There are times, not necessarily often, when a simple piece of technology can misbehave in such a manner that it becomes frustrating. Take, for instance, solar-powered lights. You would think that once you are done installing them, you are good to go.
However, you could face small issues like the light randomly turning on during the day. It goes without saying that your solar lights are only supposed to work at night. The lights working during the day are not only frustrating, but it can also wear them down and ultimately prevent them from lighting at night.
With that, you are left wondering why do my solar lights come on during the day? There are multiple reasons for this problem but fortunately, there are also straightforward solutions for each problem.
A Better Understanding of the Issues with Your Solar Light
When your solar lights begin to malfunction, the first step you need to take in order to identify the issue is to look at the batteries. In most cases, any problem with the solar light is due to a set of dead or faulty set of batteries. Either charge the batteries properly or simply replace them altogether.
After doing that and the problem persists, the next possible cause may be due to the solar light’s sensor. The primary reason the sensor may be malfunctioning is if there is dust or moisture in the unit.
With that said, the battery and sensor are typically the two common reasons your solar lights turn on during the day. To give you a better idea, we will discuss this a little more in detail later in the article.
Nonetheless, if your solar lights still malfunctions after rectifying the two issues and they continue to work even during the day, then you can consider asking yourself the following questions:
1. Do they switch on but turn off before they are supposed to?
If your solar lights are not just working the way they used to, then it possibly could be due to the machine itself being old. In most cases, a commercial solar light can last anywhere between five and seven years before its performance starts to suffer due to age. This duration gets even lesser if you are using residential solar lights.
The big upside to residential solar lights is that it can be fixed easily by getting the parts replaced. What’s better is that these parts are reasonably priced and easily available.
2. Do the lights even come on at all?
If the solar lights are just not turning on at all and your battery seems to be working fine, another possible culprit could be the lamp itself. It is not uncommon for the lamp to have issues. Just like any other lamp in your home, solar light lamps have to be replaced at some point.
If your solar light uses HPS, CFL, LPS, or metal halide in the lamp, it will not last too long. That said, most new lamps tend to use LED bulbs, and these typically have a lifespan of a minimum of 15 years.
Why Do My Solar Lights Come on During the Day?
We will discuss in detail the main and other reasons why your solar-powered light is malfunctioning and working during the day. We will also talk about possible solutions for each problem.
1. Battery Issue
While the primary function of the solar-powered light is to be powered by the sun, the power it gathers needs to be stored somewhere, and this is where the light’s batteries come in.
Most solar-powered lights come equipped with NiCD or NiMH batteries. These batteries are rechargeable and can offer anywhere between two and three years of proper usage.
After that period, though, the rechargeable batteries will lose the ability to charge correctly and also constantly malfunction. This may affect the solar light either by not working completely or working randomly, including during the day time.
As mentioned earlier, replacing solar batteries are, thankfully, an easy thing to do. We recommend that you change your batteries now and then for an excellent performance.
2. Solar Panels
Every solar-powered light comes with one or two solar panels, and these will be located most likely on top of the light. It is positioned as such so that the panels can easily capture sunlight and use the photovoltaic cells to convert the light into electricity.
Since the panels are outside, they have to face consistent threats from the wind, debris, bird dropping, and the weather itself. All of these, whether individually or together, can hinder the necessary amount of sunlight needed to reach the panels.
If this is an issue with your solar panels, it means charging is inconsistent or not enough, which means there is a reduction in battery life, so you will have a limited source of solar power.
If this problem occurs for a more extended period, it can affect the battery, and that, in turn, can make the solar light malfunction.
Thankfully, even for this, the process of rectifying this issue is relatively simple. All you need to do is maintain your solar panel by wiping it clean with a damp paper towel along with a small amount of diluted dishwater detergent.
Make sure you are cleaning it gently and not damaging the panel in the process. Once you have done this, let the panel allow the battery to charge properly for a whole day to determine whether or not this has fixed your issue.
3. Light Sensor
Every solar-powered light comes with a photoelectric light sensor. This sensor is essential as it operates the solar light and can determine when the light needs to be switched on and off based on whatever settings are selected. This is one of the most common reasons the solar light can switch on during the day.
