What's Inside Dollar Store Solar Lights_Fix-Improve-Hack

Who doesn't love a great deal? Today I am testing and deconstructing 12 Dollar Store solar pathway lights (available in most discount stores for $1 each). In this video I seek to answer questions like are they any good, what's inside / how do they work, and of course... how can we hack or improve them? Along the way I will also describe how to diagnose common issues with these types of solar lights as well as some easy repairs. This includes the 4 most common problems to check for with small electronics like these.

It is important to note that these types of lights are not meant to provide area lighting but rather pathway markings or reference points. Because of this they do not require much power which is a big part of how they can be so cheap. Afterall, less power demands means they can make do with smaller solar panels and smaller rechargeable batteries.

Special thanks to Bass Nado for the assist in picking up these two packs of 6 Solar Pathway Lights!!

#SolarLightBreakdown #HowSolarLightsWork #DollarStoreLights #SolarLightHack #DialedIn

Additional tips for fixing problems with solar lights:
Make sure they are turned on and/or have tabs removed that are meant to disconnect a battery
Check to see if they are positioned to get enough direct sunlight through the day
Try turning the light off and letting the battery charge for a couple of days
Clean the surface of the solar panel (they can gather allot of dirt which blocks light flow)
And of course, the 4 most common problems to check for as described in the video

Parts identified in this solar light breakdown:
Solar panel (3 cm X 3.5 cm)
Ni - Cd AAA battery (200 mAh, 1.2V)
Switch
White LED
YX8018 solar LED driver IC (4-pin integrated circuit)
Inductor
Clear plastic light body with reflector cone

Music by Purple Planet http://www.purple-planet.com/ Songs include Uprising, Sweet Success, Time of Your Life