Can I Replace Nickel Cadmium With Nickel Metal Hydride
Ok so Ive been saying you should ditch the cadmium batteries and use metal hydride instead, but if your solar lights came with cadmium-based batteries already installed can you replace them with metal hydride ones?
Well yes you can, a solar light should still work in just the same way if you change to this battery type providing you get matching specifications in other areas, i.e the size and voltage.
The one thing to bear in mind is to not mix the two types. So say you open up your solar lights and find there are two batteries inside, but maybe you want to try just replacing one to see if the other is still holding charge. Dont do this.
Always replace all the batteries so you have just one type of battery in your solar lights.
Nimh Vs Nicd Rechargeable Batteries
The preferred batteries to be used in these products are NiMH and NiCd rechargeable batteries, which are largely interchangeable and thus ease the process of identifying a replacement. Either way, these batteries are rechargeable and readily available online or in stores whenever you need them.
All rechargeable batteries are not created equal, however NiMH are preferred to NiCd wherever possible because they cost the same, are more environmentally-friendly, dont suffer a memory effect, and will often last a little bit longer each night. Indeed, while either NiMH or NiCd batteries will work within your solar lights, there has come to be a universal perspective that, where applicable and possible, NiMH should be used to get the best out of your lights.
How Often Do I Need To Replace Solar Light Batteries
For optimum illumination, you should replace your solar light batteries at least once a year. If you use Ni-Cd batteries, then it is recommended that your batteries are replaced once every 6 months for best results.
On average, a rechargeable solar battery will last between 1 and 2 years. This will depend considerably on the brand, quality, and the type of battery that you use in your solar lights.
You can also expect to see a decline in the brightness and performance of your lights during that time frame. Consequently, if you notice that your solar lights have considerably diminished in brightness and overall performance, it probably means that you need to replace your solar light batteries. This is commonly the case during Winter.
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The 8 Best Batteries For Solar Lights Reviews & Buying Guide
Find the best batteries for your solar lights that last long and come in budget-friendly price.
If your solar lights havent been lasting long as they used to, then its time to change their batteries.
Solar batteries usually last for about 3 to 4 years, based on their number of charge cycles. When its time to replace the batteries for solar lights, we recommend considering the below factors
Battery Type
With the availability of different sizes and types of batteries like A, AA, AAA, and other units, you have to purchase the best and most compatible rechargeable batteries. AA batteries are considered the most rechargeable common size to use for solar lights.
Capacity
The battery capacity varies from one model to another. Here the capacity is defined as the time length of a battery producing electricity, which is measured in milliamp-hours . The capacity range of most batteries will be 600 2000 mAh . Make sure to purchase batteries with higher capacity ratings to have a longer power supply to the solar lights to m.
Number of Batteries
Even if installing a single solar light, then it will require lots of batteries to run. So, one has to consider the number of solar lights, their shelf life, and the replacement rate of a depleted battery. Hence, all these batteries for solar lights come in a pack of multiple. While some of them might offer 8 10 batteries, others might even offer 16 20 batteries for a higher value for money.
Why Do Solar Garden Lights Need Batteries
Batteries are a key element of a solar lights electrical system. You will find that almost every solar light has a solar panel with a battery inside.
When the solar panel converts sunlight into usable electrical energy, this energy needs to be stored somewhere. Solar garden lights require batteries because they need to store the energy collected by the solar panel, so that they can output that energy when they no longer have a light source.
Therefore, solar panels photovoltaic cells are usually wired directly to a battery. Once the electricity produced by the solar panel starts to flow, the batteries are charged and the electrical power is stored. At night, in the absence of light, the batteries release this energy, which allows solar lights to turn on automatically.
Without batteries, the solar lights wouldnt be able to store the energy absorbed from the sun, which means they would only work when there is sunlight, during the day.
Read more: How do solar lights work?
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Advantages And Disadvantages Of Solar Light Batteries
The solar light batteries have rewards and perils. Enlisted below are its advantages and disadvantages that you need to know.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Why You Should Trust Us
If youre looking for 1.2 volt rechargeable batteries for solar lights, you should trust Clean Energy Summit to help you find the right batteries for these lighting solutions. Our team is passionate about sharing our knowledge to the world and helping you search for solar powered rechargeable batteries.
