There is a variety of small solar street light options that you can find in the market. These categories can be based on the form of operation (smart/intelligent or manual), design (all in one or split), style (classic, contemporary, or standard), technology (LED with ambient or motion detection), or the type of component (battery, solar panel, and lighting source).
Most of the time, the available solar street lights don’t come with a design that matches our goals and budgets. The small ones that you buy in a store may not be as powerful as you want them to be for your walkway. In such cases, you may need to build your own lighting system to improve visibility on your yard, sidewalk, patio, or street. For a small scale project, you will need a DIY small solar street light.
In this article, we are going to look at a different dimension: height. Here we will learn how to make a small solar street light from scratch. This type of system can vary in terms of the size of power or the length of the pole.
Components of a Small Solar Street Light
In the design of a small solar street light, you will need a kit with the following components:
- A solar panel (or panels)
- Rechargeable battery or batteries (lithium ion) with housing
- Transistor(s), resistor(s), and capacitor(s)
- A zero printed circuit board (PCB)
- A switchboard with protection circuit and housing
- An LED PCB with enclosure
- A lamp rod or pole
- A design drawing
Understanding the anatomy of solar LED luminaires helps you source the right parts for your small solar street light.
Design Drawing
Before you start connecting your components, you will need to consult relevant documents and reliable resources and come up with a wiring or schematic diagram. Others may use a flowchart describing the design to demonstrate the different functions of the solar street lights. The drawing you choose to use should help you simplify the installation process and capture all components in their rightful place. Our solar street light drawing guide is a helpful starting point.
A wiring diagram should help you calculate the required power, which is essential in the design of each of the main components. This calculation usually begins from the end product (illumination) and works back to the energy source (PV cells). Basic electrical knowledge is essential at this stage of the design.
In standalone solar systems, you would not need a series or parallel circuit diagram, but you will need one when you are dealing with centralized street lights. With some basic electrical concepts and skills, it should be easy for you to connect the various components in the circuit to get the required voltage and wattage capacity. A simple distance and area calculation helps you size the light for your space.
Wiring and Circuit Connections
You should do all testing on the ground by placing the solar panel(s) upside down to confirm whether your LED lamps will light up. If there is no visible light, then it means there is something wrong with the connection, or the street lights are not getting enough power from the batteries. If you run into problems, our guide on fixing a solar light that isn’t working can help.
You will need tools such as a multimeter or a multi tester to measure the voltage, current, and resistance of your electric circuit. Since we are making an automatic small solar street light, we do not need to program it to achieve superior control. Here we rely on select transistors and resistors to add the automatic function to the unit.
You can use an electromagnet or solid state relay as a substitute for the manual switch to control the load circuit. An electromagnetic switch in an adaptive design has an input line that connects to the battery and an output line that connects to the load circuit. You will need a square or rectangular zero printed circuit board (PCB) to join the electrical components and embed your load or switch circuitry.
In case you are using a light sensor to control your switch automatically, then you need a housing that allows sunlight to fall on its surface. Also, since it is an outdoor product, you will need to provide suitable protection against water droplets, dust, and damage.
When you finish developing the control circuits, the next step is to connect the zero PCB to the LED PCB. In case you wish to protect your LEDs from voltage or current fluctuations, you will need a compatible driver module. Some LED drivers come as integral components in the lighting fixtures, so you may not need them between the two PCBs.
Enclosure and Mountings
The housing component you choose for your small solar street light should be water and dustproof. A component enclosure with an ingress protection (IP) rating of IP65 or higher offers the best protection for your system.
Mounting your components on the pole or rod should be easy if you have a clear picture of how you want it to look. To achieve better results, ensure your components are well enclosed and that you have the necessary tools and material for mounting the system on a solid structure. Since the power is small, you can use a shorter pole considering the space to height ratio (SHR). Our guide to solar light pole systems covers this in detail.
Small Solar Street Light: Conclusion
In the design of a small solar street light, there are some calculations you will have to do. You will also have to find ways to improve the efficiency of your system. With a simple electric circuit, this project should cost less.
In case you have limited knowledge and experience with electricity and electronics, then it is better to consult an expert where necessary. As for the wiring and circuit connection, you can purchase a DIY small solar street light circuit kit. Handle the testing and installation process with the utmost care.
A small solar street light is appealing because it is easy to make, costs less, and provides light in case of power outages. It can be low in terms of both power consumption and height. In terms of height, the system can be used to increase visibility where the street is the area of focus.
You can use this mini type of solar system to highlight the beauty of the brickwork, landscape, or horticulture along the path or street of your property or garden. With the information shared here, you can now make your own small solar street light. Prefer a ready made, professionally engineered option? Visit solar led street light.com or contact us for expert advice and a customised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What components do I need to build a small solar street light? To build a small solar street light, you need a solar panel, a rechargeable lithium ion battery with housing, transistors, resistors and capacitors, a zero PCB, an LED PCB with enclosure, a switchboard with protection circuit, and a pole or rod. A clear wiring diagram ties everything together. Buying a DIY circuit kit simplifies sourcing these parts.
2. Is it cheaper to build a DIY small solar street light than to buy one? A DIY small solar street light can cost less, especially for a simple low power design, since you avoid retail markup and can reuse parts you already have. However, you must factor in tools, time, and the risk of mistakes. For reliability and warranty, a professionally manufactured unit is often the better long term value.
3. Do I need electrical experience to make a small solar street light? Basic electrical knowledge is essential, as you’ll be calculating power requirements and connecting circuits to achieve the right voltage and wattage. If you have limited experience, a pre assembled DIY kit reduces the difficulty considerably. When in doubt, consult someone with electronics experience to ensure safety.
4. What IP rating should a small solar street light enclosure have? The enclosure for a small solar street light should have an ingress protection rating of IP65 or higher, making it dustproof and resistant to water jets. This protects the sensitive electronics from rain, dust, and humidity outdoors. A lower rating risks moisture damage and a much shorter lifespan.
5. How tall should the pole be for a small solar street light? Because a small solar street light is low power, a shorter pole works well typically 2 to 4 metres depending on the area you want to light. Consider the space to height ratio (SHR) so the light covers the path or garden evenly. Shorter poles concentrate brighter light over a smaller area, ideal for walkways and yards.