How Do Solar Powered Flashlights Work?

Solar powered flashlights generally look quite similar to a regular flashlight. They have a simple switch that turns them on and off. They have an area on one end that emits light…sufficient to allow it to be used at night or in any dark area.

Using sunlight energy, a solar powered flashlight converts that energy into electrical power in a solar photovoltaic (PV) cell or panel that sits on the outside cover of the flashlight. The solar generated power is stored in a battery. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamp is generally used in a solar powered flashlight instead of an incandescent light bulb, because LED’s last longer, and take less electrical current to operate. LED’s, on average last for about 10,000 hours, compared to an incandescent light that has lasts about 1,000 hours.

Similarly, solar charged batteries that are used in the solar powered flashlight, as compared to the normal, single use nickel, lithium, or cadmium batteries generally seen in flashlights, usually will not require replacement for about two years with steady use. The comparison rate is about 15 hours for a regular battery, compared to around 2500 hours for a solar rechargeable battery.

To maximize the usage of your solar charged batteries, you should leave the flashlight on for 15+ hours at least once a month to fully expend the charge. Rechargeable batteries have a memory effect. Therefore if you continually use the flashlight without ever fully discharging it, it will eventually only recharge to a lower (memory) level, and never return to 100 percent of its available power.

For best results, keep your solar powered flashlight on a window sill when it is not in use, where the solar panel is exposed to the maximum amount of sunlight. If you’re not using it regularly, be particularly mindful to turn it on…and leave it on…as described above, at least once a month.

You can find solar powered flashlights in most hardware stores today. They’re great for camping and emergency use. Every vehicle and every home should have one. If you wonder why…think about those times that you’ve needed a flashlight in a hurry only to find that the batteries were dead, and you had no spares…or didn’t know where they were!

Now, you can find some extremely clever solar flashlight designs. Additions like flashers, cell phone chargers, and sirens, even, as well as just the basic solar flashlight. Plus, you’ll also find a number of cool solar flashlight key chains on the market today. As for price, it really varies. Like most items, you’ll pay for the uniqueness of the style, the additional functions, and the outside case.

And if you’re into “spreading the light” from a solar powered flashlight, check out bogolight.com. The name for this website came from “Buy One, Give One.” The company that operates the BoGoLight Program, called SunNight Solar, is a limited liability company founded by Mark Bent in 2006. Mark served in the American Diplomatic Corp in various developing countries, and saw the need for light in many places. So he set about finding a way to provide. Purchasing one solar flashlight at BoGoLight, or one of its affiliates, like InHabitat, sends another identical solar flashlight donation to a non-profit organization set up to collect and ship the flashlights throughout the world to areas where they are needed.

Isn’t it awesome to shine a little light…in a very solar way…for those who sit in the dark at night and cannot see?

Learn more about solar power lights. Stop by Timothy Peters’s site where you can find out all about home solar power and what it can do for you.