Solar Street Light Activation Guide

During the transportation and storage stages of solar street lights, to prevent excessive battery discharge and extend the lifespan of core components, manufacturers usually put the equipment in a "power-off sleep" mode. This means that even if the physical installation is completed, if the correct "activation/wake-up" operation is not performed, the solar led street light will not be able to respond normally to ambient light or sensing signals.

The activation process is not merely a simple "power-on", but also involves key steps such as wiring inspection, mode configuration, and performance testing, which directly determine the lighting effect, battery life, and service life of solar powered street lights. Ignoring the activation details may lead to problems such as no light at night, sensor failure, insufficient brightness, and even affect the progress of project acceptance. This article will break down the entire process from preparation to acceptance, helping users in different scenarios quickly activate solar street lights.
 

Whether you are encountering solar street lights for the first time or have faced the tricky problem of "not lighting up after installation", nokin's guide can provide targeted solutions, covering mainstream product types such as split and integrated solar street lights.

Preparations before Activating Solar Street Lights

Before activation, it is necessary to prepare all the tools in advance and confirm the on-site conditions to avoid interrupting the process due to insufficient preparation during operation.

Essential Tools for Activating Solar Street Lights

Check the On-site Conditions of the Solar Street Lights

The " Sleep" Switch that Needs Attention in the Packaging/Transportation Mode of Solar Street Lights

Most solar street light manufacturers will set up "sleep protection" during transportation and storage. The core purpose is to prevent the battery from self-discharging and causing damage due to low power. There are two common forms of sleep settings:

Physical switch

One type is the physical switch ON the light body or battery box, marked with "ON/OFF" or "Transport Mode/Working Mode". After installation, it needs to be manually switched to "ON" or "Working Mode". Another type is the hidden PIN button, which needs to be pressed for 3 to 5 seconds with a slender tool (such as a toothpick or a small screwdriver) to wake it up.

Switches integrated into the controller

The sleep function of some integrated solar street lights is integrated into the controller and has no obvious external switch. It needs to be turned off through the remote control or the DIP switch on the controller. It is recommended to read the product manual carefully before activation to confirm the position and operation method of the sleep switch, so as to avoid "false faults" of the street light due to the sleep not being lifted.

How Do You Activate Outdoor Solar Street Lights?

Step 1: Install and Fix the Light Body to the Solar Panel

First, fix the light post according to the product installation manual, ensuring that the light post is vertical to the ground and the bottom bolts are tightened (it is recommended to calibrate with a level). Then install the light body and the solar panel. Pay attention to reserving sufficient length for the connection cables of the two to avoid loosening of the wiring due to pulling.

When wiring, strictly follow the controller wiring diagram, distinguish the positive and negative terminals (usually red is the positive terminal and black is the negative terminal), and do not connect in reverse - reverse wiring may burn out the controller or battery. After the connection is completed, gently pull the cable to confirm that the joint is firm and there is no risk of detachment.

Step 2: Connect the Battery to the Controller (Split Type) or Confirm the Internal Connection (Integrated Type)

Split-type solar street light

The batteries of split-type products are usually independently installed in the battery box. First, open the battery box and connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery to the corresponding interfaces of the controller. After the wiring is completed, wrap the joints with waterproof tape and then seal the battery box well to prevent rainwater from seeping in and causing a short circuit.

Please note that the battery box should be installed in a well-ventilated and dry location, avoiding direct sunlight or low-lying water accumulation areas to extend the battery's service life.

Integrated solar street light

The battery and controller of the integrated solar street light are pre-installed inside the light body, eliminating the need for additional wiring. When installing, simply fix the light body to the base of the light post, and make sure that the base connectors are fully inserted and the clips are tightly locked.

After installation, gently shake the light body to check if it is firmly installed and if there are no signs of loosening in the connectors. If the connectors have poor contact, it may cause the street light to flicker on and off.

