How to perform daily maintenance and troubleshooting on solar street lights

As a green and environmentally friendly lighting device, solar street lights require reliable and stable operation through effective daily maintenance and troubleshooting. Effective maintenance not only extends the lifespan of the streetlights but also ensures their long-term, efficient operation.

Daily Maintenance Key Points
1. Inspecting the Solar Panels
Solar panels are the core components that absorb light energy. Regular inspection of their surface cleanliness is crucial. Dust, bird droppings, leaves, and other debris can block sunlight and significantly reduce power generation efficiency. We recommend wiping the panel surface with a clean, soft cloth or sponge quarterly, or depending on local environmental conditions. Avoid using corrosive or hard materials to avoid scratching the glass.

Also, inspect the physical condition of the panels. Look for cracks, breakage, or delamination of the glass. Check the connection between the panel and the bracket for any loose bolts. Also, inspect the connecting cables to ensure they are free of wear, aging, loose joints, or corrosion.
2. Inspecting the Battery
The battery is the energy source of the solar streetlight. While the currently popular lithium iron phosphate battery offers a long lifespan and is maintenance-free, regular inspection is still necessary. Inspect the battery case for damage or deformation, and make sure its ventilation holes are not blocked. Battery performance can be affected, especially in extreme temperatures, so special attention should be paid.
For lead-acid batteries, check the electrolyte level regularly and replenish with distilled water. Inspect the battery terminals for corrosion or oxidation, and clean them thoroughly.
3. Check the controller
The controller is the "brain" of the solar street light, managing the charging and discharging process. Check the controller's indicator lights. When operating normally, the lights should flash according to the instructions in the manual. If the lights are abnormal, such as being permanently on or off, there may be a malfunction. Check the cables connecting the controller to the battery, solar panel, and light fixture for security.
4. Check the light fixture and pole
Check the LED lighting. If the brightness is reduced, flickering, or some LEDs are not illuminating, they need to be replaced or repaired. Inspect the light fixture casing for damage and ensure it is waterproof and sealed.
Check the light pole for stability, loose bolts, tilt, or corrosion. For lights installed at height, use specialized tools to ensure safe operation.

Common Troubleshooting
1. Solar Street Light Does Not Light
This is the most common fault. First, check the controller indicator light. If the controller does not light, there may be no power input. Check whether the solar panel is charging. If the controller indicator light is normal but the light does not light, there may be a problem with the light itself or the connecting cables.
Troubleshooting Steps:
Check the solar panel: In sufficient sunlight, use a multimeter to measure the panel output voltage. The voltage should be higher than the battery voltage, typically between 15V and 20V. If the voltage is 0, the panel may be damaged or the connecting cable may be disconnected.
Check the battery: Measure the battery voltage. If the voltage is lower than the rated value (for example, less than 10V for a 12V system), the battery may be depleted or damaged. Charge in sunlight for a while and then measure again.
Check the controller: If the panel and battery voltages are normal, but there is no voltage at the controller output, the controller may be damaged.
Check the light fixture: Power the light fixture directly with the battery voltage. If the light fixture lights, there is no problem with the light fixture itself. 2. Short Solar Street Light Hours
Short lighting hours are usually caused by insufficient energy storage or rapid energy consumption.
Troubleshooting Steps:
Check sunlight conditions: Check whether the solar panels are blocked by trees or buildings. Dust, bird droppings, and other debris can also affect charging efficiency. Ensure the panels are facing south and tilted correctly.
Check battery capacity: Battery capacity decreases with age. If the batteries have reached the end of their lifespan, they need to be replaced.
Check controller settings: Check whether the controller's time and light control settings are correct. Improper nighttime lighting mode settings can cause the lights to shut off prematurely.
Check lamp power consumption: If the newly installed lamps have excessive power, exceeding the system's design load, this can also shorten the lighting hours.
3. Low Solar Street Light Brightness
Check battery charge: Low battery charge can reduce lamp brightness.
Check lamp fixtures: Aging LED light sources or damaged LEDs can affect overall brightness. Replace the lamp fixture or LED module.
Check cable loss: Long cable runs can cause voltage loss. Check the cable specifications for the required specifications. 4. Failure to operate on rainy days
If a solar street light fails to operate after continuous rainy days, it's usually due to battery depletion. This indicates a possible system design flaw and insufficient backup time.
Troubleshooting steps:
Verify design parameters: Check whether the system's solar panel power and battery capacity are compatible with local sunlight conditions and the number of rainy days.

Check charge and discharge efficiency: Ensure the panel charging efficiency is normal and the controller is functioning properly.

Regular maintenance and systematic troubleshooting can significantly improve the operational stability and reliability of solar street lights. This not only reduces maintenance costs but also ensures sustainable lighting performance and provides customers with a more secure user experience.