A Solar Idea for Low Light Locations

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Anybody might ask, "I live in an area that doesn't have as much sun as the playa. How can I make solar pathlights work well in my location?"
Try taping aluminum pie plate reflector to the solar panel to help "capture" the available sunlight.

These photos show a test run on a couple of otherwise matching commercially available solar pathlights. The test was run in central Oregon during the winter: there are few clouds to block the sun, but the sun is at a low angle and not up for very many hours. The pie plate lasted through the winter: the only problem encountered was when the pie plate filled with snow!

Be aware that a reflector will also increase the heat that is reflected into the solar panel. Too much heat will cause a loss of efficiency. Use a reflector to help a solar panel only during "less than optimum" conditions: the loss of efficiency caused by heat is not a problem in cloudy conditions (Seattle?) or during the winter in cold climates.

See for yourself: the pathlight on the right with the pie plate reflector had a brighter light and burned longer at night than its less endowed neighbor on the left.

Detail of the pie plate endowment. Cut an "X" off center in the pie plate, fold back the edges to fit around the solar panel. Don't cover the panel! Tape with clear packing tape on the underside. Pie plates are cheap: experiment with the cutting, folding and taping until you get the right angle and attachment. You want the pie plate to bounce the available light into the panel, but not block the panel with a shadow.

Test Question:
What percentage of Oregon is desert?

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