Yes, we know that this sounds counter-intuitive. Since the solar panel attached to your solar light needs to receive sunlight in order to generate electricity, why should shading your solar light get it working again? The answer lies in how your solar light is programmed to work. Some solar lights, like solar gutter lights, are. Batteries attached to your solar light should charge up during the day, using power generated by the attached solar panel. These batteries usually have a lifetime of around two years, after which they can break down and need to be replaced. When your solar. The angle of your solar panels is also key to allowing it to generate enough solar energy to power your light. Finding the right angle can be tricky at times, however, since the optimum angle depends on both the time of year and on where you are in the world. If you just want. Sometimes, the problem might be as simple as an unexpected piece of shade blocking your solar panel from the Sun. Check if some object is preventing sunlight from reaching your solar. Generally, solar panels can receive the most sunlight if they're faced towards the South, but only if you live in the Northern hemisphere. This is because the Sun is mostly present in the.