Can you replace batteries in solar lights?

There are many reasons why solar Lights stop working. But in most cases, it turns out that the culprit is the old battery.

Although solar cells are sustainable and economical, they will eventually lose their ability to hold charge. When this happens, the performance of the solar lamp will not reach the expected level.

In order to obtain the best lighting, solar cells must be replaced at least once a year. This leads to a question: Can ordinary batteries be used to bask in the sun?

The shortest answer is no. Ordinary batteries, especially alkaline batteries, are not suitable for basking in the sun and must be dealt with when the power is cut off.

Is there a difference between solar batteries and alkaline batteries?
Solar cells store energy from the main sun. The solar unit in the panel collects sunlight and converts it into direct current. The electricity is then stored in a rechargeable battery to drive the lights at dusk.

On the other hand, alkaline batteries obtain energy from the reaction of zinc metal and manganese dioxide. They are not for charging, you should avoid using them in the sun. Of course, when you decide to buy a new rechargeable battery, you can use an ordinary battery for a few days. Note, however, that since they can cause permanent system failures, they are not worth the risk.

What types of batteries need solar energy?
Solar lights do not need special batteries to work. They use one of two battery types: NiCd (nickel cadmium) rechargeable batteries or NiMH (nickel metal hydride) rechargeable batteries.

Both of these batteries are common in local shops, so there should be no problem finding new solar cells. The two batteries are also replaceable, which means you can install them as needed.

When replacing solar batteries, it is recommended that you choose Ni-MH batteries. Let us see why the new Ni-MH battery is more popular than the old Ni-Cd battery.

Capacity: Ni-MH batteries have obvious advantages over Ni-Cd batteries in terms of capacity. These batteries can store twice as much solar energy as ordinary nickel-cadmium batteries. This means they provide better lighting and a longer validity period.

Environmental impact: Ni-MH batteries do not contain harmful elements and are harmless to the environment. Therefore, they can be processed without polluting the environment. Nickel-cadmium batteries contain a dangerous element called cadmium. Therefore, they must be handled properly.

Memory: Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries are affected by the so-called memory. If the battery is charged before it is completely depleted, the next charge will be less than the previous charge.

If you continue to charge them until they are completely depleted, it will reach a point where they will no longer hold any charge. This is the so-called memory effect. Ni-MH batteries have no memory effect.

What is the average life of rechargeable batteries?
On average, a standard rechargeable solar cell will last about 1-2 years. However, the actual life span more or less depends on the battery brand, type and quality.

The brightness of most solar cells will drop after one year. When rechargeable solar cells are depleted, the quality of the light they produce will be greatly reduced.

Charging capacity and overall performance will also decrease significantly. It is best to replace rechargeable batteries when they show signs of death.

How do you know that the rechargeable battery is low?
It is easy to check whether the old rechargeable solar battery needs to be replaced. All you need to do is to temporarily remove the rechargeable battery from the sun and replace it with a normal alkaline battery.

After installing the standard alkaline battery, enter the dark room and turn on the sunlight to test whether the lighting returns to normal.

In this case, it is time to replace the rechargeable battery with a new battery. Be sure to remove ordinary alkaline batteries from the sun to avoid damage.