Solar lamp

Lamp powered by one or more solar panels

BEBEST supply professional and honest service.

A garden solar lamp A child in Zambia studying by the light of a lamp charged by solar power during the day

A solar lamp, also known as a solar light or solar lantern, is a lighting system composed of an LED lamp, solar panels, battery, charge controller and there may also be an inverter. The lamp operates on electricity from batteries, charged through the use of a solar photovoltaic panel.

Solar-powered household lighting can replace other light sources like candles or kerosene lamps. Solar lamps have a lower operating cost than kerosene lamps because renewable energy from the sun is free, unlike fuel. In addition, solar lamps produce no indoor air pollution unlike kerosene lamps. However, solar lamps generally have a higher initial cost, and are weather dependent.

Solar lamps for use in rural situations often have the capability of providing a supply of electricity for other devices, such as for charging cell phones. The costs of solar lamps have continued to fall in recent years as the components and lamps have been mass-produced in ever greater numbers.

History

[

edit

]

Global market-share in terms of annual production by PV technology since

Some solar photovoltaics use Monocrystalline silicon or poly-crystalline silicon panels, while newer technologies have used thin-film solar cells.[1] Since modern solar cells were introduced in at Bell labs,[2] advances in solar cell efficiency at converting light into electric power, and modern manufacturing techniques combined with efficiencies of scale have led to an international growth of photovoltaics.

The first solar light patent was filed by Maurice E Paradise in [3]

As of , LED lamps use only about 10% of the energy an incandescent lamp requires.[4] Efficiency in production of LED lamps has led to increased adoption as an alternative to older electric lightings

Components

[

edit

]

Exploded view of a garden solar lamp

Solar panels

[

edit

]

Most solar panels are made out of single crystalline silicon, a semiconductor material.[5]

When light strikes a solar cell, an electric current is produced in the connected electric circuit. This is called the photoelectric effect.[5] Photovoltaic systems directly convert the energy of sunlight into electricity.

Solar panels are made out of layers of different materials (Figure 2), in order of glass, encapsulate, crystalline cells, back sheet, junction box and lastly frame. The encapsulate keeps out moisture and contaminants which could cause problems.[6]

Figure 2

Battery

[

edit

]

A battery is usually housed within a metal or plastic case. Inside the case are electrodes including cathodes and anodes where chemical reactions occur. A separator also exists between cathode and anode which stops the electrodes reacting together at the same time as allowing electrical charge to flow freely between the two. Lastly, the collector conducts a charge from the battery to outside.[7]

Batteries inside solar lamps usually use gel electrolyte technology with high performance in deep discharging, in order to enable use in extreme ranges of temperature.[citation needed] It may also use lead-acid, nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium, or lithium.

This part of the lamp saves up energy from the solar panel and provides power when needed at night when there is no light energy available.

In general, the efficiency of photovoltaic energy conversion is limited for physical reasons. Around 24% of solar radiation of a long wavelength is not absorbed. 33% is heat lost to surroundings, and further losses are of approximately 15-20%. Only 23% is absorbed, which means a battery is a crucial part of solar lamp.[8]

Charge controller

[

edit

]

This section controls the entire working systems to protect battery charge. It ensures, under any circumstances including extreme weather conditions with large temperature difference, the battery does not overcharge or over discharge and damage the battery even further.[citation needed]

This section also includes additional parts such as light controller, time controller, sound, temperature compensation, lighting protection, reverse polarity protection and AC transfer switches which ensure sensitive back-up loads work normally when outage occurs.[citation needed]

Working principles

[

edit

]

Figure 3

LED lights are used due to their high luminous efficiency and long life. Under the control of a DC charge controller, non-contact control automatically turns on the light at dark and switches off at daytime. It sometimes also combines with time controllers to set certain time for it to automatically switch light on and off.[citation needed]

As shown in Figure 3, the chip includes microchip(R), B&#;, B+, S&#; and S+. S+ and S&#; are both connected to solar panels with wire, one of which has plus charge and the other minus charge. B&#; and B+ are attached to two batteries in this case. The light will be shown through the LED light when all of these are connected.

Benefits

[

edit

]

Solar lamps are easier for customers to install and maintain as they do not require an electricity cable. Solar lamps can benefit owners with reduced maintenance cost and costs of electricity bills. Solar lamps can also be used in areas where there is no electrical grid or remote areas that lack a reliable electricity supply.[citation needed] There are many stories of people with lung disease, eye deterioration, burns and sometimes even death simply because they do not have a healthy alternative to light at night. Women have felt unsafe walking to the toilet outside after dark. Babies are being delivered by midwives using only a candle, and students cannot study when the sun goes down for lack of light, leading to increased illiteracy and perpetual poverty. These are the realities for over 1 billion people around the globe. Lack of lighting equates to continued poverty felt around the world.[citation needed] In solar energy lamp it converts light energy into electrical energy, i.e. It is convenient to our daily life.

