Rechargeable AA Solar Batteries

Solar Post Toplight

Need to replace your rechargeable batteries for solar lights or water pumps?  We will look at the 14430 and other Rechargeable AA Solar Batteries in this article, they are 2/3 the size of a regular AA battery. We will look at the differences of this battery for the proper usage in several different lights and pumps.

The first thing to do when your light or pump fails to operate is to find out the proper size and number of the rechargeable battery.  Several sizes are available and some will say AA in size and be smaller than a regular AA battery.

Once you have determined the size and voltage of your battery, then you can start your search for a replacement.

Now let us look at some details for replacing your batteries.

How to tell if your batteries are failing

Are your lights staying on a shorter time during the night?  Does one of them not come on as bright as the others.  Does your pump not get the water up to the top when the sun goes down.

Using a battery tester after a full charge will let you know if you have the proper voltage, it will not let you know if it has charged fully and will last the night.  Testing for a full MAH (Milli Amp Hour) load is not easy.  Looking at the results of your light or pump output will be a lot better judge of when the battery will need to be replaced.

How to change the battery

The top of most fixtures twists off to let you have access to the battery compartment.  The battery compartment will just lift out with a table knife or fingernail.  Take care to note what direction the battery goes.  The flat side of the battery goes to the spring side of the fixture when inserting.

This is a good time to clean the reflector on the light.  I may have gathered several bugs or other debris over time. Just twist the top back on the light and wait for the next time it will be needed.

The new battery will have to charge for a couple of days to get the full charge on it.  If it does not stay on for a long time the first night do not think the battery is bad.

How to determine the battery that you need

As there are several types of AA rechargeable batteries that are used in solar lights. We will look at the AA batteries and let you know how to tell what type to get.

14330 series battery will be 3.2 volts. This battery is 2/3 the size of a regular AA battery. These are the most common and cost around $10 for a pair.

The AA 1.2-volt battery will be the same size as a regular AA battery.  1.5 volt AA battery in the middle of the picture.

The mAh number on the battery is how much of a stored charge the battery will have.  The more mAh's the more power the battery will have, the longer the service under the same load after dark.  This factor will not always increase the light put out or the amount of time your fixture is on.  It is a good practice to stay close to the mAh number on the original battery.

Lights after battery change

Conclusion

The big thing to remember is that rechargeable batteries do not use the same size codes as regular batteries.  Taking your bad battery to the store or using it as a comparison when shopping online is the best way to get the proper rechargeable battery the first time.  Most batteries will last several seasons before needing to be replaced if used daily, some will need to be replaced more often if they are stored for part of the season.

There is no need to replace a Solar Light if it does not function as well as it did when new, most LED bulbs will last a lifetime. It is very important to get the proper battery and replace it with a battery that will match in voltage, size, and mAh.  

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