Solar panel lighting problem

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

My Son has a substancial shed at the bottom of his garden,too far from house to run mains electricity. As he only requires a light, he has installed a Solar panel and two motion sensor switched circular LEDs. This set up has worked for the past year,but recently fails to light. I have disconected the whole set up and broght it to my workshop to check out. This is where things get bizarre and where I am looking for  comments  from those that understand these things.The solar panel has 12 units 1.5inches square and facing south in full sun is producing   7.5 volts. With both lights connected, no light comes on, whatever I wave at them. They are connected to the panel with miniture, polerised plugs,push-in and locked with a screw collar . If I disconnect the lights they both light up with the slightest motion and remain on for 30 seconds if no other movement is detected. Clearly, some change has occured in the circuit ,but I have no ideas,

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Some of these auto lights only trigger and illuminate when a sensor shows it to be dark.

That is, with an output from the panel, the light sensor circuitry recognises it’s still daylight and doesn’t turn on the light.
If you unplug the solar voltage source, the sensor thinks the sun’s gone to bed, and turns on the light accordingly.
Does the internal battery either need replacing, or have dirty contacts which have improved when you moved the lights.

Bill

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Wot Bill said.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

As Bill above.

I have a cheap set that has no ‘sensor’, any charge coming from the array says light not needed. Throw a cloth over the array and the lights work.

It would appear your lights are now working normally. It’s probably too bright in the evenings now to switch the lights on.

 

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

I have tested out Bill’s theory this morning. With the lights disconected from the solar panel, both  lighted with the slightest movement, outside in sunshine, as well as in the unlit workshop. With both connected, they did not light up.  Both lights are receiving a charge to their batteries, so  something is knocking out the motion sensors when connected to the solar array.

Keith.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Hi Keith,

That is the design. If the solar cells are illuminated the lights won’t come on becuase they are not needed because ther is another source of light.

What happens if you cover the solar cells with a metallic sheet?

Robert.

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

They did work normally for a year. By normally, I mean they lit up when someone went into the shed, whatever the outside light.

I have tried your sugestion of blacking out the array and nothing happened. Thanks for the sugestions though.

Keith

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Ok,

Without knowing the equipment I can’t offer further advice.

Robert.

[Robert Atkinson 2]

On Robert Atkinson 2 Said:

Ok,

Without knowing the equipment I can’t offer further advice.

Robert.

In a similar position, other than to suggest that some auto lights have one or more adjustable posts to change proximity sensitivity, and/or light levels at which they illuminate.
Failing that, you know they work as desired when the solar panels are disconnected, so just add a light switch in their power feed, but effectively reversed to turn off when you enter the shed in the dark.

Bill

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful comments,but we have decided to scrap the whole assembly and purchase another type.

Keith

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

If the solar cells feed into some sort of Ni Cad battery, it is possible that the battery has failed (They do seem to have a severely limited life)

Replacing the battery pack with something more modern, may fix the problem

Howard

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

Or even just opening them up and if they are NiCd or NiMh cells then recharging them on a regular charger – I revived my wife’s cheap solar garden lights this way after they died over the winter months, these seem to be working OK again now so we may get another year out of them.

For the repurchase I’d try and find something that has a detachable battery pack that you then recharge periodically in the house, getting enough solar in the winter is always going to be a challenge. A manual on/off switch is also going to be the most efficient, no vampire drain. In my shed I have a small portable rechargable low power automatic light that comes on automatically and gives enough light to then find the switch for the main lights.

 

[KEITH BEAUMONTParticipant @keithbeaumont45476]

I will pass that information to my son,who is in the act of finding an alternative, MAny thanks again,

Keith

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