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Design And Construction Of A Solar Street Light

The design and construction of a solar street light involve intricate planning, engineering, and implementation processes aimed at harnessing solar energy to illuminate outdoor spaces effectively. Solar street lights typically consist of photovoltaic panels, which capture sunlight and convert it into electricity, a rechargeable battery system for storing energy, LED lamps for efficient illumination, and a controller unit to manage energy flow and light operation. The design phase involves selecting appropriate components, determining optimal placement for solar panels and light fixtures to maximize sun exposure and lighting efficiency, and ensuring durability and weather resistance. Construction entails assembling the components, installing them securely on poles or structures, and configuring the system for automatic operation, including dusk-to-dawn sensing and energy-saving modes. Effective design and construction of solar street lights contribute to sustainable urban development by reducing reliance on conventional grid power and lowering carbon emissions while enhancing safety and visibility in outdoor environments.

ABSTRACT

This project work is titled design and construction a solar Street Light Control system. A street lighting is any electrical lighting that is fixed in the road for the illumination of such road or a Street light is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or walkway, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night using solar energy (solar panel) as the primary power supply.

An Automatic Street Light Control System is a simple and powerful concept, which uses transistor as a switch to switch ON and OFF the street light automatically. By using this system manual works are removed. It automatically switches ON lights when the sunlight goes below the visible region of our eyes. It automatically switches OFF lights under illumination by sunlight. This is done by a sensor called Light Dependant Resistor (LDR) which senses the light actually like our eyes.

The aim of the work is to build a device that controls street light automatically which is powered by photovoltaic panels that charges a rechargeable battery during the day, the battery in return will be used to powers an LED lamp during the night.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

Recent technological innovations have paved the way to the rebirth of street lights through solar powered ones. Solar street lights are raised outdoor light sources, which are powered by PV (photovoltaic) panels. These panels are mounted on the lighting structure or connected in the pole. PV panels have a rechargeable battery, providing power to the LED lamp during the entire night. Most of the solar panels automatically sense outdoor light through a light source. These can give off light on successive nights even when the sun’s energy is not available for a couple of days. LED Solar Street Light have energy using sunlight, solar panels during the day to charge the batteries, batteries provide light in the evening, without complex and expensive pipeline, adjustable lighting layout, safety and energy-saving and pollution-free, without manual operation is stable and reliable, saving electricity maintenance-free.

LED Solar Street lights to work continuously for more than 3-5 days in rainy weather, Solar Street Lighting system is consists of LED lamp, solar lamps controller, batteries (included battery incubator) and lighting poles, as well as parts. Solar cell module chosen monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon; LED light head adopts high power brand LED as a light source; Controller placed in the battery compartment with light control, time control, overcharge protection, reverse connection protection, more advanced controller has four seasons adjusted lights, half power capabilities, intelligent charge and discharge function; Specialized battery placed on the ground or the incubator, to be used in valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, gel batteries, lithium iron aluminium batteries or batteries

1.2 AIM OF THE PROJECT

The aim of the work is to design and construct Solar street light is raised light sources which are powered by photovoltaic panels generally mounted on the lighting structure. The photovoltaic panels charge a rechargeable battery, which powers a LED lamp during the night.

2.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

At the end of this work, the student involved shall be able to:

know how to build the device
learn and explain the working principle of the device

identify components used in this work

interpret the circuit used.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

This system turns on and turns off automatically by sensing outdoor light using a light source. Solar streetlights are designed to work throughout the night. Many can stay lit for more than one night if the sun is not available for a couple of days. Older models included lamps that were not fluorescent or LED. Solar lights installed in windy regions are generally equipped with flat panels to better cope with the winds.

1.5 PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

The main purpose of solar street light is to give the user a compact light solution in the street during the night time.

1.6 BENEFIT OF THE STUDY

Due to off-grid nature of solar street lights, solar street lights incur minimal operational costs. Such lights are wireless in nature and are independent of the utility company. Compared to conventional street lights, solar street lights require almost zero maintenance. Due to the absence of external wires, these lights do not pose any threat of accidents like electrocution, strangulation and overheating. Infact, solar lights illuminate the streets throughout the night irrespective of power cuts and grid failures.

1.7 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Solar street lights require higher initial investment compared to conventional street lights. This is actually the main reason why most people are having second thoughts about switching to solar street lights. They consider the money they are required to spend without realizing the long-term benefits and the longer life cycle of solar street lights.

Because these are non-wired, these can easily be stolen. The risk for theft is relatively higher because it has higher monetary value compared to regular street lights.

Snow or dust, and moisture can accumulate on horizontal PV-panels. This leads to reduced or full stoppage of energy production. This is why solar street lights need to be checked once in a while especially when placed on areas with extreme weather conditions, which can damage or shorten the life cycle of it.

Rechargeable batteries must be replaced a few times within the lifetime of the fixtures. This adds up to the total lifetime cost of the lighting system.

1.8 PROJECT WORK ORGANISATION

The various stages involved in the development of this project have been properly put into five chapters to enhance comprehensive and concise reading. In this project thesis, the project is organized sequentially as follows:

Chapter one of this work is on the introduction to this study. In this chapter, the background, significance, objective, purpose, aim, the need (benefit), limitation of this work was discussed.

Chapter two is on literature review of the study. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to this work was reviewed.

Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design and construction were discussed.

Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.

Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.