SOLAR POWERED LAMP POST

Delmonte, Kestrel Iris R., Mabayo, Fritz Zyrra Jane U., Navarro, James Francis U., Rollon, Remuel P.,
Saliga, John Robert B.
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
CM Recto Ave., Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, 9000 Philippines

Abstract - Solar Power is already used whether for
large-scale or small-scale operations. Now, the idea
of this research project is to utilize energy coming
from the Sun through the Solar Power concept and
apply it the University. It is to address the matter
regarding its streets that has poor or no quality
lighting. A cost effective solar powered LED street
light was designed based on the current solar
powered street light installed.
This study is a follow-up innovative research from
the past project made by a group of Electrical
Engineering senior students (SY 2017-2018). It is to
have newer and better design to eliminate the errors
which was acquired over the months of operations.
An enhanced device was installed to ensure its
longevity. The design uses 20W Solar Panel, with 8 x
6V (10Ah) batteries. The system has the design
capability to last for 3 days without charging that
operates for 4 hours a day.
thermal mass or light-dispersing properties, and
designing spaces that naturally circulate air.
Since solar energy is just right there waiting to be
used, Solar Power is being continuously developed
although it has been long devised. It is one of the
many ways to use the energy from the Sun into
something beneficial and efficient. As
aforementioned, there are existing technologies used
to utilize the Sun’s energy, specifically in applying
the Solar Power concept.
Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight
into electricity, either directly using photo voltaic
(PV), indirectly using concentrated solar power, or a
combination. Concentrated solar power systems use
lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a
large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photo voltaic
cells convert light into an electric current using the
photo voltaic effect.

I. INTRODUCTION Many industrialized nations have put in significant

Solar Energy is the world’s most abundant permanent
source of energy. Solar energy is radiant light and
heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of
ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating,
photo voltaic, solar thermal energy, solar
architecture, molten salt power plants and artificial
photosynthesis.
It is a vital source of renewable energy and its
technologies are generally regarded as either passive
solar or active solar depending on how they capture
and dispense solar energy or convert it into solar
power. Active solar techniques take account of the
use of photo voltaic systems, concentrated solar
power and solar water heating to harness the energy.
Passive solar techniques take in orienting a building
to the Sun, selecting materials with favourable
solar power capacity into their grids to complement
or run an alternative to conventional energy sources
while at the same time, an increasing number of less
developed nations have turned to solar in order to
reduce reliance on expensive imported fuel. Long
distance transmission allows remote renewable
energy resources to displace fossil fuel consumption.
Solar Power is already used whether for large-scale
or small-scale operations. Now, the idea of this
research project is to utilize energy coming from the
Sun through the Solar Power concept and apply it the
University. It is to address the matter regarding its
streets that has poor or no quality lighting.
This project aims to create a lamp post that is
powered up by solar energy which is abundant and
renewable. It is fit for the University since its
geographical location has abundant sunlight and the

SOLAR POWERED LAMP POST – DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

weather is almost always sunny. Harnessing sunlight
which is converted into electrical energy, the lamp
post is to provide lighting that is automatically
activated at 6PM every day.
The auto-activation is to provide efficiency. It
features no more human-interventions in monitoring
the operations of the post that provides reliability. It
only turns on for 3 hours and then automatically turns
off and replenishes energy when the sun is up again,
to return what’s used up, making it ready for further
usage.
This study is a follow-up innovative research from
the past project made by a group of Electrical
Engineering senior students (SY 2017-2018). It is to
have newer and better design to eliminate the errors
which was acquired over the months of operations.
An enhanced program is to be mounted on the system
for improved accuracy.
II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The use of Solar Powered LED Street Lights has
become an interesting topic of research as well as
application in the commercial world. In today’s
application, most of the common High Intensity
Discharge (HID) lamps, often High Pressure Sodium
(HPS) lamps are being replaced by more low
powered Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps.
2.1 SOLAR ENERGY
Solar energy is the light and radiant heat from the
Sun that influences Earth's climate and weather and
sustains life. Solar power is sometimes used as a
synonym for solar energy or more specifically to
refer to electricity generated from solar radiation.
Solar radiation is secondary resources like as wind
and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass
account for most of the available flow of renewable
energy on Earth. Solar energy technologies can
provide electrical generation by heat engine or
photovoltaic means, space heating and cooling in
active and passive solar buildings; potable water via
distillation and disinfection, day lighting, hot water,
thermal energy for cooking, and high temperature
process heat for industrial purposes.
SOLAR POWERED LAMP POST – DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Solar energy refers primarily to the use of solar
radiation for practical ends. All other renewable
energies other than geothermal derive their energy
from energy received from the sun. Solar
technologies are broadly characterized as either
passive or active depending on the way they capture,
convert and distribute sunlight. Active solar
techniques use photovoltaic panels, pumps, and fans
to convert sunlight into useful outputs. Passive solar
techniques include selecting materials with
favourable thermal properties, designing spaces that
naturally circulate air, and referencing the position of
a building to the Sun. Active solar technologies
increase the supply of energy and are considered
supply side technologies, while passive solar
technologies reduce the need for alternate resources
and are generally considered demand side
technologies.
2.2 STREET LAMP
Before we have incandescent lamps, gas lighting was
in use in cities. The earliest of such street lamps were
built in the Arab Empire, especially in Cordoba,
Spain. The first electric street lighting employed arc
lamps, initially the 'Electric candle', 'Jablochoff
candle' or ‘Yablochkov candle’ developed by the
Russian Pavel Yablochkov in 1875. This was a
carbon arc lamp employing alternating current, which
ensured that the electrodes burnt down at the same
rate. Yablochkov candleswere first used to light the
Grands Magasins du Louvre, Paris where 80 were
deployed. Soon after, experimental arrays of arc
lamps were used to light Holborn Viaduct and the
Thames Embankment in London - the first electric
street lighting in Britain. More than 4,000 were in use
by 1881, though by then an improved differential arc
lamp had been developed by Friederich von Hefner-
Alteneck of Siemens & Halske.
Arc lights had two major disadvantages. First, they
emit an intense and harsh light which, although
useful at industrial sites like dockyards, was
discomforting in ordinary city streets. Second, they
are maintenance-intensive, as carbon electrodes burn
away swiftly. With the development of cheap,
reliable and bright incandescent light bulbs at the end
of the 19th century, they passed out of use for street
lighting, but remained in industrial use longer.
Incandescent lamps used for street lighting until the battery storage is attached to the system. This allows
advent of high-intensity discharge lamps, were often the storage of electricity produced through the day
operated as high-voltage series circuits. Today, street which is used at night (Fig. 1).
lighting commonly uses high-intensity discharge
lamps, often HPS high pressure sodium lamps. Such
lamps provide the greatest amount of photo
illumination for the least consumption of electricity.