To rectify this issue, you first need to check if anything is obstructing or blocking the sensor’s ability to do its job. At the same time, look for any sort of interference from any light source, such as street and porch lights.
That is because a majority of the sensor on solar lights, especially the residential ones, is capable of making the light and dark only and not day and night. Having any interference could make the solar light sensor’s reading and ultimately result in a malfunction.
4. Location
Just as the location is a key factor in determining the value of your home or business traffic, the placement of your solar-powered light also plays a major role in the way it has to function.
The basic concept of solar-powered light is gathering light from the sun and converting that into power for the light.
Having any shade, overcast, or even any sort of obstructions could have a significant impact on the way the solar light functions. This can range from a small issue like the brightness of the light being inconsistent or working for a shorter duration to a more significant issue like the whole light completely malfunctioning.
The fix to this problem is fairly obvious. You have to place the solar light in a spot where it is under direct sunlight and free from any obstructions. Let the battery charge for a whole day so that the solar light functions optimally.
5. Detection Range
Another factor you have to pay close attention to avoid the light from turning on during the day is the detection range. The detection range is basically the distance from the sunlight and the source of action. This is an essential factor when it comes to the performance of the light, from dusk to dawn.
The detection range is typically given as a range mentioned in yards or feet. This is a bit of a balancing act and needs to be a bit distant for it to offer the best value. At the same time, it should be close enough so that it can provide convenience.
For solar-powered security lights with motion detectors, several things will come into play when the light is trying to detect movement. That includes solar light placement and other specifications of the light that could affect the light.
If you are not too sure, it is always wise to measure the distance beforehand so that you don’t end up with a light that malfunctions.
We recommend that you look out for solar-powered lights that have an adjustable range or even a dim mode. This can help with your solar light from malfunctioning.
Thankfully, we have reviewed quite a few top rated solar-powered lights. We suggest you check them out to ensure you are getting the perfect and long-lasting solar light.
How to Properly Install Solar Powered Lights
While not necessarily often, there may be a possibility that your solar lights are malfunctioning and working during the day due to incorrect installation. Thus, we would like to talk about the correct way to install solar lights.
There are a couple of things you must keep in mind. To begin with, you must look into the direction of the sunlight direction. Another is determining what you are planning to use it for or what you are looking to illuminate. Lastly, checking whether or not it can get enough sunlight every day so that it can recharge itself.
A common complaint we hear from several customers is that the solar light’s lighting capacity.
You need to remember that almost every residential solar-powered light needs at least six hours of sun exposure for the battery to properly recharge. Six hours is the bare minimum, and it must be under direct sunlight. If not, then your lights will definitely not work in the way they are supposed to.
If the placement of the solar light is fine, then the next thing you need to remember is the proper maintenance of the solar light. As mentioned, your solar lights need to be maintained regularly for it to be operational all year long.
By maintenance we mean, you need to change the batteries occasionally, as well as to move the lights according to the season changes and angle of the sun.
In most cases, installing a solar-powered light is a simple process. That said, if you are not sure about it, then refer to the light’s dimensions and specifications to know if it fits your criteria perfectly or not.
When All Else Fails
There will come the point where you may have tried your best to fix your solar-powered light from turning on during the day, but still, everything fails. In this case, do not hesitate to get in touch with the solar light manufacturer’s customer care service.
If your light is under warranty, then the company will most likely replace the product for free, as this is typically a manufacturing defect. If the light is older and is no longer in its warranty period, you can still get in touch with the company’s customer care service. For a small fee, they will send a professional to come and help you sort out the issue.
Under no circumstance should you open up the entire unit and try fixing it yourself if you have no understanding of the parts. You will most definitely end up damaging the unit entirely.
Conclusion
So, why do my solar lights come on during the day? It is a known fact that solar-powered lights are a fantastic and useful technology capable of consistently and thoroughly providing light to your home or office without adding to your electric bill and at the same time, being good for the environment.
That said, like with every budding technology, solar-powered lights can run into problems from time to time. We would again like to emphasize that even after trying out the fixes we mentioned, at times, they might resolve the problem. As such, it is best to get in touch with the solar light’s manufacturer or a professional.
If you need more help with your solar light or want to learn more about solar lights, we constantly publish articles, so we recommend that you bookmark our site and visit us regularly.
