How do solar lanterns work?

Solar powered lights are pretty ingenious inventions that have many uses. Who would have thought that you could use the sun to turn on a light or a flashlight? Solar powered flashlights are pretty cool little gadgets. They generally look quite like a normal flashlight. They have a simple switch that turns them on and off. They have an area at one end that emits light … enough to allow use at night or in any dark area.

A solar powered flashlight uses solar energy, converted into electrical energy in a solar photovoltaic (PV) cell or panel that sits on the outside of the flashlight, which is then stored in a battery. Most solar powered flashlights use LED or light-emitting diode lamps instead of an incandescent bulb, since LEDs require less electrical current to operate and last longer. While an incandescent light lasts an average of 1000 hours, an LED lasts an average of 100,000 hours.

Similarly, the solar-powered batteries used in the solar powered flashlight, compared to the regular single-use nickel, lithium, or cadmium batteries typically seen in flashlights, will generally not require replacement for about two years with constant use. The comparison rate is around 15 hours for a normal battery, compared to around 2500 hours for a solar rechargeable battery.

To maximize the use of your solar-charged batteries, you should leave the flashlight on for more than 15 hours at least once a month to fully deplete the charge. Rechargeable batteries have a memory effect. So if you continuously use the flashlight without fully discharging it, it will eventually only recharge to a lower level (memory) and never return to 100 percent of its available power.

For best results, keep your solar powered flashlight on a window sill when not in use, where the solar panel is exposed to the maximum amount of sunlight. If you don’t use it regularly, take extra care to turn it on … and leave it on … as described above, at least once a month.

These days, you can find solar-powered flashlights at most hardware stores. They are ideal for camping and for emergencies. Every vehicle and every home should have one. If you’re wondering why … think of those times when you needed a flashlight in a hurry only to find that the batteries were dead and you didn’t have spare parts … or you didn’t know where they were!

Some surprisingly innovative designs are being created for solar lanterns … with add-ons like siren, flashing light, cell phone charger, etc., in addition to the basic flashlight design. There are also many solar lantern keychains on the market today. The price range varies, depending on the uniqueness of the style, the outer shell, and additional features.

If you are interested in “diffusing the light” in a very solar way, you can visit bogolight.com. The name means “Buy one, give one.” SunNight Solar, the company that operates the BoGoLight Program is a Limited Liability Company founded by Mark Bent in 2006. Having served in the American Diplomatic Corps in various developing countries, Mark saw the need for light in many places and found a way to provide it. When you purchase a solar lantern from BoGoLight, or through one of its affiliates, such as InHabitat, an identical solar lantern will be donated to a non-profit organization that collects and ships the lights to areas in need around the world.

What a unique and wonderful way to “shine a little” of light … in a very solar way … and illuminate the dark for those who cannot see. Solar powered lights are the wave of the future.