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The Sunlabob Pico Lantern is a multifunctional mobile or stationary lighting device that has been specially designed to meet the needs of rural households and outdoor enthusiasts. With three light intensity levels, the Sunlabob Pico Lantern is suited for all kinds of applications.
The robust Sunlabob Pico Lantern is one of the only solar-powered lanterns to be independently tested by the world-renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, and it received high marks with the following comment:
"Well performed design and construction, professional quality and high usability."
The Lantern electronics are fully enclosed in a lightweight, durable polymer casing that is resistant to environmental stresses. The internal components are protected by a rubber sealing ring. The USB port and charging socket are also protected by a rubber flap, making this lantern water-resistant. Further, if water does enter the external socket and USB port, these components are electronically isolated to prevent shorting the main electrical components. Removing excess water and allowing them to dry is all that is needed before using again.
The lantern contains NiMH batteries and a high-tech internal charge controller, which manages the system. The lantern has a metal hoop for placement/positioning purposes. At the base of the handle there is the electrical socket and USB port. The electrical socket is for charging only and the external USB port provides a 4.4-5.1V DC electricity supply for charging/running external mobile devices. The lantern can also be charged with an AC/DC-Adapter (input: 100-240 V AC, 50-60 Hz).
The charging time is about 5 to 6 hours for a full charge with a 5 Wp solar panel during a mostly sunny day in Vientiane, Lao PDR (average 4,600 Wh/m2/day) and 2-2.5 hours via grid AC or battery/Sunlabob charging unit.
The lantern mechanics consist of movement-free touch switches, a robust metal suspension, and durable housing and sealing rings.
The Sunlabob Pico Lantern Systems
Sunlabob offers three different systems to optimise the use of this lantern which can be adapted to meet local needs:
1. Standalone individual
The first option is a portable system consisting of one lantern, one charging cable, and one 5 Wp solar panel which can be directly installed on or around the house.
With this simple solution the user is the owner of the lantern and the solar panel. The user is the only one to operate the system and is responsible for the correct usage and maintenance (namely, keeping the panel clean and away from damaging external forces).
Experience using a 5 Wp panel has shown that a lantern can be fully recharged on a mostly sunny day in 5-6 hours. This complete package offers high mobility, component durability and does not require technical expertise or complicated equipment to operate.
2. Standalone shared
The second option is similar to the first but with a bigger solar panel that will be shared by 2 to 4 households/end-users who will charge their own lanterns when they need to. The size of the panel (option to be mounted on a pole) is 10 or 20 Wp depending on the number of users (2 to 4).
Each user owns the lantern, and they all share the solar panel and the connectors. They are responsible for the proper use and maintenance of the entire installation. This system is appropriate for neighbours and allows for better charging of a few lanterns in adverse weather conditions.
Because it is a shared system, a permanent location is suggested but this system too can be mobile.
3. Charging station
Overview of the system:
The third option is based on a centralised charging system which consists of one large solar panel (including mounting frame), one charging unit which contains a storage battery, a varied number of charge connectors, a charge controller to regulate the system, and a flexible number of lanterns. The number of lanterns can vary from 20 to 50 or more. The centralised charging station is ideal for villages, communities and centralised populations.
With this system the user is the owner of the lantern and the Charging Station is owned by the community. In every Charging Station, a designated local community technician will assist with any system maintenance (basically, cleaning the solar panel and replacing fully-charged lanterns with empty ones) and will ensure the proper use of the solar charging station. Through community ownership and agreements among communities themselves, the charging station and its lanterns can be taken care of properly.
To be certain that a recharge is always possible and to ensure consistent recharge times, this system is recommended. The system can be sized depending on usage (i.e. recharging 5 lanterns per day, or 10 per day, up to 16 lanterns or more each day). A central storage, back-up battery is supplied to ensure that these lanterns can be recharged during extended cloudy/rainy periods. Standard systems have been designed for solar insolation of 4.47 kWh/m2/day to have autonomy of 3 to 4 days but this can be adjusted to accommodate local needs and conditions. With all cable connections inside the box, this “plug-and-play” system can be easily assembled, disassembled and relocated.
The charging station offers shorter charging times as compared to the standalone lantern units. This is due to the main battery unit that supplies constant current to the lanterns. Typical charging time is 2 - 2.5 hours, allowing for more lanterns to be charged throughout the day.
The charging unit:
The Sunlabob charging unit has been especially designed to fit with the Sunlabob Pico Lanterns characteristics and to be easily transportable thanks to a simple “plug-and-play” system. All the components of the box are already installed inside and the main connections are made before arriving on site.
Prior to the Sunlabob Pico Lantern, Sunlabob had another version of solar lanterns which were rented out to households throughout villages and recharged at centrally accessible locations. This older Solar Lantern Rental System (SLRS) was implemented in Laos, Uganda and Afghanistan, giving Sunlabob the opportunity to learn from its experiences and come up with a new and improved lantern; the Sunlabob Pico Lantern.
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