How to Make Solar Lights Stay on Longer? (4 Quick Solutions!)
There are a few things you can do to make your solar lights stay on longer:
- Make sure the solar light is in a location with the most sun.
- Keep the light clean so it generates the most energy.
- Angle the solar panel towards the sun to maximize the amount of sun it’s getting.
- Get a light with a high quality solar battery.
Do you have a problem with your outdoor solar lights not staying on for very long? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of people have this same issue. We will discuss four quick solutions that should help you keep your solar lights on for longer so you have more lighting at night!
Why Are My Solar Lights Not Staying on For a Long Time?
The main reason for this issue is that solar lights rely on direct sunlight to power them. If they’re not getting enough sunlight, they will not be able to stay on for very long.
Direct sunlight is always best, but if that’s not possible, try to place the solar light in an area where it will get plenty of indirect sunlight throughout the day.
Most solar outdoor lights need about 8 hours of direct sunlight in order to charge the rechargeable batteries. If your solar lights are not getting this much sunlight, they will not stay on for very long.
Remember solar lights can be left out in the rain but be aware that on a rainy day where it rains continuously it can shorten the amount of time your lights stay on at night as there is less sun to recharge the batteries.
How Can I Make My Solar Lights Stay on Longer?
Before you look at our four simple tips, we have experienced an embarrassing issue where our outdoor solar lights had an “off” switch that we accidentally didn’t switch back. This meant that the light didn’t power on at all to recharge during the day. So, make sure that you check this first!
If you checked the switch and still wondering how to make your solar outdoor lights stay on longer, there are a few things that you can do:
The Best Location
The first thing you can do is make sure that the solar panel is in a location where it will get direct and sufficient sunlight for most of the day. This will ensure that the batteries are getting enough power to stay charged.
Remember the light source is important and the amount of good sunlight the solar panel receives is what will determine how long your lights stay on.
Keep It Clean
Another great tip is to keep the solar panel clean. If there is dirt or debris blocking the panel, it won’t be able to absorb as much sunlight. Poor sunlight absorption like this will not charge the battery as much and the light won’t stay on as long.
To improve the amount of light your older solar lights absorb try our amazingly simple solution: fixing your solar lights with nail polish. Yes, it actually works!
Pay attention to the light sensor because if this is obstructed, the light won’t come on at all! The sensors make solar lights turn on and off automatically.
The Right Angle
You can also try pointing the solar panel towards the equator. This will maximize the amount of sunlight that it gets during the day. This can be difficult to do if you are not sure what the best angle or location is, but you can find this information online.
To generate the most electricity and get a full charge to power the light for the whole night, the solar panel should be placed at an angle that is perpendicular to the sun’s rays.
This means that if the sun is low in the sky, the solar panel should be tilted up more. And if the sun is high in the sky, then the panel should be angled down a bit.
High Quality Battery
Using a higher quality battery is one of the best ways to make sure that your solar lights stay on for a long time. A higher quality battery will be able to hold a charge better and will last longer overall.
If you buy solar lights that are better quality they may cost more, but they will be worth it in the long run. The life expectancy of the light will be much longer and battery capacity will be much higher.
If your solar landscape lights are very old and do not generate enough energy during the day you may have a bad battery that has lost its capacity.
You should check the manufacturer’s warranty to see if it covers batteries. If not, it may be time for an upgrade and invest in new lights. If the light this still fine you may just need a new battery but not all lights allow battery replacement.
How Long Do Solar Lights Stay on At Night?
Most solar lights will typically stay on for about eight hours at night, which in most places is the entire night. However, this can vary depending on the quality of the batteries, how much sunlight the solar panel gets during the day, and other factors.
The solar panels generate electricity during the day, which charges the battery. Then the light turns on automatically at night. The solar light will stay on until the batteries run out of power.
How long solar lights stay on really depends on how much sunlight they get during the day. If they don’t get enough sunlight, then the batteries won’t be able to hold a charge and the light will go out sooner.
With brand new solar lights, you can expect them to stay on for a full eight hours if you charge them properly from the start. But as they get older, the batteries will start to lose their capacity and the light won’t stay on as long.
If you want your solar lights to stay on longer, it’s important to follow the tips we mentioned above. By doing so, you can maximize the amount of time your solar lights will stay on at night!
FAQ
Final Thoughts
Despite the benefits of solar powered lights, one downside is that they can often turn off suddenly or not stay on for very long. In this post, we’ve outlined four solutions to help make your solar lights last longer.
You don’t always have to resort to replacing the batteries which can be expensive! Sometimes the easiest solution is to simply keep the solar panel clean so it can absorb more sunlight and put it in a location that gets more sun.
Just make sure you get the right solar light batteries, as using high quality batteries is one of the best ways to make your solar lights last longer!
