the solar panel, providing some charging capability.

Can solar lights work indoors?
While primarily designed for outdoor use, many people now use solar lights indoors as part of switching to renewable energy. For indoor use, we recommend placing them on windowsills or under skylights to ensure proper charging through glass.

Will solar lights charge on cloudy days?
Despite the UK's unpredictable weather, solar garden lights remain extremely popular. While sunnier days provide more energy, UK weather still offers enough sunlight to power lights even on cloudy days.

Are solar lights waterproof?
True to their design, solar lights must be placed in direct sunlight to charge their internal batteries. Being primarily for outdoor use, they are waterproof, though we recommend occasional cleaning to remove dust and dirt.

Are solar lights safe?
Solar lights are completely safe when properly maintained and functioning correctly. Regular cleaning and unplugging them during extended absences will help prolong their lifespan.

Are solar lights bad for plants?
When positioned correctly, solar lights can benefit plants by supplementing light during darker periods. The additional light may promote flowering, but avoid direct light on leaves to prevent potential burning. If plants show signs of stress, relocate the lights temporarily to observe any improvements.

How to install solar lights

This guide provides installation and maintenance advice to help you achieve optimal solar light performance. First, let's examine the four essential components required for solar lights to
function properly:

1. A rechargeable battery - Stores solar-generated power
2..A photovoltaic cell/solar panel - Captures sunlight for conversion to electrical energy (must face sunlight directly)
3. Charge controller - Prevents battery overcharging, monitors ambient light levels, and controls LED operation
4. LEDs - Provide the light output

3 key elements for a successful installation

Positioning: To maximize performance, position your solar lights to receive as much direct sunlight as possible. While constant all-day sunlight isn’t strictly necessary (though it ensures full battery charging), carefully assess your garden or outdoor space to identify areas with sustained daylight exposure. Always ensure the solar panel remains clean for optimal efficiency.
Charge: For optimal performance, we recommend giving new solar lights 36–48 hours of continuous charging (while switched off) to ensure a full battery charge. This process can be repeated later if battery performance declines. Many mistakenly assume their lights are faulty when performance drops (especially after periods of inactivity), but this usually just indicates the need to fully drain and recharge the batteries.
Expectations: It’s equally important to set realistic expectations and understand the inherent limitations of solar lights—and solar energy in general. Regardless of model or quality, performance inevitably declines during winter months: lights will appear dimmer and operate for shorter durations compared to summer. That said, by following this guide’s recommendations, you’ll maximize your solar lights’ potential and achieve their peak possible performance.

Common Mistakes When Installing Solar Lights

1.    Installing solar lights too close to other outdoor or street lights: The solar lights’ sensors may misinterpret ambient light as daylight, preventing activation.
2.    Positioning solar lights in low-sunlight areas: For optimal performance, install lights where they receive direct sunlight for most of the day.
3.    Allowing obstacles to block sunlight: Sunlight obstructions (trees, bushes, laundry, or even glass) significantly reduce charging efficiency. Note: Solar lights cannot charge fully through glass—avoid placing them in conservatories or greenhouses.
4.    Using alkaline batteries instead of rechargeable solar batteries: While useful for troubleshooting, prolonged alkaline battery use may corrode terminals and damage electrical connections 

Solar light batteries explained
Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries typically offer three times the capacity of similarly sized nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, delivering longer runtime and greater reliability. While NiMH batteries may cost slightly more, they provide significant advantages:

Eco-friendly: Use dry liquid electrolytes for easier disposal
Temperature resilience: Operate in -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)
No memory effect: Maintain full charging capability even after partial charges (unlike lead-acid batteries)
Cloud-day performance: Continue charging effectively in overcast conditions

Solar lights not working properly?
In this section, we'll examine potential causes of underperforming solar lights. You may also want to consult our solar light installation guide. (though many of those points are covered here too). First, we must acknowledge both the inherent limitations of solar lighting technology and the specific geographical challenges present in the AU. The most commonly available solar lights are relatively low-cost products containing budget components, which naturally limits their performance. While the solar panels and batteries in these affordable models may deliver adequate performance during peak summer months, they will inevitably underperform in winter conditions. Inexpensive solar garden lights are widely sold at discount stores, supermarkets, and through questionable online marketplace sellers. The reality is that you typically get what you pay for. Higher-end solar lights - generally featuring amorphous panels rather than crystalline ones, and equipped with larger NiMH batteries instead of NiCd batteries - do offer superior winter performance. However, these premium options come at a significantly higher price point and have limited availability. Having established these fundamentals, let's now explore specific troubleshooting steps for solar lights.

My solar lights have never worked, or only worked for the first day or two

Leave to charge for 36-48 hours before turning on: While it's possible the lights were faulty when first unboxed, the most likely cause in our experience is that they simply haven't received sufficient charge. We recommend turning them off if possible, positioning them to receive maximum sunlight exposure, and allowing them to charge for 36-48 hours before use. Although solar lights may arrive with some residual charge, their batteries are rarely at full capacity
initially.

Remove any obstructions that may block sunlight: Other essential checks include confirming the lights are switched on (you might be surprised how often this is overlooked) and removing any battery tab if present (again, this is frequently missed). Also, ensure you remove the clear protective film from the solar panel if installed, as this blocks sunlight from properly reaching the panel. Remember to eliminate all other obstructions, including glass - a common misconception is that solar lights can effectively charge from inside greenhouses or through windows.

Keep clear of other lighting: Finally, make sure your solar lights aren't positioned too close to other outdoor or street lighting. Since solar lights operate using light sensors, nearby artificial lighting can trick theminto remaining off by simulating daylight conditions. To test your lights, you can completely cover the solar panel to create artificial darkness - this should trigger the photocell to activate the lights, confirming they're working properly.

My solar lights worked previously but don't now: The most likely culprit is the battery - for various reasons, it may not be holding or receiving sufficient charge. There are several troubleshooting steps you can attempt to resolve this issue...

Leave to charge for 36-48 hours before turning on: The first solution mirrors our previous recommendation: switch the lights off and allow them to charge uninterrupted for 36-48 hours before reactivating them. This maintenance routine should ideally be repeated every few months for optimal performance.

Position to receive as much direct sunlight as possible: If your solar lights aren't already in their optimal position, try relocating them to a different area of your garden where they'll receive continuous sunlight throughout the day. Should their performance improve, this indicates they likely weren't getting sufficient sunlight in their original location.

Clean the solar panel: Clean the solar panel with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Over time, accumulated dust and residues can form a layer that significantly reduces sunlight absorption, impairing the charging efficiency.

Most solar lights (except premium models) have a limited lifespan due to battery charge cycles. While we can't provide exact figures given variations in lights, batteries, and panels, a reasonable estimate is typically 1-2 years of use. If you've exhausted all troubleshooting steps and your lights are at this age where batteries may be failing, replacement could be your solution. We offer various replacement solar batteries – simply identify your specific battery type and use our website's search function to check availability.