With its environmentally friendly and energy-saving features, solar street lights are widely used in outdoor lighting scenarios such as city roads and country trails. However, just like any equipment, solar streetlights require regular maintenance to ensure their continuous and stable function. Proper maintenance not only extends the service life of solar street lights and reduces overall costs, but also safeguards the quality of road lighting and provides safety for pedestrians and vehicles. Below we will delve into the maintenance methods of solar street lights to provide a comprehensive guide for those involved.
solar street lights
In solar photovoltaic power generation systems, due to the extreme instability of the input energy, it is usually necessary to configure batteries to ensure the normal operation of street lights. The main function of the battery is to store and release electrical energy. During the day, it stores the electricity converted by the solar PV module, and discharges it at night under the instruction of the controller. Currently, commonly used solar street light batteries include lead-acid batteries, colloidal batteries and lithium batteries, and different types of batteries differ in performance: lithium batteries are preferred by most solar street light manufacturers due to their long lifespan and non-polluting characteristics. In addition, batteries are usually installed on light poles or buried underground, and the battery box protects the batteries from groundwater corrosion.
| Battery Type | Charge-Discharge Cycles | Self-Discharge Rate | Lifespan | Deep Discharge Capability | Charging Efficiency |
| Lead-Acid Battery | Relatively Few | High | Short | Average | Average |
| Gel Battery | More | Low | Long | Strong | High |
| Lithium Battery | Many | Low | Long | Strong | High |
In the application of solar street light, the choice of light source is crucial. Currently, the commonly used light sources for solar street lights include low-voltage energy-saving lamps, low-voltage sodium lamps, induction lamps and LED light sources. Among these light sources, low-pressure sodium lamps have a high luminous efficiency of up to 200 lumen per watt, but unfortunately, their cost is high, while LED light sources have a relatively high luminous efficiency, which is continuously improved with the continuous innovation of the technology, and their service life is up to 50,000 hours, with a moderate cost.
Low-voltage energy-saving lamps with high luminous efficiency, low power, but only 2000 hours of service life, relatively short. Induction lamps have the characteristics of low power and high luminous efficiency, but because of its voltage and solar street lamps do not match, there are limitations in the application of solar street lighting scenarios.LED light source with a long life and adaptable operating voltage and other advantages, become the ideal choice for solar street lights. With the advancement of technology, the performance of LED will be further improved to bring better effect for solar street lighting.
Commonly used solar panels are mainly divided into monocrystalline and polycrystalline types. Their role is to convert solar energy into electricity, and stored in the battery. Monocrystalline solar panels have a conversion rate of 17% and polycrystalline solar panels have a conversion rate of about 12%. In order for solar panels to fully absorb sunlight and generate electricity, they need to be installed in such a way that they face the sun. If the solar panel is blocked by trees or covered with leaves or dust, it will result in insufficient power generation and affect the normal operation of the street light.
The solar street light controller is an indispensable part of the solar street light system and the control core. It connects the street light, battery and solar panel in series to ensure the normal operation of the whole system. The controller has four main functions: one is to limit the voltage input to the battery; two is to boost the voltage when there is no voltage output, so that the battery reaches the level that can light the street light; three is to control the output cycle, so that the solar street light is turned on at a set time; four is to adjust the output power, such as early morning street light power to 20W, evening to 100W. when choosing a solar street light controller, you need to consider three key factors: Panel power, system voltage, and the type and power of the street light. Clarify these three points in order to select the right controller.
solar street light
The main sign of LED street light failure is that the street light does not light up or flickers. The main causes of these failures include problems with the LED driver, the LED module, or electrical surges. In addition to poor power supply and chip quality, ambient temperature, voltage fluctuations, surge impacts, switching frequency, and heat dissipation problems can all lead to street light failure. Therefore, regular inspection and maintenance of street lighting is required to ensure that street lights continue to operate properly.
LED light decay is an unavoidable phenomenon during the long-term use of LED products. Factors such as chip quality, production process, heat dissipation performance and drive current will all affect the light decay rate. It is generally believed that when the luminous flux of the street light drops to 70% of the initial luminous flux, it is necessary to replace the LED light source, because at this time the luminous flux can no longer meet the requirements of contrast and brightness at the beginning of the lighting design. Inadequate lighting can lead to a variety of problems, so maintenance (replacement of the light source) is needed to ensure that areas such as motorways, sidewalks and parking lots are illuminated accordingly.
In addition to malfunction and light decay problems, streetlights also need to be regularly inspected for wires, connectors and grounding devices to prevent electrical short circuits or leakage accidents caused by aging, damaged or poor contact of wires. Meanwhile, streetlight housings should be inspected regularly to ensure that they meet the IP/IK protection level requirements, so as to avoid deterioration of waterproof and impact resistance, which may affect the safety and performance of streetlights.
One of the first maintenance tasks for solar LED street light poles is regular cleaning. The accumulation of dust, dirt and debris will form a layer of shading on the surface of the solar panel, reducing the efficiency of the solar panel in absorbing sunlight, and thus weakening the luminous effect of the street light. Studies have shown that for every 1mm of dust accumulated on the surface of the solar panel, the power generation will be reduced by 10% – 20%. At the same time, dust on the lamps and lenses will also affect the propagation and scattering of light, reducing the lighting quality of the streetlights.
led solar street light
Therefore, the solar panels, lamps and lenses should be cleaned regularly with a soft cloth or mild detergent solution. When cleaning the solar panel, avoid using sharp tools to avoid scratching the protective film on the surface of the solar panel. During the cleaning process, you can use a soft brush to gently brush away the dust and debris on the surface, then use a soft cloth dipped in a mild detergent solution to wipe it, and finally rinse it off with water. For lamps and lenses, a similar method can be used for cleaning, but care should be taken to avoid water entering the interior of the lamps and causing short circuits.
