Solar Light Take-Apart

by degroof

27K4912

Intro: Solar Light Take-Apart

There was a box of solar path lights on sale at Target. Something like $30 for a 10-light set. I picked up a set and stripped it for parts.

STEP 1: Basic Units

There are two types of lights in the set: eight path lights and two spotlights. The path lights have their own, built-in solar cells. The two spotlights have a single, larger solar cell.

STEP 2: Path Lights

Each path light contains:
- AA nicad
- white LED
- solar cell (roughly 2.5V no load)
- photocell
- charging circuit
- AA battery holder

The charging circuit consists of a couple diodes, a couple resistors and a capacitor.

STEP 3: Spotlights

The spotlight set contains:
- 2 white LEDs
- 2 AA nicads
- a battery holder
- a slightly more sophisticated charging circuit
- a larger solar cell (3V no-load)

12 Comments

ianb505 14 years ago

i use these same lights and three 'seven segments' leds (you know, the number 8) to make an advanced perminiet led throwie. i'd make an constructable but i don't have a camera of any quality. ps: the lights read "PCP" it's a limited medium.

hhhh1997 15 years ago

i am in NZ i brought 30 solar lights for 7bucks 7bucks for 30 light

ThinkBeforeYouSpeak 15 years ago

thats really kool, an instructable dedicated to taking apart solar lights and you listed the parts inside.

digjam 16 years ago

I love that you tore this thing apart (for whatever your evil design calls for), but I think maybe going forward you may want to get a Dremmel and save yourself some of those rough edges! In any case, hurry up and post your project, we all can't wait to see to what evil ends you have repurposed this light... BTW has anyone seen a post using pathlights to make a solar powered illuminated house number sign? I could have sworn I saw one here somewhere...

footballgirl004 16 years ago

could u just take the solar panel for it for other projects

Lftndbt 16 years ago

Sooo.... finished your project yet?

technoplastique 16 years ago

Thanks for posting this - I was thinking of doing this for a project, but now I know they would have the parts I need!

mspitze 16 years ago

What about the LED's ? Are they bright? I think the charger in the spotlight uses a FET or Transistor to deliver the proper current to the LED. I am curious as to what type of LED is inside the spotlight.

degroof 16 years ago

The LEDs aren't overly bright but not bad. I've added a photo to the last step that shows the LED from one of the spotlights.

Handsome-Ryan 16 years ago

What are you planning on making with the parts?