12 GreenWay™ installation & operation manual 0410 MKTG-IM-GREEN-002
OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, TROUBLESHOOTING
Break-in Period
After the SOL GREENWAY® Light is installed; the battery, LED fixture, and controller require a break-in period
before reaching peak performance and efficiency:
1. New batteries achieve full charging capacity after they have been used for approximately 4-5 days.
Before that, they achieve approximately 85% of their rated charging capacity.
2. The LED fixture must operate for several days before it reaches its peak output. This will not be
noticeable.
3. The controller must operate for approximately one week before learning the system’s parameters and
achieving maximum efficiency.
4. The system may need a full day of peak sun to reset all of its circuits. If the system is installed during a
period of inclement weather or late in the day, the system may not operate the first night.
The break-in period will not affect normal performance of the light unless the break-in period occurs at a time
that the system is operating at its extreme limits. This may be the case if the system is installed during the
winter months or during a period of successive bad weather days.
Expected Performance
The SOL GREENWAY® Light is designed to provide reliable operation and illumination all year. The solar
panel provides enough energy during a normal day to charge the battery for operation of the LED fixture for
the following night. The system is designed with a five-day reserve charge. As a result, extended periods of
low sun may deplete the five-day reserve and affect performance of the system.
The following conditions may cause your SOL GREENWAY® Light to operate out of specification:
1. Prolonged Bad Weather.
A series of days with low levels of sunlight may deplete the battery reserve.
Depending on the severity of the condition, the nightly illumination period could be reduced until a sunny
day re-establishes the reserve battery charge. Please note that the system may need anywhere from two
days (in summer) to ten days (in winter) of good sunny weather before the full five-day battery reserve is
completely achieved.
2. Shading.
Installation of the SOL GREENWAY® Light in a location where the solar panel is shaded
during part of the day will inhibit the ability of the solar panel to fully charge the battery and may severely
damage the battery. The hours of nighttime illumination will be reduced by the controller if the solar panel
cannot fully charge the battery.
If you believe that your SOL GREENWAY® Light is not performing as expected and the above conditions do
not apply, please contact SOL technical support at 1.800.959.1329 option #3.
