How Long Do Solar Panels Last? The Real Numbers
Panels don't die at 25 years. Real degradation rates, what actually fails, when the inverter goes, and why only 10% get recycled.
Journal
Solar lighting, explained without the sales pitch — how it works, what actually fails, and how to get more out of the lights you already own.
Factors Affecting Solar Panel Efficiency, Ranked by Cost
Temperature, shade, dirt, angle and age ranked by the percent each costs, with a source per line, and…
How To Connect Two Solar Panels To One Battery
Series or parallel, PWM or MPPT, cold-weather Voc, fusing and wire gauge: the real wiring math for putting…
How to Charge Solar Lights Without Sun: The Real Numbers
Measured irradiance and charge times for bulbs, flashlights, windows and overcast days. What actually charges a solar light…
Do Solar Lights Need Direct Sunlight to Charge? The Numbers
Yes, mostly. Measured irradiance and charge current for full sun, cloud, open shade, dappled shade, a north wall…
Solar Lights Not Working? Find the Fault in 10 Minutes
An ordered ten-minute test that finds the fault without a multimeter, what each result means, and which solar…
Can I Use a Higher mAh Battery in Solar Lights?
Yes - but it only buys you anything if your light is still lit at dawn. The pre-dawn…
How to Clean Solar Panels on a Roof (and When Not To)
Rain resets a tilted array at 0.1 in of rain. One wash a year adds ~0.81% to output,…
How to Make a Solar Light From Scratch: A Real Design
Two solar light builds with the arithmetic shown: panel current vs. LED draw, the inductor that sets brightness,…
Drawbacks of Solar Tube Lighting: 8 Honest Limits
Light output by tube length, bends and sky condition, real installed costs, condensation risk, and when a skylight…
Do Solar Lights Need Batteries? Yes – Here’s Which One
Yes - and the wrong cell is a hazard, not just a dud. NiMH vs NiCd vs lithium,…
Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy (2026 Data)
The advantages and disadvantages of solar energy in real numbers: $3.60/W installed, 6-22 year payback by state, 41…
Polycrystalline vs Monocrystalline Solar Panels in 2026
Poly was 70% of world panel production in 2016. In 2025 it was zero. What actually separates poly…