Patent Publication Number: US-11391425-B2

Title: Solar string light

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application 63/118,670 filed Nov. 26, 2020, the specification of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     (a) Field 
     The subject matter disclosed generally relates to lighting and more particularly exterior lighting. More particularly, the subject matter disclosed relates to exterior lighting powered by solar panels and components thereof. 
     (b) Related Prior Art 
     In the field of exterior lighting, lighting is an integral part of the ambiance. However, connection to the grid is not always easy to reach, and sometimes involves lengthy power cords extending all over the place. 
     In response to these constraints, individual solar-powered lighting devices have been developed, such as the SOLAR POWERED LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO PRODUCE LIGHT OF VARYING COLORS, US Patent Publication No. 2020/0029409 A1 by Richmond that describes individual devices that comprise a spike to put the device in the ground. 
     Nevertheless, the lighting devices of Richmond comprises numerous drawbacks, comprising a lack of synchronicity at the power-on time between multiple lighting devices, the limitation in the location of the lighting devices spiked in the ground, and limitations on the capacity to replace the lighting components without having to replace the entire lighting device. 
     Furthermore, solar strings are designed to resist to weather conditions such as wind, rain and direct sun that may generate premature wear when the design of the string light is not robust enough to resist to these weather conditions in a repetitive manner. 
     There is therefore a need for improvement in the field of solar-powered lighting devices that respond to these drawbacks. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment, there is provided a weather-resistant socket assembly for a string light, comprising: an electrically powered housing having an opening, a chamber extending from the opening, and a ridged wall covering a portion of an internal periphery of the electrically powered housing; and a socket comprising electrical connections adapted to power the socket and a cooperating ridged wall covering a portion of an external periphery of the socket, wherein, when the socket is inserted in the chamber of the electrically powered housing, the ridged wall and the cooperating ridged wall come into contact and the contact prevents a rotation of the socket relative to the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the ridged wall and the cooperating ridged wall have complementary sinusoidal shapes which come into contact to prevent axial movement between the socket and the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the electrically powered housing comprises a ring-shaped channel, the socket comprises an outwardly projecting ring adapted to interface with the ring-shaped channel to further prevent axial movement between the socket and the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the ridged wall of the electrically powered housing is farther from the opening than the ring-shaped channel is from the opening. 
     According to an aspect, the ridged wall and the cooperating ridged wall have ridges extending parallel to the opening of the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the socket comprises a string-connecting cavity and the socket comprises a fin-shaped portion adapted to come into contact with the string-connecting cavity, wherein the contact further prevents a rotation of the socket relative to the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the electrically powered housing further comprises reinforcements adapted to receive an electrically conductive string, wherein the string-connecting cavity is least partially defined within the reinforcements and the fin-shaped portion is at least partially housed within the reinforcements. 
     According to an aspect, the socket comprises complementary pieces which together define the socket. 
     According to an aspect, the socket defines a lighting-component compartment therein, and wherein the complementary pieces comprise connection channels providing paths for electrical connections between the string-connecting cavity and the lighting-component compartment. 
     According to an embodiment, there is provided a solar string light comprising: a photovoltaic module for generating electrical power; and a string assembly comprising: an electrically conductive string connectable to the photovoltaic module, the electrically conductive string being powered by the photovoltaic module; and a plurality of light modules mechanically mounted and electrically connected to the electrically conductive string over its length, at least one light module comprising a socket assembly comprising: an electrically powered housing having an opening, a chamber extending from the opening, and a ridged wall covering a portion of an internal periphery of the electrically powered housing; and a socket comprising electrical connections adapted to power the socket and a cooperating ridged wall covering a portion of an external periphery of the socket, wherein, when the socket is inserted in the chamber of the electrically powered housing, the ridged wall and the cooperating ridged wall come into contact and the contact prevents a rotation of the socket relative to the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the solar string light further comprises a releasable lighting component adapted to be plugged into the socket assembly, wherein the lighting component is a LED for producing light of different colors. 
     According to an aspect, the solar string light further comprises a remote control for wirelessly transmitting commands to a transducer for controlling the light modules. 
     According to an aspect, the light modules operate in a coordinated manner. 