With us, you can be certain that youll be able to compare your options well and later pick what is right for your needs and preferences. It is because our team has made a thorough research on the top picks among solar rechargeable batteries like AA solar batteries. We do hope you can find the right one after reading our reviews and buying guide.
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How To Replace Batteries In Outdoor Solar Lights
Solar Lights are a great way to keep the outdoors lit without racking up your energy bill. But there are still ongoing maintenance costs, like swapping out the rechargeable battery. Luckily, learning how to replace batteries in outdoor solar lights isnt a tall order.
Though the details vary depending on the type of solar light, the process remains the same. The should be a removeable battery cover on the backside of the solar light. You can often remove it by sliding it off. You may need a Phillips head screwdriver to remove one to two screws first. After you remove the cover, remove the old batteries and replace them with the new batteries.
This process looks a bit different from solar garden lights compared to solar spotlights for your trees. We put together a comprehensive guide to walk you through these nuances and show you exactly how to to replace batteries in solar lights.
| > Solar signage lights> Solar lamp post lights |
After you have found your solar light and its respective solar light category, move on to step two.
Itehil Rechargeable Aa Battery 2700mah 8 Pack
This pack of 8 NiMh rechargeable batteries from ITEHIL offers the best price vs capacity ratio. With 2700mAh, you will enjoy up to 10 hours of light, for up to 3 maintenance-free years in your solar light. The battery of choice for warmer climates.
- Great storage capacity
- Low self-discharge rate
- Not fitted for cold winters
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How To Test Solar Light Batteries
Now you know how to replace batteries in outdoor solar lights, but you may not need to replace them yet. Knowing how to test the rechargeable batteries in your solar lights will help you determine if you need new batteries. It will also help you make sure that the new batteries work.
The first test takes longer, but is the easiest testing method. You will need to place the solar panel in direct sunlight for at least 4 hours. Remember to keep the solar light component turned off. This will give even the older solar panels enough time to generate a sufficient amount of electricity for the batteries. Now turn the switch to the on position to see if the light comes on. If the light comes on, make sure it stays on for at least an hour.
The second way to test solar light batteries is the quicker option. But it requires you to have spare batteries laying around. Make sure the switch is turned to the off position and remove the old batteries. Block the solar panel from receiving any direct sunlight. Replace the old batteries with the same type of battery, though it does not need to be rechargeable. If the lights come on when you flip the switch, it means your old rechargeable batteries should be replaced.
Do Regular Batteries Work In Solar Lights
Another common question from our customers is whether you can use regular batteries in solar garden lights.
The short answer is no. Regular batteries do not work in solar lights in the long term. If you use regular alkaline batteries, they will last only a week at most. You cant use regular batteries in solar garden lights because they are designed to be disposed of once they run out of power.
Moreover, regular batteries can damage your solar lights to the extent that you may no longer be able to replace them with rechargeable batteries.
Therefore, you need to use rechargeable batteries in solar garden lights because these batteries will be able to recharge every day with the power collected by the solar panel.
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Do You Have To Replace All Of Them At Once
Ideally, yes. If one outdoor lamps batteries need to be replaced, odds are that the others will be following suit soon. Replacing the batteries all at the same time will somehow ensure that they will all deteriorate at the same time.
Moreover, buying batteries in bulk will save you more money. Plus, you will be doing the replacements in one go, rather than replacing batteries every couple of days.
How To Choose The Best Batteries For Solar Lights:
It is a wise idea to do some basic research before purchasing any product. It helps to grab the best and most suited product for your requirement. So, we are here with a buyers guide with all essential information, including what factors to consider while shopping, pros & cons, and some FAQs to help in selecting your best product.
Lets check out the factors to be considered before buying batteries for solar lights.
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Best Overall Solar Batteries
What We Like: TheBONAI solar rechargeable batteries check all the right boxes: 1,100 mAh capacity, 2,000 charge cycles, and NiMH chemistry. We even appreciate that the company is honest about life-cycle: you should expect the battery to only hit 75% maximum charge after three years of use. That is in line with our expectations for most high-quality batteries.
Who Should Buy It: These are perfect for most solar outdoor lights: path lights, string lights, and more. Weve linked to the AA models, but within the , you can find AAA models and higher-capacity batteries, which might improve performance for brighter floodlights.
