The government has numerous responsibilities, including ensuring the safety of its constituents. One method of achieving this is by installing solar streetlights. However, the main issue lies in the installation cost of streetlights. While the final expense typically depends on several factors, installing streetlights entails significant expenditures, running into thousands or even millions of pesos.
As a solution, the government can invest in solar street lighting instead of allocating excessive funds to conventional street lighting options. Continue reading to learn more about solar streetlights and how they can help promote energy efficiency.
Components of a Solar Street Lighting System
A solar street lighting system is designed with several key components. Familiarizing yourself with these elements and grasping their roles can help you maximize their effectiveness. Outlined here are the four essential components integral to a solar street lighting setup.
Solar Panels
A solar panel converts sunlight into electricity using three main components: the panel itself, the mounting bracket, and the necessary hardware. The panel includes photovoltaic cells that absorb sunlight to generate electrical currents. A tempered glass and frame made from aluminum protect these cells.
Meanwhile, the mounting bracket securely attaches the panel to surfaces like rooftops or ground mounts, ensuring optimal sunlight exposure. Hardware such as bolts, nuts, and washers is crucial for assembly and installation, enabling efficient harnessing of solar energy for electricity production.
Batteries
The battery includes necessary wiring, a better box, and mounting materials. While batteries are often mounted, some models can be buried underground. This is especially beneficial for countries with colder temperatures. However, remember that burying the batteries should be done prior to pouring and curing the concrete pedestal.
LED Lights
LED lights are currently the most popular choice for solar lights. Although other options exist, LEDs are favored for their effectiveness and efficiency, which are particularly important for solar street lighting.
The light fixture in a solar streetlight must provide adequate light levels on the ground for optimal visibility while maximizing lighting efficiency. Moreover, LED lights come in various styles, providing a diverse range of options to their users. Lastly, LEDs offer superior lighting levels with significantly lower wattage consumption, enabling the government to save funds while safeguarding its citizens.
Controllers
The electricity converted from sunlight is stored in the battery through the controller, a device designed to protect the battery from over- or undercharging. During dusk, the controller prevents electricity from flowing back from the battery through the solar cells once the charging process stops.
Controllers facilitate multistage charging and can convert surplus voltage into amperage, thereby prolonging battery life. Knowing the type of charge controller in your solar street light system enhances your understanding of its capabilities and operations.
How Solar Street Lighting Systems Work
As their name implies, solar lights are lighting units powered by the sun. This renewable energy source charges the lights, allowing them to emit illumination at night. Below is the process of powering solar lights:
- The process begins with the Photovoltaic (PV) system collecting energy during daylight hours. In this process, solar units harness sunlight to charge their internal batteries through solar cells.
- When nighttime comes, the solar lights will turn on. Modern solar lighting units have built-in sensors to detect low light, which occurs during dusk and night. These sensors will trigger the solar cells to power the battery, causing the lights to turn on.
- The same sensor can detect when the light levels rise, automatically turning the lights off.
- When the solar light unit is not illuminated, it will undergo recharging. It is crucial to consider that specific units may face challenges recharging on days with limited direct sunlight. Therefore, investing in high-quality units is essential, as they are engineered to recharge and operate effectively even when sunlight is less abundant.
Features and Benefits of Solar Street Lighting
Solar street lighting offers numerous features and benefits, making it a compelling choice for urban and rural lighting solutions:
- Efficiency through Integration. Solar streetlights integrate photovoltaic panels, LED lamps, and rechargeable batteries into a single unit, maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing operational costs.
- Harnessing Solar Power. By converting sunlight into electricity, solar streetlights operate independently of the grid, reducing reliance on conventional energy sources and lowering electricity bills.
- Cost-Efficient Lighting Solutions. Once installed, solar streetlights require minimal maintenance and incur no electricity costs, offering significant long-term savings compared to traditional lighting systems.
- Environmentally Friendly Lighting. Solar streetlights produce no greenhouse gas emissions and have a minimal carbon footprint, contributing to environmental sustainability and combating climate change.
- Versatile Applications. Solar streetlights are suitable for a wide range of applications, including streets, pathways, parks, parking lots, and remote areas where grid access can either be limited or non-existent.
Finding the Best Solar Streetlight Supplier in the Philippines?
As the world strives towards a more sustainable future, governments and citizens alike are exploring ways to contribute. Utilizing solar lighting systems is a significant step in this direction.
However, with numerous suppliers in the market, finding a reliable solar lighting supplier can be daunting.
Fortunately, Lightforce Corporation is here to assist you. As an accredited supplier of the trusted solar light brand, CHINT, we guarantee that we have the solar lighting products you need. Interested in exploring our offerings? Visit our website today.