Reasons Why Solar Garden Lights Don’t Work at Night

I. Energy Supply Failure

1. Abnormal Solar Panel Charging

• Surface Obstruction: Dust, leaves, or bird droppings covering the surface cause charging efficiency to drop below 40%.
• Improper Installation Location: Insufficient effective sunlight (less than 4 hours per day) or constant shade.
• Continuous Rainy Days: More than 3 days of rain can cause the battery’s energy storage to fall below the operating threshold.
• Damaged Panel: Cracked glass, aging wiring, or internal silicon wafer failure.Solar Street Light Repair Methods

1. Simple Testing Methods

• Touch the back of the solar panel at midday; a noticeable temperature rise is normal.
• Thoroughly clean the surface with a damp cloth and observe the charging indicator light.
• Test on consecutive sunny days to rule out weather interference.

II. Battery System Problems

1. Battery Aging and Failure

• Expired Service Life: Ordinary lead-acid batteries experience capacity degradation exceeding 50% after 2 years of use.
• Over-Discharge Damage: Prolonged rainy weather leads to deep discharge, causing the battery voltage to drop below 10.5V (for a 12V system). Extreme Temperature Effects: Environments below -10℃ or above 45℃ accelerate battery degradation. How long does it take to charge a solar LED light?

1. Battery Status Assessment

· Multimeter Test: Fully charged static voltage should be ≥12.8V (12V system)

· Load Test: Voltage should not drop rapidly after connecting a 3W load.

· Visual Inspection: Battery bulging, leakage, or corrosion at the terminals.

III. Lighting Unit Failure

1. LED Light Source Damage

· Some LEDs are blackened: A single LED failure causes the entire lamp to not light up (series circuit). Solar Garden Light Automatic Switch Setup

· Severe Light Decay: Brightness decreases by more than 70% after 3 years of use

· Waterproofing Failure: Rainwater seepage causes short circuits.

2. Controller Failure

· Photosensitive Sensor Malfunction: Damaged or covered by adhesive film that has not been removed.

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· Program Error: Requires power off and reset (disconnect battery for 5 minutes).

· Incorrect Settings: Incorrectly set to test mode or off state.

IV. Environmental and Installation Factors

1. Light Interference Issues

· Installed near streetlights or other nighttime light sources.

· 1. Surrounding strong reflective objects (e.g., glass curtain walls, white walls)

• Improper installation angle, causing the sensor to misjudge ambient brightness

1. Mechanical Failure

• Transportation vibration causing internal wiring to detach
• Insulating gaskets not removed during installation
• Long-term wind and shaking causing solder joints to loosen

V. System Diagnostic Process

Quick Troubleshooting Steps

1. Observe Indicator Lights: A red light should flash during charging, and there should be a working indicator at night.
2. Cleaning and Testing: Thoroughly clean the solar panel and sensor window.
3. Direct Power Supply Test: Connect the light fixture directly to an external 12V power supply (note the positive and negative terminals).
4. Segmented Troubleshooting: Test the solar panel output, battery voltage, and controller signal sequentially.

Repair Decision Reference

• Low-cost faults: Cleaning and maintenance, replacing individual LEDs, resetting the controller.
• Medium-investment repairs: Replacing the battery (cost approximately 30%-50% of the total light cost).
• Recommended replacement scenarios:
• Solar panel power degradation exceeds 60%
• Multiple faults in major components simultaneously
• Service life exceeding product design life

VI. Preventive Measures

Routine Maintenance

· Clean the solar panel surface every two weeks

· Check all waterproof seals before the rainy season

· Test battery low-temperature performance before winter

Optimize Usage Habits

· Ensure 24 hours of charging before first use

· Recharge every two months if not used for extended periods

· Avoid demanding full-load operation immediately after extreme weather

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Summary: Solar garden lights not turning on at night is usually caused by a break in some link of the “charging-storage-discharging” chain. Most faults can be resolved by following the order of cleaning, testing, and then disassembly and inspection. For lights older than 3 years, the battery and LEDs are more likely to age simultaneously; a comprehensive inspection is recommended before deciding on a repair plan.