Solar Lights Not Working? (6 easy fixes)

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It’s not a nice feeling to install solar lights and then find that they are not working as expected. Or to suddenly have lights that were working fine suddenly quit on you. In this article we’ll go over the common causes and suggest solutions.

Solar Lights Troubleshooting Guide

solar lights not working

Solar lights not working? Here are the things to check.

Check the on/off switch

Painfully obvious, we know, but sometimes it really is this simple. Not all solar lights have an on/off switch, but many do. So have a look and make sure it’s set to the on position.

Check the battery

If your solar lights are new and they are not working, check to see if there is a plastic pull tab of some sort in the battery compartment. Manufacturers often insert these insulating tabs to prevent damage or loss of battery power during the weeks or months between production and first use. The solution to your problem could be as simple as removing the plastic tab.

If your solar lights aren’t new, consider whether it might be time to change the batteries. Batteries in solar lights go through the cycle of charge – deplete – recharge virtually every day, and eventually they will lose their capacity to store energy. Most often this occurs at around the 1.5 to 2 year mark.

If you are buying replacement batteries, make sure they are rechargeable! We have written an article explaining why and you can find it here.

One final issue regarding batteries is to make sure that they are seated correctly in the housing. Ensure that there is good contact at the terminals and that the batteries are oriented correctly. (Yes, it happens.)

Test the light in the darkness

A simple trouble shooting step is to test the lights in a dark room or with the light sensor covered. If they turn on, then your lights work and the problem likely has something to do with the outdoor placement of the light. Somehow – street lights? other house lights? a neighbor’s lights? – light is falling on the light sensor of your solar lights and so your lights are not recognizing that it’s dark outside and time to wake up.

The obvious fix in this case is to reposition the light to ensure that it is in darkness.

Some lights come with a lux sensor dial that allows you to adjust the threshold light level at which the light will turn on. If your solar light has a lux sensor dial then try adjusting it to see if that fixes the problem.

And if you have tested your lights in darkness and they don’t turn on, then the problem is either: dead batteries (common), a faulty connection in the wiring (possible), the solar panels themselves (rare), or a faulty light sensor.

If you suspect the light sensor, try to contact the manufacturer and ask if they can provide a new one.

Change the direction the solar panel faces

In order to gain maximum exposure to sunlight throughout the day, the ideal placement for a solar panel is south facing.

But there is more to it than that. Observe the way sunlight falls on the solar panel at different times of day, take note of where shadows fall and position the solar panel accordingly.

Some solar lights such as the Urpower landscape light have an adjustable solar panel. If so, you can tilt this differently at different times of year to get maximum energy from the sun.

Check for water inside the enclosure

If there is water inside your solar light, that is going to cause problems. If the water has been in there for awhile, the damage may be done, but it’s still worth checking to see if the light can come back to life.

First, remove the batteries. Then, carefully disassemble the light, giving all parts but especially the circuit board and battery terminals a chance to thoroughly dry by simple evaporation. Once you’re satisfied that everything is dry, reassemble and give it a go. It is surprising the recovery that some devices will make when given the chance to dry.

Next comes the challenge of seeing that it doesn’t happen again. You could use caulking, though this is going to make it difficult to get into the enclosure again if you need to, and it may also detract from the appearance of the light. But if that’s what it takes …

Solar lights face constant exposure to the elements and so we recommend checking carefully for a solid IP rating when buying solar lights. (IP64 or higher is a good indication of protection from water damage. This site offers details on what the different IP ratings mean.)

Clean the solar panel

Dirt on the solar panel will have an impact to the efficiency of the solar panel and can drastically reduce amount of energy that is gets stored in the battery. A periodic wipe down with a damp cloth should be enough.

Should you solder a faulty connection?

If it is obvious that a faulty wiring connection is the problem, then soldering the connection may be the thing to do. But be aware that doing so will void the your warranty. If you think there is any chance that you will want to make a warranty claim, then reach out to the seller before you pick up the soldering iron. They might give you the green light to go ahead and try it because it’s a win-win fix if it works.

Contact the retailer

If all else fails, and especially if the light is still under warranty, contact the seller. Reputable sellers are keen to avoid bad press and negative reviews and we know that many sellers are very good about offering replacements on defective items.

Solar Lights Not Working – Guide to Troubleshooting

Conclusion

Solar lights nor working? We hope we’ve been able to provide some useful advice. Thank you for reading this post. Please join us here for reviews of some excellent solar lights!

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