News bulletin 4
News of October 25, 2008
I had been looking deeper into the technology of the LED lamps and had reached the conclusion that it would be inexpensive to make and that it could provide enough light on the condition that they would get their energy from some NiMH rechargeable batteries.
You only need a good opportunity to recharge these batteries. For this you need a fast charger with a 12 V input or a slow charger (at 12V) + extra sets of batteries, which you can leave in the charger until you need them. A slow charger, without automatic security, and suitable for NiMH rechargeable batteries, is cheap to make, but the system costs are increased by the additional sets of batteries needed. When you consider all the components in a fast charger, then you certainly will buy one.
I had the representatives of Dublelee Milijuli Samuha asked their opinion on a system where the person who receives a 21 watt solar panel would offer another, who lived nearby, the opportunity to charge batteries. I also asked them to see if they could buy fast chargers for about 20 Euro Kathmandu. At home I could not find cheap ones.
Their reaction was surprising. They came at all with the solar tuki, sold for Rs 3.500,-. In the Nepali language is a tuki a kerosene lamp with a wick. The solar tuki pretends to be a replacement for that lamp. The system consists of a solar panel of 2.5-3 Watt, some NiMH rechargeable batteries (3) and two LED lights, each with 4-6 LEDs. There is also a 5V connector, intended to be used as a supply for a small radio.
I immediately wrote them that we surely will buy some for testing purposes. The best would be that the solar tuki is enough for the schoolchildren to extend their day with some (homework) hours.
This makes my own LED project a pet project. For 20 Euro I bought the solar panel, which is used in the tuki. Just for the fun I like to experiment to see if I can make something that is cheaper, gives more light or about the same amount for a longer time.
(Ton van der Kop)
You only need a good opportunity to recharge these batteries. For this you need a fast charger with a 12 V input or a slow charger (at 12V) + extra sets of batteries, which you can leave in the charger until you need them. A slow charger, without automatic security, and suitable for NiMH rechargeable batteries, is cheap to make, but the system costs are increased by the additional sets of batteries needed. When you consider all the components in a fast charger, then you certainly will buy one.
I had the representatives of Dublelee Milijuli Samuha asked their opinion on a system where the person who receives a 21 watt solar panel would offer another, who lived nearby, the opportunity to charge batteries. I also asked them to see if they could buy fast chargers for about 20 Euro Kathmandu. At home I could not find cheap ones.
Their reaction was surprising. They came at all with the solar tuki, sold for Rs 3.500,-. In the Nepali language is a tuki a kerosene lamp with a wick. The solar tuki pretends to be a replacement for that lamp. The system consists of a solar panel of 2.5-3 Watt, some NiMH rechargeable batteries (3) and two LED lights, each with 4-6 LEDs. There is also a 5V connector, intended to be used as a supply for a small radio.
I immediately wrote them that we surely will buy some for testing purposes. The best would be that the solar tuki is enough for the schoolchildren to extend their day with some (homework) hours.
This makes my own LED project a pet project. For 20 Euro I bought the solar panel, which is used in the tuki. Just for the fun I like to experiment to see if I can make something that is cheaper, gives more light or about the same amount for a longer time.
(Ton van der Kop)
