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Dog Solar Lights & Chimes

If you’re a dog lover who also enjoys spending time in your garden, then you’ll love these adorable dog inspired garden solar lights. These charming lights are the perfect way to add a touch of whimsy and fun to your outdoor space, while also providing practical illumination at night. We have prepared our favourite dog solar lights for your garden and home below!

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Final Thoughts

Bring the sunshine into your garden area all day, everyday with our range of conventional and unique outdoor solar garden lights. Create a luxe ambient feel to your patio space with a selection of hanging solar lights or solar garden lanterns, great for illuminating walkways, paths and decking areas. Intertwine string solar fairy lights or solar fence post lights within your backyard space to create a magical ethereal feel – choose from an array of colourful illuminations and designs to suit whatever your preferred garden theme.

The Functioning of Solar Lights

Since ancient times, the sun has been intuitively utilized by an overwhelming majority of all living beings as a natural source of warmth and energy. With the invention of solar cells, solar energy was finally made actively usable and storable, allowing us to benefit from sustainable power in many areas today, not least when we enjoy the light of a solar light.

But how exactly has solar technology evolved? And how do solar lights work with the energy obtained from the sun? These are questions we want to explore in a bit more detail in this article.

The History of Solar Technology

Generating electricity from solar energy—this groundbreaking invention was initiated in 1839 by the Parisian physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel (1829-1891): During experiments, he discovered the so-called photoelectric effect (also known as the photoeffect or Becquerel effect), which results in electricity flowing more strongly when exposed to light than in darkness.

Building on this, subsequent physicists enabled the conversion of positive and negative charges from a light or heat source into direct current, which can directly charge batteries, for example. This photovoltaic effect is the basic requirement for the operation of all solar systems, from huge solar power plants to the solar lights in our garden.

How Do Solar Lights Work?

It would take a hundred years for Becquerel’s discovery to become the first professionally energy-generating photovoltaic system. Today, the photovoltaic effect is hardly imaginable not to be an integral part of everyone’s life and has become a firm component of electricity generation.

Although the power output of solar energy is lower than that of conventional power plants, its most important energy source, the sun, is inexhaustible and sustainable.

From the Sun to the Battery

Every solar light is a mini-photovoltaic system and is therefore equipped with a solar module.

This is either built directly into the light or connected as an external component with a lead, allowing the solar module, located a distance away from the light, to collect the required solar energy. The solar module consists of solar cells, which are protected from wind and weather by a protective layer.

The solar cell itself is usually made of the semiconductor material silicon, which can conduct absorbed solar energy very well: When sunlight hits the silicon, an electric voltage is generated. The rule of thumb here is: The more surface area and light, the more electricity is produced.

Additionally, the processing form of the silicon is important for the performance of a solar module: Monocrystalline silicon produces the most electricity, followed by polycrystalline and ultimately amorphous silicon.

From the Battery to the Light

The energy generated in this way is stored in the battery of the solar light. LEP batteries (Lithium Iron Phosphate), NiMH batteries (Nickel Metal Hydride), and the very powerful Li-ion batteries (Lithium-Ion) are used here. Most solar lights are now equipped with LEDs, which require much less energy than incandescent bulbs and have significantly longer lifespans.

Thus, the energy collected in the battery during the day can be used for a longer period by the LED to illuminate the solar light. There are solar lights that automatically turn on via a sensor when dusk falls and/or can be switched on and off via a controller.

A battery filled with the energy of a sunny day lasts an average of 8-10 hours before it needs to be recharged.

Types of Solar Lights

“Solar light” is the generic term for all lighting fixtures that can be powered solely by solar energy, making them independent of the power grid. Their functions are diverse and differ, for example, in terms of how bright they shine, the color of light they emit, or the design of their lampshade.

Pathway and Utility Lights:

These solar lights are used in dark corners, on driveways, or as house numbers to provide orientation light in darkness. In addition to a less bright continuous light, they are often equipped with a very bright LED, and possibly a PIR sensor that activates the light when motion is detected in its vicinity. The shape of pathway and utility lights depends on their purpose, but usually, they illuminate not only individual spots but also the entire surrounding area evenly.

Floodlights and Spotlights:

Floodlights and spotlights are the brightest among solar lights, allowing them to illuminate individual objects or create strong light accents. To cast a lot of light onto a defined point without losses, floodlights and spotlights are often equipped with a very powerful LED and their lamp heads are fitted with a light-conducting shield.

Decorative Lights:

Decorative lights are the romantics among solar lights, whose main task is to create a cozy atmosphere with light and shadow. They require less luminosity, and their light colors are often warm white or colorful. Fascinating light and shadow play is created by decorated or perforated lamp bodies, with some LEDs flickering like real candles. Decorative lights are available for the ground, for hanging, as table lighting, or even as floating decoration for the garden pond.

Maintenance of Solar Lights

Solar lights are very easy to maintain, durable, and designed for year-round outdoor use, so they can remain in continuous operation on the balcony or in the garden for several years without requiring special maintenance. Thanks to deep discharge protection, the battery also survives the dark season without memory effect. Only solar lights made of real glass should be protected from frost or strong temperature differences.

If your solar light shines only briefly or not at all, it may be because the solar module could not collect enough sun during the day. So, make sure that the sun can shine on the module well and remove any dirt, leaves, or snow if necessary. Please also consider that in winter, the lighting duration of a solar light may be naturally shortened due to the lack of sunlight hours.

External light sources such as street lamps can also suppress the sensor function of a solar light, preventing it from being activated in the dark.

If you still have problems with the lighting duration after following the tips, the battery should be replaced. The manufacturer’s recommendation for solar light batteries is to replace them every 2-3 years. However, in our experience, many batteries last longer and should only be replaced when the light no longer shines or only shines very briefly, despite being in a sunny spot, with a clean module, and without the interference of external light sources.