New solar system: solution to electricity woes?

Zimbabwe spends millions on electricity imports every year. Add to that a ballooning debt owed to foreign power suppliers, coupled with massive deforestation for cooking and lighting purposes - and you have a country in deep crisis.

Phocos Pico Accessory kit
Phocos Pico Accessory kit

For a normally sunny country that hosted the World Solar Summit in 1996, electricity problems should not be as weighty as they are today. Yet little progress has been made and the situation is desperate.

Frequent and extended loading-shedding by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority has converted cities into regular black-out zones, while government’s rural electrification drive is elusive. The solution could come in the form of a revolutionary new solar system, already being used in Malawi to power students and teacher accommodation, a hospital and other facilities.

… Pico gives light and power for elctrical devices such as cell phones, radios, tablet PCs etc., but not for hospital equipment.

Suggestion: ….to power students and teachers accommodation, gives light for a hospital and other facilites.

Designed by Phocos, a German manufacturer of solar charge controllers and components for the autonomous supply of electricity, the Pico system is smaller and more flexible than fixed solar systems. It is small and flexible, well-suited to the special requirements of solar-powered home systems used in rural areas. Advantages include reliable light, extended lighting cycles, long-lasting and reliability, affordability and cost efficiency.

“Besides lighting, it also offers charging possibilities for electrical devices such as cell phones, radios and tablet-PCs,” said a Phocos official.

“It is cost-effective and users can start with a cheaper basic set and extend the system step by step, according to their needs. Users pay for what they really need! No technical support is needed – even no user manual. It is very simple – just plug and play and enjoy the energy independence. It is also very robust as the electronic component is protected in a sealed unit.”

Powered by solar panels and made of polycrystalline, the system can last for 20 years.

“The batteries of the Pico system are charged by a charge controller placed in the body of the system. This has no moving parts, no switches (protection class IP65) and the integrated charge controller is protected against external influences like dust and humidity. The system gives maximum power and efficiency as the charge controller has a Maximum Power Point Tracker function, which extends battery lifespan and provides light for up to 55 hours.”

The batteries have a lifespan of between one and three years and can be recharged for up to 1,000 times, valid if they are discharged completely every day.

The system was specifically designed to meet the requirements of small solar system users. It is one system, which can be used in fix installations or for mobile use.

Suggestion:

It can be used as a complete, integrated system or in the form of an independent and portable hand-held lamp for ….

It is available as a complete, integrated system or in the form of an independent and portable hand-held lamp for early morning or late night work.

Its adjustable steel hoop offers a wide range of mounting positions – table top, wall, or ceiling, which make it ideal for any work or other activities. A smaller system can be easily expanded into a larger, fully-integrated system to provide lighting in cabins with more rooms. It can also be used for very small applications with just a single Pico Lamp. No installation is necessary and one just adds as many Pico Lamps and accessories as needed through its simple plug-and-play functionality.

It can be used as a ceiling-mounted lamp, a mobile, hand-held lamp, and a USB charger for cell phones and MP3 players. It is powered by solar modules, batteries, or AC adapters. Users do not need to be concerned about energy consumption. The robust housing is sealed against water and dust and is shock resistant to protect the electronic components inside from soil, moisture, insects and failure.

“The energy saving LED light and the quality of the materials have been tried and tested over many years, so the system efficiency will be higher and its lifespan can be extended for several years, while costs are reduced substantially,” says the company.

This is the only lamp on the market that has no moving parts, thanks to touch switches. The design eliminates conventional switch failures, which are some of the most common reasons for the breakdown of small solar systems.

“The Pico is shock resistant and tests showed that it can fall from a high height – even on hard asphalt ground and remain intact. It has won many product design awards, including the Focus Open Silver award (2011) and the International Forum’s product design award (2012).

Post published in: Education
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