While some indoor lights like LEDs and fluorescents can activate solar cells, the minuscule electricity produced is not practical for powering systems designed for sunlight.
At night, solar panels do not generate electricity because there is no sunlight. While moonlight and artificial lights exist, they are not strong enough to produce usable energy.
One type of power, called solar thermal, does use the sun's light to generate heat which can be used for things like household hot water or to generate steam to drive turbines and generate electricity. But those panels involve complex integration with hot water systems to operate.
Quite frankly, no -- solar panels work only when there's sunlight to convert into electricity. Even on nights with strong moonlight or starlight, these illumination sources won't make a difference.
This guide breaks down the working logic of dual light and time control—from activation thresholds to time-slot planning—with real cases from Delhi's city roads and Madhya Pradesh's village pathways.