     According to an embodiment, there is provided a socket assembly for a string light, comprising: an electrically powered housing having an opening, a chamber extending from the opening, and a ring-shaped channel in the chamber; and a socket comprising electrical connections adapted to power the socket and an outwardly projecting ring adapted to interface with a ring-shaped channel, wherein, when the socket is inserted in the chamber of the electrically powered housing, the ring-shaped channel and the outwardly projecting ring come into contact and the contact prevents an axial movement of the socket relative to the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the electrically powered housing further comprises a string-connecting cavity, and the socket further comprises a fin-shaped portion adapted to interface with the string-connecting cavity to prevent a rotation of the socket relative to the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the electrically powered housing further comprises reinforcements adapted to receive an electrically conductive string, wherein the string-connecting cavity is adapted to be at least partially inserted in the reinforcements. 
     According to an aspect, the electrically powered housing further comprises a ridged wall covering a portion of an internal periphery of the electrically powered housing, and the socket further comprises a cooperating ridged wall covering a portion of an external periphery of the socket to further prevent axial and rotational movement of the socket relative to the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the ridged wall and the cooperating ridged wall have complementary sinusoidal shapes, the ridged wall and the cooperating ridged wall extend parallel to the opening of the electrically powered housing and come into contact to prevent axial movement between the socket and the electrically powered housing. 
     According to an aspect, the ridged wall of the electrically powered housing is farther from the opening than the ring-shaped channel is from the opening. 
     According to an aspect, the socket comprises complementary pieces which together define the socket, wherein the socket defines a lighting-component compartment therein, and wherein the complementary pieces comprise connection channels providing paths for electrical connections to travel between the string-connecting cavity and the lighting-component compartment when the electrical connections are inserted in the electrically powered housing. 
     Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized, the subject matter disclosed and claimed is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive and the full scope of the subject matter is set forth in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a solar string light in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a string with lighting modules mounted thereto of the solar string light of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up perspective view depicting a portion of the string with a single lighting module mounted thereto; 
         FIG. 4  is the close-up perspective view of the components of  FIG. 3  with the lighting component dismounted from the lighting modules; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the components of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the photovoltaic module of  FIG. 1  mounted to a wall; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the photovoltaic module of  FIG. 6  ready to be mounted to a fitting mounted to the wall; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are respectively a front view and a side view of the photovoltaic module of  FIG. 1  mounted to a spike inserted in the ground; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are respectively a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 8  comprising the photovoltaic module ready to be inserted in the ground; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are respectively a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of the photovoltaic module of  FIG. 1  ready to be mounted to a jaw assembly mounted to a pole or a post; 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  are respectively a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of the photovoltaic module of  FIG. 1  ready to be mounted to a jaw assembly mounted to a fence or a railing; 
         FIGS. 16 and 17  are respectively a front perspective view and a side view of the photovoltaic module of  FIG. 1  ready to be mounted to a fence or a railing using screws; 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the string with a single lighting module mounted thereto of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a front exploded view of the portion of the string with a single lighting module mounted thereto of  FIGS. 3 and 18 ; and 
         FIG. 20  is a close-up front view of the electrically powered housing with a lighting module mounted thereto. 
     
    
    
     It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The realizations will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which realizations are illustrated. The foregoing may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated realizations set forth herein. 
     With respect to the present description, references to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context. Thus, the term “or” should generally be understood to mean “and/or” and so forth. 
     Recitation of ranges of values and of values herein or on the drawings are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The words “about”, “approximately”, or the like, when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed as indicating a deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Ranges of values and/or numeric values are provided herein as examples only, and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of the described realizations. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as”, or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the exemplary realizations and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the realizations. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the realizations. The use of the term “substantially” is intended to mean “for the most part” or “essentially” depending on the context. It is to be construed as indicating that some deviation from the word it qualifies is acceptable as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for the intended purpose. 
     In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first”, “second”, “top”, “bottom”, “above”, “below”, and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. 
     The terms “top”, “up”, “upper”, “bottom”, “lower”, “down”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “interior” and “exterior” and the like are intended to be construed in their normal meaning in relation with normal installation of the product. 
     It should further be noted that for purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature and/or such joining may allow for the flow of fluids, electricity, electrical signals, or other types of signals or communication between two members. Such joining may be achieved with the two members, or the two members and any additional intermediate members, being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. 
     In realizations, there is disclosed a solar string light  100  designed to be installed outdoors, but which may also be installed indoors. 
     It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , the solar string light  100  comprises a photovoltaic module  110  enclosing a battery (not shown), a mounting module  112  adapted to mount the photovoltaic module  110  at a selected location, and a string assembly  105  comprising an electrically conductive electrical string  120  connected to the photovoltaic module  110  and several lighting modules  130  mounted to the electrical string  120 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the electrical string  120  comprises one extremity adapted to connect to the photovoltaic module  110 , wherein the connection between the photovoltaic module  110  and the electrical string  120  is performed according to a plug and socket connection. 
