Solar LED cats eyes, as an important component of road traffic safety facilities, play a core role in providing night visual guidance through solar power supply. They do not require traditional wiring construction and also have the environmental protection advantages of energy conservation and emission reduction. They have been widely applied in various road scenarios.
However, in special environments such as cold ice, high-temperature deserts, and coastal salt spray, the performance of solar powered cats eyes is easily affected by environmental factors, leading to problems such as insufficient battery life and component damage. This article focuses on the performance challenges and countermeasures of solar road studs in special environments, providing practical references for engineering selection, installation and construction, as well as later maintenance, and helping to enhance road traffic safety and facility reliability in extreme conditions.
In sub-zero temperatures and icy environments, solar cat eyes road studs are confronted with three core issues. One is the low-temperature degradation of batteries. The capacity of ordinary lithium batteries will drop significantly below -10 ℃, resulting in a shortened duration of road studs being illuminated at night or even power outages. The second issue is ice blocking. Once the surface of the road studs is covered with ice, it will impede the light transmission of solar panels and at the same time affect the penetration of LED lights, reducing the visual guidance effect. The third issue is material embrittlement. The outer shell and fixed components of the road studs tend to become brittle at low temperatures and are prone to cracking and damage when subjected to vehicle rolling or external force impact.
The desert environment with high temperatures and strong sunlight poses strict requirements for the heat resistance of solar cat eyes road studs. Firstly, the aging of materials accelerates. The engineering plastic of the road nail shell is prone to deformation, fading and even cracking under long-term exposure to high temperatures and direct sunlight, and its sealing performance declines accordingly. Secondly, there is the failure of sealing. High temperatures can cause the sealant inside the road studs to soften, making it easy for water vapor or sand and dust to seep into the interior and cause short circuits. The last issue is the efficiency reduction of solar panels due to high temperatures. When the temperature exceeds 25℃, the power generation efficiency of crystalline silicon solar panels drops by approximately 0.4% for every 1℃ increase. In desert areas, the daytime temperature often exceeds 40℃, which significantly reduces the charging volume of road studs.
The core threat of the high salt spray environment in coastal areas is corrosion. The metal components of road studs (such as fixing bolts and internal terminal blocks) will undergo electrochemical corrosion when exposed to salt spray for a long time, leading to rusting and poor contact of the components. Meanwhile, salt spray adhering to the surface of solar panels will form salt scale, blocking light and affecting the light transmittance, thereby reducing the power generation efficiency. In the industry, the corrosion resistance of solar powered cats eyes is usually verified through ASTM B117 salt spray tests. The test standard is to continuously test for more than 500 hours in a 5% sodium chloride solution spray environment to observe the corrosion of the components.
In rainy and flood-prone areas, the waterproof performance of road studs is crucial. On the one hand, continuous rainfall increases the risk of water entering the road studs. If the waterproofing level is insufficient, rainwater seeping into the interior can cause short circuits. On the other hand, a long-term damp environment can trigger a "cyclic damp heat effect". The temperature difference changes inside the road studs are prone to generating condensation water, accelerating the aging of components, especially having a significant impact on batteries and circuit boards. In such environments, solar cat eyes road studs need to reach a waterproof rating of IP67 or above. Among them, the IP68 rating can achieve complete waterproofing and still function normally even after short-term immersion in water.
Dusty, sandstorm and strong ultraviolet environments mainly affect the optical performance and durability of road studs. Sandstorms can cause a large amount of sand and dust to cover the solar panels and LED light-transmitting surfaces, reducing the light transmittance and the visible distance of the lights. Strong ultraviolet radiation will accelerate the aging of the outer shell of the road studs, making the plastic material brittle and discolored, and at the same time damage the anti-reflective coating on the surface of the solar panels. In addition, the strong wind of sandstorms may cause the road spike fasteners to loosen, increasing the risk of them falling off.