Batteries used in outdoor solar lighting systems have a limited lifespan and need to be replaced periodically. The frequency of battery replacement depends on battery quality, climatic conditions and usage. Under high temperature and high humidity, the life of the battery will be shortened; frequent charging and discharging will also accelerate the aging of the battery. Typically, lead-acid batteries need to be replaced every 2 – 5 years, gel batteries every 5 – 8 years, and lithium batteries every 8 – 15 years.
Because of the chemicals inside the batteries and the electrical connections involved in the replacement process, replacement should be performed by a qualified technician. When replacing batteries, choose products that match the specifications and models of the original batteries, and operate in strict accordance with the operating procedures to ensure that the connections are firm and avoid short-circuit and leakage accidents.
The solar LED street light pole needs to be checked regularly for any signs of damage or wear. Any damage, such as cracks or breaks in the pole, loose bolts or screws, damaged wiring, etc., may lead to street light failure or even collapse, posing serious safety risks. When checking the light pole, you should carefully observe the surface of the pole for cracks, deformation, etc. For light poles installed in coastal areas or high humidity environments, you also need to pay special attention to whether there is corrosion. When checking the bolts and screws, a wrench should be used to tighten them to ensure a firm connection. For wiring, wires should be checked for damage, aging, short circuit and other problems. In addition, it is also necessary to check whether the installation angle and position of the street lamps have changed, if there is any offset, it should be adjusted in time to ensure the lighting effect of the street lamps.
Solar street light poles are usually made of aluminum, steel or other metals, which are susceptible to corrosion in a long-term outdoor environment. Corrosion will weaken the structure of the pole, reduce its carrying capacity and shorten its service life. Especially in coastal areas, the high salt content in the air will accelerate the corrosion of the light pole. Therefore, it is important to check for signs of corrosion such as rust or discoloration and take measures to prevent the spread of corrosion. For minor corrosion, sandpaper can be used to sand down the corroded areas and then apply anti-rust paint for protection. For severely corroded light poles, they should be replaced in time to ensure the safety of streetlights. In addition, applying corrosion-resistant coatings, such as hot-dip galvanizing and plastic spraying, will help protect the light poles from corrosion and extend their service life.
Solar LED street light poles rely on a complex electrical system to convert solar energy into usable electricity. Therefore, it needs to be checked for electrical problems such as loose connections, damaged wiring or faulty components, all of which can affect the performance of the street light. When checking the electrical connections, tools such as multi meters should be used to test the resistance value of the connection parts and determine whether the connections are firm. Loose connections should be tightened in time.
When checking the wiring, you should check whether the wires are broken, aging, short-circuit and other problems, if any, should be replaced in time. In addition, LED drivers, controllers and other components should be tested to ensure that they work properly. For faulty parts, they should be replaced in time to ensure the normal operation of the street light.
led solar street light
Checking and replacing wearable parts such as surge protectors and seals can effectively prevent small problems from evolving into big failures. Surge protectors can quickly cut off the circuit when instantaneous over voltage occurs, protecting electronic components from damage. The seals can prevent dust, rain and other impurities into the lamps and lanterns, to protect the electronic components from erosion. Through regular maintenance and timely replacement of these wear parts, the service life of the entire lighting system can be extended, reducing the cost of replacement equipment.
Regular cleaning of the luminaire surfaces or replacement of the LED light source components ensures that the lighting fixtures are in optimal working condition (high light transmission and high LED chip efficacy). Clean fixture surfaces improve light utilization by reducing light reflection and scattering, while new LED light source components provide higher luminous efficacy, meeting lighting needs at lower power levels and reducing energy waste. According to statistics, through regular maintenance, the energy efficiency of solar street lights can be increased by 10% – 20%, thus reducing lighting costs.
Regularly adjusting the installation position and lighting angle of streetlights can ensure that the light emitted by streetlights correctly covers the areas that need to be illuminated, avoiding lighting blind zones and improving safety. For example, at key locations such as road corners and intersections, reasonable adjustment of the lighting angle of streetlights can provide drivers with a clear view and reduce traffic accidents. At the same time, reducing unnecessary upward light can reduce light pollution, protect the environment and create a good nighttime ecological environment.
Regular inspection and maintenance of electronic components can ensure the integrity of cables, wiring and housings within the luminaire, effectively preventing electric shock accidents. The risk of electrical leakage can be avoided through inspections that promptly identify and address problems such as aging, broken wires and loose connections. At the same time, ensure that the protection level of the street light shell is up to standard, which can prevent personnel from contacting the electrified parts and protect personal safety.
The maintenance of solar streetlights covers a number of aspects, from understanding the streetlight components, to identifying common problems, to taking targeted maintenance measures, each link is crucial. Through regular maintenance, not only to extend the service life of solar street lights, improve energy efficiency, but also to protect the road lighting safety. We hope to provide practical guidance for the maintenance of solar street lights, and help solar street lights continue to play its advantages.
