In many rural communities, while most people have cellphones, they often do not have access to electricity to charge them, says Fred Kern, developer of a solar-powered cellphone charger and light kit.
Kern demonstrated the Everlite Home Power system at the Renewable Energy Expo during the Solar World Congress in Johannesburg, this week.
He says the idea came about following his wife's interaction with rural crafters, while teaching them basic business skills as part of an Oxfam initiative. “They have a problem: all have cellphones; most do not have access to electricity to charge them.
“I was delegated the task of finding a suitable product to help facilitate charging cellphones,” says Kern, a human factors and electrical engineer. He also thought they needed light so their children could do homework at night, and developed a small light for home use.
The home power system works by attaching a solar panel to the roof of a house and extending the 3m cord to an area inside, where it is connected via another cord to a small light or charger.
According to Kern, a single full charge generates enough energy to produce roughly 12 hours of bright light. “Depending on the cellphone, a full charge will take about four to six hours, but will vary with the state of charge and sun load,” adds Kern. The cellphone charger includes 12 adapter plugs and a USB convertor so various handsets can be charged.
Local application
Kern says pilot runs of the system were done in KwaZulu-Natal, Kliptown and other townships in Johannesburg. “The panel should last more than 10 years, while the lithium-ion batteries are replaceable and should last about five years in daily use,” he adds.
He adds that an additional micro light product is aimed at small businesses like spaza shops, which need light after the sun goes down. “Its payback is one to two months. I believe that products like this could have a huge impact on rural African communities.”
According to Kern, the project has been self-funded, and they are now moving towards securing additional funding, as “engineering is only the first step”. “The real task is getting a distribution channel that connects the people to the product.”
Kern hopes to have the system, designed by a Stanford University engineer and manufactured in China, coming into SA in the next month or so.
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