Showing posts with label Solar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Solar. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

DIY Solar LED Outdoor Light Repair: Not Turning ON During Nighttime

Are you facing an issue with your LED solar outdoor light not turning on during nighttime? Don't worry; we've got you covered! In this blog, we will guide you through a simple DIY repair to restore the glow to your outdoor nights.

The battery is not connected to the power supply

Step 1: Accessing the Internal Components

  1. Remove the four screws holding the solar cover in place to begin the repair. This will grant you access to the inner workings of the LED solar outdoor wall light.

    It's not turning ON when the solar is shaded.

    Removing screws

Step 2:  Identifying the Issue
  1. Check for a loose wire at the battery connection. This could be the reason behind your LED light's nighttime inactivity.

    The battery wire negative is not connected.
Step 3: Temporary Connection and Testing
  1. Temporarily reconnect the loose wire to the battery terminal and test the LED light while shading the solar panel. If it lights up, the flexible wire is likely causing the issue.

    LED turning ON
Step 3: Ensuring a Permanent Fix
  1. To guarantee a lasting solution, secure the wire using soldering. This will provide a reliable connection, preventing future interruptions to the LED light's functionality.

    Solder the wire to the negative battery
Step 3: Reassembling the Components
  1. After soldering the wire, reassemble the LED solar outdoor wall light. Place the solar cover back in position and fasten all four screws tightly to ensure a snug fit.

    Fix the battery back to its original place.

    Tighten the screws
Step 3: Final Testing
  1. Test the LED light once more to confirm it activates properly during nighttime hours. Now, you can enjoy well-lit evenings in your outdoor space once again!

It works like a charm!

The link tools and components replacement I used in this video are listed below:

Video:


With these straightforward steps, you can easily repair your LED solar outdoor wall light and make the most of your outdoor living spaces at night. Consider showing your support by subscribing to our channel, liking the video, and sharing it with others who might find it helpful. Your support means the world to us! Happy DIYing, and enjoy the beautifully illuminated nights ahead!

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Understanding the Impact of Partial Shading on Solar Panels and How to Mitigate It

Solar power has recently become a popular renewable energy source due to its cleanliness, abundance, and environmental friendliness. However, solar panel installations face a significant challenge due to partial shading. This occurs when some parts of the solar panel receive less sunlight due to obstructions such as trees, buildings, or other objects that cast shadows. This article discusses the effect of partial shading on solar panels.

Partially shaded solar panel (Source: pexels.com)

Partial shading can significantly impact the performance of solar panels. When one or more solar panel cells are shaded, the output of the entire panel decreases, resulting in reduced system efficiency. The effect of partial shading depends on various factors such as panel type, size of the shaded area, and shading pattern.

Shaded cells in a partially shaded solar panel absorb less sunlight, reducing output. However, unshaded cells continue generating power, causing an imbalance in current flow, further reducing output power. Additionally, partial shading can cause the "hotspot effect," where a shaded cell becomes a load on other cells, leading to overheating and possible damage to the cell or entire panel.

There are several methods to mitigate the effect of partial shadings, such as bypass diodes. These diodes parallel each solar cell, enabling current flow around the shaded cell and reducing shading effects. Another approach is using micro-inverters or power optimizers, which convert DC power generated by each cell into AC power and perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to ensure each cell operates optimally, even under shading conditions. Proper panel placement and location selection in solar panel installations also help to reduce shading impact.

In conclusion, partial shading can adversely impact the performance of solar panels, leading to reduced output power, hotspots, and possible panel damage. However, using bypass diodes, micro-inverters, or power optimizers and proper panel placement can mitigate the effect of partial shading, enhancing the efficiency and output of solar panel systems.

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

The Advantages of Solar Power: Increasing Efficiency and Decreasing Costs as Key Drivers for a Cleaner Future

Solar energy is gaining popularity as a renewable power source for many reasons. Solar panel efficiency has improved, and the costs have decreased, making it more accessible worldwide. An important benefit of solar energy is that it is a clean and renewable energy source that does not emit harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases. Solar panels convert the sun's energy into usable power, making them ideal for fighting climate change and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Solar Panels (Source: pexels.com)

Advances in solar cell technology have led to significant improvements in the efficiency of solar panels, enabling them to generate more power from the same amount of sunlight. The most efficient solar panels on the market today can convert more than 20% of the sun's energy into usable power. Solar panel costs have also been decreasing thanks to advancements in manufacturing technology, improvements in solar cell efficiency, and economies of scale. In many parts of the world, solar energy is cheaper than traditional fossil fuel sources.