2.2.1 LED LAMP

A LED lamp is a light-emitting diode (LED) product

that is assembled into a lamp (or light bulb) for use in
lighting fixtures. LED lamps have a lifespan and
electrical efficiency that is several times better than
incandescent lamps, and significantly better than
most fluorescent lamps, with some chips able to emit
more than 100 lumens per watt. Like incandescent
lamps and unlike most fluorescent lamps (e.g. tubes
and CFL), LED lights come to full brightness without
need for a warm-up time; the life of fluorescent
lighting is also reduced by frequent switching on and
off. Initial cost of LED is usually higher. LED chips
need controlled direct current (DC) electrical power;
an appropriate power supply is needed. LEDs are
adversely affected by high temperature, so LED
lamps typically include heat dissipation elements
such as heat sinks and cooling fins.
III. SYSTEM MODEL
In this section, we present the basic components used
in the installation of our solar powered lamp post
system.
Figure 1
B) LED Lights The solar streets lights are light
sources which are powered by photovoltaic panels
mounted on lightning structure or integrated itself in
the pole. The PV panels charge a rechargeable battery
which powers a fluorescent or LED lamp during
night. Led lights are usually used for lightning source
for modern solar light. These lights provide much
higher lumens with lower energy consumption. LED
lights give energy consumption up to 50% lower
than high pressure sodium lamp (HPS) which is
widely used as lightning source in traditional street
lights. The LEDs lack of warm up time also allows
motion detectors for additional gain of efficiency.
LED lights are also used in schools for lightning in
classroom and examination hall (Fig. 2).

A) Solar Panels Solar panels are designed to absorb

sun rays as a source of energy for generating
electricity and heating. It is also called photovoltaic
as it converts light energy directly into electrical
energy. Solar panel is made up of solar cells. A large
number of small solar cells are spread over a large
surface area which can work together for provision of
sufficient power to be used. Larger the amount of
light that falls on a cell, larger is the amount of
electricity generated. Two forms of solar panels are
used to achieve electricity. The most common is the
solar electricity cells. Different design of solar panels
which are increasing in popularity are the solar water Figure 2
heating panels which can provide all part of homes
C) Batteries Batteries are the most important
hot water supply, heat swimming pools and for other
component in the installation of solar system.
purposes. Using solar electricity panels some form of

SOLAR POWERED LAMP POST – DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Batteries store electricity from solar panels during protect from electrical overload and display battery
day time and deliver this energy to the fixture during status and power flow. The PV panels works by
night. The life cycle of battery is very important to pumping electric current to the battery in one
the lifetime of light and capacity of battery will affect direction. At night PV panels pass a little bit current
the backup days of the lights. Two types of batteries in the reverse direction, causing a slight discharge
are usually used which are Gel Cell Deep Cycle from battery. In most charge controllers current
battery and Lead Acid Battery and many more. passes through semiconductor, which acts like a
During charging time, electrical energy is converted valve to control current. This is known as
into chemical energy and stored in the form of semiconductor because current passes only in one
chemical energy and during discharging time the direction. This prevents reverse current without any
chemical energy is converted into electrical energy. extra effort or cost (Fig. 4).
The proper selection of batteries for PV systems
depends upon the best knowledge of their design
features, operational requirements and performance
characteristics. Batteries are manufacture by the
combination of different sequential and parallel
processes. Conduction of charging and discharging
cycles on batteries are done necessarily before
bringing them to the market for distribution to
consumers. Important components of batteries are
cells, active element, electrolyte, grid plate, separator,
terminal posts, cell events and case (Fig. 3).

