Sunlight is my favorite way to light up a yard by a long shot. Since they get their power from the sun, they’re free to run and easy to set up. Festoon lights that are just right can make a patio or deck look great.
The main problem with solar lights, though, is that they don’t last long. A lot of us have bought solar lights for the summer without thinking about it, only to find that they didn’t work after a few weeks. This is not only annoying, but it also makes a lot of plastic trash.
You can try a few things first before you turn off the lights. An experienced electrical engineer told me these five easy ways to fix lights that look like they’re broken after we talked about how to bring them back to life.
1. Clean the solar panel
It’s easy to forget about one of the fastest ways to fix a solar light. The first thing you should do is clean the screen.
Harish Krinshamoorthy, an expert in electrical engineering, told me, ” Solar lights can often be fixed by cleaning the solar panel.” Sunlight can’t reach the panel if it’s covered in dirt, dust, or other waste. This makes it less able to charge the battery and power the light.
It is best to clean the solar panel’s surface with something soft and light. Also, you might need to dry it completely to avoid water spots.
2. Move the solar panel
Moving your solar panel is the next easy thing you can do. You might not think that the place you think is great for a solar panel is actually the best place for one. It doesn’t work to hide a solar panel in a flowerbed like I tried when I was trying solar lights for years. The sun moves across the sky, and leaves and petals can block some of the sun’s rays from reaching your solar panels.
“It may be better for the panel to be slightly tilted toward the general southern direction,” says Professor Krishnamoorthy as another tip. As you look at the sky from the north, the sun is always in the south. Small change, but if your lights are looking north, you might not be getting the most out of them.
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3. Replace the batteries
Move or clean the solar screen, but if that doesn’t help, check the batteries next. Rechargeable batteries power solar lights, and these batteries can often be changed.
I was told by Professor Krishnamoorthy, “You might be able to change the batteries in a solar light.” A lot of solar lights use AA or AAA batteries that can be charged again and again. When you replace them, make sure you use the right type and capacity that the maker says to use. Most of the time, new rechargeable batteries are not too expensive. For example, Amazon has a lot of rechargeable batteries.
Professor Krishnamoorthy says, “Make sure the new batteries are properly installed and be aware of the orientation of the batteries in the compartment” once you have new batteries. This is another well-known fix.
4. Fix the light sensor
You might need to try some more technical fixes if none of these work.
Prof. Krishnamoorthy says, “Depending on the problem, fixing a solar light sensor can be a bit tricky.” First, check to see if the sensor is blocked by dust or other things. If you clean the sensor and the light still doesn’t work, make sure there are no wire problems or loose connections.
“In some cases, the sensor might be broken and need to be changed,” he says. But be careful with this; read the manufacturer’s directions first before making any big changes.
5. Dry out water damage
Water damage could be the last trouble. Most solar lights can handle water, but if you buy cheap ones, they probably won’t be completely waterproof. Unfortunately, water damage can’t always be fixed.
You could try drying out all of the parts, though. Professor Krishnamoorthy says, “For minor water ingress, you might be able to take the light apart, dry it completely, and seal any holes.” He does say, though, that this won’t fix major water damage, so you should probably just buy new lights.