How to Charge Solar Lights Without the Sun
Worried that winter days will render your outdoor solar lights useless? We’ve got all the info on how to charge them without direct sunlight.
Written by Natalie Todoroff
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
You can charge solar lights without the sun, whether it’s charging on cloudy days or inside with incandescent or LED light bulbs. If your solar light has a USB charging port, you can also charge up the batteries by plugging it in.
Whether you’re looking to make your home more eco-friendly or just looking to spruce up your yard with some new low-maintenance lighting, outdoor solar lights have become a popular choice for homeowners. And, despite what you may think, they’re not just for sunny states or summer months—outdoor solar lights can still be used in cooler, overcast environments as well.
Thankfully, there are many different ways to charge solar lights without the sun.
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Can you charge solar lights without sunlight?
When the seasons begin to change and the sun sets earlier and earlier each day, you probably begin to wonder about your outdoor solar lights. Or, if you live somewhere that isn’t particularly sunny, you may wonder if putting solar lights in your yard even makes sense.
Here’s the good news: you can charge your solar lights without direct sunlight!
It sounds counterintuitive, but outdoor solar lights just need light—not direct sunlight—to charge.
The photovoltaic cells in the black panels on your solar lights don’t necessarily need to be right in a beam of sunlight to charge—although that’s certainly the best-case scenario and will charge them up faster! Charing them in direct sunlight takes between 4 and 10 hours, while other methods will take between 6 and 15 hours.
How to charge solar lights without the sun
Is your yard a little lacking in sunlight, but you’re looking to charge up those outdoor solar lights for your next backyard BBQ? Read on for the most effective methods for charging your outdoor solar lights without the sun.
Prime your lights for charging
One of the best ways to make sure your outdoor solar lights can charge without the sun is to prepare them to absorb as much light as possible.
This may be an obvious one, but position your outdoor solar lights so that they get as much light as possible. And to maximize the sun’s rays, place mirrors around your solar lights to help direct sunlight onto their charging panels.
To make the most of your solar lights’ batteries, you should complete a “deep charge” once or twice a month. To do this, turn the solar light off and allow it to charge fully for about 72 hours.
The benefit of doing this when the light is off is that none of the charge will go towards powering the bulb—all of it will go straight to the battery, allowing you to have fully juiced-up lights the next time you need them.
Keeping the panels on your outdoor solar panels clean will also help them get as much light (and as much charge) as possible. If they’re looking dingy or dusty, go with some water on a microfiber cloth and wipe off the panels.
It may be tempting to use a cleaning solution here to make them extra shiny, but we wouldn’t recommend it. It can sometimes leave behind a cloudy residue, which will actually inhibit the charging process.
Take advantage of cloudy days
News flash: you can still charge your outdoor solar lights on cloudy days! Think about those days when it may not be sunny outside, but you can’t step outside without a pair of sunglasses because the light is so flat and bright. Those kinds of days work wonderfully for charging up your solar lights.
In fact, some even argue that outdoor solar lights charge better on cloudier days. The lack of heat from direct sunlight inhibits electron movement inside the photovoltaic cells, which some say actually makes for more efficient charging.
Stock up on incandescent or LED lights
Your solar lights need light to change, but that doesn’t always have to be sunlight. Artificial light and solar light have similar wavelengths and cover a similar light spectrum, meaning that artificial light can be used to charge your lights when you’re lacking in sun.
LED and incandescent light bulbs both work for this, but LEDs are preferable because they cover a broader light spectrum. Aim to purchase 40W to 100W bulbs (the brighter, the better). When charging your outdoor solar lights, make sure to place them within a couple of inches of the light source and leave them for at least six hours.
Pro Tip Charging your solar lights with LED or incandescent lights is a great opportunity to use the deep charge method we mentioned earlier on.
Check for a USB port
If you haven’t taken a good, long look at your outdoor solar lights since you put them in, we’d encourage you to do so! Many outdoor solar lights are equipped with USB ports that allow you to plug them right into the wall.
That way, charging your solar lights is just as easy as charging your smartphone.
How to find affordable homeowners insurance
Even when the sun isn’t shining, you can still find ways to charge your outdoor solar lights. While you’re waiting for them to be fully charged, why not download the
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FAQ
Can you charge solar lights inside?
Yes, you can charge your solar lights inside with LED or incandescent light bulbs. Some solar lights are even equipped with a USB port for plug-in charging.
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