Dollar Store Solar Lights. U Buy, U Fix.

[@ziongite]

Don't know if you read the comments, but I can tell you how it works and why there are only 2 components. The 4 pin chip thing is a purpose built solar garden light IC, meaning it's for charging and also for working similar to a transistor in line with the external inductor to boost the voltage in pulses, or rather you can say the circuit is like those DIY joule thief circuits, but this one also has a charging functionality also built in. So here is kind of how it works, pin 1,2,3,4. A lot of components will share a ground/negative to the battery, however the 4 pin IC itself will control connections via positive, it may be the other way around, but ultimately it gets to decide what connects and doesn't connect at different times. Solar negative will be to the battery, and solar positive and solar negative will be to 2 pins on the IC, when these detect voltage say pin 1 which the positive is connected to, will pass current through to pin 3 for example which is battery positive, and thus the battery is now being charged. Now when there is no voltage on the panel, when it's night time, pin 1 will no longer connect through to pin 3, and thus there is no backflow into the solar panel from the battery. And the IC during this stage goes into it's pulsing mode, the battery will form a loop circuit with say pin 3 and pin 4 and inside this loop the external inductor exists as well. However the IC is turning on and off very fast at around 200,000 times a second or so, what occurs is that when it's on a voltage is induced into the inductor, then in time it's off the inductor creates a little voltage spike and this is a high enough voltage to now cross over the LED's, which are connected in line with the inductor, and because the loop with the battery is turned off for a split second then this voltage spike created by the inductor has nowhere to go but through the LED's, which are also connected to ground/negative on their other side. That is essentially how it works.

[@Farmradio]

Nice. Thank you. That's why the inductor is there, like a flyback pulse. I get it.

[@Dennis-mq6or]

Your 'transistor' is actually a specially designed integrated circuit that 'boosts' the 1.2 volts from the battery to enough voltage to turn on the led(s). The Integrated circuit only 'pulses' the leds with a higher current than what the leds would normally be able to run at continuously. Allowing the led 'flash' to be much brighter than the LED would normally be; and increasing the efficiency of the circuit allowing for a longer ON time before discharging the battery. Persistence of vision makes you think that the LED is on all the time, but it is not. The Integrated circuit also 'saves' the battery by turning off the LEDS when the battery voltage drops below 0.7 VDC to keep from totally discharging and possibly damaging the battery; and it also detects when the solar cell starts producing voltage so it can turn off the light when the sun comes out and the solar cell starts to charge the battery. The integrated circuit is typically the QT5252 part and documentation on how it works can be googled using that number.

[@Purple431]

This inspired me to buy these, thanks! :)

[@TaiViinikka]

Nice commentary, I thought I was the only one who noticed they had figured out how to eliminate the CdS photoresistor. Glad to have less cadmium going into my local landfill, anyway.

[@Farmradio]

Tai Viinikka I have a older B&W TV that uses a bigger one of these CDS cells as a source for adjusting the picture for changes in the ambient light. However at night I must shine a light into the cell for correct picture. Do these devices change over time, or should I look else where in the circuit. Do these go weak or change characteristics in 50 years? Was thinking of trying a CDS cell from a Beckett oil burner to try.

[@7homas0wen]

U can replace the battery's with normal AA and works fine u have to replace after like 4 or 5 months that what I do had these lights for 5 years but they where expensive I have new ones that where one dollar and I replaced and it works also use nail polish remover to remove the fog from the solar pannel

[@NaterBalls]

nice video man I like the made in China cardboard goes along good with it

[@Fairlane500skyliner]

I bought a heap of those cheap $3 garden lights from a cheap shop, and most of them failed within two weeks.

[@Farmradio]

Some last years, & some not so much. Most of mine near the driveway got run over.

[@rosecimarusti1698]

I’d like to do fairy houses in the woods I’d like to light the windows in the houses. Can I run a longer wire to go higher in the tree to catch the sunlight and what gauge wires do I use

[@laureanog1]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@SuperLastboyscout]

I have a bunch of ancient glass insulators I plan to convert into waterproof solar garden lights. I'd share a hot but can't.

[@deklof2820]

you tried to use a 2 microfarad capacitor on Parallel with the resistor on some jewel thief circuits I noticed that it lowers the current so the battery last longer and the LED is brighter

[@danalyndavid2395]

I buy these just for the solar panels and the LEDs

[@borntoraisehell5353]

Hi everyone! The dollar tree solar light is very,very weak lighting. I'm glad I only bought 2! 😏

[@johnberry5339]

Great tutorial, could I add another battery in parallel so the lamp will last longer?... Thanks John :)

[@Farmradio]

Can't see why not.

[@johnberry5339]

Ok cheers pal :)

[@muiltirelojero]

The circuit boards are named how? Thanks

[@vader0ne]

yup i repair mine ,have some thats over 7 years old.

[@raygromer]

Nice video. Thank. What is the make & model of your magnifying glass?

[@Farmradio]

I'm not sure. It's an old item picked up at a yard sale. It even has the previous owners name engraved in it.

[@shelbyandmargaret]

Hi Farmradio, Great video. Can you also take one of those cheap solar powered light gadgets and make the light they illuminate brighter?

[@Farmradio]

There's not much to them, just one tiny led. Not that I'm aware. Thank you for watching!

[@shelbyandmargaret]

Thank you:)

[@michaelmagnani3463]

you can swap out the led with one with a higher MCD just search bigclive for a guide

[@shelbyandmargaret]

Hey Thanks:)

[@michaelmagnani3463]

+margaret gardner I tried and got great results, went from dull yellow light to crisp white 25000 MCD

[@ArcadeDude44]

Cool, not much work I would say, to have 2 little lamps for $1/ea. Thanks for sharing

[@JkouFiles]

Just take back the deffective lamps and exchange for new ones

[@joeyocom5087]

The voltage from the solar panel keeps the switch open

[@ClownWhisper]

The inductor is a joule thief

[@Synthematix]

A single AAA rechargeable will power an led for 19 hours

[@hazlett1927]

That is not a four-legged transistor, it is an Integrated Circuit.

[@russell_vayo]

that seems like to much work, my wife can’t turn off regular lights

[@hemeshvandariya8635]

But Auto How To Work Auto No Off Censor Please Ask Me Same Part Use

[@neiltonks]

You don't know what an inductor is .........