     In the depicted realization, the photovoltaic module  110  features a socket  170  while the electrical string  120  features a plug  122  connectable to the socket  170  to thereby create an electric circuit. 
     The electrical string  120  comprises at least a pair of wires (not shown) extending in a sleeve  128 , wherein the sleeve  128  is made of polymer-type material enclosing the wires and isolating the wires from the environment. 
     The combination of the sleeve  128  and the wires defines a flexible string that may be bent, curled, or otherwise shaped to a certain limit to marry a desired shape to follow, for example, the surface of a structure. 
     The combination of the sleeve  128  and the wires further provides the tension resistance necessary for the electrical string  120  to hang the string between two structures over a substantial distance, for example 2 meters, without the tension in the electrical string  120  affecting the capacity of the electrical string  120  to conduct power. Accordingly, the assembly of the housing  132  with the sleeve  128  operates as a strain relief. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the solar string light  100  comprises several lighting modules  130  mounted, typically, equidistantly on the electrical string  120 . Each of the lighting module  130  comprises a housing  132  attached to the electrical string  120 . 
     Typically, the intermediary lighting modules  130  comprise an inlet  134  and an outlet  136 , wherein the inlet  134  is connected to the portion of the electrical string  120  in the direction of the photovoltaic module  110  and the outlet  136  is connected to the portion of the electrical string  120  extending away from the photovoltaic module  110 . 
     The inlet  134  and the outlet  136  feature reinforcements  138  extending from the central portion of the housing  132  over the exterior face of the sleeve  128 , wherein fixation of the reinforcements  138  over the sleeve  128  prevents a tension over the sleeve  128  opposed to the central portion of the housing  132  to result in the sleeve  128  being pulled out of the housing  132 . 
     The housing  132  features an exterior face  140  made of polymer-type material that, according to a preferred realization, is similar to the polymer-type material of the sleeve  128 , whereby the combination of the electrical string  120  and the lighting modules  130  provides a consistent surface. 
     According to a realization, the entire housing  132  is made of polymer-type material isolating the content of the housing  132  from the environment and protecting the content of the housing  132  from weather conditions. 
     According to realizations, the housing  132  features fixing means  158  such as a hook, a ring (as depicted), or a carabiner, wherein the fixing means provides aid for mounting the electrical string  120  to a structure or for hanging the electrical string  120  from structures. 
     Referring now particularly to  FIG. 5  and  FIGS. 18 to 20 , the housing has an opening  135  and a string-connecting cavity  160  distal from the opening  135 , with the string-connecting cavity  160  being located near the attachment between the electrical string  120  and the housing  132 . A generally cylindrical chamber  137  extends therein between the opening  135  and the string-connecting cavity  160 . 
     The housing  132  encloses a socket  142  composed of two complementary pieces  165   a ,  165   b  fitting together and guiding and holding electrical connections  146 ,  148  through connection channels  169   a ,  169   b . The socket  142  features threads  144  in the interior surface of its lighting-component compartment  167  adapted to cooperate with the threaded metallic base  152  of the lighting component  150 . The bottom electrical connection  146  is adapted to contact the foot portion  166  of the threaded metallic base  152  while the side electrical connection  148  is adapted to contact the periphery portion  164  of the threaded metallic base  152  about the start of the threaded portion, wherein the foot portion  166  and the periphery portion  164  are electrically insulated from each other and are the connecting poles of the LED components  156 . 
     According to a realization, the contact portions of the electrical connections  146  and  148 , adapted to electrically connect the lighting component  150 , are respectively biased toward the opening  135  of the housing  132  and toward the center of a cylindrical chamber  137  extending from the opening  135  to the string-connecting cavity  160  the housing  132 , with the screwing of the lighting component  150  in the housing  132  resulting in the lighting component  150  abutting and compressing the contact portion of the electrical connections  146  and  148 , thereby ensuring that the electrical contacts between the contact portions of the electrical connections  146  and  148  and the lighting component  150  are optimal. 
     It is to be noted that even though the figures do not depict explicitly the powering of the electrical connections  146 ,  148 , extremities or portions of the electrical connections  146 ,  148  distant from the socket  142  are electrically connected to the electric wires housed in the sleeve  128  to be powered thereby powering the housing  132  (aka the electrically powered housing  132 ). 
     The socket  142  has a generally fin-shaped portion  161 , i.e., a narrow projection extending from the main body, at its connecting extremity that eases the alignment of the socket  142  with the electrical string  120 . The fin-shaped portion  161  allows to have the reinforcements  138  housing the whole string-connecting cavity  160  within the reinforcements  138 . 
