Consol Solar Jar

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$31.99

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

View details of distributors both locally in South Africa and worldwide here.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include d.Light S30, Crush Light, and MPOWERD Luci Original.

Manufacturing/Building Method

The product is designed and manufactured by Suntoy in Johannesburg, South Africa.      

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Consol Solar Jars are available for purchase from Consol stores in South Africa and resellers globally. Suntoy also sells the Solar Jars wholesale.

Distributions to Date Status

Over 700,000

Design Specifications

Detailed technical specifications are available for the Consol Solar Jar. Components include the one-litre classic glass preserve jar, durable electronics, 2 re-chargeable batteries (each 600 mAh), 4 LED lights and an integrated solar panel (3 V, 135 mA). This is also a micro-USB-B input port (the same that is found on many android smart phones) to provide an alternative method for charging in overcast conditions (charging cable and wall socket are not included). The power output is 15 lumens, equivalent to 120 mW. It will provide 1 hour of light for every hour charging in direct sunlight, so will average 6-9 hours of run time per typical charging day, with a maximum of 12 hours on long clear days and around 2 hours from a rainy, overcast day. It has a unique on-off magnetic switch that has no moving parts and is watertight.   The Consol Solar Jar also has several other features: It turns off automatically when low battery voltage is reached to protect the battery and extend its lifetime. It also illuminates for 60 seconds when the external lighting level suddenly falls below a threshold to assist in finding the lantern in the dark, and does not illuminate even when switched on if external lighting levels are high (to conserve power).

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Information about how to store and recycle the product is available in the technical specifications sheet and Frequently Asked Questions. For further support, contact the manufacturer.

Replacement Components

The battery was replaceable for previous models but is now integrated into the lid. If broken, the one-litre classic glass preserve jar could be replaced with a locally sourced equivalent.

Lifecycle

The product's lifetime varies from 18 months (when used continuously) up to ~4 years if only partially discharging the batteries each day. This is based on the batteries' lifetime; they are rated to give 500 cycles (full charge-discharge). Each unit is also guaranteed for 1 year from its date of manufacture, and some resellers offer an extension on this warranty.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Suntoy originally developed the Consol Solar Jar for improving energy-access in areas without electricity within South Africa. The product is designed to be water-tight and durable due to the inclusion of a magnetic switch which does not require moving parts.

Vetted Performance Status

Getaway magazine tested the product and found that it illuminated an area of 70cm diameter for 7 hours and 30 minutes. No other third-party vetting has been performed and Getaway did not test the product's other features. Manufacturer testing indicates that the product has 120 mW power output, 15 Lm light output and up to 80% of efficiency. After a fully-charging clear sunny day, the Solar Jar can produce 6-9 hours of light per day and ± 2 hours of run time (from 1 to 3 hours/day) from charge on rainy, overcast day. The batteries should give ± 400 full charges before they begin to deteriorate. 

Safety

Electronic components should be handled cautiously, especially around water. Care should be taken with the jar of the lantern to avoid sharp impacts that may smash the glass.

Complementary Technical Systems

None

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

The company and manufacturing process is BEE compliant.

Evaluation methods

Other than manufacturer-based testing, the only third-party to have tested this product is a magazine – Getaway Magazine. The testing seems to have been limited to confirming the run-time and illuminated area for a single unit of the product initially at full charge. Field trials have been performed by the manufacturer and some experiences can be found in Suntoy’s Blog

Other Information

The lantern is rated 4.6/5 on Amazon (from 4770 reviews). The Consol Solar Jar has won various awards. More photos of the jar can be found in Suntoy's gallery, and stories on the Suntoy blog. The product has had a social impact by creating manufacturing jobs for previously unskilled and unemployed women from townships of Johannesburg. The details of BEE are available here. Suntroy Resellers Consol solar Jar FAQ Consol Solar Jar other features