7 Quick Tips For Solar Park Lights

In places where the environment needs to be preserved or parks there is a need for a natural lighting system when illumination is required at night. The use of solar park lights, in this case, eliminates trenching, power cabling, and any other works that may interfere with the soil structure.

Solar park lights come designed for areas where the focus is on the aesthetics and the structure of the lights. Their environmental friendly working mechanism allows for use in such places and other recreational areas.

At night, you can use Solar park lights to illuminate pathways, the lawn, and benches in a park. They aim to enhance the look of the park. This will ensure that the parks are useful at night by area residents. Here are seven quick tips you can use when designing your light.

Aesthetic

The aesthetic of solar park lights comes packaged in the design of the lighting and power source. The design is done in such a way that there is minimal hindrance to bird movement and exposure to dust or dirt.

Aesthetics can also be achieved by the type of finishing, the perfect match between pole and structure coatings and the environment. Most of the solar park lights come with a decorative design depending on the style that appeals to your needs. Stylish lighting fixtures are available when you wish to add that aesthetic value on your park lights.

Height

The height of solar park lights is determined by the area that needs illumination. For instance, if you wish to light up the paths in the park then the height would be shorter than the one to be used to illuminate an entire park.

The light source

As much as the brightness of the light depends on the height of the pole, you can still achieve the level of illumination you need with any height. This requires some professional calculation that starts with the area that needs to be visible and then choosing the light source while keeping in mind the height to brightness ratio.

For the maximum efficiency and savings, solar park lights come with LED fixtures coupled with solar panels.  The use of LED and high-pressure sodium lamps have been associated with cost savings in the sense that they produce bright lights without consuming too much power.

Calculations are required to avoid light pollution or spill. After calculating the area where you want your solar park lights to illuminate, you will need the assistance of motion sensor technology to control the brightness of the lights depending on the limiting conditions you set.

Poles

The poles used for solar park lights are usually made of hot-dipped, powder-coated, galvanized steel. The choice of material allows the streetlight to withstand a variety of harsh weather conditions.

The use of steel poles in solar park lights allows for reflection of light rays because of its shiny surface.  Besides boosting your lighting needs, steel poles are corrosion resistant.  The type of pole you use should serve you for a longer time.

The fixtures on solar park lights should provide a wide range of lighting intensity and distribution pattern that fits the area you need to illuminate. The height of the poles and the distance between them determines the overall illumination.

There is a myriad of fixture styles available for park lighting. In areas that have high temperatures and strong sand winds, the masts are designed with vertical solar panels to limit silting and increase the performance of the solar park lights.

Installation

Solar park lights should be easy to assemble and install. The components should be easily replaceable to reduce the cost and time of repair and maintenance. Besides, the solar park lights should allow for customization in case you need to change the bulb type, bulb intensity, bulb shade, or pole height.

Panels and

It has been observed that solar park lights with independent solar panels have a lower performance rate compared to all in one or rigid ones. If you are to go with solar lights that use split or separate solar panels, then you should determine the optimum tilt angle when installing installation. Tilting the solar panel makes it a self-cleaning product hence preventing silt and dust from settling on the surface.

The rule of thumb when installing solar panels or PV arrays for your solar light is that they should be perpendicular to the sun’s rays for maximum energy production.  By default, the angle of tilt of your fixed solar panel should be equal to your latitude, plus or minus 15 degrees in winter, or summer respectively.

Contemporary solar park lights come with adjustable solar panels that track the movement of the sun. The controllability of the solar panels allows for maximum conversion of solar energy into electricity.  In short, adjusting the angle of tilt of your solar panel gives you a boost on energy production and reduces the need for cleaning.

Batteries

Experts in areas with extreme temperature conditions tend to avoid the use of lithium batteries in solar park lights. The reason being,  Lithium batteries have poor performance when it comes to high temperatures. In most cases, the lead-acid battery has been an alternative to the lithium-ion battery.

As much as performance is determined by the type of battery, it is also essential to consider the Depth of discharge (DoD) when selecting the battery for your solar lights. The DoD determines the lifespan of your battery.

Solar Park Lights: Conclusion

The best situation to use solar park lights is when the area of interest is far away from the grid power source. Also, they are suitable when no modification is required on the ground to facilitate the supply of electric power. The best solar park light is the one that is customized to your needs and a natural fit for all weather conditions. Generally, solar park lights should complement the open space.