Design And Construction A Mini Solar Home Lantern Using LED

Nowadays, because of low energy or power consumption, low heat emission, low cost, the portability, wider application, energy saving bulb are highly used than florescent lamp which is powered and recharged using solar system.

Solar home lamp also known as solar light or solar lantern, is a lighting system composed of an LED lamp, solar panels, battery, charge controller and there may also be an inverter. The lamp operates on electricity from batteries, charged through the use of solar photovoltaic panel.

Solar-powered household lighting can replace other light sources like candles or kerosene lamps. Solar lamps use renewable energy with infinity supply which is cheaper than standard lamps. In addition, solar lamps reduce health risk as kerosene lamps have a bad impact on human health. However, solar lamps may have higher initial cost, are weather dependent.

TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL PAGE
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
1.2     PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.3     OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
1.5     LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
1.6     APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT
1.7     ADVANTAGES OF THE PROJECT
1.8     METHODOLOGY
1.9      PROJECT ORGANISATION

CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW 
2.1     HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
2.2     THEORIES AND MODEL RELEVANT TO THE DESIGN
2.3     DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS USED

CHAPTER THREE
CONSTRUCTION
3.1     DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM BUILDING BLOCKS
3.3     CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
3.4     OPERATION PRINCIPLE OF THE SYSTEM
3.4     CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
3.5     COMPONENT LIST
3.6     COMPLETE CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF THE SYSTEM

CHAPTER FOUR 
4.0     RESULT ANALYSIS
4.1     CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE AND TESTING ANALYSIS
4.2     CASING AND PACKAGING
4.3     ASSEMBLING OF SECTIONS
4.4     TESTING OF SYSTEM OPERATION
4.5     INSTALLATION OF THE COMPLETED DESIGN
CHAPTER FIVE 
5.1     COST ANALYSIS
5.2     PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
5.3     RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.4     REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.1                                          INTRODUCTION

This lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as torches, or as general light sources outdoors. Low light level varieties are used for decoration. The term “lantern” is also used more generically to mean a light source, or the enclosure for a light source.

Solar Rechargeable lights are very useful electrical gadgets and are quite popular, too. During a power failure these portable lights are able to instantly illuminate through battery back up and never allow us to stumble in the darkness. Although you will find a variety of them in different shapes and sizes in the market, but building your own emergency light at home can be a totally different experience. It will not only help you to create a quality design but also will acquaint you to the technical aspects of the unit. Besides, you also get an opportunity to customize the circuit as per your own needs.

In developing countries the solar lantern is a cheap alternative to a Solar Home System (SHS) providing 4-5 hours of high quality lighting service or 15 hours of listening to the radio. It provides higher quality light than the use of candles or kerosene lamps. They are also used to provide street lighting in rural areas. In this case Light Emitting Diode (LED) solar lanterns are usually used.

It uses a PV panel to charge up a 12-Volt lead-acid gel cell battery located in the base of the lamp which is designed to withstand many charge/ discharge cycles. Other manufacturers may have different battery specifications. The light source is a compact fluorescent tube which should last four years in normal operation. There are many lamps on the market but the main working principles are the same.

1.3                                                  PROBLEM STATEMENT

In the last decade candle stick and kerosene or gas lantern were used as a source of light for mankind but the problem of using candle are numerous such as it cost effective, weighty, convenient and unsafe to environment and human health. Because of these disadvantages led to the invention of solar rechargeable lantern. Rechargeable lantern has the following advantages over candle stick, kerosene or gas lantern:

1. Compared to a gas lantern, a mini solar rechargeable lantern is light. Gas lanterns are typically made of glass and have metal canisters that add weight that rechargeable lanterns are able to eliminate. The lighter the weight of the lantern the more versatile it can be, whether it be to light up the card table or take it for your bathroom break.
2. With the variety of lanterns like liquid fuel, gas, or even candle, a mini solar rechargeable lantern is an alternative that offers ease of use. All you have to do it switch it on and light is available. This saves you from having to remember to bring other items on the trip like gas to fuel the lantern or matches to light the candle. If you happen to have kids joining you on a camping trip, spoiler alert: they will more than likely drop a gas lantern and break the glass. Skip to the good part and allow them to carry a mini solar rechargeable lantern without worry.
3. Lanterns with flames always come with a small risk of causing a fire, but a mini solar rechargeable lanterns don’t require a babysitter. By avoiding a kerosene powered lantern, you can eliminate potential fumes.
4. A mini solar rechargeable lantern can be charged via AC plug, DC plug, dynamo crank function, or with solar panels.

1.3                             OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

The objective of this work is to design a portable lighting gadget that can be powered directly from solar panel for the purposing of charging the battery which later used whenever there is power outage during the night.

1.4                          SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

Solar Rechargeable Lanterns are independent of the utility grid resulting to lessened operation costs. These means that these are wireless lights and are not connected to your electricity provider. The lights are dependent of the heat energy given off by the sun, storing as much of it throughout the day. Solar Rechargeable Lanterns require lesser maintenance than conventional street lights. These have lower chances of overheating. Since solar wires do not have external wires, the risk of accidents is minimized. A lot of times, accidents happen to the personnel who fixes the street light. These can include strangulation or electrocution. Solar home lamp is environment-friendly because its panels are solely dependent to the sun hence eliminating your carbon footprints contribution. Some parts of Solar Rechargeable Lanterns systems can be easily carried to remote areas making these more efficient and handy solutions to lighting problems.

