How Does Solar Street Light Works

How Does Solar Street Light Works

What's so unique about solar street lights is that they don't rely on electricity from the power grid to run. Instead, they depend on solar energy stored during the day in their batteries. The purpose of these lights is to reduce CO2 emissions considerably while providing adequate lighting in areas without access to electricity.

But how does a solar street light work? There's more to it than just a few solar panels connected to a bulb on a pole. In this article, we'll explore the physics behind a solar street light, the pillars that make it function and the benefits of using them.

The Solar Panel

As the name suggests, solar panels are a crucial component of a solar street light. The panels are made up of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic cells are semiconductors made of silicon, and when sunlight hits them, they break apart into electrons. The energy created from this electron release is then stored in a battery unit.

The Battery

The battery unit plays a vital role in a solar street light. It stores the energy created by the solar panels until it's needed. The battery unit also regulates the electric current flowing through it, ensuring that the power to the light turns on and off properly.

Controller

The controller is an essential component that determines when the light turns on and off. It does this by monitoring the street light from an internal clock which is set to turn on the street light automatically when it senses darkness and be switched off in the morning.

LED lights

Modern solar street lights usually come with LED lights. LED lights are highly efficient and last a very long time, making them the perfect fit for solar street lights. Additionally, they're environmentally friendly and produce minimal heat.

Pole and Mounting

The pole and mounting system holds everything together. The pole itself is typically made of aluminum or iron. Both of these metals are relatively lightweight and won't rust, ensuring the longevity of the street light. The mounting system is also crucial since if not correctly mounted, it can cause problems in the long run.

Benefits of using solar street lights

Solar street lights are usually used in remote locations such as villages, highways, and rural areas that lack access to electrical power grids. Here are some of the advantages they bring:

Cost-Effective

Since solar street lights are powered by solar energy, they help save money on electricity bills. They're much more cost-effective in the long term when compared to traditional street lights.

Environmentally Safe

Solar street lights don't emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, making them environmentally friendly. They don't use fossil fuels, which means fewer emissions and less pollution for the environment.

Easy to Install

Solar street lights are relatively easy to install since they do not require any wiring to connect them to the electrical power grid. They can be installed where they're needed, and maintenance is relatively low since the system is self-sufficient.

Reliable and Efficient

Solar street lights are incredibly reliable since they don't depend on the electrical grid to work. They are constantly charging during the day, which ensures that they'll continue providing light at night. Moreover, the LED lights used in solar street lights are highly efficient, which means that they don't need much energy to light up the area.

Conclusion

The physics behind solar street lights is relatively simple yet effective. The solar panel absorbs sunlight, converts it to electricity, and stores it in a battery unit. The controller ensures that the light turns on and off appropriately, while the LEDs in the street light are highly efficient and long-lasting.

Overall, solar street lights are an environmentally-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient way to light up areas without access to an electrical power grid. They are reliable and easy to install since they don't require any wiring to connect them to the grid. Solar street lights offer countless benefits and are an excellent option to light up remote areas.