The candelabra, or photovoltaic solar street lamp is entering the field of public lighting following the appearance of energy-saving LED lighting.
This autonomous lighting system is not intended to replace existing street lamps connected to the network, but it allows lighting areas far from the electricity network where connection costs are sometimes prohibitive.
The installation of solar street lights is only possible on sites properly exposed to the sun.It is advisable to have an estimated study of the solar potential and a lighting simulation carried out in order to correctly size the installation and thus ensure continuity of service all year round.
Operating principle
A solar street light is generally not connected to the electricity grid and therefore operates completely autonomously.
Solar energy captured during the day by a photovoltaic panel is stored in batteries. When night falls, the light is powered by electricity from the batteries..
During winter, when the sunshine is at its weakest, the battery capacity must be sufficient to power the luminaire throughout a period of bad weather
The solar photovoltaic lighting system has very important characteristics:
- It does not need network electrical energy, each pole is autonomous and has no physical connection with the others.
- Energy is obtained exclusively from sunlight, it is stored during the day and released at night.
- The system does not need operator intervention.
- The electronic control unit, once programmed, controls the switching on and off independently.
The advantages of photovoltaic solar street lights
Avoids electricity network connection costs (civil engineering, electrical connection).
Reduction in electricity consumption: lighting is entirely powered by solar energy.