Solar System LED Lighting Strip Adjustments for Winter: Lower Solar Production Mitigation

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My shop solar system, also my first solar system, is intended mainly to operate led light strips for night-life light around the facility and back-yard. As of this post that is 3 x 16.4 ft LED light strips. In addition to the lights, it operates a wireless security camera and a wireless access point.

During spring and summer seasons the system produces enough electricity without a doubt to power 1 light strip all night long while the other two are on motion sensors. The camera draws electricity 24/7 as does the access point.

It is no secret, and mentioned in other posts that the late fall and winter seasons offer less sunlight. Shorter days, it gets dark earlier and the sky is gloomy. This has wreaked havoc on my new solar system and while the garage solar system produces more electricity in off seasons, a change is needed to promote the overall health of the batteries.

In-order to deal with the lower solar production additional solar panels would need to be added or there has to be less electricity consumption against the solar system.

Fall/Winter Average Solar Production

The harbor freight solar system, also the system located in my garage facility will produce 0.7 amps on gloomy days which is down from 3-6 on sunny summer days. In the summer it may get a solid 8 hours of production time in as opposed to winter maybe up to 5 or 6.

Mitigating Lower Solar Production

• Making sure all light strips are on sensor switches. During summer months the surplus electricity is available in solar production so I am able to bypass 1 out of the 3 motion sensors utilizing a DC jack barrel connector. This keeps the light on all night. Likewise, in the winter I remove the barrel connector in favor of the motion activated switch. That way the lights are only on and drawing electricity when they are needed.
  
  
• Switching wireless access point back to the grid. Since there is less solar production, eliminating the draw of an access point on the system is easy to do with the help of a 12V DC power supply.
  
  
• Adding additional solar panels. An additional 100 watt solar panel, of any brand would bring my system up to sufficient production even in the winter, for my needs. My needs may not be your needs but consist of 3 lights, a security camera, and wireless access point.