Step 3: Unactivate Transportation Sleep/Manually "Wake Up"

Dedormancy is the core step of activation. The operation methods vary slightly among different products. There are three common forms:

Physical switch wake-up:

Locate the "ON/OFF" switch ON the side of the light body, battery box or controller, switch it to the "ON" position, wait for about 30 seconds, and the solar powered street light will enter standby mode.

PIN button wake-up:

Locate the small round hole marked "WAKE" or "Wake up" on the controller, and press it with a slender tool for 3 to 5 seconds until the indicator light flashes, indicating that the sleep mode has been lifted.

Remote control wake-up:

Some high-end models support remote control wake-up. Press and hold the "Power" button on the remote control for 5 seconds. Once you hear a "beep" sound, it will be activated.

If there is no response after operation, first check whether the fuse on the controller has blown (replace it with a fuse of the same specification and try again), then use a multimeter to measure the battery voltage (the normal voltage is usually 12V or 24V). If the voltage is too low, you need to charge it through the solar panel or connect it to an external power supply first, and then try to wake it up.

Step 4: Set the Working Mode of the Solar Street Light

The working mode of solar led street lights directly affects the user experience and energy-saving effect. It can be selected through the DIP switch on the remote control or controller. The three common modes are as follows:

Dusk-to-dawn

This is the most fundamental working mode of solar street lights, which requires no manual intervention: The controller detects the ambient brightness through a light sensor, automatically turns on the street light at sunset, and automatically turns it off at sunrise.

Setting method: Press the "Light Control" key on the remote control, or switch the DIP switch of the controller to the "DUSK-DAWN" position. When the corresponding indicator light lights up, the setting is successful. It is suitable for scenes such as courtyards and parks that require continuous lighting.

Motion-detection

At night, solar street lights are in a low-brightness standby state. When the sensor detects the movement of a person or vehicle, it automatically increases to full brightness. When there is no one or vehicle, it returns to low brightness or turns off.

Setting method: Press the "Sensing" key on the remote control, or adjust the DIP switch to the "MOTION" position. At the same time, the sensing sensitivity (high/medium/low) and detection range (5-15 meters) can be adjusted through the DIP switch. It is suitable for scenarios such as roads, parking lots and fences, and has a remarkable energy-saving effect.

Timing / Hybrid

Combining timing and sensing functions, for instance, it can be set to be constantly illuminated from 18:00 to 22:00, and then switch to sensing mode after 22:00, taking into account both lighting needs and energy conservation.

Setting method: Enter the "Timing" interface through the remote control to set the start and end time and corresponding mode, or configure it by combining multiple sets of DIP switches on the controller. This working mode of solar street lights is suitable for areas with large fluctuations in pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

Step 5: On-site Testing (Lighting up/Dark Night simulation/Sensing test)

Testing is the key to verifying the activation effect. It is recommended to follow the procedures below

Dark night simulation test:

During the daytime test, completely cover the solar panels and light sensors with blackout cloth to simulate the night environment. Observe whether the solar street lights automatically light up and confirm that the light control function is normal.

Mode switching test:

Use the remote control to switch the three working modes in sequence, record the response speed of each mode, and ensure that there is no lag during mode switching.

Sensing performance test:

In sensing mode, move from different distances (5 meters, 10 meters, 15 meters) to test the sensing trigger sensitivity of the solar street light, and simultaneously record the brightness holding time (usually set from 10 to 60 seconds).

Parameter recording:

Use a multimeter to measure the battery voltage (the normal voltage after activation should be higher than the initial voltage), record the constant brightness of the solar street light (usually marked as 300-1500 lumens) and the standby brightness, and compare them with the product parameters.

If problems such as insufficient brightness or delayed sensing of solar street lights are found during the test, adjust the mode parameters in time or check the installation Angle.

FAQ

Q1: What should I do if the solar street light doesn't work at night?

