Do Solar Panels Work Without Direct Sunlight. However solar panels used to power anything larger than a cell phone charger or calculator do need large amounts of sunlight to work effectively. But solar panels do not work at 100 efficiency. Amorphous panels will work best in shady or cloudy conditions but will not compete with monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels will when the sun comes out.
Solar panels use the energy from daylight not necessarily direct sunlight to produce the energy that they then convert into useable electricity. The best way to charge solar lights is with sunlight.
Heat has no effect on the production of electricity.
During winter months with cloudier weather your outdoor solar lights operating times may vary as much as 30 to 50 percent according to the us department of energy. However even if you don t have access to direct sunlight you can still charge your solar lights in other ways. We know that during peak sun hours a solar panel should theoretically produce 1 000 w m 2. The confusion around solar working at night is often due to the concept of solar storage which allows homes to still have energy supply at night.