     The socket  142  further features a cylindrical exterior face  123  adapted to fit in a corresponding interior cylindrical face  125  of the housing  132 . The socket  142  has, about its opening, an outwardly projecting ring  127  adapted to be housed within a ring-shaped channel  129  when inserted in the housing  132 . 
     Cooperating ridged walls  131  and  133  having, according to a realization, ridges  145  of a sinusoidal shape parallel to the opening  135 , further provide an interface  139  between the socket  142  and the housing  132  for participating in ensuring that the socket  142 , once inserted in the housing  132 , will not exit the housing  132  under weather conditions or when inserting or removing, i.e., screwing or unscrewing, a lighting component  150  from the socket  142 . The interface  139  preferably extends over less than the whole periphery of the chamber  137 . 
     According to an embodiment, the cooperating ridged walls  131  and  133  cover a specific portion of the interface at external periphery of the socket  142  and the internal periphery of the housing  132 . Thus, the cooperating ridged walls  131  and  133  also provide resistance against rotation of the socket  142  into the housing  132 . 
     Furthermore, the interface  139  formed by the ridged walls  131 ,  133  and the interface  141  between the projecting ring  127  and the circular channel  129  provide resistance against axial displacement of the socket  142  relative to the housing  132 . The interface  139  between the ridged walls  131 ,  133  and the interface  143  between the fin-shaped portion  161  and the string-connecting cavity  160  within the reinforcements  138  provide resistance against rotation of the socket  142  into the housing  132 . The interface  141  between the projecting ring  127  and the circular channel  129  furthermore ensures that the electric components, e.g., electrical connections  146 ,  148 , are kept in a waterproof chamber as long as the reinforcements  138  ensures waterproofing at the string extremity. 
     According to a realization, housing  132  further comprises a skirt  163  at the opening  135 . The contact between the skirt  163  and the enclosure  154  of the lighting component  150 , upon fully screwing in the lighting component  150  in the socket  142 , further acts to seal the chamber  137  against the external elements. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the lighting modules  130  comprises a lighting component  150  comprising a threaded metallic base  152 , an enclosure  154 , and LED components  156 , aka LED lighting component, located in the enclosure  154 . 
     According to realizations, the enclosure  154  may take various shapes, may be made of translucent material, or clear solid material. 
     According to realizations, shades (not depicted) and other light-reflecting or light-diffusing components may be mounted to the housing  132  and extending aside and/or away from the enclosure  154  to modify the light ambiance provided by the solar string light  100 . 
     According to a realization, the LED components  156  consists of a multi-color LED lighting allowing the color of the light generated by the photovoltaic module  110  to be controlled, changed, and/or programmed to follow a pattern to provide particular lighting ambiances. 
     According to a realization, the LED components  156  comprises a transducer  157  that communicates with a remote control  162  transmitting commands wirelessly to the LED components  156 , for example to operate in a specific color or to operate according to a preset pattern. 
     The LED components  156  may further receive the same command from the remote control  162 , allowing them to operate in a coordinate manner, for instance producing light of the same color, being turned on and off in a synchronous manner, and operating the same pattern of light colors synchronously for example. 
     According to a realization (not depicted), the solar string light  100  comprises a last lighting module  130  including an inlet  134  but having no outlet. The sockets  142  of all of the lighting modules  130  are connected to both wires therein and are thus connected in parallel. 
     According to a realization (not depicted), the solar string light  100  comprises a last lighting module  130  including both an inlet  134  and an outlet  136 . The electrical string  120  extending downward from the outlet  136  ends with a socket wherein an extension string may be connected to a first electrical string  120  and thus electrically connected to the photovoltaic module  110 . According to realizations, the number of extension strings is limited by the characteristics of the photovoltaic module  110 , the electric requirements of each of the strings  120 , and the electric capacity of the electric conductors (wires, plugs and sockets). According to these realizations, a closing plug is provided to close off a socket not connected to another electrical string  120  from weather conditions. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 7 to 17 , the solar string light  100  comprises a photovoltaic module  110  comprising a casing  118  defining an enclosure in which is mounted a photovoltaic cell  114  and a micro-inverter (not shown) powering the battery. The circuit comprising the battery, the photovoltaic cell  114 , and the micro-inverter is further connected to a socket  170  out of the casing  118  to be connected to the electrical string  120 . According to a preferred realization, the photovoltaic cell  114  is mounted to the front of the photovoltaic module  110 , and the socket  170  is mounted to a flexible sleeved cable mounted and electrically connected to the back of the casing  118  and able to extend in any direction. 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the casing  118  comprises, at the back, a removable door  172  providing access to the battery. The photovoltaic module  110  further comprises a mounting module  112  that comprises a swivel assembly  174  that is attached on one side to the back of the casing  118  and on the other side features a fitting  176  that may be mounted to a mounting means  178 . 