The combination of increasing efficiency and decreasing costs is making solar power a more practical and accessible source of energy worldwide. In addition to reducing reliance on fossil fuels, solar power has the potential to create jobs and boost local economies. It is already providing clean and affordable energy to remote and underdeveloped communities.

However, solar power can be less reliable than traditional fossil fuels as it relies on weather and time of day. Energy storage systems and smart grid technology are being developed to overcome this issue. As technology continues to improve and costs continue to fall, solar power has the potential to play a significant role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and combating climate change.

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Review and Install Solar Street LED Light | 1666 Pieces LED Beads| Outdoor Solar Light

Today, I will share a review and installation of solar street LED lights. It is 100% powered by sunlight, with no wire and an electrician for installation. Hence, you can save lots on electricity bills annually. 

3 Types of Installation:

  1. Wall mount - using 4 steel wall plugs
  2. Steel pole - using bracket (nuts and bolts)
  3. Concrete pole - using a flexible clamp


Specifications:

  1. LED Beads: 1666 pieces
  2. Material: Aluminium
  3. Battery Capacity: 15000mh
  4. Lifespan: 10 - 15 years
  5. Lit area: 500 m²

Steps

  1. Unboxing solar street light. Package:
    - Solar light head
    - Arm pole
    - Arm pole bracket
    - Remote control
    - Solar street light manual
    - Fixing screws and battery



  2. Insert remote control battery.


  3. Remote control button description.


  4. Place the solar on a flat surface to avoid damage when installing. Install the mount bracket of a solar panel (4 nuts and screws).


  5. Install the joint bracket of a solar panel (3 nuts and screws).


  6. Install the street solar light head onto the arm pole. Tightening the hex bolts using Allen key (6 hex bolts). Note: Ensure the solar panel connection cable is inserted into the arm pole.




  7. Install the solar panel onto the arm pole (2 nuts and bolts).




  8. Adjust the best tilt angle for a solar panel.


  9. Connect the cable of the solar panel and solar light head.


  10. 3 types of installation for solar street light.
    - Wall mount
    - Steel pole
    - Concrete pole

  11. Adjust the lighting mode according to your needs.


  12. Solar street light overview.


Video:


If you have any suggestions, please write in the comment section. Thank you for your time 👷.

Friday, March 6, 2020

PV (Photovoltaic) Cell Technologies

Technology of PV cells can be classified into 3 generations:

1. First Generation  - Monocrystalline (Mono c-si), Polycrystalline (Polu c-Si) and Amorphous Silicon Cells

2. Second Generation - Amorphous Silicon (a-Si and A-Si/uc-Si), Cadmium Telluride (Cd-Te), Copper Indium Selenide (CIS) and Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS).

3. Third Generation - Dye Sensitised (DSSC), Perovskite (cell) and Organic (OPV)


Solar Cell Equivalent Circuits

PV cell can represented using an equivalent circuit diagram:
Where;

𝐼𝐿 - light generated current
𝐼𝐷 - diode current
𝐼𝑆𝐻 - shunt current
𝑅𝑆𝐻 - shunt resistor
𝑅𝑆 - series resistor
𝑉 - voltage across the PV cell

References:
[1] K. Ranabhat, L. Patrikeev, A. A. evna Revina, K. Andrianov, V. Lapshinsky, and E. Sofronova, “An introduction to solar cell technology,” J. Appl. Eng. Sci., vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 481–491, 2016, doi: 10.5937/jaes14-10879.

[2] V. Tamrakar, G. S.C, and Y. Sawle, “Single-Diode and Two-Diode Pv Cell Modeling Using Matlab For Studying Characteristics Of Solar Cell Under Varying Conditions,” Electr. Comput. Eng. An Int. J., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 67–77, 2015, doi: 10.14810/ecij.2015.4207.