There are currently about a billion people on the planet without access to consistent
electricity.
Right now these people with no electricity turn to slightly more dangerous methods to
illuminate their homes at night...like putting kerosene in small jars with a wick, and starting
it on fire lantern-style.
Kerosene is a dangerous poisonous chemical, that when burned, provides a smoky yellow
light.
Naturally, this is dangerous and doesn't even provide much light.
Millions of kids every year are severely burned when the lamp gets accidentally knocked over.
Not to mention, families can end up spending 20-30% of their income on kerosene, meaning
that the money isn't being spent on more useful things like food or education.
Luckily, with advances in technology, there is a solution.
Watts of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides safe, clean, sustainable solar
powered LED lights to families.
I think it's time to take one apart and see what this safe alternative is made of.
Let's get started.
[Intro]
LEDs have been around for quite a while now, but only through the combined advancements
of battery technology and solar cells make products like this currently possible.
Right now, with multiple LEDs spread out on the front, and a large solar panel on the
back, this light is capable of turning into a headlamp, necklace, lantern, or wrist strap.
After a full day's charge in the sun, it provides a 120 hours of light on the lowest illumination
setting.
Super impressive.
The solar light produces 275 lumens at the highest setting, and also has a strobe light
for emergency situations.
It harvests the sun's free power during the day to get free light at night.
The outer housing is made from thick black plastic, and has a micro USB port for quick
charging when power is available.
We'll see what size the internal battery is in just a second, if we can get it open.
This is a product that's designed to be extra durable and last a while.
The front lens for the LEDs is made from clear plastic.
And the back poly-crystalline solar panel is also covered and protected with clear protective
plastic.
It has little feet on the housing to keep the panel elevated from whatever surface it
might be set on.
Thumbs up for that little design perk.
Getting inside the light is rather difficult.
With no external screws, it looks like everything is permanently molded shut, which is fine.
This is a product that needs to never fall apart or break open in harsh conditions.
My razor is no match for this light.
My hacksaw, on the other hand, seems to be a bit more successful.
[Sawing sounds.]
After all four sides are cut through with my saw, the two halves of the solar light
pop open revealing a pretty large, 2000 milliamp hour battery.
A larger capacity than the iPhone 8.
It's easy to see why the LEDs can last for so long.
There is a rubber sealant all around the inside edges of the rear solar panel, and we can
also see the black and red positive and negative connections from the solar panel soldered
into the circuitry on the motherboard, which in turn charges the battery.
Surprisingly enough, the whole light is still working.
It's always a good sign of build quality when something can be ferociously dismantled and
still function.
Let's see if we can pop the motherboard out of the top housing to get a closer look.
This thing really isn't meant to come apart.
Finally we get the clear, slightly diffused lens housing popped away from the motherboard,
and everything is surprisingly still working.
The center push button in the middle of the board is what switches the light on and off,
and changes through the different lighting modes.
We have 11 LEDs circling the center and a micro USB port over on the side.
Super simple, and super durable – exactly how it should be.
Try walking around your own house tonight in the dark.
Sometimes we take things for granted.
I think everyone should have easy access to light when they need it.
I've donated $5,000 to kick off a campaign with Watts of Love to bring these LED lights
to Guatemala and the Philippines.
I'll put the link in the description.
Watts of Love is a nonprofit that has a solid product and is accomplishing good things.
Obviously you don't have to donate anything, just liking and sharing this video would count
as contributing as well.
This is the first time I've ever done a donation like this on my channel before, so I'm curious
to see what happens, and how much good we can accomplish as a JerryRigEverything community.
I know that light is important.
Everyone should have safe access to it, and these solar powered LEDs are infinitely better
than flammable kerosene.
Together we can Light the World safely.
The link is in the description if you feel like donating.
Either way, hit that subscribe button if you haven't already, share this video, and come
hang out with me on Twitter and Instagram.
Thanks a ton for watching, and I'll see you around.