     The swivel assembly  174  allows orienting the photovoltaic cell  114  toward a light source, the sun, to optimize the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell  114 . The swivel assembly  174  is particularly adapted to be oriented and to be blocked at a selected orientation. According to realizations, the swivel assembly  174  may feature a lock  192  (e.g., a screw or a pushbutton lock) allowing the swivel assembly  174  to enter in and exit from a lock configuration. 
     According to a realization depicted in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the mounting means  178  comprises a spike  180  that may be inserted in the ground. 
     According to a realization depicted in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the mounting means  178  is a pole  182 , or another type of fitting that may be attached to a structure. 
     According to a realization depicted in  FIGS. 12 to 15 , regarding the mounting module  112 , the mounting means  178  is designed to be mounted to a jaw assembly  184  itself adapted to be mounted to a structure without the use of structure penetrating screws or other fixing means that may contact and damage the structure. 
     According to a realization depicted on  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the mounting module  112  is designed to mount the photovoltaic module  110  to a wall using a support  186 , e.g., a wall support  186 , but alternatively the mounting module  112  could be adapted for mounting the photovoltaic module  110  to a ceiling or a floor, or to be affixed to a support structure, e.g., a wall, a ceiling, a floor. 
     According to a realization, the fitting  176  is adapted to be mounted to any one of a spike  180 , a pole  182 , a jaw assembly  184 , and a support  186  based on the available mounting opportunity. 
     According to a realization depicted in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the wall support  186  is a component of the jaw assembly  184  combinable with a second component  196  of the jaw assembly  184  and attached to one another using a set of fixations passing through a portion of the wall support  186 , wherein the same features, e.g., holes, of the portion of the support  186  is adapted to have screws passing therethrough to be fixed to a structure as an autonomous support  186 . 
     According to a realization depicted in  FIG. 14 , the support  186  comprises a base  194  and a cap  198 , wherein the cap  198  is releasably mountable to the base  194  fixed to a structure using screws or mounted to a second component  196  of the jaw assembly  184  as depicted. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 11 , the photovoltaic module  110  further comprises a power switch  188  allowing to select if the photovoltaic module  110  is in charging mode or in lighting mode. The charging mode is a mode wherein the micro-inverter feeds only the battery, charging the battery up to its maximum charge level. The lighting mode is a mode wherein the micro-inverter distributes power generated by the photovoltaic cell  114  to both the battery and the electrical string  120  based on respective demands. For instance, in lighting mode, the photovoltaic cell  114  may power only the battery when the LED components  156  are off, and both the battery and the string, or with the help of the battery powering the electrical string  120  based on the power generated by the photovoltaic cell  114  and the power requirement of the electrical string  120 . 
     According to a realization, the micro-inverter may be connected to a power control module (not depicted) and, based on the power generated by photovoltaic cell  114  resulting from the current lighting of the photovoltaic cell  114 , the micro-inverter may prevent power to be communicated to the electrical string  120  if the level of power generated is over a threshold value (that corresponds to daytime lighting). In that situation, the LED components  156  can only be powered when no daylight is present, thus only between dusk and dawn. 
     According to a realization, the photovoltaic module  110  may be remotely powered using the remote control  162 . 
     According to a realization, the power switch  188  is a three-position power switch corresponding to a) charging mode, b) auto/light mode, and c) lighting mode. The auto-light mode is a mode wherein depending on the lighting condition in which the photovoltaic module  110  accepts commands from the remote control  162 , the LED components  156  may be remotely controlled to enter in a test mode wherein the LED components  156  may be powered during the daytime. 
     It is to be noted that the solar string light  100  has the advantage of featuring a central control powering synchronously all of the LED components  156  that are part of the solar string light  100 . 
     The solar string light  100  further has the advantage of controlling the operation of all of the LED components  156  synchronously through a single command entered through the remote control  162 . 
     The solar string light  100  further has the advantage of allowing to position the photovoltaic module  110  at an optimal location regardless of the locations where the lighting components  150  are individually installed. 
     The solar string light  100  has a further advantage of providing the option to custom the lighting ambiance to be provided through the solar string light  100  via the colors of the light emitted and through the selection of a particular enclosure  154  or the customization of the enclosure  154  with shades or alike. 
     While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure.