Garden lights

[Monzadude]

One of my solar garden lights started blinking. I've tried everything and can't figure out why. It's ok when it first comes on, but after a few minutes it starts blinking. At first I thought it was the light sensor, so I disabled it. It still blinks when it's turned on. Even if I can use it for something else that would be cool to. Night light for my trailer or something. Just as long as it stops blinking. Does anyone have any ideas?

Bill

[georgeodjungle]

i had one do that to.

it was the batteries.

when ever your looking for some thing it's usually the last place you look.

usually.

[Shadow]

It would work for the star on the Christmas tree... (Sorry couldnt resist)

[ignesandros]

A weak connection may be acting as a rudimentary capacitor or the same could be happening within the batteries. Test the batteries if you have a multitestor. If the voltage is stable for a bit, check the soldering job done by the factory on the PCB. It may lie somewhere around there. I always loved those solar lawn lights. They're easier to knick 'cause you don't have to cut through or rip up a cord.

-Andrew

[richhagen]

That's my opinion too.  Check for a weak battery.  If you have one that has a boost converter to drive the diode (a 1.2v battery to run a 3 volt white led), a common symptom of a weak battery is a blinking LED.  My little key chain LED flashlight which has to boost the battery voltage and outputs a higher pulsed signal to the LED does this too.  Rich

[richhagen]

I was wondering what happened to my old lights that disappeared.  Rich

[Big All]

When I first moved into the place I now live, I noticed my neighbors solar lights blinking at around 11pm. Now that the days are longer & brighter I haven't noticed the blinking at all.

Maybe the NiCd batteries in them just need the little blast of voltage that others here have used to restore their batteries.

I've also read of others (maybe 'round here) replacing the NiCd batteries with Nickle Metal Hydrides.

[Monzadude]

 Thank you for all the help. I checked the batteries and sure enough the output is low. I put two Energizers it the light just to test it and it was brighter and didn't blink.  With the rechargables in it, I tested the voltage with the light on. There was a steady drop. Over 5 mins with the light on it lost almost half a volt. Doesn't sound like much but when only dealing with 3 volts it's huge. Over 5 mins with the Energizers the voltage never moved. Now the trick will be to replace the batteries with out going over the $4 I paid for the light in the first place.

Bill

[joelhacker]

Try that one-second zap technique mentioned elsewhere in this forumn...

[Norm]

  If you've got 4 of them hook them in series

to an old riding lawnmower 12 volt battery charge

it once a month or season....Yeah I know kinda

takes the fun out of solar power....

                       ( :>) Norm.

[ignesandros]

What's the voltage/amperage on those 12V chargers? I don't feel like buying one, so I'll just use one of the various AC adapters I have laying around. Also, anyone know how I could fix a NiMH battery that's died too many times? I have a few of them from cordless phones laying around.

-Andrew