The use of solar power has been on the rise in the past few years. Different homes and companies are using solar energy to light their outdoor space.
So why should you use solar lighting to illuminate your walkway, patio, garden or parking lot?
Solar lighting helps create a warm ambience, guarantee safety and security and showcase architectural features in your property.
In this article, we’ll be looking at the factors to consider in the installation of solar street lights. Have a look.
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Lighting Requirement
Don’t just buy solar panels and lighting equipment just because you want to save on power bills. Instead, take your time to understand your lighting needs. Check the size and space of the entire area. The area you are lighting determines whether you use stronger LED lights, less strong lights or additional solar fixtures.
Are there any obstructions on the lighting area? Will they affect the quality of the lighting? Your street lights need to be 100 feet or fewer feet apart. If there’re buildings, trees and any other obstructions, then raise the density.
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The Climate of the Area
What’re the local meteoroidal conditions in your area? How long does it take your solar lights to charge or discharge?
Well, most outdoor solar lights will require several hours of sunlight to get to full charge.
Climate will not be a challenge if you live in the tropical or dry environment. However, if the installations are being done in areas that are susceptible to cloudy weather will experience inefficient battery charge.
Further, some climatic conditions like wind, rain, snow, and excessive sunlight pose a threat to the longevity of your solar lights.
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The height Requirement
How high do you want the lights to go? The default height for all lighting poles will not suit all purposes. At times, you may also get some unique requirements.
For instance, if there’s a tree line you don’t need to interfere with, raise the solar panels to avoid cutting the trees down. If the area is prone to wind, then opt for individual poles that can withstand the wind.
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Shade
Does the area you wish to light up have access to direct sunlight? Well, it’s worth noting that the shadow tends to change during the day. Before you install streetlights, you need to calculate the amount of light that gets to that spot per day.
The calculation is necessary, the solar street lights will require a given amount of sunlight per day to generate adequate power that allows them to run the entire night.
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The Solar Panel
The lighting system you adopt is as good as the quality of your solar panels. Where the panels are of low quality, the charge to offer during the day will be deficient.
Also, consider taking a slightly larger solar panel. The larger the panel, the higher the light output and higher lighting duration.
Ensure the solar panel you buy can meet your needs at all times.
