How to charge Biling Solar Ground Spotlight in the absence of sunlight?

In the past, it was impossible to store solar energy for night use, and it was also unimaginable by our ancestors. Fortunately for us, this idea is not only true, but has become the norm in human life around the world. biling solar lights have completely changed the lighting technology, literally freed us from the darkness, and changed people's lifestyles drastically!

biling solar lights are a simple solution for most homeowners. It’s easy to pop them in a place with plenty of sun and wait until the battery is fully charged. However, depending on your geographical location, the season, or the weather, sunlight levels may vary. In this case, you may need to be a bit resourceful when charging your Biling lights.

In this article, we will tell you how to charge solar ground spotlights without sunlight so that you can make the most of them. There are three methods you can try: use electricity, artificial light or indirect sunlight.

How do Biling solar ground spotlights work?

Before we answer the above questions, we must first understand the working principle of solar lights, which is very important. Essentially, solar lights consist of photovoltaic cells, batteries and lights fixed together. The process of collecting energy, converting it and then releasing it involves multiple steps for use in gardens, emergencies or roads.

Step 1: Light enters the photovoltaic cell and energy is collected in by the wiring of the mini solar panel. This electricity is then fed to the solar light’s battery.

Step 2: The battery stores this energy as chemical energy during the daytime. The battery will then begin to provide it to the light when the battery is no longer being directly charged by the Sun.

Step 3: The system lights up the LED bulbs which draw energy from the battery until it’s exhausted or daylight hours resume. LED is an obvious choice for solar ground spotlights due to their ultra-low energy usage.

The Basics of Solar Cells

The photovoltaic cells and amorphous cells used in solar panels can turn solar radiation into electricity. These cells are only able to effectively convert specific types of visible light into electrical energy. For example, infrared and ultraviolet (UV) light don’t contribute much to power production.

The most efficient form of visible light for power production is within the spectrum of violet to red, or the wavelengths of 380nm to 750nm. You can either harvest this light naturally (using the Sun), or artificially (using other electric lights).

1. ELECTRICITY

This option is often the easiest as many solar ground spotlights come equipped with a power plug or USB connector. You can simply plug the light into the wall or an external power source and charge the battery, completely circumventing the solar panels altogether. In this way, the solar light functions just the same as a normal wired or battery-powered lamp.

Camping solar ground spotlights also often feature a DC car charger adapter. If you’re out in nature and don’t have access to a mainframe electrical system, this can be a real-life saver. However, if you’re planning on using solar ground spotlights while hiking or camping, always charge them beforehand. All it takes is one longer-than-expected hike or placing the light in a shaded spot to drain your battery.

2. ARTIFICIAL LIGHT

Solar panels are specifically designed to capture sunlight. However, the panels can still charge using other forms of visible light. Artificial light comes from many different sources, but on average, it is usually far less intense and effective when compared to natural sunlight.

While it may seem counterintuitive to charge an electric light with another electric light, there are some situations where this may be a benefit. For example, you can conserve energy by charging your solar ground spotlights inside your house while you go about your daily activities. Once the sun sets, you can simply place them back outside. Alternatively, you could charge your lights in a well-lit public place if you don’t have access to an electricity port or the Sun.

As far as ordinary household lighting goes, incandescent bulbs emit wavelengths that are the most similar to sunlight. Unfortunately, incandescent lights are becoming more and more uncommon as homeowners switch to more efficient LED bulbs. If you have an incandescent light in your home, try to place your solar panel as close to the light as you can.

The Importance of Lumens

Lumens are the measure of brightness. When charging a solar panel, you’ll want to pick an artificial light source that has the highest number of lumens as it will be the most intense. This intensity will ‘mimic’ the power of the Sun, helping to charge your solar panel as quickly and efficiently as possible

A rough way to estimate how many lumens a household bulb produces is to look at the wattage. Basically, a higher wattage equals more lumens. For reference, sunlight on a summer’s day measures out to about 10,000 lumens per square foot. The closer you can get to this number, the faster your solar ground spotlights will charge under your artificial light.

