How to Protect Your LED Solar Lights
With the increasing costs of energy and the jump in demand for a renewable energy alternative, solar is increasingly being a commodity worth investing in. Making sure your systems are safe from theft and vandalism is important to ensure the longevity of the system you purchase. Here are a few tips to make sure your systems stay safe for years to come.
Install High on a Pole
Probably a minimum of 10¡¯ should be where the solar should be mounted. These systems are not easy to just grab and go, and with a good height of installation, the systems are even more difficult. Instead of just being able to walk up to a power assembly, a ladder at minimum will be required to get to the bolts and bracketry that holds the systems together on the pole.
Use Vandal Hardware
If the system is lower, using vandal hardware will require special tooling to be able to remove the systems from their mounting. This will make it even more difficult for systems to be taken apart in the field. Just make sure you don¡¯t lose the key in case you ever have to move the system.
Full Metal Back
If you are installing the LED solar lights in an area that is prone to vandalism, the backs are exposed to all types of things that can harm the solar cells. Having a system with a full protective back metal panel pan will help prevent anything from being able to damage the fragile backside of the solar panels. Vandals and wind-blown debris in a bad storm all can damage the solar. Having the option of using a full protective backside will keep those panels safe.
If you have a system that doesn¡¯t have durable glass like these modules, then using Lexan to protect the front of the system can be a great alternative. This is primarily suggested for areas prone to hail or areas close to sports centers such as golf, baseball, etc.
Talk to your manufacturer and see what options they have available for protecting the system.
SOLAR POWERED LED LIGHTING
With the sun beginning to reappear as we head towards Spring, have you considered solar powered lighting?
Having security lights or decorative lighting for your home can sometimes become costly when you want them on regularly. One solution is to harness the infinite power source in the sky, the Sun.
Solar power gives you a vast array of benefits:
Cost: Solar power is free! With no cost for the power, this technology can end up saving you a great deal of money. In addition to that, there is often far less installation required than a mains powered alternative which increases savings even further.
Eco-friendly: Solar power is a renewable and clean energy source that produces no harmful gases and has very little negative impact on the environment.
Low voltage: Solar typically uses 12 or 24V DC, which is far safer than the higher mains voltage lights. Also, because of the lower voltage, they tend to be paired with more efficient low voltage lighting methods like LEDs. LEDs can provide high the same level of brightness and quality lighting as more traditional methods but at a fraction of the power usage.
Availability: The Sun is always there during the day. Even when it¡¯s cloudy, the process of insolation means there will still be energy to absorb. Despite positioning being an issue for fixed PV lights, some lights can be powered by a separate remote panel, so the light can go anywhere, even in the shade. There are even technologies being developed today that are converting conventional roofing and windows into smart photovoltaic cells.
Sun shining through a bulb
With climate change becoming a more pressing issue than ever before, it is increasingly important that renewable, clean sources of energy are taken advantage of. It can be difficult to imagine how any one individual can make a difference in this regard but using widely available technology like this can have a big impact, not just on your wallet but crucially on the environment.
