SEPCO-Solar Lighting Blog

Solar lighting systems provide security and illumination in needed areas when grid power is unattainable or costly to bring to a site, where a company is looking for a grid alternative to showcase their green initiative, or for companies looking to get LEED points for a new project installation. Solar lights are a great alternative and a cost effective solution for projects like this since there isn’t much for installation costs and zero costs to trench in the grid power.

  Shade is a wonderful thing, especially in the summer in the south; however, it is bad for off-grid solar power and solar lighting applications. This is because shading robs the solar panels of its peak energy production capacity, which in turn, has an adverse effect on overall system performance. Basically stated, if the solar is shaded, power will not be produced as expected, not allowing the batteries to fully charge, and causing system failures over time. Instead, make sure your installation location has full sun exposure.  

  Only when one experiences a power failure or a blackout is when we realize just how dependent we are on electricity for just about any aspect of our lives. The electricians are the people who ensure that we get the electricity we need and that it is well maintained and repaired in a timely manner when power cuts or other problems on the network occur. What you may not know is that it is not so easy to become an electrician, and that there are certain specific requirements which all electricians need to comply to in order to do their work.

  Solar energy is a great source that offers free energy year round. However, the power production of a solar panel can be greatly affected by shading. It is best for each location to be analyzed for optimum sun exposure. SEPCO specializes in stand-alone battery powered systems that operate our solar lighting for parking lots installations. Our systems are designed for a specific amount of power for each night. Therefore, it is important to be able to calculate exactly how much energy the system is producing as there is no back up power from the electrical grid when shading occurs.  

  Solar power assemblies are installed all over the world for lighting and power configurations. Solar sized properly can be installed in almost any location. Solar installations inside the Sun Belt are more efficient and require much less power since there is more available sun as well as shorter nights, but that does not mean that solar cannot be used outside the Sun Belt.

  The basic controls of a solar light system are, for the most part, quite simple. The solar lights turn on at dusk and off at dawn if using dusk to dawn configuration, or turn on at dusk and operate according to the preset configurations. We wanted to cover exactly how the solar lights understand when dusk and dawn is by breaking it down.  

  How does shade affect solar? This one should be a simple answer, right? Well yes and no. Shade will render solar inoperable while it is being shaded; however, systems can be oversized to take advantage of times when it is not shaded. But the general consensus is trim trees, place the solar in the sunniest location possible, and keep it out of the shade.  

We wanted to start the New Year off with some basic facts on solar lighting and power systems. These will explain how the systems operate and basic sizing information. Understanding these few facts will allow you to better understand how solar operates and how a reliable system should operate. Let’s start off with the first fact:

One of the largest costs associated with new lighting projects is the cost of trenching in the electric from the main source. Trenching not only costs more, but it tears up the surrounding area and damages landscaping, structures, and pathways. This can be the most costly part of a lighting project since all surrounding areas now need to be repaired.

There are two types of commercial lighting systems, grid powered and off grid powered. Solar powered light systems that are off grid provide different benefits to grid tied light systems such as: light when there is no power for additional safety and security, lack of electric bills, easier installation, and light wherever you need it. Customizing a system for each application will ensure that your light system meets the needs of your project completely.