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garden lanterns' solar panel help needed

hafcanadian

I'm new to learning circuitry, so forgive any ignorance that I may reveal

 

I've got several solar yard lanterns of various sizes that I've accumulated over the last 10-15 years.  Some are classical, some have an amber glow, some "flicker" like a candle, and some are modern with bright white LED's that have little staying power and dim within a few hours after nightfall.  Out of about 10 of them, only 4 still function, and two of those have to have their AA batteries recharged manually in order to work.  Some of the others might work if charged batteries were inserted, but I haven't tried them all;  running around the yard each evening removing dead batteries and installing fresh Nicads or Nihydrides just isn't plausible.

 

Lately the oldest lantern, heretofore very reliable, has started failing as well, so every several days I replace its rechargeables with fresh ones charged in the house.  In all cases I can see the solar collection panel on the top (some newer lanterns have 4 panels) has deteriorated.  The surface of the panels loose their smoothness and polished shine, but below the surface the visible pathways have dimmed and discolored.  The oldest (and most favorite) has worked flawlessly for 10 years or more until now, whereas others I've bought lasted only a few months before summer sun faded their panels to an inoperative state.  The manufacturer sent replacements that have lasted several years, but one of those is acting up this season, and they never asked for the 2 original lanterns back so I still have them.

 

I'd like to replace the faded and faulty panels and get as many yard lanterns up and running again as possible.  It's obvious that in almost all instances the problem comes from failed or failing solar panels, although some circuit boards aren't in the best condition;  they are outside afterall, exposed to moisture and spider activity.  The lanterns were made by various companies, some of which no longer exist, and all of whom will not replace panels.  They are bulk-made in China - the market has no room for parts provision as a customer service.

 

Can anyone advise me on a source for replacing the various types and formats of small garden lantern solar panels?  I'm sure there will have to be some consideration for electrical output capacity as well as physical size, but I should be able to get that information for each lantern off its battery pack, circuit board, or instruction sheet if I still have it.  I'm still unclear as to whether I'll need to be careful which battery type to use - the oldest ones use Ni-Cads, the newest ones use NiMh;  I know I have to use the proper charger for each in the house, but can the older lanterns charge NiMH?  Ni-Cads are getting hard to find in stores anyway.  I need resources for obtaining decent panels though.  From the two units that faded and failed within a couple of months in the sun, I can tell there's junk or poorly coated panels out there I need to avoid.

 

Thanks for any help.

-hafcanadian

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  • 0

    Hi Joel, I ran the experiment. My old solar cells weren't as bad as I remembered. I tested them under load with a constant light source before polishing. After polishing I could see a visible difference in the clarity of their surfaces however it did not affect their output. You can try and it might make a small difference if the cell has a very dirty of cloudy surface but it may not be as effective as I hoped for.

    John

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  • 0

    Hi Joel, I ran the experiment. My old solar cells weren't as bad as I remembered. I tested them under load with a constant light source before polishing. After polishing I could see a visible difference in the clarity of their surfaces however it did not affect their output. You can try and it might make a small difference if the cell has a very dirty of cloudy surface but it may not be as effective as I hoped for.

    John

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  • 0 in reply to jw0752

    I tried using a 2-part plastic polishing routine last summer on several of the lanterns.  It did improve some a bit, but then there are those that aren't working at all.  I'd just like to replace the discolored panels altogether in the hope that there are better quality ones out there;  I presume that means they have finish coatings on them that protect the inner circuit from deterioration.

     

    It's pretty obvious, from the two big ones I bought a few years ago where the panels all (4 per light) totally "fogged" over within a couple months use in the sun, that there is a big difference in panel coatings.  The two that the company sent as replacement lanterns haven't deteriorated, although one of them has turned contankerous operationally just this summer.   I've yet to take it down from its high mounting place to examine it;  could be just bugs or spiders on the circuit board.

     

    My favorite ones are the oldest - one larger white resin-bodied "pagoda" and two small version "pagodas" I think that I got at Costco about a decade or more ago.  Their lamps "flicker" like a real candle and have a natural yellowish tint as opposed to today's bright blueish LED lamps.  I have one small coach lantern style that's about 7 or 8 years old that flickers too, and it still works very well.  The two small pagodas quit on me within the last 5 years, though one still works if I recharge the batteries in the house.  Ditto for the old reliable large pagoda which just this season finally opted not to solar charge itself - it was my very first solar one and remains the most treasured.

     

    I bought a pair of stainless coach lamps 5 years back, but I'm not nuts about them.  One quit totally and the circuitry was so bad I tossed it out.  They put out a bright white light that only lasts a couple of hours after the sun goes down.  At least the remaining one does still work, such as it is.  I would like to rejuvenate the pagoda ones at least, since they are really beautiful when fully operational.  You can see cloudiness deep around the metal foil inside some panels, and some are so clouded you can't see the foil strips at all.  One panel totally came unglued from the top of one small pagoda, fell off, and is completely clouded anyway.

     

    I think the panels just need replacing but don't know where to get them.  I'll try the Farnell site as Shabaz mentioned, but won't hold my breath.  As he alluded, my lamps have different size panels in different configurations from one alone to four in groups, and from 2"X2" to maybe 1"X3".

     

    Joel