Re: Power for Night Readers
Demotech's NightReader tries to solve the problem of cost for batteries
So we wanted to work on the use of nearly exhausted batteries as often
available. The cost of the NightReader, if home made, would equal the cost
of just the LED (10 Euro cent).
Solar, of course is more convenient. I would like to know how much would
be the cost of a 2V solar panel that can charge the smallest capacity as
possible rechargeable battery, for just 5 hours functioning per day. This
battery should be recharged in the 8 hours bright light as available each
day.
I look forward to consistent information on this.
Kind regards, Reinder
> Add a small solar cell, use rechargeable batteries and you can make
Night
> Readers that are solar powered. In fact, you can modify existing
single
> LEDs and booklights as solar reading lights. You can even do it with
> single LEDs powered by button batteries that double as keychain lights
in
> the USA and Europe.
>
> In 1988, I was in Gaungzhou, China. One night, I saw men in the
doorways
> standing by small folding tables. They were refueling, refurbishing,
and
> reselling disposable plastic cigarette lighters. I'd like to see a
solar
> reading light as readily affordable and available as that so no child
in
> the world can be reasonably deprived of the light to read.
>
> Here's some of my thinking on the topic of how to develop the
worldwide
> solar marketplace:
>
> Solar Product Chain
>
> A series of mass market commodity products designed as steppingstones
to
> full solar electric power:
>
> solar jewelry - rings, bracelets, necklaces, with solar charging brooch
> and rechargeable battery pack
> solar powered LED light - flashlight, keychain or backpack fob -
flasher,
> reading light, and/or area lighting
> solar bicycle light for visibility, headlights, dynamo/solar combo
> This set of products starts with button batteries, CR2016 and CR2032
size
> and hearing aid batteries, for instance. The simplest system is a
solar
> cell, with a blocking diode, a set or rechargeable batteries, and a
single
> LED. Battery size can vary up to 12 volt DC. Bicycle dynamo/solar
> provides 24 hour generating capacity
>
> solar/dynamo flashlight/radio and battery charger
> The charger works on AA and other dry cell sizes, possibly up to 12
volts.
> A radio and flashlight and an extra set of batteries are what is
> recommended in case of emergency and disaster everywhere around the
world.
> If the extra set of batteries is rechargeable, the solar/dynamo system
> produces electricity day or night by sunlight or muscle power as long
as
> the batteries can carry a charge and the machine doesn't break. Hand
> scale for domestic and craft use, sewing machine, power tools.
>
> Solar backpack or car windshield battery charger (one square foot)
> 12 volt (and multiples)
> Recharging cell phones, computers, sound systems from a backpack
equipped
> with solar panels. Every backpack a power station. LIkewise, every
car
> can become a "hybrid vehicle" by installing an extra battery and a
> control system to charge from the alternator when the engine's
original
> battery is finished charging. Battery switching, with 12 volt or dry
cell
> or even button batteries is a key concept in the solar transition.
>
> one window solar electric system (four square feet)
> 12 volt, with AC inverter and possible grid connect
> The one window system is 4 square feet of solar collector and should be
> almost as easy to install as an air conditioner. Open the window,
erect
> the frame, aim it at the sun, attach collector, plug it in, and close
the
> window.
>
> There should be a consistent look and feel to all the products along
the
> product chain and as much inter-operability as possible.
