EcoZoom: The Multi Light

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$61.25

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

EcoZoom along with partner NGOs from Kenya.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Mobisol Solar Home System, M-KOPA IV Solar Home System, Barefoot Connect 620, and M-KOPA III Solar Home System.

Countries

Belgium, Canada, Chile, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia

Manufacturing/Building Method

EcoZoom's solar products are mass customized by EcoZoom.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Users can obtain this product directly from the manufacturer's website, through the corresponding link to the buyer's country.

Distributions to Date Status

According to EcoZoom, in 2016 over 40,000 Kenyan families in areas without electricity benefited from their solar lighting products through a crowdfunding campaign with TRINE. For 2017, they partnered again to reach 30,000 households living off-grid, resulting in a total of 70,000 beneficiaries.

Design Specifications

Design specifications include: a solar panel, a battery and three solar lamps. The solar module is a polycrystalline silicon panel with 6 Wp of maximum power point and with an aluminium frame. The battery is Lithium-Ion type with 3,7 V of nominal voltage and 2600 mAh capacity. EcoZoom lamps are LED type and have two light outputs: 150 and 75 lumens. All orange bulbs have red LED lights that indicate when bulbs are charging.

The product is designed for user-customization. For example, additional modules, bulbs, or power banks can be purchased from the manufacturer.^{Interview with the representative}

Product Schematics

Technical Support

The manufacturers claim that no specific training is needed to operate this product. The system comes with a user manual. For further support, users must contact the manufacturer.

Replacement Components

Replacement components are available.

Most of the modules are independent in the sense that they don't need to be connected to a central battery source to be operational. The light points have a battery installed within the unit and need to be connected to the solar module for charging purposes only. Once the battery is full the component can be disconnected from the solar panel and be used as the customer wills; either as a torch or can be hung from the ceiling as a bulb. The same is the case for the power banks and the small radio. The battery for the light point can easily be replaced by use of a star screw driver. The batteries are however not available off the shelf but can be acquired from the manufacturer as an after sales service. ^{Interview with the representative}

Lifecycle

This product has a 2-year warranty and an estimated battery lifecycle of 3 years.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

EcoZoom aims to meet the energy needs of Kenyan off-grid families with solar-powered solutions that combine a variety of portable components (solar panels, power bank and orange bulbs) to meet the needs of specific families. From smaller combinations (one light and a panel) to family size combinations with 4 bulbs, two power banks and a radio.

Vetted Performance Status

This Solar Home System has been tested by Lightning Global. In the tests conducted it was found that the light bulbs achieve a run time (in a typical solar charging day, assuming 5 kWh/m²/day) of 4.7 and 4.5 hours when charged alone and in combination with the battery respectively. For the battery, the same test conducted (alone and combined charging) found that when charged alone, 1 and 0.3 full phone charges can be achieved. Regarding the lighting performance, it was found that the three lamps achieve a light output of 120 lm at high brightness setting, with lumen efficacy of 95 lm/W and lumen maintenance of 104%.

Safety

The Solar Home power is a plug and play device, however, electrical installation and control guidelines provided by EcoZoom must be followed to avoid electrical shocks.

Complementary Technical Systems

EcoZoom commercializes a variety of solar home systems (from one to multiple lamps) that can be integrated with this model.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

This product met the Lightning Global Quality Standards for Solar Home System Kits. However, the approval of compliance with this regulation expired the 31st of October of 2018.

Evaluation methods

Lightning Global verified the Solar Home System Kit Quality Standards in the Shenzhen Academy of Metrology and Quality Inspection in China in the following aspects: truth in advertising, lumen maintenance, AC-DC charger safety, battery composition/protection/durability, physical ingress and water ingress protection, and more.

The results of these tests expired in December 2018.

Other Information

The manufacturer distributes several different solar home system models.