Making the switch to solar
energy for the sake of
the environment!

How do temperature and weather conditions influence the performance?

Sunshine: 100% recharge performance.

Slightly overcast : 85% recharge performance

Overcast: 50% recharge performance

Slightly overcast winter day, partially sunny (1 - 2h): 25% recharge performance

Slightly overcast, longer overcast period: 5% recharge performance

At -4°F the capacity of the battery is lowered by 30 % and the lighting performance of the LEDs is also decreased by 20 %.

Due to the fact that the sulfuric acid in the battery changes to water (among other things) in the process of emptying, the contents of the battery can freeze at very low temperatures if it is not being recharged (due to a defect solar panel or some other reason). To guarantee a long battery life, the controller has an integrated low voltage battery saver..

How high must the lighting performance be in W/feet2 or Lux and for how long must it be so high to fully charge the battery?

First, we have to take the geographical and meteorological properties of the place of usage into account.
Important notice: The sun's lighting performance in Asia is approximately 110W/feet2 and the daily yield is around 0,5kWh/feet2, based on years' average.

Summer: 2-3 days are necessary to fully recharge the battery. Due to the panel pitch, the efficiency is around 12% (the battery is emptying during the night, as the lamp is in operation).

Winter: 3-5 days are necessary to fully recharge the battery. Due to the panel pitch, the efficiency is around 16% (the battery is emptying during the night, as the lamp is in operation).

Light used to generate electricity

For the production of electrical energy, only UV rays and the rays of visible light are used, therefore the solar panel should face south. The overall efficiency is about 14 - 19%. If the panel pitch is not correctly set, the efficiency drops down to 14%.

Should the panel position be adjusted for summer and winter operation?

No, the panel should be adjusted for winter operation.

During the summer the efficiency is lower, but that makes no difference, as the prolonged hours of sunshine ensure the same performance.

Battery and solar panel life expectancy

The life expectancy of the battery is around 4-5 years in Asia.

The life expectancy of the solar panel is around 25 years.

The performance drops after 25 years in operation about 2-3% every year. It's not noticeable before that.

Performance of the PL-176c/PL-651 lamps

It's an alternative lighting concept.

Can be mounted on all commonly used poles.

All parts are installed within the lighting fixture.

Wind resistance: PL-651: up to 75 mph (not suitable for hurricane areas); PL-176c: up to 120 mph

Battery: PL-651: 17Ah sealed lead - acid gel battery; PL-176c: 40 Ah sealed lead - acid gel battery

Measurement: PL-176c

Height of the light source: 8 feet.

Performance: 6W LED.

The measurement of the light intensity has taken place 7 inches above ground.

How high is the light intensity under the lamp and in a radius of 6.5/16/32 feet?
Note: At 5 Lux you are able to read.

Under the lamp: 13 Lux

6.5 feet: 9 Lux

16 feet: 3.5 Lux

32 feet: 0.9 Lux

The following measurement was taken to compare our lights to conventional street lights.

Measurement: 125W high pressure mercury lamp

Our test lamp had no milky glass in the fixture (it can affect the results)

Height of the light source: 10 feet

Performance: 125 W

How high is the light intensity under the lamp and in a radius of 6.5/16/32 feet?

Under the lamp: 35 Lux

6.5 feet: 19 Lux

16 feet: 7.5 Lux

32 feet: 1.5 Lux

Result

The power consumption of the high pressure mercury lamp is 21 times higher than the power consumption of the solar light.

The lighting performance, however, is not 21 times, but only 2.7 times higher compared to the solar light.

That means that the solar light is much more efficient.

LEDs have a higher life expectancy than high pressure mercury lamps.

Solar lamps also do not emit some part of the light spectrum, so that insects feel less or not attracted to them.