Table of Contents
I bought my first set of solar lights three years ago. Took them out of the box. Stuck them in the ground. Waited for night. Nothing happened.
I thought I bought defective lights. Almost returned them. Then a neighbor walked over. He laughed. He said did you remove the pull tab? I had no idea what he was talking about.
That little piece of plastic killed my first night of solar lights. Do not make the same mistake.
Step one. Unbox everything.
Take all the pieces out. Lay them on the ground. You will find the light. A stake. Sometimes a separate solar panel on a wire.
Look for damage. Cracked glass on the solar panel. Broken plastic. Cut wires. If something looks broken, take a photo. Return the light.
Step two. Find the pull tab. Pull it out.
This is the step everyone misses.
Inside every solar light, a small plastic tab sits between the battery and the metal contact. The factory puts it there so the battery does not drain during shipping.
The tab is white or clear. Sometimes red. It sticks out near the battery compartment. Pull it straight out. Do not break it. Just pull.
Once the tab comes out, the battery connects. Your light is alive.
I have helped six neighbors set up solar lights. Four of them forgot the pull tab. All of them thought their lights were broken. None of them were.
Step three. Flip the switch to ON.
Look for a small switch. On path lights, it hides under the solar panel. Twist the panel off. The switch is inside. On wall lights, the switch is on the back. On string lights, it is on the solar panel box.
Flip it to ON. Not OFF. Not AUTO.
Some lights have no switch. They turn on automatically when you remove the pull tab. If you see no switch, you are done.
Step four. Put the light in sun for two days.
This is where people get impatient.
The battery ships with a partial charge. Maybe 30 percent. Enough to test. Not enough to run all night.
You need two sunny days to fill the battery. Put the light in direct sun. No trees. No shade. Leave it for 48 hours.
Do not test it during the day. That drains the battery. Just leave it alone.
After two days, the battery is full. Your light will run 6 to 10 hours.
Step five. Pick the right spot.
Not every sunny spot works the same. You need sun from late morning to mid afternoon. Those are the peak charging hours.
Morning only sun gives you a partial charge. Your light runs 3 to 4 hours. Afternoon only sun is better but not ideal. Full sun from 10am to 4pm is what you want.
Keep the light away from other lights. Street lamps. Porch lights. Security lights. These trick the sensor. Your solar light sees that light and stays off.
I put my first path light too close to my porch light. The solar light stayed off all night. I moved it 20 feet away. Problem solved.
Step six. Put it together.
For path lights, screw the stake into the bottom. Push the stake into the soil. Push on the stake, not the light. The light body can break.
For wall lights, screw the bracket to the wall. Hang the light on the bracket.
For string lights, hang the wire on hooks. Keep the solar panel facing the sun.
For spotlights, push the stake into the ground. Aim the light head at whatever you want to light up. Angle the solar panel toward the sun.
Step seven. Test it on the first night.
After two days of charging, go outside at night. Your light should be on.
If it is on, you are done.
If it is off, cover the solar panel with your hand. Wait ten seconds. The light should turn on. If it turns on, the sensor works. The light just did not get enough sun. Move it to a sunnier spot.
If the light does not turn on when you cover the panel, something is wrong. Check the switch again. Make sure the pull tab is fully removed. Make sure the battery is seated correctly.
If nothing works, return the light.
What to do in the first week
Leave the light alone for the first week. Do not move it. Do not turn it off. Let it run.
After a week, you will know if the spot works. If the light runs all night, keep it there. If it dies before midnight, move it to a sunnier spot.
Clean the solar panel after the first week. Dust from packaging blocks sunlight. A quick wipe with a damp cloth helps.
Common first time mistakes
- Forgetting the pull tab. Always remove it.
- Turning the switch to OFF. Keep it ON.
- Installing in shade. Find full sun.
- Testing the light indoors. The sensor needs darkness.
- Expecting full brightness on the first night. The battery needs two days.
- Leaving the light in the box. It does not charge inside cardboard.
- Putting the light near another light source. Street lamps keep the sensor from working.
What I learned
My first solar light frustrated me. I forgot the pull tab. Then I put the light under a tree. Then I tested it in my kitchen. Nothing worked.
I almost gave up. Then my neighbor showed me what I did wrong. I followed his advice. The light worked that same night.
Now I have 14 solar lights on my property. They all work. They turn on at dusk. They turn off at dawn. I pay nothing.
The first time is the hardest. After that, it becomes automatic. Remove the tab. Flip the switch. Charge for two days. Pick a sunny spot. That is it.
FAQs
Do solar lights need to be turned on before first use?
Yes. Find the on off switch and flip it to ON. Some lights turn on automatically when you remove the pull tab.
How long do solar lights need to charge before first use?
Two full sunny days. The battery ships with a partial charge.
Why are my new solar lights not working?
Three reasons. You forgot the pull tab. The switch is OFF. The light is in shade. Check these first.
Should I test solar lights during the day?
No. Cover the solar panel with your hand. If the light turns on, it works.
Can I use regular batteries in my solar light for first test?
No. Regular alkaline batteries ruin your light. Use only the rechargeable battery that came with it.
How do I know if my solar light is charging?
You cannot see it charging. Put it in sun for two days. Test it at night. If it works, it charged.
What is the plastic tab in my solar light for?
It disconnects the battery during shipping. Remove it before first use.
Do solar lights work on cloudy days during first use?
Poorly. The battery needs strong sun for the initial charge. Wait for a sunny day.
Can I leave my solar lights outside all year from day one?
Yes. Most are weather resistant. Bring them inside during extreme cold or storms if you want them to last longer.
How long will my solar lights stay on the first night?
With two days of charging, 6 to 10 hours. With one day, 3 to 5 hours.
Summary
To operate solar lights for the first time, remove the plastic pull tab. Flip the switch to ON. Put the light in direct sun for two days. After charging, install it in a sunny spot away from other light sources. Test at night by covering the solar panel. Avoid common mistakes like installing in shade or forgetting the pull tab. With proper setup, solar lights run 6 to 10 hours nightly with no electricity cost.