Solar energy output is limited by weather and can be less effective if it is cloudy, wet, or winter.[citation needed]

Households switching to solar lamps from kerosene lamps also gain from health risk associated with kerosene emissions. Kerosene often has negative impacts on human lungs.[9]

The use of solar energy minimises the creation of pollution indoors, where kerosene has been linked to cases of health issues. However, photovoltaic panels are made out of silicon and other toxic metals, including lead that can be difficult to dispose of.[citation needed]

The use of solar lights improves education for students who live in households without electricity. When the nonprofit Unite to Light donated solar-lamps to schools in a remote region of Kwa Zulu Natal in South Africa, test scores and pass rates improved by over 30%.[10] The light gives students added time to study after dark.[citation needed]

A experimental study in un-electrified areas of northern Bangladesh found that the use of solar lanterns decreased total household expenditure, increased children's home-study hours and increased school attendance. It did not however improve the children's educational achievement to any large extent.[11]

Uses

[

edit

]

Solar street light

[

edit

For more China contemporary solar wall lightsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

]

A solar lamp in Rizal Park, Philippines

These lights provide a convenient and cost-effective way to light streets at night without the need of AC electrical grids for pedestrians and drivers. They may have individual panels for each lamp of a system, or may have a large central solar panel and battery bank to power multiple lamps.

Garden solar lamps

[

edit

]

Small solar lamps can be used by homeowners to add ambient lighting to their gardens. These lights can be found in many form factors, commonly pathway lights and spotlights.[12]

Rural

[

edit

]

A solar LED lantern

In rural India, solar lamps, commonly called solar lanterns, using either LEDs or CFLs, are being used to replace kerosene lamps, and other cheap alternatives of lighting. Especially in areas where electricity is otherwise difficult to access, solar lamps are very useful, and it also improves the quality of life.[13]

Africa, which has the lowest electricity access rate globally at 40%[14] has benefited greatly through access to solar lamps and complete home lighting solutions. In many regions in Africa inadequate lighting after dusk poses safety risks. Solar lights illuminate dark streets and pathways, enhancing public safety and reducing accidents.[15]

Marine

[

edit

]

Marine settings are increasingly using LED solar lights as alternatives to conventional lighting. The remote nature of boating and sailing makes power hard to come by and thus lends itself to self-sufficient technologies like solar boat lighting[citation needed]

Economics

[

edit

]

American investors have been working towards developing a $10 / unit solar lantern for replacement of kerosene lamps.[16]

Solar home lighting solutions can be expensive to purchase. Off-grid solar organizations offer solar home lighting systems through innovative financial mechanisms such as the Pay-As-You-Go model, permitting consumers to power their entire home while paying easy monthly installments. Currently, over 40% of all sales of off-grid solar lighting products in Sub-Saharan Africa are conducted through PayGo, reaching almost 50% in Kenya and 65% in Rwanda.[14]

See also

[

edit

]

References

[

edit

]

• Solar lamps at Wikimedia Commons

Since the dawn of time, humans have looked to the sun for energy and light and harnessed the unique power of this amazing resource to shape our lives and working habits. From the burning mirrors of ancient Greece to the photovoltaics we use today&#;we&#;ve been inspired by solar energy throughout centuries!

Join us as we trace the history of solar energy and lighting right from its earliest forms all the way up to today&#;s cutting-edge solar-powered solutions. Learn how far our knowledge of this energy source has come.

Ancient Times

People have been captivated by the sun and its energy for millennia. Ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, worshiped the sun as a deity and used its power in their architecture and daily lives. The Greek philosopher Anaximander proposed the idea of creating solar houses that naturally heat up with the sun. The Romans took it a step further by building their homes with south-facing windows, allowing sunlight to warm and light the insides. This innovative architectural design is a glimpse into the early potential of solar energy.

Further Solar Ingenuity From Ancient Peoples

In addition to utilizing the sun&#;s warmth for heating homes, ancient peoples found creative ways to harness its energy for multiple uses. One popular invention was the &#;burning mirror,&#; a Greek device made of polished metal that concentrated sunlight, generating enough heat to set fire to an object or cook food. Following suit, ancient Chinese scholars described solar-powered hot water heaters crafted from intricate systems of reflecting mirrors and water-filled tubes.

The Egyptians also used solar energy for a variety of purposes. They built sun temples with large columns and reflecting pools that collected the sun&#;s rays and directed them into the temple. This light was then used to create art and illuminate the walls. Additionally, they used solar energy to heat water, dry crops, and create steam power.

