Repurpose a few outdoor solar powered garden lights

Projects Discussion and Showcase Device Hacking
1

Hello,

I have searched the message board and have yet to find a relevant thread. I have few cheap solar powered garden lights. They each have a 1.2v rechargable battery, a small solar panel and an LED. On the PCB there is only connections from both the solar panel and battery as well as a YX8018 "voltage booster"/gated oscillator and a resistor. I was curious as to whether I could gather four or five of these to provide me with ~5vDC for an outdoor project or whether the solar panels, oscillator or batteries could be possibly repurposed for a project.

TIA

2

Yes, that has been done. Google something like "yx8018 booster 5V output" to find examples.

3

Good to hear. I'll try searching with the exact terms that you used. I've been coming up pretty empty handed but if someone has done it I'd be more than happy to take a look!