how to install solar light at home

Believe it or not, it's much easier to put up a solar light than you think it is. Before you put the light in, it's important to read through the whole manual. We ensure that we give you all the information you need about installing solar lights. You can browse our website for updated information if you want to learn more.

This section will answer some of the most important questions you need to know. Here are the questions you need to answer before putting up a solar panel:

Where can I buy solar panels?

You can buy solar panels from a lot of different solar energy companies, as well as from online stores.

Do solar lights work in the shade?

Yes, solar lights can work in most shades, but not as well, and you may not get a full night's charge.

Where to put solar panels?

Solar panels are usually put on the roof’s buildings or the tops of buildings. It is very important to put your solar panel in a place that gets the most direct sunlight.

When solar panels are in direct sunlight, they work at their best. To get the best output of your solar power system, try to put your photovoltaic panels in the midday sun.

Before putting the lights in, make sure there aren't any blocks to the sun. Please remove any branches or objects that may block the sun from reaching your solar unit. Do this before installing solar photovoltaic panels on your roof. Make sure there isn't anything in the way of the sun's path that could block the light. Your solar energy unit will not be able to work as well because of the shadow.

What are the Different Types of Solar Panel Mounts?

You can install solar panels in different ways. These mounts come in three main types:

• First, pole mounts;
• Second, roof-ground mounts;
• Third, flush mounts.

With the help of these mounts, you can put your solar panel on an RV, on top of a pole, or on your roof. You can even set them up on their own.

 There are a few things to do before you install solar panels.

Calculating the cost

Setting up the type and size of the system is the first thing to figure out. Many countries reward people who use renewable energy and install solar panels. This subsidy varies from country to country. People in the United States get further help than people in India or China.

It's important to have the right tools. Second, make a list of what you need for a solar energy system. These include solar panels, a charge controller, a power inverter, and a battery.

The size of the system

The next step is to figure out how big the solar system needs to be. People who use electricity need to figure out how many watts each device draws. It is critical to determine how many hours the appliances will use per day.

As long as you follow the steps above, you will know how many watts you need and how big a solar battery you need. You can also figure out how big of a wire you need. The right wire size prevents overheating and maximizes power to your batteries.

What are the basic components used during this process?

All the parts of a solar light come in one box. But this doesn't mean that you get everything you need to put up the light with it. In the box, you get:

• Pole
• Solar Panel 
• Storage Battery 
• Controller
• Light Fixture
• Battery Box 
• Foundation Kit
• Other items (fasteners, cables, bolts, nuts, etc.)

The tools you'll need to finish installing are in the list below:

There's a tape measure, an excavator, a concrete mixer, and a wheelbarrow. Besides the above, there are flat-blade screws and Phillips-head screws. There is also a truck crane for hoisting.

The installation sites

Make sure your solar light installation site is not blocked by things that keep the sun from shining. Also, you'll want to make sure there aren't any lights that could mess with the panel's light sensor. Keep the pole away from heat sources and make sure it's on level, stable ground (even if the soil isn't the most stable). If the pole is near a body of water, make sure the battery box is above the water.

Foundation

A qualified person should install the foundation. It will help when you put the PVC tube in this system as the foundation.

After pouring the concrete, it's best to let the concrete dry for 28 days. People should wait for the concrete to dry because it won't mix well if it doesn't. The foundation could fall apart and lose its strength. You don't want a pole to become a safety risk.

A rebar cage and a sonotube are two important parts that you provide. They help keep the anchor bolts in place and keep the structure's integrity safe.

Use a hand level to make sure that the surface of the foundation is level and even.

Check to make sure the threads on the bolts are visible and not more than 5" above the ground. Here's an example of using foundation construction help.

Putting up a pole

Do this by putting the pole on any surface. Assure that we can install the arms together from the ground to the pole. Route the cables from the top hole of the pole to the battery box hole, then cut them off at the battery box hole.

Finally, pull the wires through the arm and attach the arm to the pole with bolts and nuts. Check out that section if you want to know more about bolts and nuts.

Assemble the Fixture

Pull the wires from the arm into the fixture when the light is on, then open the fixture. Connect the wires to the LED driver and close the lid. 

Slide the fixture onto the arm, make sure it's level, and then tighten it with screws.

Assemble the solar panel and the brackets.

Before putting the solar panel in, make sure that the angle you need for the solar panel is there. If it isn't available, call your manufacturer right away.

Putting the mounting brackets together with bolts and nuts will help them stay in place.

As soon as you have the angle frame on the bracket, put the bolts in and lock them in place. It would help to place solar panels on their sides in an area big enough for them (a large cloth will do). Pull the wires through the assembly as you place them on the back of the solar panels. Bolt and nut the mounting bracket to the solar panels so they can work. Connect the wires coming from the panels to the wires coming from the pole, and then connect them. Make sure that you have connected waterproof connectors.

It helps to use a multimeter to see how much voltage is coming from the panel. During the day, this test is compulsory. A panel must produce at least 20V. In this case, check the connectors if they are missing.

Then slide the panel into the bracket on the pole and ensure it has enough voltage. To make sure the panel faces the equator when the pole is up, move it in the right direction. You should use six bolts to keep the solar panel bracket in place so the panel can't move. Make sure the bolts don't go through the panel.

This way, you will find the 4-gauge holes on top of the pole. Then, find them. Each hole is a half-inch wide. We often use these holes to attach the solar panel assembly to the top of the pole. You can use one of them to perform this work. You need a hole that points the solar panel toward the equator. You'll need to drill a new hole.

The pole should have a battery box hole in it. Make sure that all the cables to the battery box go through the battery box hole on the pole. There is a hole in the battery box where you can pull the cables through. Then, mount the battery box with the U-bolts that come with the kit. Do not put the battery in the box yet. It will make it much more difficult to lift the pole.

