PV Gap

Lee Said:

Charging solar lights?

We Answered:

Yes, you can. Grow Lights work the best (science class did an experiment).

Carlos Said:

Will a frensel lens generate heat if placed in front of direct indoor lighting?

We Answered:

Well, a Fresnel lens concentrates light, but it's not quite as drastic as say, a magnifying glass.

You have to remember, your eyes are incredible instruments, that coupled with your brain, kinda 'even out" what are in reality, hugely different amounts of light.

My point is, the sunlight is MUCH more intense than artificial lighting.
Have a light on in your house during the day, with the blinds closed. When you open the blinds all the way, the sun is so bright compared to the lamp, that the lamp is irrelevant.
You only notice it, because it's a different color temperature.

100 watts is not much at all. (I'm a filmmaker and photographer).
When they do nighttime exterior filming, it's not unusual for them to use 50,000 - 100,000 worth of lights.
There is actually such a thing as an 80,000 watt light!!
That's one bulb!
The point being, this is what it takes to light a particular area, not even to the same brightness that the sun does.

So, the short answer is; your 100 watt light is just super wimpy.
That's why it doesn't really generate any heat shining through the fresnel lens.

Alfred Said:

Can solar lights be charged from indoor light or has to be sunlight?

We Answered:

They can be charged indoors but need to be placed in direct bright light (such as under the edge of a end table lamp) in order to charge at a decent rate. It will still take longer than in the bright sun though.

Edit: If it is the kind that just uses rechargeable AA batteries or similar then they can also be charged in a regular charger outside of the light.