8 things to do if your solar powered lights aren’t working

Daniel Almond

28th May 2014 @ 16:19

Now we are big fans of solar lights, but we do understand that they can cause some people a lot of issues. If you’re struggling with yours then try out a couple of our handy tips to see if you can get them working again.

1. Check that they’re turned on

You would be surprised how often people haven’t realised that their lights have an on/off switch (not all of them do).

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2. Check that there’s not a pull tab on the battery

This will apply to newly purchased lights only. Sometimes there is a pull tab on the battery that needs to be removed before the light will function. If your new light doesn’t work, definitely check on this.

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3. Cover the panel to test the light

Generally speaking, solar powered lights do not work during the day. In order to test if the light is working, you will need to completely cover the solar panel to simulate darkness.

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4. Ensure the solar panel is clean

A dirty panel can impact the amount of charge received. See our guide on how to clean your solar panel.

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5. Make sure the solar panel is positioned correctly

The panel should be positioned to receive sunlight all (or at least most of the) day, or else it might not be receiving sufficient charge. Do solar lights need direct sunlight to work?

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6. Test with regular batteries if possible

In most instances of solar powered lights not working, it is the batteries at fault. Either they are not receiving charge or they are not holding it. If the lights work using normal batteries then it is clear that the problem is with either the rechargeable batteries or the solar panel.

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7. Switch off and leave to charge for 72 hours

Many solar powered lights will still charge if they are not turned on, and by turning them off you actually allow the battery to get a full charge over several days of sunlight. It is an idea to do this regularly with solar lights.

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8. Contact the retailer

If all else fails, contact the retailer that your purchased your lights from. All of our lights have a 12 month warranty. So, if you’ve tried the above steps and bought your lights from us within the last 12 months contact us or view our full returns policy.

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