A1: First, check whether the solar street light has been released from transportation sleep (re-operate the wake-up step); Secondly, observe whether the solar panels are blocked by leaves or bird droppings. After cleaning, try again. Use a multimeter to test the battery voltage. If it is lower than 10V (12V system) or 20V (24V system), it may be that the battery is low on power and needs to be recharged for testing. If the above operations are ineffective, it might be a controller malfunction. Contact the manufacturer for replacement.

Q2: How to solve the problem of unsensitive sensing or false triggering of solar street lights?

A2: Unresponsive sensing may be due to a deviation in the sensor Angle. Adjust the light body Angle of the solar street light so that the sensor is directly facing the detection area. If false triggers occur frequently, the DIP switch can be used to reduce the sensing sensitivity or narrow the detection range. Check if there is any dust blocking the surface of the sensor. Cleaning it can improve its performance.

Q3: What are the reasons for insufficient brightness or short operating time of solar street lights?

A3: First, clean the surface of the solar panel (dust and bird droppings can affect the charging efficiency); If the solar street light has been in use for 2 to 3 years, it might be due to battery aging and a lithium battery of the same specification needs to be replaced. Confirm whether the high brightness mode has been selected. You can switch to the energy-saving mode or the hybrid mode to extend the running time.

Q4: How to troubleshoot the intermittent lighting of solar street lights?

A4: It is most likely that the wiring is loose or the contact of the connector is poor. Re-tighten the cable connector and the connector, and reinforce them with waterproof tape. Check if water has entered the battery box. If it is damp inside, dry it and replace the sealing gasket. If the indicator light of the controller flashes abnormally, it may be a controller fault. Contact after-sales service for maintenance.

Optimization Suggestions after Activating Solar Street Lights

Regular Cleaning and Maintenance

It is recommended to clean the surface of the solar panels every 1 to 2 months to remove dust, bird droppings, leaves and other obstructions to ensure charging efficiency - unclean solar panels may cause the charging capacity to drop by more than 30%. When cleaning, use a soft cloth dipped in clean water to wipe. Avoid using corrosive cleaning agents.

Key Points for Battery Maintenance

Avoid allowing the battery to be deeply discharged for a long time (with the battery level below 20%) during the rainy season. If it rains continuously for more than three days, you can temporarily turn off the street lights or switch to the energy-saving mode to protect the battery. According to the manufacturer's recommendation, test the battery capacity every 1-2 years. Replace it in time when the decline exceeds 50% to avoid affecting the lighting effect.

Optimization of Working Mode

Adjust the mode according to the actual situation on site: For areas with heavy traffic flow such as roads and parking lots, a "timing + sensing" hybrid mode can be selected to balance lighting and energy conservation. In scenarios with fewer people such as courtyards and farms, the induction mode should be given priority to reduce energy consumption. During peak hours when there is a large flow of people (such as the rush hour after work), it is switched to a light-controlled constant light to enhance safety.

Environmental Adaptation Adjustment

In winter, as the solar altitude Angle decreases, the tilt Angle of the solar panels can be appropriately adjusted (by increasing it by 5 to 10 degrees) to enhance charging efficiency. When the temperature is high in summer, ensure that the battery box is well-ventilated to prevent the battery from overheating and aging. After extreme weather conditions such as typhoons and heavy rain, promptly check the fixation of the light body and the sealing of the wiring.

Solar Street Lights Inspection and Acceptance List

Conclusion

The core of activating solar street lights is "de-hibernation + correct configuration + comprehensive testing". As long as the steps in this article are followed, most common problems can be effectively avoided. Whether it is engineering installation or personal DIY, a standardized activation process is the foundation for the long-term stable operation of street lights.

If you encounter problems such as "no light at night" or "sensor failure" during the activation process, or if you want to know the operation details of a specific product model, you are welcome to practice with NOKIN. Explain the model of the solar powered street light you are using and the specific problem, and we will provide you with a targeted troubleshooting solution.