COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LETRAN CALAMABA

SCOOL OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MELEC2
ELECTIVE 2

FINAL PROJECT
AUTOMATIC ON/OFF SOLAR STREET LIGHT

4ME1

NICANOR L. SERRANO

APRIL 2, 2016

ABSTRACT
This project is all about the utilization of one of the most economical and abundant source of
renewable energy, the solar energy. It has been known that coal generated power plants are
approaching its end. To be ready for the near future, we, as globally competitive students of
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Energy, studied and created a prototype of existing ideas of

some other great minds in the outside world using Solar Panel to create an Automatic Solar
Street Light.
INTRODUCTION
Solar Street lights have been out in the market for a while already. Many parks, facilities,
villages and other subdivisions have been using these already. But, Automatic On/Off Solar
Street Light hasnt been that mainstream to the public.
Automatic On/Off Solar Street Light can be made in different ways depending on the
function and working operation the user or designer may want. In the case of the project that
have been made by the class, we have created an Automatic On/Off Solar Street Light that lights
on after a few minutes if the solar panel detects no sunlight and lights off also after few minutes
when sunlight is detected.
Further explanation about this delay would be discuss further in the paper.
OBJECTIVES
1. To prove that Sunlight is a good source of energy.
2. To choose and create our own design of Automatic On/Off Solar Street Light.
3. To be able to create an Automatic On/Off Solar Street Light.
4. To be able to design an ergonomical and good structural design for the body of the solar
street light.
RELATED LITERATURE
These energy saving street lights make use of incandescent lamps instead of LEDs.So here I
will teach you how to make an electronic circuit for street light automation. The heart of this
circuit is aLDR (Light Depended Resistor) which is connected as a potential divider with a 56K
resistor. The drop across LDR is used for switching the transistor. Solar led street lighting
systems are the advanced versions of this ordinary automatic street light controller.
Working of Automatic Street Light circuit
1. The bulb should remain OFF during daytime and turn ON automatically during night.
2. The unique property of light depended resistor is utilized here. LDR is a variable resistor
which has very low resistance in the presence of light and very high resistance in the absence of
light.
3. In this circuit, we create a potential divider network with an ordinary resistor in one arm and a
LDR on the other arm.
4. According to Ohms law (V=IR), voltage drop across the resistor increases when its resistance
increases.
5. Here the drop across LDR varies with changes in light intensity. That is voltage drop across
the LDR is minimum in the presence of light and maximum in the absence of light.
6. One end of the LDR is connected to the base of a BC 187 transistor. At night, the drop is very
high (> 0.6V) and it is sufficient to turn on the transistor.

7. When the first transistor is ON next one will also turn ON. Thus the relay coil energizes and
the bulb will glow.
METHODOLOGY
Before the class come up with the design of the solar panel, we did a research about a
different ways to create an Automatic On/Off Solar Street light. Out of so many designs, of
course, we have chosen the cheapest way.
We used a special kind of charge controller that has settings depending on what the user
wants. After picking up all the parts from the supplier, we then assemble it accordingly.

We have used only four components in making our solar panel. No computation needed, just
proper observation and use of voltage.

2 Watts LED Light

10 Watts Crystalline Solar Panel, 7Ah Battery, Charge Controller with built-in blocking diode.

8 feet
pole

5 kg of steel base foot

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Based on what the class have created, it can be concluded that the sun is really a good source
of energy. It is free and abundant. The group also proved that the design of Automatic On/Off
Solar Street Light that we made, which is with delay, is recommended for use. It is because the
absence of sunlight doesnt mean total darkness. If it isnt dark enough, light isnt needed the
most. Practically, even at homes, we turn on the lights if its night time, not when the sun goes
down at 6pm or earlier.the design that we used is very practical. Especially for us students.
It is recommended to improve the calibration of the charge controller that was used in the
project for better detection of light. Also, it is very recommended to know and make your own
decision in choosing the design for your solar street light.
APPENDIX A
PICTURES

COST:
Solar Package
Base
Bulb
Body
Paint
Transportation
Other expenses
During repair
TOTAL

P 3500.00
200.00
180.00
(scrap)
(leftovers)
300.00
300.00
P 4480.00