Panel, battery, controller, and lamp.
Learning Track · Module 5: Solar street lights · Step 33 of 101
In the day, a solar panel charges a battery. At night, the battery powers the LED. A charge controller manages both.
| Part | What it does | Usual choice |
|---|---|---|
| PV panel | Converts sunlight to electricity | Monocrystalline, sized for the worst month |
| Battery | Stores energy for the night and cloudy days | Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) |
| Charge controller | Charges the battery, protects it, controls the lamp | MPPT type, with dimming profiles |
| LED luminaire | Gives the light | Low-voltage DC LED, high efficacy |
| Sensor | Raises light when someone is there | PIR or microwave |
| Pole and bracket | Holds the panel at the correct angle | Designed for the panel’s wind load |
All-in-one or split
- All-in-one (integrated): panel, battery, and lamp in one housing. Quick to install, but the panel is small and fixed at the lamp angle.
- Split: separate panel, battery box, and luminaire. Larger panel at the best angle. Better for higher power and cloudy climates.
- Hybrid: solar with a grid connection as backup. Good where the grid exists but is unreliable.
Sources
- IEC 62124 Photovoltaic stand-alone systems: design verification
- IEC 62509 Battery charge controllers for PV systems: performance
- IEC 62619 Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries for industrial applications
- IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 PV module performance and safety
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