S8550 reducing current

Question

Updated Schematic I am trying to set up an external battery storage for solar lights as the solar lights are not in direct sunlight and cannot charge their own batteries.

Each solar light runs off a single 1.2v AA rechargeable Ni-Mh battery.

I have put together 4 18650 cells in parallel. They run into a TP4056. The BMS branches from the negative input terminal to a s8550 to act as an auto on/off switch using the solar panel as a light sensor. The output of the TP4056 runs to a LM2596S stepping the input voltage of 4.2V to 1.26V.

My trouble is, with the LM2596S in place the bulb illuminates very low. But when I remove the s8550 from the circuit the light shines brightly the way it should.

Is there something I can replace the s8550 with as I feel it's the problem reducing my current?

Datasheet URLs S8550 https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/149/SS8550-118608.pdf LM2596S https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm2596.pdf TP4056 https://www.addicore.com/TP4056-Charger-and-Protection-Module-p/ad310.htm

Answer 1

Use the enable pin of the LM2596S to turn on your 1.2 V output when solar is low.

Please note that this is not a complete schematic but rather more of a glorified block diagram.

Resistor divider R3/R4 is added on case your open circuit voltage on the solar panel is above 6 V. "5 V" solar panels are never 5.0 V. Adjust as needed, preferably with a potentiometer until it turns on at reasonable low light level.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}