Putting the Bolts and Nuts

Make sure the hex nuts and flat washers go on the anchor bolts. Each bolt needs two hex nuts and two flat washers to work.

Use a crane or hoist to lift the pillar and place it on the ground. Then, use a hex nut and a flat washer to hold the pole. Use a level to change the height of the four leveling nuts. It will make sure the pole is level. Finally, use a torque wrench to tighten and lock all the nuts, and then you're done.

How to test the system?

Disconnect the solar panel cables. It makes the panels think it's nighttime. After about 5 minutes, the LED fixture should start to light up. There is a good chance that your manufacturer will be able to help.

Make sure to reconnect the panels after you have a positive test.

How will you install the batteries?

Before installing, make sure you have looked over the power diagram. Since carelessness with wires can cause a short circuit.

Place the battery in the battery box. Then, connect the lamp fixture cables to the controller with the wires. Then, connect the battery cables to the controller, and you can play. A green light will flash and then stay on for a long time. Finally, connect the solar panel's wires to the controller.

Do you need maintenance on the solar lights?

Solar street lights are almost maintenance-free. But, in some areas where the weather is very bad, you need some maintenance to make sure the lights work. These are areas where dust, snow, or ice could cover the solar panels, reducing their output. In areas that get a lot of rain, the angle of the solar panels allows them to self-clean. Where it doesn't rain very often, manual cleaning of the panels may be necessary. You must check your solar panel system:

At least once a week:

Make sure all the street lights are working. If any lights are out, find out why and fix them.

Every two months,

Every two months, check street light panels for dust or sand. Clean them if they're covered in dust or sand. With this method, you can use clean water and a soft cloth to clean the solar panel from top to bottom.

Check-in after 5-7 years:

It's time to change the batteries in the solar street lights if the voltage gets low. In general, the battery should last for about five to seven years.

What are some tips for installing solar lights outside?

When it's dark outside, you want to have better lighting. Some more ideas for installing solar lights in your yard this summer: Check out these more ideas.

You can't go wrong with outdoor solar lights for cheap backyard ideas. If you need to light a path or walkway, or you want to draw attention to a garden feature at night, these lights are ideal. Solar lights for your yard are cheap and easy to set up. This project is usually a simple you can do in your garden. It will help to charge the lights before putting them on the ground.

 Take these steps to make sure your new solar lights work at their best:

Make Sure You Place Solar Lights in the Right Place.

When you install outdoor solar lights in your yard, the most important thing is where to put them. For what purpose do you need lights? Make sure the lights aren't too far apart if you're lighting a path. It is easier to see where the path is, even if it's winding. It would be best to place lights close enough to a garden feature to shine a light on it.

Examine whether the placement of your lights hinders lawn maintenance or use. You don't want to put your lights where it'll be hard to mow around or where you'll hit them with your car. Kids might also trip over the lights when they play outside during the day. Place them where you can see them and where they won't get in the way. Make a plan of where you want to put your new lights before starting.

So, of course, solar lights need sunlight to work. You'll also want to get the most direct sunlight each day. The solar panel should be sunny if you're going to put in lights with a separate solar panel. Make a trench at least six inches deep to bury the wires using a shovel. You might want to put the cables in a plastic tube to protect them even more. It will be less likely to cut through them when you dig that way. Check that no branches of leafy branches are touching your lights or solar panel. Reduce the size of nearby trees and shrubs.

Make sure you have charged solar lights before doing anything else.

Make sure they're charged before you put your new solar lights up. They need to charge for at least 12 to 14 hours in the sun before putting them up outside. If you need to charge the new lights for two days, you can do that. Make sure you have charged the batteries before putting on your new lights. Leave them outside in the sun so the batteries can charge.

Create the soil.

Most solar lights for the outside come with stakes that you can put on the ground. A set of lights that come with their solar panel will need more digging. You may also be more limited in where you can put them because the solar panel will need to be near a sunny spot to work.

It may not be necessary to do anything to the soil before installing new solar lights in your garden beds. If the soil is hard and compacted, you'll need to prepare it first. The stakes that hold the lights may not be strong enough to break. Prepare the ground by watering it a lot to make it easier to work. To make the soil even softer, use a shovel or garden fork to make it move more. Do this to prepare the ground for burying cables or installing solar panels.

Don't push the stakes into the ground when you put your lights up. This process can damage them. If you push too hard, your new lights may break. Stakes that won't go into the ground wet and break up the soil.

A cheap and easy way to improve your outdoor space is to put solar lights outside. The sun has empowered such a type of light, and it does not need electricity or cleaning. There are many ways to change your outdoor space on a budget. Check out our Home Matters blog today for more ideas!

Summary 

In the end, it looks like you've put up your solar light. There are different components that we use in this installation. Some other factors may also influence the solar system. We have discussed those factors in this post. In the last section, we provided some tips for installing this system. You must remember to read the detailed manual. For more information, contact the manufacturer inside each solar lightbox. Check out our information on keeping your parts working and how long they should last.

References

500: Internal server error. (n.d.). Best Home Warranty Company since '71: American Home Shield. https://www.ahs.com/home-matters/lawn-garden/installing-outdoor-solar-lights/

Flynn, B. P. (2017, April 17). How to install a solar-panel security light. HGTV. https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/outdoor-remodel/how-to-install-a-solar-panel-security-light

How to install solar Street light. (2018, December 21). Solar Lights Manufacturer. https://www.solarlightsmanufacturer.com/how-to-install-solar-street-light/

Solar light installation guide: Parts, assembly, and maintenance. (n.d.). Solar LED Lighting | Commercial Solar Lighting Systems | Greenshine New Energy. https://www.streetlights-solar.com/solar-light-installation-guide.html