How Long Do Solar Batteries Last
Solar batteries are a great way to store energy for later. But how long do they last?
Theyre still considerable investments, even if theyre not as expensive as the other solar energy components. Typically, solar batteries are durable enough to last 5 to 15 years.
However, some factors will determine your solar panels actual length or shelf-life.
The first is the solar battery type. Lithium-ion batteries are the best units because they are stronger, lighter, and more durable.
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Tenergy Premium Pro Rechargeable Aa Batteries 2800mah Nimh
This pack of 4 premium rechargeable AA batteries is perfect for your solar light. It combines durability with up to 4 years of good service, high capacity to light up your nights for 12 hours, and robustness to deal with extreme temperatures .
- Long service life
- 1-year warranty
- Perfect for outdoor use
- Built with high-quality material
What Batteries Should I Use In My Garden Solar Lights
There are different sizes and capacities of 1.2V NiCd and 1.2V NiMH rechargeable batteries that are used in solar lights. The most popular size is AA these are 50.5mm in height and 14.5mm in diameter. Full-size AAA is also a popular size at 44.5mm in height and 10.5mm in diameter, making them slimmer than the AA.
There are a few other, less popular and harder to find sizes including 2/3AA rechargeable batteries which are two thirds the size of a full AA measuring 31mm x 14.5mm. 2/3AAA rechargeable batteries are two thirds the size of AAA batteries, measuring 30mm long and 10.5mm in diameter.
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Tenergy Solla Solar Battery
- Quality control issues
Using Solar Pro Technology, the best batteries for solar lights were engineered and crafted to perfection. Unlike other solar rechargeable batteries, Tenergys Solla solar batteries are protected from leaks due to over-charging and dead batteries due to over-discharging.
With a combination of high-quality battery materials and a secret special formula, the Tenergy Solla solar batteries are built to last. Tenergy has been in the game for over 15 years, so they know that solar batteries are mainly used for solar lighting applications situated outdoors. Hence, they provided and created a set of batteries that can withstand such conditions.
With this, you can use the Solla solar batteries all year-round. You would not have to worry about the weather condition, making them perfect for outdoor use.
What I like about the Tenergy Solla solar batteries are their lifespan. Unlike your regular NiMH solar batteries, the Tenergy solar batteries have a charging and battery life of 2,000 cycles. This means that compared to your standard batteries, Tenergys Solla solar batteries can last for about 4 to 5 years. Thus, you would not have to constantly replace and buy a new set or pack every 1 to 2 years.
The Tenergy Solla solar batteries also have high capacities. Each battery has 1,000 mAH that is enough to store a decent amount of solar power and power your solar light for a decent time.
Duracell Rechargeable Aa Batteries 2650 Mah 12v
The Duracell rechargeable batteries for solar light feature a great storage capacity to keep your light on for up to 10 hours. In addition, they are durable and reliable, with 3 years of continuous operation in the outdoors.
- Great storage capacity
- 1000 life cycles
- Long storage life
- Built-in high-quality material from Duracell
- More expensive than similar batteries
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Purchase Waterproof Solar Lights
This isnt about storing solar lights, per se, but about which lights to purchase. Some solar lights are waterproof, and we recommend purchasing those. Unless you live somewhere extremely arid where it never rains, your solar lights will get wet. When they do, the moisture could leak inside and cause your lights to stop working. As for storage, we highly recommend letting your solar lights dry completely before storing them. That way, excess moisture wont corrode, damage or rust any metal parts.
Energizer Solar Rechargeable Batteries
These batteries can retain the power for one year hence you can recharge them during the summer and store them for later use when there is no sunlight. Besides, the NI-MH of the battery ensures their high-value performance and operation. The batteries have each capacity of 2000 mAh which will ensure it will serve you for a long duration while lighting or other purposes. Last, the batteries are already pre-charged, and therefore you can use them right from the shop.
Pros Can be recharged 1000 times They are pre-charged Can store the charge for up to 12 months
Cons The life cycles may be insufficient.
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How To Dispose Of Used Batteries
Do not simply throw your used batteries in the nearest bin! These will then end up in landfill and the toxic cadmium will likely leak out into the environme
Take your batteries to your nearest recycling centre. In the US click here to find a center near you. If not many stores such as Home Depot, Best Buy and other similar electronic and hardware stores will have battery recycling points.