Figure 4

3.1 SYSTEM DESIGN

In this research study, we are using one module of

PV Array, a Charge Controller, a Data Logger, a
Battery and a Load which is the LED. This project is
powered by the sun that is absorbed by the PV Array
and stores it in the rechargeable battery through the
charge controller. The energy stored powers the LED
(Fig.5).

Figure 3

D) A charge controller is an essential part of nearly

all power systems that charge batteries. It is also very
important for solar street lights and school lightning
system. Controllers usually decide to switch on/off
charging and lights. The function of charge controller
is quite simple, it blocks the reverse current and
prevents battery from overcharging. Some charge
controllers also prevent battery from over discharge,
Figure 5

SOLAR POWERED LAMP POST – DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

3.2 FRAMEWORK 3.3 FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM

IV. METHODOLOGY

In this section, the summary of the results from the

operations performed will be displayed at chapter 4.
Figure 6a: Side view of the
Solar Powered Lamp Post
A. DESIGNING A SOLAR PV SYSTEM

1. Determine power consumption demands

The first step in designing a solar PV system is to
find out the total power and energy consumption of
all loads that need to be supplied by the solar PV
system as follows:

1.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day for each

appliance used.

Energy Consumption =
(Rate of Power) x (Operating Hours)
Energy Consumption = 8 Watts x 4 hr/day
Figure 6b: Top view of the Solar Energy Consumption = 32Whr/day
Powered Lamp Post
1.2 Calculate total Watt-hours per day needed
from the PV modules.

Required Energy from PV =

(Energy Consumption) x (Energy Loss)
Required Energy from PV = (32Whr/day) x (1.3)
Required Energy from PV = 41.6Whr/day

2. Size the PV modules

2.1 Calculate the total Watt-peak rating needed for
PV modules

Watt-peak rating of load =

Require Energy from PV / (PGF)
Figure 6c: Frontal view of Watt-peak Rating of Load = (41.6Whr/day) / (3.43)
the Solar Powered Lamp Watt-peak Rating of Load = 12.1283Whr/day
Post

SOLAR POWERED LAMP POST – DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

2.2 Calculate the number of PV panels for the system
3.5 Multiply the answer obtained in item 3.4 with
Actual PV Panel Power Output = days of autonomy to get the required
Ampere-hour capacity of deep-cycle battery.
(PV Wattage) x (Operating Factor)
Actual PV Panel Power Output = (20 Watts) x (0.75)
Battery Capacity (Ah) = 2.61 𝑥 3 = 7.84 Ah
Actual PV Panel Power Output = 15 Watts
Uses 10Ah battery to last 3 days without charging.
12V @ 20 Watts – assumed PV module to suffice
12.1283Whr/day
C. DATA GATHERING
needed.

The researcher uses a data logging device to

Actual PV Panel Power Output per day =
(Actual PV Panel Power Output) x (Sun hours) record the values of voltage and current on
Actual PV Panel Power Output per day = the system. The data logger is connected to
(15 Watts) * (4 hrs) the lines of the Solar Charge Controller and
Actual PV Panel Power Output per day = the Battery in the evening to get the output
60 Watts
of the battery during night time as shown in
No. of Modules = Fig. 7a.
(Watt-peak Rating of Load) / (Actual PV Panel
Power Output)
No. of modules = (3.7425Wp/day) / (60 Watts)

No. of modules = 0.062333 approximately equal to 1

module

B. BATTERY SIZING

3.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day used by

appliances.
Figure 7a

Energy Consumption = (Rate of Power) x (Operating

In the morning, the data logger is connected
Hours) in series of the Solar PV to the Charge
Energy Consumption = 8 Watts x 4 hr/day controller as shown in Fig.7b to monitor
Energy Consumption = 32Whr/day
fluctuation happening if there’s any, and to
3.2 Divide the total Watt-hours per day used by see the consistency of the system’s voltage
0.85 for battery loss.
and current supplication.
32 𝑊ℎ𝑟/𝑑𝑎𝑦
= 37.64
. 85

3.3 Divide the answer obtained in item 3.2 by 0.6 for

depth of discharge.

37.64
= 62.745
.6
3.4 Divide the answer obtained in item 3.3 by the
nominal battery voltage.

62.745
= 2.61 Figure 7b
24

SOLAR POWERED LAMP POST – DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

 D. DATA TESTING

IV.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Energy Consumption 32 W
Watt-hours/day 41.6 Whr/day

Watt-peak rating of 12.1283 Whr/day

load

Total Watt-peak rating 14.97 Whr/day

of Load
Final Watt-peak of 3.7425 Wp/day
Load

Actual PV Panel Power 15 W

Output
Actual PV Panel Power 60 W
Output per day

No. of modules .06233 ≈ 1

Battery Capacity 8 x 6V (10Ah)

Table 1: Results from Solar PV and Battery sizing

SOLAR POWERED LAMP POST – DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING