Solar panel for planter with LED lights
#1
12-12-14, 08:19 PM
Solar panel for planter with LED lights
I mail ordered a replacement solar panel for an LED solar light self standing planter. The original solar panel stopped working but there was no corrosion and the two AA NiMH were fully charged. I tested the red and black leads from the panel going to the three LED lights and it was not delivering voltage. The first picture is the replacement panel, the second is the underside of the two panels (old on the left). The last picture is of the connectors to the leads going to the LED lights- the new on the top with a red, black and white wire. The old panel on the bottom had only red and black wires. Can I just connect the new red and black wires with heat shrink tubing to the old red and black wires connector and ignore the white wire or should I twist the white with the neutral black? I just want to get this planter's LED lights working again. Thank you.
#2
12-13-14, 01:18 AM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
Did you unplug the panel and check the red and black wires for power ?
We'll assume your old panel is dead and you'll be switching to the new panel. Put the new panel in sunlight and check for power. You'll probably find about 3vdc on the red and black wires which means you don't use the white. If power is not found on red and black.... use your meter to find out where the power is. Connect the + to the red wire of the unit and connect the - to the black wire of the unit.
I tested the red and black leads from the panel going to the three LED lights and it was not delivering voltage.
We'll assume your old panel is dead and you'll be switching to the new panel. Put the new panel in sunlight and check for power. You'll probably find about 3vdc on the red and black wires which means you don't use the white. If power is not found on red and black.... use your meter to find out where the power is. Connect the + to the red wire of the unit and connect the - to the black wire of the unit.
#3
12-13-14, 10:40 AM
Thank you for the reply. I have two of these LED planters and both panels stopped powering the three LED lights. I fixed the first panel by soldering a loose negative connection on the circuit board. The second had a loose positive wire connection from the solar cell itself but soldering didn't fix it. The batteries in both panels had a full charge but both panels were delivering a jumpy (before soldering) 2.6V at the connectors. I would just ignore the white wire of the new panel and splice in the old two wire connector but the new "direct replacement" panel's on/off switch is now a three way with an off then a "W" and a "Y". The company that sent this panel offered a refund but I would like to get this planter lit again.