1.5                            LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT

Solar Rechargeable Lanterns require higher initial investment compared to conventional lantern. This is actually the main reason why most people are having second thoughts about switching to Solar Rechargeable Lanterns. They consider the money they are required to spend without realizing the long-term benefits and the longer life cycle of solar street lights. Because these are non-wired, these can easily be stolen. The risk for theft is relatively higher because it has higher monetary value compared to regular street lights. Snow or dust, and moisture can accumulate on horizontal PV-panels. This leads to reduced or full stoppage of energy production. This is why Solar Rechargeable Lanterns need to be checked once in a while especially when placed on areas with extreme weather conditions, which can damage or shorten the life cycle of it. Rechargeable batteries must be replaced a few times within the lifetime of the fixtures. This adds up to the total lifetime cost of the lighting system. Just like other components, rechargeable batteries also get exhausted that is why you must include replacing them as part of your maintenance cost.

1.6                          APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT

Rechargeable lantern is used in many places such as:

• In school library, hall and labs
• Churches
• Workshop
• Homes, etc

All for the purpose of illuminating of such environment. They highly choose because of its simplicity and safety, that is, it can be charged, hanged, and continues with your adventures into the night.

1.7                             ADVANTAGES OF RECHARGEABLE LANTERN

1. Lightweight. Compared to a gas lantern, a rechargeable lantern is light as a feather. Gas lanterns are typically made of glass and have metal canisters that add weight that rechargeable lanterns are able to eliminate. The lighter the weight of the lantern the more versatile it can be, whether it be to light up the card table or take it for your bathroom break.
2. User-friendly. With the variety of lanterns like liquid fuel, gas, or even candle, a rechargeable lantern is an alternative that offers ease of use. All you have to do it switch it on and light is available. This saves you from having to remember to bring other items on the trip like gas to fuel the lantern or matches to light the candle. If you happen to have kids joining you on a camping trip, spoiler alert: they will more than likely drop a gas lantern and break the glass. Skip to the good part and allow them to carry a rechargeable lantern without worry.
3. Lanterns with flames always come with a small risk of causing a fire, but rechargeable lanterns don’t require a babysitter. By avoiding a kerosene powered lantern, you can eliminate potential fumes.
4. The right rechargeable camping lantern offers a number of ways to keep it up and running. These can be charged via AC plug

1.8 BENEFITS OF ENEGY LIGHTBULBS IN SOLAR RECHARGEBLE LANTERN

Long-lasting – energy bulbs last up to 10 times as long as compact fluorescents, and far longer than typical incandescents.

Durable – since energy bulb do not have a filament, they are not damaged under circumstances when a regular incandescent bulb would be broken. Because they are solid, energy bulbs hold up well to jarring and bumping.

Cool – these bulbs do not cause heat build-up; energy lamp produce 3.4 btu’s/hour, compared to 85 for incandescent bulbs. Common incandescent bulbs get hot and contribute to heat build-up in a room. Energy lamp prevent this heat build-up, thereby helping to reduce air conditioning costs in the home.

Mercury-free – no mercury is used in the manufacturing of energy lamp.

More efficient – Energy light bulbs use only 2-17 watts of electricity (1/3rd to 1/30th of Incandescent or CFL). Energy bulbs used in fixtures inside the home save electricity, remain cool and save money on replacement costs since energy bulbs last so long. Small energy flashlight bulbs will extend battery life 10 to 15 times longer than with incandescent bulbs.

Cost-effective – although energy bulbs are initially expensive, the cost is recouped over time and in battery savings. Energy bulb use was first adopted commercially, where maintenance and replacement costs are expensive. But the cost of new energy bulbs has gone down considerably in the last few years. and are continuing to go down. Today, there are many new energy light bulbs for use in the home, and the cost is becoming less of an issue.

Light for remote areas and portable generators – because of the low power requirement for energy, using solar panels becomes more practical and less expensive than running an electric line or using a generator for lighting in remote or off-grid areas. Energy light bulbs are also ideal for use with small portable generators which homeowners use for backup power in emergencies.

1.9                                         METHODOLOGY

To achieve the aim and objectives of this work, the following are the steps involved:

1. Study of the previous work on the project so as to improve it efficiency.
2. Draw a block diagram.

• Test for continuity of components and devices,

1. Design and calculation for the device was carried out.
2. Studying of various component used in circuit.
3. Construction of the circuit was carried out.

• Finally, the whole device was cased and final test was carried out.

1.10                                                      PROJECT ORGANISATION

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work, chapter two presents the literature review of the study, chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.

CHAPTER TWO

2.0                                                    LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1                           HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF LANTERN

Lanterns are first spoken of by Theopompus, a Greek poet, and Empedocles of Agrigentum. Lanterns were used by the ancients in augury. The only known representation of an ancient Egyptian lantern probably is not much different from those spoken of by John the Evangelist in John 18:3 from the New Testament, where the party of men who went out of Jerusalem