Q: How does the Solar street lighting system work?
A: The Solar PV Array converts sunlight into electricity. This clean, eco-friendly electricity is stored in a Low maintenance lead acid Battery through the solar charge controller inbuilt in the Electronic control unit. The Inverter in the ECU converts the DC Power into high frequency AC Power to run the CFL/SVL/LED light. The circuit also incorporates preheating function to heat up the lamp filaments before starting the lamp to avoid cold start to get optimum life of the lamps. The charge controller provides battery deep discharge protection by disconnecting the load if the battery runs low.
Q: What does the Solar Charge Controller in the lantern do?
A: The Solar Charge Controller optimizes solar charging and prevents battery over charge/deep discharge.
Q: The lamps have failed and has to be replaced, Will the battery get damaged/over charged, should I disconnect the solar module?
A: The street lighting system has low maintenance lead acid battery which has self discharge even if the lamps have failed and requires replacement. The charge controller circuitry also consumes small power from the battery. Hence the battery can completely drain out to such a low state that it does not recover the charge and thus has to be disposed. Hence always keep the solar module connected to the system even when it is not in use. The solar charge controller prevents battery from over charge and maintain the battery healthy.
Q: What about maintenance?
A: The Solar street lighting system requires very little maintenance. Look at the maintenance requirements of home lighting system (Operation & Instruction manual).