In environments with poor lighting conditions (such as long-term overcast and rainy weather in rainy areas and sand-covered areas in dusty regions), the solar road studs generate insufficient electricity during the day and cannot meet the lighting requirements at night, directly affecting the driving range. In some high-latitude and cold regions, the short duration of sunlight in winter can also lead to insufficient charging time.
In low-temperature environments, the ion activity of ordinary lithium batteries decreases, the charging and discharging efficiency drops, and even the "low-temperature dormancy" phenomenon occurs. If no special design is adopted, road studs in cold regions may frequently go out prematurely at night in winter.
In rainy, flood-prone or high-humidity environments, the sealing structure of the road studs is a core weak point. Aging of the sealant, loose joints of the casing or incomplete curing of the sealant during installation can all lead to rainwater seeping in, causing circuit faults.
The coastal salt spray environment can corrode metal components, the high-temperature and strong ultraviolet environment can accelerate the aging of plastics, and the dusty environment can shorten the lifespan of components due to sand and dust wear. All these will reduce the overall reliability of the road studs and increase maintenance costs.
In foggy and rainy weather, the "rain curtain" formed by rainwater will weaken the penetration ability of LED lights. When snow and mud cover the surface of road studs, they will block the reflection and direct sunlight of lights. All these situations will make it difficult for drivers to clearly identify road studs and lose their visual guidance function.
|
Priority Level |
Applicable Environment |
Key Characteristics |
Specific Description |
Function and Significance |
|
Essential Features |
All special environments |
Waterproof, dustproof, and temperature-resistant |
Meets IP67 or above waterproof rating; operating temperature range -30℃ to 60℃; |
Ensures stable and reliable operation of solar-powered road studs in all environments; foundation of basic reliability |
|
Highly Recommended Features |
Specific environments (coastal, low-temperature, rainy, dusty, etc.) |
Enhanced salt resistance, low-temperature resistance, waterproofing, and self-cleaning design |
- Coastal salt spray areas: use 316 stainless steel components with salt-resistant coating; |
Greatly improves stability and lifespan of the device under harsh environmental conditions, reducing failure rate and maintenance costs |
|
Optional Optimization Features |
Based on project requirements and budget |
Intelligent and performance-enhancing features |
- Remote monitoring function: suitable for remote areas, allows centralized management; |
Enhances user experience, operational efficiency, and safety while maintaining fundamental reliability |
Clearly define the environmental parameters of the installation area, including altitude (affecting temperature and air pressure), distance from the coast (judging salt spray concentration), annual average rainfall and maximum rainfall intensity, minimum winter temperature and number of freezing days. Adjust the selection of road studs and installation plan based on the assessment results.
When installed in an embedded manner, a groove should be made on the road surface to form a base. The depth and width of the groove should match the size of the road studs, and drainage holes should be reserved at the bottom of the base to prevent rainwater from accumulating in the groove. When installing on the surface, it is necessary to clear the debris and oil stains on the road surface to ensure that the road studs are closely attached to the road surface and prevent water from seeping in through the gaps.
When using adhesive fixation, the adhesive should be evenly applied, with a thickness controlled at 2-3mm, to ensure that the entire contact surface at the bottom of the road spike is covered. When using expansion bolts for fixation, the bolts should be tightened to an appropriate torque to avoid cracking of the road spike shell due to excessive tightness. After construction, it is necessary to wait for the adhesive or sealant to fully cure (usually more than 24 hours, and in low-temperature environments, it should be extended to 48 hours) before opening traffic.
