Will Ring Solar Panel Work In Shade? Where You Should Place It!


What happens to your doorbell and alarm systems when the power goes out? If you’re like most people you might find yourself in the position where the doorbell isn’t working and your alarm is disabled.

Fortunately, some systems have batteries as a backup. Using solar panels to charge those backup batteries is a smart way to guarantee cheap consistent energy. This is especially critical for prolonged blackouts like the 2-week blackout experienced in some states after Hurricane Sandy.

In this guide, we share what the best setup is for using chargers like ring solar panels to power your security systems. We look at what impact shading and cloudy days will have and what you can do to reduce the effects.

By the time you reach the end of this post, you will know how to install your solar panel to effectively keep your security system at full charge.


On a side note! If you’re in need of a reliable and high-performance portable solar panel, We strongly recommend the Jackery SolarSaga 100W  Portable Solar Panel  (Amazon Link).

With a high conversion efficiency and foldable design, this solar panel is easy to transport and set up, making it perfect for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and RV trips.

The US solar cell technology used in this panel ensures that you get the most efficient and reliable solar charging possible.

There is also a 60W option that is more affordable (Amazon Link)


Does Ring Solar Light Need Direct Sunlight?

While solar can work with diffuse or indirect light, direct sunlight produces maximum available energy. A solar light can still draw energy on a cloudy day for example, but it is much less than it would on a clear day.

Solar cells are far less effective when they’re not installed in direct sunlight. A ring solar light is not any different. If it does not get direct sunlight, it will not give the batteries a good charge. If the batteries don’t get a good charge the light won’t shine as bright or won’t work at all.

Outside lighting is typically wired to your standard electrical outlet or a battery. Solar power is a step up from using your electrical outlet or charging a battery with an electrical outlet. A solar light will have solar panels to absorb sunlight and batteries to work after dark.

Solar lighting has the advantage of being cheaper in the long run and providing a consistent clean energy source. The latter is very important when you live in a blackout-prone area. The biggest downside to solar lighting is it can be unreliable on cloudy days.

Direct sunlight ensures that solar panels produce the most amount of energy possible. But what happens if there is no sunlight, as when you put a solar panel in shade?

On a side note, check out How Fast Does Ring Solar Panel Charge Batteries?

Does Ring Solar Charger Work In The Shade?

A solar panel charger does not work effectively in shade. In most cases, especially with ring solar panels that are smaller and have a lower power rating, the solar panel will not work at all. This means it will not produce any energy and will not power up or charge.

Before you write the brand off, note that this is not an inherent flaw with ring solar panels. This is what you will get with anything that requires solar energy to charge up.

Shading is the primary reason why most solar chargers produce less than the required energy. Shading can reduce the energy output of a solar charger right down to zero. When a solar panel is in shade, the chief component required to produce energy, namely sunlight, is in short supply.

If there is less sunlight on your solar charger it will produce less energy. The solar panel does not even need to be in complete shade. Blocking off a third of a solar panel for example reduces output by as much as 30%. Even having something such as a cable or branch casting a shadow can reduce the output.

Solar panels are more accurately called solar modules. This is because they are a collection of solar cells wired together. A solar panel is thus a group of solar cells wired together. Each cell produces a voltage of about 0.5V.

When one or more of the cells is shaded it does not produce any voltage or current and the output in the entire module drops as a result. The current in the module will fall to the current produced by that of the shaded cell. Source

Shading also has another adverse effect on solar modules. When one or several cells are in shade, this increases the flow of current through the shaded cells creating a short circuit. This leads to heat buildup in the cells.

Heat reduces the energy production in a solar cell. Heat can be directly from the sun or indirectly from shading. Over time heat build-up will damage the solar cells.

Does Ring Solar Panel Work At Night?

A solar panel does not work at night. Solar energy can still be used at night as stored solar energy. In this case, batteries are used to store solar energy for nighttime use.

We are yet to create solar panels that work at night. After sunset there just isn’t enough light for a solar panel to produce energy.

The biggest source of light at night is the moon. But moonlight is only sunlight reflected off the surface of the moon. As such it is nowhere near powerful or energy dense enough for solar panels to produce energy from.

The only logical solution, therefore, is to use solar panels to generate energy during the day and store that energy. This is where batteries come in. Rechargeable or secondary batteries are currently the only way to use solar energy at night. Source

Where Should I Place My Ring Solar Panel?

The ideal location for a solar panel is in direct sunlight and away from any shading. This ensures the solar panel produces enough energy to charge the batteries.

Direct sunlight is the most important factor that will guarantee your solar panel will produce the most energy. Secondary factors that will influence production are orientation and tilt.

Orientation is the direction your solar panel will face. Solar panels that face south typically have a higher yield than when faced in a west or east direction. North-facing panels have the lowest yield. If possible, try to have it face south or south-west.

Tilt is much easier to control. With orientation, you might not have as much choice as to where to place your solar panels if you’re using the solar panel for a doorbell or security lights. Typically, solar panels that are tilted between 45 to 60 degrees produce more energy.

Watson Tanganyika

(Solar + DIY Enthusiast) - I got into renewable energy after seeing someone power their home with solar panels. Before that, I thought electricity was something you could only get from your utility. Every day I learn something new about renewable technology and I'm amazed by its vast untapped potential. I genuinely believe it can transform our lives and writing about it is my small way of contributing to the revolution.

Recent Posts