Design And Construction Of A Standalone Solar Street Light

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.
Standalone 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 (Scott, 2012).

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Conventional street light requires constant maintenance, much external wiring, risk of electric shock and only work whenever there is power. These problems made it difficult for the users to use it and people has difficulties of late night movement. Standalone solar street light was invented to overcome this problem in that Solar street lights require much less maintenance compared to conventional street lights. Since external wires are eliminated, risk of accidents are minimized. Electricity produced from solar panels is non-pollutive.

1.3 AIM OF THE PROJECT
The aim of the work is to build a self powered street light whose sources of energy is from photovoltaic panels generally mounted on the lighting structure. In standalone power supply, the photovoltaic panels charge a rechargeable battery, which powers a LED lamp during the night.

1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
The objectives are:
i. To build a self-powered street light
ii. To know how to build the device
iii. To learn the working principle of the device

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
This system turns on and turns off automatically by sensing outdoor light using a light sensor (light dependent resistor). Standalone 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. This study will throw light on how solar system is installed.

1.7 PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
The main purpose of standalone solar street light is to give the user a compact light solution in the street during the night time.

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
As we all know that no human effort to achieve a set of goals goes without difficulties, certain constraints were encountered in the course of carrying out this project and they are as follows:-
i. Difficulty in information collection: I found it too difficult in laying hands of useful information regarding this work and this course me to visit different libraries and internet for solution.
ii. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
iii. Time Constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
This project deals with the design of a standalone solar street light. This device uses panels to convert the solar power into electricity. It is also quick and easy to charge the batteries and the control is automatic. The automatic control of the device eliminates human intervention for manual switching and control of the security light.

1.10 METHODOLOGY
To achieve the aim and objectives of this work, the following are the steps involved:
i. Study of the previous work on the project so as to improve it efficiency.
ii. Draw a block diagram.
iii. Test for continuity of components and devices,
iv. Design of the device was carried out.
v. Studying of various component used in circuit.
vi. Construction of the circuit was carried out. The construction of this project includes the placing of components on Vero boards, soldering and connection of components,
vii. Finally, the whole device was cased and final test was carried out.

1.11 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Kilowatt-hour (kWh): Standard unit for electricity.
Off grid: Completely disconnected from the electricity grid, with no access to utility-generated electricity. Homes that go off grid need to generate all of their electricity on-site.
Photovoltaic (PV): A type of device that generates electricity directly from sunlight. Solar panels are photovoltaic devices.
Power rating: Represents the theoretical power output of a solar panel in ideal conditions. While power rating is a good indicator of quality, most solar panels don’t experience ideal conditions for more than a few moments.
Solar panel efficiency: Represents how well a solar panel converts sunlight into electricity.
Solar-plus-storage: Industry term referring to a solar energy system that also includes a battery to store excess energy.
Temperature coefficient: Represents how well a solar panel can perform in high-heat conditions. As with all electronics, high heat can negatively affect solar panel performance.

1.12 PROJECT ORGANISATION
The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work, chapter two presents the literature review of the study, chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.