Posted by Todd Rivers (Owner of RDI Studio) on April 17, 2023
Recently, my home experienced a faulty street lamp post that likes to turn itself off when there is too much moisture in the ground. Basically, there is a short somewhere in the under ground wire running from the home to the lamp post.
Well, when this problem happened, there was over a foot of snow on the ground. Digging up the ground to locate the problem was not going to happen.
Fortunately, I had recently begun researching a home solar panels installation; so, a solar powered solution to the lamp post problem seemed reasonable.
I immediately began researching outdoor solar lamp post solutions. Unfortunately most of the off-the-shelf solar lamp post lights were high priced and had low Lumens numbers.
So, I came up with a retrofit kit for the builder's lamp post installed at my own home. I bought an off-the-shelf, outdoor LED light and solar panel / battery assembly that I could place inside the existing lamp post.
solar powered street lamp retrofit kit
In sourcing the LED light, I needed it to be small enough to fit underneath the lamp post light’s cap. As a result, my LED light options were limited. The retrofit kit LED light assembly I eventually selected produces 1000 Lumens and probably a 6000K color…In my opinion, not ideal.
solar powered street lamp retrofit kit
The retrofit kit worked fine. All of the components of the kit are waterproof. The lithium ion battery and controller provided dusk till dawn operation. The lamp produced adequate lighting. And, I proved that aligning the solar panel vertically and in the southwest direction would provide enough sunlight to load the battery each day. It’s not a very attractive light, though.
I wanted a Craftsman style light that would be brighter and would also provide a warmer colored light.
Eventually, I located another, more suitable, outdoors, solar powered LED light unit as well as an off-the-shelf street light that had an aluminum frame that I admired.
I designed and built an acrylic housing for the LED light unit and I bolted it to the aluminum frame I cannibalized from the off-the-shelf street light.
solar powered street lamp, 3D model
I had to modify the length of the COTS lamp shade; so, it became an acrylic piece, as well.
Similarly to the retrofit kit, I mounted the light’s solar panel vertically, hugging the lamp post.
solar powered street lamp
The new solar powered street lamp has an integrated dusk till dawn controller too; and, in its first night, it worked perfectly.
solar powered street lamp
It provided a warm glow with up to 1600 Lumens…more like a conventional light bulb, which is what I wanted. I am pretty happy with the new design.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions concerning this topic or need help with your own novelty product design.
Todd Rivers
Novelty Product Design Consultant
RDI Studio