4 Strategic Designs of Solar Lanterns

You have heard of solar lanterns and there is one word that pops up on your mind - savings. This is mainly because of the general knowledge that solar-powered lanterns are cheaper as compared to other outdoor lanterns because they use solar energy for power.

But do you know that savings that you would get from a solar lantern does not only come from the sun? It also comes from its strategic design that gives it an edge over other conventional lanterns.

It Provides Efficient Lighting

A fully charged standard solar lantern will be able to provide 4 to 5 hours of efficient lighting every night, just enough time you need to light up your waking hours.

Solar lanterns provide this efficient lighting using a 5-Watts, a 7-Watts or a 9-Watts lamp. The lamp is a high-efficiency and compact fluorescent tube placed vertically from the top to the bottom of the lantern. These lamps have been tested to last as much as eight times more than the ordinary incandescent bulb. The lamps are also six times more efficient than the same. The newest ones are fit with ultra-bright LEDs. More on solar led lantern

Having a 360-degree of lighting spread, solar powered lanterns will be able to provide the lighting radius you need. The design of bulb enclosures of this kind of solar light allows the maximum spread of light with the least dispersion.

It Has a Sturdy Design

Solar lanterns are made with sturdy materials to be able to withstand harsh environments. It has been designed well for outdoor use that it can be used for camping and other similar activities without worrying about imminent damage.

The body alone is molded with glass-filled polypropylene, a very tough material. The lamp diffuser of this solar lights is usually molded from clear acrylic making it basically scratch-resistant.

Even though it has a sturdy design, most solar lantern lights only have a maximum weight of 2.5 kilograms, just enough weight to make it portable and handy to carry.

It Has Charging Options

The design of solar lanterns incorporates two charging options: either via solar panels or using an AC adaptor. You see, the solar lantern is without a plan B. When the weather is at its worst, these solar lights can still be charged with AC power.

Solar powered lanterns normally use 12V photovoltaic cells in panels to harness the energy of the sun and convert it into electricity that is stored in rechargeable batteries. A 6-Watts solar panel will have a charging time of about 8 hours.

The other option using an AC adaptor will need about 7 hours as charging time.

A Source of Auxiliary Power

Most solar lanterns available in the market today incorporate an auxiliary power output that can power small radios or an incandescent lamp. A thermal fuse limits the output to about 200 milliAmperes ensuring that power for the lantern is not drained away.

This design feature of these outdoor solar lights is very helpful in camping trips, wherein you can plug a small radio for entertainment or to listen for the latest news. This feature not only shares the power of the solar garden lantern but also avoids an additional need for chemical batteries.