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Solar light replacement parts are the pieces that bring a dead garden light back to life: a fresh rechargeable battery, a clean solar panel and a dry seal. Most of the time the battery is the part that fails, and swapping it takes minutes. The steps below show how to work out which part your light needs and how to fit it.
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Solar light replacement parts: the quick answer
Start with the battery. Solar lights run on rechargeable AA or AAA NiMH batteries at 1.2V, and a worn battery is the usual reason a light dims or stops. Open the battery compartment, read the size and voltage on the old battery, and fit a rechargeable battery of the same size and voltage. If the light still stays dark, clean the solar panel and check the seal for water.
Step 1: Open the light and read the old battery
Open the battery compartment on the back of the light and read the old battery. Note the size, AA or AAA, and the voltage, which is 1.2V on a NiMH rechargeable battery. Never fit a 1.5V alkaline battery in a light made for a 1.2V NiMH battery: the WENJOOP listing warns that its AA batteries are for devices that use AA 1.2V NiMH batteries only. Match the size and the voltage before you buy.
Step 2: Pick the capacity
Capacity sets how long the light runs each night, and it is marked in mAh on the battery. AA batteries for solar lights run from 600mAh to 2000mAh: Howardly and JiajaX list 600mAh AA batteries, Tenergy lists 1000mAh, EBL lists 1300mAh, Kruta lists 1600mAh and Brightown lists 2000mAh. AAA batteries run lower: QBLPOWER lists 600mAh AAA batteries and Brightown lists 1000mAh AAA batteries. A higher capacity runs longer on a full charge, so pick the highest capacity that fits your light.
| Battery | Size | Capacity | Recharges |
|---|---|---|---|
| EBL AA | AA 1.2V | 1300mAh | 1200 cycles |
| Brightown AA | AA 1.2V | 2000mAh | 1000 times |
| Howardly AA | AA 1.2V | 600mAh | 500 cycles |
| Kruta AA | AA 1.2V | 1600mAh | 1200 cycles |
| Brightown AAA | AAA 1.2V | 1000mAh | 1200 times |
| Tenergy Solla AA | AA 1.2V | 1000mAh | 2000 cycles |
Step 3: Fit the battery and charge it before use
Fit the new battery with the ends the right way round, close the compartment and let the light charge in daylight. The batteries ship precharged, so charge them before use for a longer working time: EBL, Brightown and Howardly all say to charge before use. Recharge the battery every 3 months to keep it healthy, and Kruta says every 3 to 4 months. Replace the batteries in each light as a full matched set, and do not mix used and new batteries or mix capacities and types.
Step 4: Clean the panel and check the seal
If a fresh battery does not bring the light back, the panel or the seal is the next part to check. Wipe the solar panel clean so the panel catches the sun, and check the seal around the compartment for water. The EBL battery (on Amazon) lists anti-leakage protection, and the Tenergy Solla battery (on Amazon) lists anti-leak and outdoor durability. A battery that keeps working from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit suits outdoor lights through the seasons.
How long a solar light battery lasts
A rechargeable NiMH battery for a solar light lasts hundreds of charge cycles. The Howardly and JiajaX AA batteries list 500 charging cycles, the EBL and Kruta AA batteries (on Amazon) list 1200 cycles, the Brightown AAA (on Amazon) battery lists up to 1200 times, and the Tenergy Solla AA lists 2000 charging cycles. Tenergy says its Solla AA lasts 4 to 5 times longer than a regular NiMH AA battery and can power a solar light for up to 5 years, and the Brightown AAA battery lists up to 5 years of battery life. EBL says its AA battery keeps more than 80% capacity after 3 years. The WENJOOP AA battery lists a 2-year warranty and a 30-day money-back term, and the Howardly and JiajaX AA batteries list a 1-year warranty, while the Tenergy Solla AA battery lists a 12-month warranty. When a light dims early or turns off too soon, the battery is the part to change.
FAQ: power away from the grid
What battery do solar lights use?
Most garden solar lights use a rechargeable AA or AAA NiMH battery at 1.2V. Read the size and voltage on the old battery and fit a rechargeable battery of the same size and voltage. The listings in this guide run from 600mAh to 2000mAh for AA batteries and from 600mAh to 1000mAh for AAA batteries.
Can I use a regular AA battery in a solar light?
No. A solar light charges its battery from the sun, so it needs a rechargeable NiMH battery. A 1.5V alkaline battery is not made for a light that charges a 1.2V NiMH battery, and the WENJOOP listing warns against using its batteries in products made only for 1.5V alkaline batteries. Fit a rechargeable AA or AAA battery of the same size and voltage.
How often should I recharge solar light batteries?
Charge them before use, then recharge every 3 months to keep them healthy. Brightown and Howardly both say to recharge every 3 months, and Kruta says every 3 to 4 months. A battery that sits unused loses charge in storage, so charge it before you fit it.
Why does my solar light stay dark with a new battery?
Check the panel and the seal. Wipe the solar panel clean so the panel catches the sun, and check the compartment seal for water. If the light still stays dark, check that the battery ends sit the right way round and that the size and voltage match the old battery.
Related solar guides
See the best solar driveway lights for farm, the best solar lights for fence line, the solar garden lights vs solar bollard lights and the solar outdoor guides.
