The 4 Essential Parts of a Solar LED Lantern

A solar LED lantern can look no different from a standard lantern, but look more closely and you will observe that the reflective top of the lantern is actually a panel of solar cells harnessing energy from sunlight.

Beneath the mediocre exterior of the lantern is a setup that is neither simple nor outright complicated but made flexible to accommodate the following parts.

The Battery

The base of the solar lantern light is sturdy and tough as it gives stability to the whole structure, as it stands upright. The tough exterior, however, is not only used for balance but also to protect what is inside: the battery.

A solar LED lantern uses a rechargeable battery that has zero maintenance. The only risk from damage is dampened by the whole base structure of the lantern. Designers are so much confident that it is spill and leak proof that it made it an integral part of the base.

The battery is actually a very crucial component of the setup since it is where the electricity is stored. Solar LED lanterns use a lead-acid type battery because it is robust enough to withstand the continuous cycle of daily charge and discharge of electricity.

For a full charge of about 8 hours, the rechargeable battery can give light for up to five hours.

The Charge Control Circuit

Aside from the rechargeable battery, the base of a solar LED lantern houses the charge control circuit. It is actually the brain of the whole set-up.

The charge control circuit ensures that the battery is charged and discharged properly. It basically protects the battery from damage because of repetitive charging and discharging. The circuit also automatically provides the battery with extra top-up if the solar panel failed to charge for a couple of days.

The circuit also includes a microprocessor that stores information about the solar LED lantern and how it was used over a specific period of time. Designers can build better solar powered lanterns in the future using such information.

The Solar Panel

The solar panel is located on the exterior of the solar LED lantern. This is necessary, as it must face the sun directly to be able to generate electricity at max efficiency.

The solar panel is normally integrated into the design of the solar lantern and its best position is 90 degrees facing the sun, or depending on the time of day, the sun's rays should be perpendicular to the face of the solar panel.

A 6-piece solar panel is enough to charge a battery for 8 hours. This is the standard charging time for solar LED lanterns.

The Lamp

If the charge control circuit is the brain, the lamp is the eye of the solar light. It is basically where the whole process ends to be started anew in the morning.

A typical 5-Watt lamp sufficient for home use, but if you want more radius, a 9-Watt lamp will give you a wider radius of light that you need.