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Solar energy is considered the cleanest and most-renewable form of energy. Not only is it eco-friendly, but sunlight is also free—which means you get to utilise power without spending on electricity.
Given solar energy’s need for sunlight to generate power, one of the most common questions that many people are curious about is – are solar lights waterproof?
Most solar lights are water-resistant and can handle rainfall easily but those with an IP65 rating will be fully waterproof and protected from dirt and dust particles in the air.
If you would like to know more keep reading because, in this article, we’ll discuss the differences between. waterproof lights, whether they work in the rain, and what to do if your solar lights stop working after rain.
Can Solar Lights Get Wet?
While solar lights generate power through sunlight, most of them are designed to withstand any form of weather.
So yes, solar lights can indeed get wet. And although some can be damaged by rain, snow, and sprinklers the advancement of technology means that both water-resistant and waterproof solar lights are widely available.
A slight difference distinguishes the two. Water-resistant solar lights prevent water from getting into its mechanical parts. On the other hand, waterproof solar lights can prevent all sorts of water leakage or penetration.
That being said, you might want to prefer waterproof solar lights over water-resistant ones. However, wirings that hold your solar lights can still be damaged if exposed to water and, therefore, affect the illuminating properties of the solar light.
Are Solar Lights Waterproof?
As we’ve already discussed above not all solar lights are waterproof but are waterproof solar lights really waterproof.
In general, solar lights are designed to be waterproof to be able to endure harsh weather. However, there are solar lights that might not be true to their waterproof claims, especially cheap ones.
To prevent yourself from buying these fake solar lights, remember to look for its “IP” rating when looking for a waterproof solar light.
This indicates how protected the light’s components are from solid or liquid particles. There are two numbers in the IP – the first one refers to solid, and the second one is liquid.
The numbers range from 0-9k, the 0 without protection, and 9k with the greatest protection. If you’re going for a waterproof outdoor light, the standard IP that you should look for is IP65.
This will allow the solar light to withstand rain or dust. However, if you live in an area where heavy rains or snow occur, you should go for solar light with a higher IP. Please note that IP65 solar lights have suitable protection against rain it does not mean you can submerge the light in water!
Do Solar Powered Lights Work While It’s Raining?
Whether it’s raining or not will affect your solar lights’ capacity to shine because solar lights can still work when it’s raining.
Solar lights can still charge on days when it’s cloudy and also when it’s raining but don’t forget that the solar energy produced and stored by your battery will obviously be decreased.
The good thing about rain however is that it will help to clean the solar panel on your solar lights. Any dust or light dirt can easily be shifted by rainfall.
Can All Solar Garden Lights Stay Out During Winter?
Solar lights are perfectly capable of staying out throughout winter. Lights will still charge on bright days and they will still shine brightly during the night.
If however, you live in an area that is prone to extensively harsh winters and lots of snow, you may be better off bringing them inside for the winter.
Large amounts of snow on top of a solar light can act the same as submerging your light in water and can cause water ingress.
If you do plan on bringing your solar lights inside for winter, please ensure that you turn them off before storing them. You may also want to make sure you follow the procedure for new lights when you bring them out of storage again.
Solar Lights Not Working After Rain
If your solar lights don’t work after rain there are a number of things you can do.
If your solar lights are waterlogged then the first thing you need to do is turn them off and then dry them out.
If your battery is easily accessible, you should start by taking the battery out and drying it off. If your battery is soldered in place or you cannot gain access to it then you’ll have to do a little more work.
Most solar lights have easy access by undoing some screws on the body. Once you’ve managed to undo the screws and opened up the light you can use a cloth to dry the inside out.
When you’ve removed most of the water, leave your light somewhere dry for several days. Try and position them in such a way to allow easy drainage.
Once your light is completely dry, re-attach the battery and see if the lights will turn on. If they do then you can reassemble your light and place it back in the garden.
If your lights fail to work then you may have more of a problem and it may not actually be down to the water.
The next thing is to work through our list of things to do if your solar lights stop working. Our article covers each problem and gives you a few tips on how to fix the problem.
Finally
We hope this article was able to answer your queries regarding – are solar lights waterproof? Solar lights are made to sustain both good and bad weather. But that doesn’t mean that it’s invincible to damage.
That being said, it’s best to plan and consider all factors before deciding to set up solar lights in your garden.
Just make sure, when you buy solar garden lights that you pick ones with at least an IP65 rating if you want them to last.
No matter how nice your lights look, if they are not at least in some way, water resistant it will be a waste of time and more importantly money buying them!
If you’re looking to buy some new solar lights, take a look at our online shop.