Quality solar lights are easy-to-care for, and a great way to save on electricity costs too. This guide is here to help prolong the life of your solar lights and to troubleshoot any issues. Buying quality solar lights and caring for them properly is the best way to ensure that you are making a green and sustainable choice when opting for solar.
Maintenance
While solar lights will generally do well without regular maintenance, a little bit of care goes a long way. We recommend regular checks for:
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Corroded battery terminals/ connections
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Cloudy or dirty solar panels or lights
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Plants growing into or over the unit
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Animal interference - animal droppings, pets running into them etc
If really bad weather is coming, move the lights to a more protected area where they can’t get struck by debris or thrown by the wind.
How to clean solar lights
We recommend trying to clean your lights every two months or so to ensure that they continue to charge and light up effectively. The whole process is quick, and doesn’t require any special tools.
What you'll need
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A dusting cloth or old rag
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A gentle cloth like a dish cloth (or another old rag)
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Warm, lightly soaped water (washing up liquid is ideal)
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Tea towel or similar soft towel
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An old toothbrush - not too stiff
What to do
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Turn off the light and disconnect the light, panel and mount (if possible)
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With one of the old rags, lightly remove the worst of the debris
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Dampen your dish cloth and wipe down the light. For edges and difficult spots to clean, gently use the toothbrush dipped in water but be careful not to scratch the light outer or solar panel
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Do a thorough check for any other damage or corrosion on all parts
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Reassemble and test the light
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Wipe down any final pieces or areas of dirt once rebuild
What not to do
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Do not submerge the light in water or leave it to soak, even if there is tough dirt stuck on
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Avoid harsh chemicals
Fixing Solar Issues
If you’re having issues with your solar lights, there are some simple steps you can take yourself to try to fix them. These will help you to find the source of the issue and resolve it where possible.
Check out the video below or read our FAQs to troubleshoot your issue.
Why are my solar lights flickering?
A low battery
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Low battery
- Clean the solar panel and ensure it has several hours of quality, direct sunlight per day
- Ensure the timing of the lights is right i.e. it's not coming on overnight and draining its charge -
A loose connection
- Check all inlets and cables are firmly in place and not wobbly -
A damaged solar panel
- Check the panel for damage - this could be cracks or corrosion
- Unfortunately, if you see significant damage, the light may need replacing. Check your lights warranty - good solar brands usually offer a year or more of warranty
Why won't my solar lights turn on?
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An incorrectly set timer
- This is one of the simplest issues to fix but also one of the most common
- The fix depends on the light you have. The best course of action is to check the manual if you have it. If not, type the brand and model into Google and you will most likely be able to find it. Follow the instructions here to reset your lights -
A dead battery
- Clean the panel and ensure the lights is in a place with plenty of light to charge up fully. This may mean moving the light to a brighter area, and we recommend giving it 2-3 days of full sunlight in this instance. -
A faulty sensor
- Check and clean the sensor then reset the light
- Ensure the light is fully charged then test again
Why are my solar lights really dim?
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Low battery
- Clean the solar panel and ensure it has several hours of quality, direct sunlight per day
- Ensure the timing of the lights is right i.e. it's not coming on overnight and draining its charge -
A damaged battery
- Check any terminals or connection points for corrosion
- Ensure any wires are securely connected
Why are my solar lights turning on and off at the wrong times?
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The timer being set incorrectly
- The sensor picking up other light sources/ movements e.g. moving plants
- Check the positioning of the light -
Water in the light
- Check the light for any condensation or droplets. If you see any, it's important to fix this before more damage occurs
- Look at the seals to make sure there are no cracks. If there are dry the light thoroughly and fix the gap in the seal
If you're still having trouble fixing your solar light, it might be time to ask an expert. A good electrician might be able to help however we recommend reaching out to the company that you purchased your lights from. Chances are that they may have seen the issue before and are able to help. If your lights have sadly reached the end of their life, consider upgrading to a top-quality brand with a generous warranty period, such as Solar Lighting Direct, which has been tried and tested in the NZ sun.