|
Environmental Type |
Recommended Inspection Frequency |
Main Inspection Contents |
Special Situation Explanation |
|
Coastal Salt Spray Area |
Once every quarter |
Check whether metal parts are corroded, whether there is salt scale accumulation on the casing, and whether water has entered the electrical parts |
Salt spray accelerates corrosion; special attention should be paid to cleaning and anti-salt maintenance |
|
Dusty / Sandstorm Area |
Once every quarter |
Clean dust on photovoltaic panels and lamp surfaces; check whether fasteners are loose |
Sand and dust can reduce heat dissipation and charging efficiency; keep the surfaces clean |
|
Cold / Freezing Area |
Once every six months |
Check battery performance, integrity of the insulation layer, and whether the casing is cracked due to freezing |
Low temperatures may cause battery capacity loss or brittle cracking of the casing |
|
Rainy / Humid Area |
Once every six months |
Check waterproof sealing rings, drainage structures, and whether water has entered the interior |
Long-term damp conditions can easily cause short circuits or corrosion |
|
General Environment |
Once a year |
Check lighting condition, battery status, and whether fixation is firm |
Routine maintenance to ensure normal operation |
|
After Extreme Weather |
Conduct an additional special inspection |
Check whether the road studs are loose, damaged, or waterlogged |
Structural damage is likely to occur after severe weather; immediate reinspection is required |
When cleaning road studs, give priority to rinsing with fresh water to remove surface sand, salt scale or mud. After rinsing, gently wipe the solar panel and the light-transmitting surface with a soft cloth. Avoid using hard brushes or sandpaper to prevent scratching the surface coating. Do not use strong acid or strong alkali cleaners to avoid corroding the outer shell of the road studs or damaging the sealant. After cleaning the coastal area, a small amount of anti-rust oil can be applied to the surface of metal parts to enhance their corrosion resistance.
|
Case Name |
Environmental Characteristics |
Traditional Road Stud Problems |
Solar Road Stud Solution |
Project Operation Effect & Achievement Summary |
|
UK A2/A20 Highway Section |
Frequent rainfall, cold winters, humid climate |
Rainwater blocks reflective surfaces, low-temperature damage, high maintenance frequency |
Adopted IP67 waterproof rating and low-temperature resistant lithium iron phosphate batteries; installed with surface adhesive, requiring no large-scale civil works |
After 1 year of operation: failure rate <5%; nighttime visibility ≥300m; annual maintenance cost reduced by 40%. Significantly improved stability and visibility while reducing maintenance investment |
|
Tropical Region of India |
Annual rainfall >2000mm, humidity >80%, long-term dampness |
Insufficient waterproofing, frequent short-circuit failures |
Adopted IP68 waterproof rating; shell made of weather-resistant PC material; circuit board coated with moisture-proof layer |
After 2 years of operation with multiple heavy rains and floods: normal working rate reached 92%. High waterproof design proved reliable performance in humid environments |
|
South Korea Expressways / Urban Roads |
Winter: low temperatures (min -15℃), frequent rainfall; Summer: high temperatures (max 38℃), large temperature variation |
Ordinary materials prone to thermal expansion/contraction; water accumulation affects light output |
Used high and low-temperature resistant alloy shell; built-in battery insulation layer; inclined optical design to reduce water accumulation |
After 1 year of operation: lighting duration in cold months ≥10 hours; rainy-day visibility ≈250m; no temperature-related damage observed. Demonstrated long-term stability of dual design for temperature and water resistance in complex climates |
A1: Within a range of 200 meters from the coastline, the salt spray concentration is relatively high, and the solar powered cats eyes need to be designed with salt resistance. Within a range of 200 to 500 meters, the salt resistance measures can be simplified. Beyond 500 meters, the type can be selected according to the normal environment.
A2: It won't completely fail, but performance will decline. Ordinary road studs may experience battery dormancy at temperatures below -20 ℃. By choosing low-temperature resistant batteries (such as lithium iron phosphate) or adding insulation layers, normal operation above -30 ℃ can be ensured.
A3: Yes, but it is necessary to follow the soaking depth and time specified by the manufacturer (usually 1-3 meters deep and lasting for more than 24 hours). Water may still enter if it exceeds the specified range.
A4: In areas with frequent sandstorms, it is recommended to clean once a month. In ordinary dusty areas, cleaning should be done every 2 to 3 months. Failure to clean in time can lead to a reduction of more than 30% in power generation.
