Project information

Title : Building a high-powered LED solar light

Date : 19/07/2025 - 22/03/2026

Description : I attempted to build a high-powered solar light, this was my first project building a product from scratch

Problem : I initially wanted to build some solar powered lights for my driveway where I rent, I didn't want to use the grid to power the lights, the project itself became unrelated to the problem and instead a self-challenge

Overview

I designed and created a solar light, I picked out different types of electronic circuits to use including :
- Solar panel
- LED light
- 3 x 18650 batteries
- LED driver
- Solar charge converter
- and more..

I made the top out of poly-carbonate plastic which I spray-painted black, this later had an issue with warping.

I was convinced by someone to use resin printing to make the enclosure for my components, I learned otherwise, the resin was extremely brittle and unfit for purpose.

I cut a broken SSD's aluminum chassis up and used it as a heat-sink, I used a silicone-like thermal transfer adhesive to glue it on to the aluminum.

I 3D printed a connecting piece to attach the poly-carbonate window to the top panel, this was slightly too small and broke due to the force over-time.

I ended up tie-ing off the project as I have many other things to do in life and this one had many issues to the point I realised I would be best to redesign things from the ground up, I may retry this project in the future, it was definitely a learning experience.

Please watch the videos for a proper run-down of it.