Brand New Solar Lights Not Working: Troubleshooting 101
Have you got yourself a set of new solar-powered lights? Not only do they look great, but they also are good for the environment and your electricity bill. But, wait! Is something wrong?
Are your brand new solar lights not working? This can be extremely frustrating, but don’t fret just yet. There are surprisingly simple ways you can fix this issue.
Solar lights have become quite popular in recent times. A majority of the time, they work without any issue. However, there are times they may not work as they should, and depending on the time of the day, they can fail too, which causes a ton of inconveniences.
Today, we will list some easy and quick solutions that will help you deal with this issue. Don't worry; you don’t even need to be tech-savvy to do so.
Brand New Solar Lights Not Working: Common Troubleshooting Tips
As mentioned, new solar lights failing may not always be because you have a faulty set of lights. There are often simple ways you can try out to rectify this issue.
1. Check to See Whether It Is Switched On
Often you will find many manufacturers stating how easy the installation process is and how it has auto on-and-off features. As such, people assume that there is nothing to switch on.
While most solar lights work automatically, you must turn it on for the first time. Once it is switched on, the light will switch on and off automatically, depending on the sun. This is a common issue that tends to go unnoticed.
2. Remove the Pull Tab on the Battery
You will notice that when you purchase a new solar light, it will come with something called a pull tab on its battery. This is basically to indicate that the product and its battery are brand new. It also restricts power to the light.
The solar light will not function if you have not removed this tab from your battery. Hence, you must make sure that you remove this tab on the battery compartment. If you have already done it and it still doesn’t work, move on to the next tip.
3. Replace the Batteries
If removing the tab still didn’t do any good to your solar lights, then it is time you check out the battery. There could be a possibility that your light is not functioning due to a faulty battery. Either the batteries are unable to hold the charge in, or they are not receiving the charge at all.
If the solar light is working with a regular set of batteries, then you can establish that the unit is not lighting up due to faulty rechargeable batteries.
4. Charge the Batteries for at Least 72 Hours
If you have determined that the issue lies in the battery, you can try the deep charging technique before replacing them to see whether or not that solves the issue.
To do this, you will need to switch off the solar light for at least 72 hours, and yes, the solar panel will continue to work to keep charging the battery even when it is switched off.
5. Clean the Solar Panel
Solar-powered outdoor lights are often placed in patios, driveways, or gardens. This makes them highly susceptible to getting dirty in a matter of days, even if they are new. The job of the solar panel is to absorb as much light from the sun as possible. This way, it can charge the batteries for the light work at night.
When the panel gets dirty and left like that, the amount of sunlight it can absorb gets lesser. The dirtier the panel is, the lesser sunlight it can absorb, and all of this ultimately affects the lighting. Thus, you must clean the solar panel at least every week. You can do this easily by using a damp cloth to wipe it clean.
6. Cover the Solar Panel
The basic mechanism of a solar-powered light is to recharge the battery during daylight and to illuminate at night when it is dark. By this simple logic, it is obvious that the lights are not supposed to work during the day.
That said, you will need to see whether or not the lights are working during the day. For this, you will need to simulate darkness. You can simply do this by covering the solar panel with your hands or by using a thick and dark-colored cloth.
If you have tried all the tips mentioned above, then you have no choice but to get in touch with the light’s manufacturer. Thankfully, most solar lights have a six-month to a one-year warranty. They will most likely replace the product if it can’t be repaired.
Conclusion
If you face an issue like your brand new solar lights not working, you don’t need to worry. Solar lights are a straightforward product, and fixing them is even simpler most of the time.
We are certain that the tips we gave will take care of the issue. If it does not, do not hesitate to get in touch with the brand’s customer care service.
