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Design And Construction Of An Automatic Solar Street Light Controller

The design and construction of an automatic solar street light controller involve the integration of various components to efficiently manage solar power utilization for street lighting. This system typically comprises a solar panel for harvesting sunlight, a charge controller for regulating the charging and discharging of the battery, an energy-efficient LED light, and a microcontroller-based control unit for automated operation. The controller utilizes sensors to detect ambient light levels, triggering the activation or deactivation of the LED light accordingly. Through meticulous design and programming, this system optimizes energy usage, enhances durability, and ensures reliable illumination for public spaces, contributing to sustainable urban development and energy conservation.

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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
PROBLEM STATEMENT
AIM OF THE PROJECT
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT
APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT
LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
DEFINITION OF TERMS
PROJECT ORGANIZATION

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL
THEORETICAL REVIEW OF SOLAR CELL
REVIEW OF SOLAR CELL EFFICIENCY
REVIEW OF SOLAR CELL MATERIALS
OVERVIEW OF LED LAMP
ADVANTAGES OF LED STREET LIGHTS
DISADVANTAGES OF LED STREET LIGHTS

CHAPTER THREE

SYSTEM DESIGN

SYSTEM BLOCK DIAGRAM
SYSTEM WIRING DIAGRAM
DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS OF SOLAR STREET LIGHT
CONTROLLER CIRCUITS
DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS USED

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 TEST AND RESULT ANALYSIS

CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE AND TESTING
CASING AND PACKAGING
ASSEMBLING OF SECTIONS
COST ANALYSIS
MOUNTING SYSTEMS
MAINTENANCE OF STREET LIGHT

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATION
REFERENCES

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 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. Solar street light was invented to overcome these 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 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.

1.4 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.

1.5 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.

1.7 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.

1.7 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.

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT

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.

1.9 APPLICATION OF THE STUDY

There are three distinct main uses of street lights, each requiring different types of lights and placement. Misuse of the different types of lights can make the situation worse by compromising visibility or safety.

Beacon lights

A modest steady light at the intersection of two roads is an aid to navigation because it helps a driver see the location of a side road as they come closer to it and they can adjust their braking and know exactly where to turn if they intend to leave the main road or see vehicles or pedestrians. A beacon light’s function is to say “here I am” and even a dim light provides enough contrast against the dark night to serve the purpose. To prevent the dangers caused by a car driving through a pool of light, a beacon light must never shine onto the main road, and not brightly onto the side road. In residential areas, this is usually the only appropriate lighting, and it has the bonus side effect of providing spill lighting onto any sidewalk there for the benefit of pedestrians. On Interstate highways this purpose is commonly served by placing reflectors at the sides of the road.

Street lights are not normally intended to illuminate the driving route (headlights are preferred), but to reveal signs and hazards outside of the headlights’ beam^. Because of the dangers discussed above, roadway lights are properly used sparingly and only when a particular situation justifies increasing the risk. This usually involves an intersection with several turning movements and much signage, situations where drivers must take in much information quickly that is not in the headlights’ beam. In these situations (A freeway junction or exit ramp) the intersection may be lit so that drivers can quickly see all hazards, and a well designed plan will have gradually increasing lighting for approximately a quarter of a minute before the intersection and gradually decreasing lighting after it. The main stretches of highways remain unlighted to preserve the driver’s night vision and increase the visibility of oncoming headlights. If there is a sharp curve where headlights will not illuminate the road, a light on the outside of the curve is often justified.

If it is desired to light a roadway (perhaps due to heavy and fast multi-lane traffic), to avoid the dangers of casual placement of street lights it should not be lit intermittently, as this requires repeated eye readjustment which implies eyestrain and temporary blindness when entering and leaving light pools. In this case the system is designed to eliminate the need for headlights. This is usually achieved with bright lights placed on high poles at close regular intervals so that there is consistent light along the route. The lighting goes from curb to curb.

Design and style

An LED street light is an integrated light that uses light emitting diodes (LED) as its light source. These are considered integrated lights because, in most cases, the luminaire and the fixture are not separate parts (except LEDGine-based luminaires). New in manufacturing, the LED light cluster is sealed on a panel and then assembled to the LED panel with a heat sink to become an integrated lighting fixture.

Different designs have been created that incorporate various types of LEDs into a light fixture. The current trend is to use high power 1 watt LEDs. However, some companies use low power LEDs in their products, including several low power LEDs packed together to perform the same purpose as a single high power LED. The shape of the LED street light depends on several factors, including LED configuration, the heat sink used with the LEDs and aesthetic design preference.

Heat sinks for LED street lights are similar in design to heat sinks used to cool other electronics such as computers. Heat sinks tend to have as many grooves as possible to facilitate the flow of hot air away from the LEDs. The area of heat exchange directly affects the lifespan of the LED street light.

The lifespan of an LED street light is determined by its light output compared to its original design specification. Once its brightness decreases by 30 percent, an LED street light is considered to be at the end of its life.

Most LED street lights have a lens on the LED panel, which is designed to cast its light in a rectangular pattern, an advantage compared to traditional street lights, which typically have a reflector on the back side of a high-pressure sodium lamp. In this case, much of the luminance of the light is lost and produces light pollution in the air and surrounding environment. Such street lights can also cause glare for drivers and pedestrians.

A drawback of LED focus panels is that most light is directed to the road, and less light to the footpaths and other areas.

1.9 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

This project deals with the design of a 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:

Study of the previous work on the project so as to improve it efficiency.
Draw a block diagram.

Test for continuity of components and devices,

Design of the device was carried out.
Studying of various component used in circuit.
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,

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 ORGANIZATION

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.