5 Small Tips to Improve the Efficiency of Solar Street Lights

As solar-powered technology has advanced in recent years, solar street lights have become an increasingly viable option for outdoor lighting applications. By harnessing renewable sunlight during the day, solar street lights provide cost-effective and eco-friendly illumination without the need for costly wiring infrastructure. However, the efficiency of a solar street lighting system depends on multiple factors. Here are 5 small tips that can help maximize the performance and energy yield of your solar street lights.

1. Choose the Right Location

Proper site selection is crucial to ensuring solar street lights receive optimal sunlight exposure. Luminaires should be installed in areas that get at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Avoid positioning lights under dense tree cover or in the shade of tall buildings which can block sunrays. Also keep in mind the direction your lights will face - those facing north may receive less sunlight compared to east, west or south facing orientations. Doing a site assessment considering these location factors will help your lights perform at their best.

For example, a residential community in California installed several solar street lights on the north side of a housing complex that had dense tree cover. Within a year, the lights on the shaded northern side experienced significantly lower battery charge levels compared to other lights in open areas, requiring more frequent replacements. Simply relocating those specific lights to less shaded locations solved the issues and improved their efficiency.

• Proper Angle and Orientation

The angle at which the solar panels on your street lights are mounted also impacts how much sunlight they absorb. Panels mounted at angles further from horizontal (between 10-30 degrees) will receive more direct sun exposure throughout the day compared to those laid completely flat.

In addition, positioning the panels toward the equator (south in the northern hemisphere, north in the southern) allows them to track the sun's movement and generate more electricity. A study found optimizing solar street light panel angles to the south and mounting at 20-25 degrees increased daily energy yields by 15-20% on average compared to default flat or random orientations.

For instance, a real estate firm in California noticed the lighting output from new solar street lights dropped each winter. Evaluation found panels laid flat were receiving far less sunlight, especially in the mornings and evenings. Tilting them 20 degrees southwards as per the manufacturer's instructions resolved the issue and greatly improved winter performance.

• Regular Cleaning

Dust and grime buildup is a common issue that can significantly impact the efficiency of solar panels over time. Even a thin layer of dirt reduces the amount of sunlight absorbed into electricity. Make sure to clean the panels on your lights every 2-3 months, especially in areas with high dust levels.

A soft, dry cloth or soft brush is usually sufficient for maintenance cleaning. You can also use a spray bottle of water mixed with a few drops of mild dish soap for tougher dirt. Be gentle during cleaning to avoid scratching the panels. Complete removal of dust keeps the panels operating at peak efficiency throughout their lifetime.

One maintenance company noted the difference cleaning made after they started routinely washing the solar street light panels in a new development located near a desert area. Panel output measurements before and after confirmed efficiency gains of 10-15% solely from regular dust removal.

• Trim Surrounding Plants

Overgrown plants and branches surrounding solar panels on street lights can create unnecessary shade that limits the amount of sunlight reaching the panels. Try to maintain at least a 2-3 foot clearance around the solar arrays to allow unobstructed access to the sun’s rays.

Pruning tree branches, trimming back bushes or mowing tall grass regularly helps maximize exposure. This is particularly important during seasons when deciduous trees are leafed out. Proper landscaping care extends the productive operating hours of solar street lights each day.

For instance, a parks department noticed decreased illumination from lights lining some walking trails. Inspection found portions of the panels on higher lights were partially shaded by nearby tree branches that had grown over the past year. Trimming back just a few feet of overgrowth significantly improved performance within those trouble areas.

• Replace Aging Batteries

Batteries are a core component storing and supplying power to operate solar street lights at night. However, battery performance and capacity slowly degrades over hundreds of charge/discharge cycles. After 3-5 years of use depending on conditions, their ability to retain charge diminishes substantially.

Monitoring battery voltages and replacing units that can no longer hold an adequate overnight charge helps preserve optimal operation. Newer lithium iron phosphate battery chemistries provide improved lifespan over traditional lead-acid types but will still need eventual replacement. Catching aging batteries before poor charge retention impacts light output prevents unnecessary outages or light dimming at night.

For example, an affordable housing community realized illumination levels from certain solar lights dropped noticeably after about 4 years. Voltage tests found the old lead-acid batteries could only maintain 50-60% of their original capacity. Timely battery swaps restored full brightness and prevented premature light replacement costs.

In summary, following these simple best practices can significantly boost the long-term efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solar street lighting installations through proper system setup and maintenance. Maximizing sunlight absorption is key, so choosing ideal locations, optimizing angles and cleaning panels regularly pays dividends. Combined with landscape management and battery replacements, communities and facilities can rely on their solar lights to illuminate reliably for many years. With a little care, solar technology delivers sustainable lighting performance and savings.