While these civilizations were limited in their use of solar energy due to its seasonal availability and technological limitations, it nonetheless remained an important source of natural energy for them for centuries.

Medieval and Renaissance Advances

During the medieval and Renaissance periods, solar energy experimentation continued with the creation of the &#;Fresnel lens.&#; Made of concentric rings of material, these lenses focused sunlight into a single beam, generating enough heat to melt metal. The invention of the solar furnace combined the idea of burning mirrors with Fresnel lenses and could produce even higher temperatures.

Meanwhile, inventors such as Leonardo da Vinci had grand visions about the future of solar energy. He designed plans for a sun-powered ship&#;a vessel that would rely on the power of the sun and wind for propulsion! While this idea never came to fruition, it demonstrates the impressive ways in which people were trying to capture solar energy.

18th and 19th Century Progress

The 18th and 19th centuries saw even more advances in solar energy utilization. In , Swiss inventor Horace de Saussure designed a box that heated up the air inside by collecting sunlight on its drooped lid. This invention, dubbed the &#;hot box,&#; was the first known solar collector, opening up a new avenue of possibilities for harnessing solar energy. Later, in , French scientist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect, the basis of modern solar cells, while conducting experiments on electrolytic cells.

Advancements in Solar: s to Mid-Century

Edmond Becquerel&#;s discovery paved the way for the first solar cell. In , researchers at Bell Laboratories created a silicon solar cell capable of converting solar energy into electricity with 6 percent efficiency. While this may not sound very impressive by today&#;s standards, it was a game-changer in the early days of solar power.

The Birth of Solar Lighting: s to s

As humanity began to realize the potential of solar energy, it didn&#;t take long for the innovations to pour in. The space race of the s accelerated the development of solar technology, with NASA using small solar cells to power satellites. Around the same time, PV-powered navigational aids and illumination took to the streets, marking the dawn of solar lighting.

One of the earliest solar-powered public lighting experiments was the Papago Park Solar Demonstration Project (). Solar panels and batteries were used to illuminate dust storm warning signs, and a microgrid was used to power a test bed of solar streetlights.

In , the University of Delaware&#;s Solar Park featured one of the first large-scale solar-powered street lighting systems on its campus in Newark, Delaware. At the same time, projects were springing up in France, India, and Japan. The systems used solar panel and batteries and often featured the newly developed CFL and DC ballasts.

Solar Energy Gains Momentum: The s to s

During this period, solar energy truly began to dazzle in the limelight. Governments around the world launched initiatives to promote clean energy, driving solar power to the forefront of public consciousness. This resulted in a rapid increase in solar panels on homes as well as broader commercial and industrial applications, including street lighting.

The Summer Olympics, held in Atlanta, Georgia, featured one of the earliest large-scale uses of solar lighting for a major sporting event. The lighting project, known as the Atlanta Olympic Solar Lighting Project, aimed to showcase the use of renewable energy and sustainable technologies during the games.

During the Iraq War, which took place between and , there was a significant emphasis on using renewable energy sources such as solar power to reduce the reliance on traditional fuel-based generators and to enhance energy efficiency in military operations. Solar lights were particularly valuable in providing illumination for military bases, checkpoints, and other areas, especially in remote and off-grid locations, where access to stable electrical grids was limited. Thousands of solar streetlights were deployed in the region.

Until the early s, the inefficiency of CFL and HID lamps and the dependence on lead acid battery technology limited the applications for solar street lighting. However, the development of LEDs, direct optics, and new battery technologies have expanded the practical use of solar street lighting. In many communities, solar streetlights are more cost effective, resilient, and reliable than aging grid-tied solutions.

Modern Marvels: The Use of Solar Energy Today

Fast forward to today, and solar power isn&#;t a mere novelty or curiosity&#;it&#;s a viable solution to the global energy crisis. Solar panels now adorn the rooftops of homes and businesses all over the world, providing clean energy with no emissions. Governments continue to invest in renewable sources like solar, driving down costs and furthering technological progress. From lightbulbs to electric cars, solar energy is powering a wide range of products and services today.

Fonroche Lighting America is a prime example of the advancements the solar industry has made to date. Our solar-power street lighting systems harness the power of the sun to light up our streets at night, providing illumination without tapping into the electrical grid. This innovative approach helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, municipal energy costs, and reliance on fossil fuels. To learn more about our solar-powered street lighting solutions, contact us today!

The Future of Solar Energy and Lighting

As our journey through the history of solar energy and lighting comes to an end, it&#;s clear that the future is bright. With advancements in solar technology continually pushing the boundaries of efficiency and affordability, we can expect to see solar energy play an even more significant role in our lives&#;from powering our homes to lighting our streets. It&#;s an exciting prospect and one that will help create a more sustainable future for us all.

For more information, please visit solar battery charger fan exporter.