Incandescent bulbs Fluorescent bulbs LED bulbs

Lumens Watts Watts Watts

250 25 4-9 3

450 40 9-13 4-5

800 60 13-15 6-8

1,100 75 18-25 9-13

1,600 100 23-30 16-20

2,000 125 28-40 20-25

2,600 150 30-55 25-28

LED’s are amazingly energy efficient close to 1/10 the watt usage of Incandescent

3. Indirect Sunlight

It may come as a surprise to learn that solar ground spotlights don’t actually need direct sunlight to charge. An indirect source can still provide some level of charge using your solar panels. If direct sunlight isn’t an option, a bright but shaded spot can work in a pinch.

One way to maximize efficiency with indirect sunlight is to place reflective surfaces or mirrors around your solar panels. These will help to direct more sunlight into your panels without having to physically move them. A mirror is the best choice, but a large, flat and white object can also work.

When using mirrors, pick some that are at least twice the size of your solar panels. This will ensure the panel is receiving as much sunlight as possible. It’s also recommended that you reposition the mirrors as the sun moves throughout the day.

Charging your solar ground spotlights in Cloudy Weather

It’s a cloudy and miserable day- there’s no way any sunlight is reaching your solar panels, right? No, not really. Regardless of the weather, quite a bit of sunlight can still manage to find its way to Earth’s surface.

When it’s cloudy outside, you can still get a decent or full charge for your solar ground spotlights depending on the size. On a particularly overcast day, solar panels are only around 20% as effective as they would be on sunny days. However, this is assuming there are no cloud breaks during the day, which is rare.

In inclement weather conditions, it’s recommended that you regularly dry your solar panels with a soft cloth. Precipitation can affect how much light your panels are receiving and may damage them if they aren’t fully sealed.

You should also angle your solar ground spotlights to face the sun directly as this will maximize your charging capabilities.

3 Ways to Make Sure you are Getting as Much Charge as Possible

If you’re using your solar panels in sub-optimal conditions, like cloudy weather or with artificial light, you need to make sure that you’re harvesting every ounce of power available to you. After all, if you might be cutting it close on whether you’ll have light tonight, it’s best to do what you can to maximize your chances of a good charge.

1. Angle your lights

Angling your solar ground spotlights directly at the sun or artificial light source may give you that little bit extra to maximize your charge. While you may not always be able to move a fixed solar light that’s mounted to a wall or installed on a fence post, you should try to get creative as possible.

It’s important to note that the sun is at its strongest during midday. Keep this in mind when moving your solar panels as this can greatly affect how much your battery charges. If you put out your panels in the morning, don’t forget to reposition them in the afternoon and evening as well.

2. Keep your biling solar ground lights at an Ambient Temperature

Temperature is another factor that affects the efficiency of photovoltaic cells. Extremely high temperatures are something that should be avoided at all costs as they can damage or decrease the efficiency of your solar panels.

Anything higher than 87 degrees Fahrenheit will result in a decrease in production of electricity. When installing your solar ground spotlights, avoid placing them on a dark surface as it will make the lights hotter during the day. If you’re using an indoor electric light to charge the panels, don’t place the solar light too close to the bulb as it will get too hot or pose a fire risk.

3. Keep your Solar Panels Clean

Removing any dirt or dust from your panels will help to ensure that light isn’t being blocked. A simple wipe with a bit of gentle soap, window cleaner, or some water will go a long way in terms of keeping your solar ground spotlights in good working condition.

Can you charge a solar light with a flashlight?

Yes, you can – artificial light (eg flashlight) is capable of charging your solar ground spotlights. The speed that the flashlight will charge the solar light depends on the brightness.

An average flashlight emits 100 lumens, so it will take much longer to charge your solar light as compared to being outside. As a comparison (in lumens), the average flashlight is 6.7% as powerful as a cloudy day and .1% as powerful as a sunny day!

So you don’t need sunlight for solar ground spotlights, but it definitely helps.

According to Philips (you know the lightbulb manufacturers):

Typical room illumination is 300-500 lumens, whereas outdoor light varies from 1500 lumens on a cloudy day to 100,000 lumens on a sunny day.

There you go! You see, there are many alternatives to charging your solar lights without direct sunlight. You can charge them indoors or outdoors.

We hope these simple hacks can solve your issue of charging biling solar spotlights. You can even apply these for other solar equipment and devices that have solar panels.

 

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