You chose them for their design, their autonomy and their ease of installation. And you were right. The outdoor solar terminals have become indispensable for sublimating a garden, an alley or a terrace without digging trenches or blowing up your electricity bill. At Lumihome, we design our terminals as real durable luminaires, capable of providing efficient lighting while resisting the hazards of time.
But like any outdoor equipment, they deserve a minimum of attention. With a few simple reflexes, you will extend their lifespan for a long time.
Why take care of its solar terminals?
Think of your favourite bike: without a blow or a bit of oil, it ends up rusting or not passing the speeds correctly. It's the same for a solar terminal. With regular maintenance, they remain effective and light up your outside for years.
" The Lumihome terminals are not single-use gadgets. repairable, modular" A quick cleaning, a occasional battery change, and they're back to their performance. " — Christophe Coelho, founder of Lumihome
The 3 gestures to take to prolong the life of your boundaries
Good outdoor lightingIt is first and foremost a good product, but it is also – and above all – a suitable use and a minimum of care over time. At Lumihome, our terminals are designed to last, with robust materials, replaceable components, and real resistance to external conditions.
Yet they must be given an enabling environment, protected from excesses, and acted at the right time.
No need to be a professional handyman for this. In reality, it is often the simplest gestures that make the biggest difference. Here are the three reflexes to adopt so that your solar terminals keep their performance, their brightness and their autonomy... as on the first day.
1. Choose the location: without sun, no energy
Solar terminals operate in total autonomy, thanks to an integrated photovoltaic panel that captures the energy of the sun to recharge the internal battery. But without sufficient direct exposure, this system cannot function properly. It is a bit like hoping to sunbathe under an umbrella...
Before installing your terminal, take time to observe the sunshine of the ground: a good location, it is at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun a day, without shadow carried by a tree, hedge or roof.
To be undertaken:
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Install the terminal in a clear, south- or south-west-facing area.
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Avoid fixed or mobile shadows that move around the day (branchs, grills, palisades).
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If your model allows, slightly orient the panel to capture as much light as possible.
Avoid:
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Install under a canopy, in a dark angle or behind a fence.
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Forget that in winter, the sun is lower: a well-exposed area in summer can become shaded in the bad season.
"A good location is the assurance of efficient charging... and therefore reliable lighting once the night falls."
2. Keep the panel clean: a rag stroke for hours of light
The solar panel is the key element of the terminal. It is it that captures the light and transforms it into energy. But like a dirty window, a panel covered with dust, pollen or organic deposits quickly becomes ineffective.
" Even if it remains discreet with the naked eye, a veil of dirt can divide the load capacity by two. And in the long run, it fatigues the battery, reduces the range, and gives a fainting light feel. "
To be undertaken:
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Clean every month in spring and summer (when pollen and insects are more present).
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Also every month in autumn/winter.
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Use a soft cloth (microfibre type) and warm water.
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For stubborn dirt, add a drop of mild soap (no glass product).
To be avoided absolutely:
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Abrasive sponges or hard brushes.
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Solvents, anticalcium products, alcohol or ammonia-based cleaners.
3. Replace battery: extend terminal life... for years
The internal battery of a solar terminal is not eternal. Even the best cells have a limited lifespan, expressed in charge/discharge cycles. On average, a Lumihome battery offers between 800 and 1000 cycles, or 18 to 36 months, depending on the use and the weather conditions.
But unlike many disposable products on the market, our terminals are designed so that the battery can easily replace itself. It is neither technical nor risky nor expensive.
When do you change the battery?
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If the terminal does not turn on again despite good exposure.
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If it goes off after 10 or 20 minutes, where it was all night before.
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If you see a rapid decline in performance, there is no other visible cause.
How can I do that?
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Turn off the power supply (switch or simple back-up installation depending on the models).
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Access the compartment (often under the terminal or on the side).
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Remove the worn battery and insert a new compatible battery (for sale on lumihome.com).
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Close, expose the terminal to the sun and let the magic work.
Pro Tips:
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Recycle the old battery in a waste house or collection point.
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Before concluding that the battery is faulty, consider checking the location and cleaning.
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Never force the opening: a well-designed terminal opens easily.
"Change the battery is to give your terminal a second life. A simple, lasting, economical and satisfying gesture."
Avoid: conventional mistakes
Even the best solar terminals can lose performance if some usage errors accumulate. The goal is not to turn you into a maintenance technician, but to avoid the most frequent pitfalls. And as often, it is the details that make the difference.
Here are the main mistakes not to be made if you want to preserve your Lumihome solar terminals in the long term.
Install them in a shaded area
This may seem obvious, but it is the most common error. A light-filled terminal will receive little or no light, and therefore very little energy. Result: a reduced or even non-existent autonomy.
A tree that has grown, a glycine that has spread, or even the shade that has been worn out of a new garden furniture can be enough to compromise the recharge.
Tip: think about checking the sunshine of the place over the seasons, especially in winter when the sun is lower.
Forget about cleaning the solar panel
The panel may look clean... until you pass a cloth on it. Dust, traces of rain, pollution, pollen, dead leaves: so many invisible filters that reduce solar capture.
A missed terminal for a year simply cannot recharge effectively.
Tip: one minute a month is enough to preserve the performance of the terminal. A small reflex, for a great benefit.
Use inappropriate products or tools
You are motivated, you are scrubbing vigorously... with a gratifying sponge. Bad idea. The solar panel is covered with a protective film sensitive to scratches. Aggressive household products, on the other hand, can leave residues or attack the components.
Leave a battery worn out too long
A breathless battery does not only affect the range: it can also force electronics to compensate, which reduces the life of internal components.
Waiting for it to be completely HS can therefore have consequences for the entire system.
Nothing complicated, but a real impact on life
At Lumihome, we designed our terminals to accompany you for years. It would be a shame to see them decline because of an oversight or a small avoidable error. A good location, a gentle cleaning, a battery replacement at the right time: simple gestures, within everyone's reach, that make all the difference.
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