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IMPROVE
YOUR NIGHTLIFE: ALL-WEATHER TILES THAT LIGHT UP |
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SUWON, KYONGGI-DO,
KOREA -- SolarCap Lighting, an innovative developer
of solar lighting devices, introduces its first Light
Emitting Tiles (LET); which are fully self contained,
semi-permanent, solar energy charged, decorative outdoor
nighttime light sources.
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Available
in six attractive colors, red, orange, yellow, white,
blue and green, these eight-inch by eight-inch by two-inch
tiles fit exactly in the space of two standard four
by eight inch construction bricks. The main body of
each LET is made of waterproof ruggedized glass, which
is permanently sealed so as to not present any electrical
shock hazard. The outer two-inch thick edge of each
tile is rough finished, to enable them to be easily
glued or cemented into place. In addition, all of the
active components within each LET are made of non-hazardous
non-polluting materials, making them completely environmentally
friendly.
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Each
tile is a fully self-contained light source, requiring
no wiring to an external power source. Because they
require no external wiring, they can be installed virtually
anywhere, and in any orientation. They can be mounted
parallel to the ground-along a walkway, garden path
or embedded into steps, perpendicularly-on a gate, the
side of a building, or a driveway entry post, or at
any angle whatsoever-perhaps along the underside of
a narrow archway.
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Each
tile is fully self-contained, having eight built-in
mono-crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar cells. These
cells take in enough energy to power the light for up
to 12 hours. If the tile is located in a shaded area,
it will still absorb enough energy, on a sunny day,
to become fully charged within six hours. Even on a
rainy day, a tile will absorb enough energy, over an
eight-hour period, to build up a full charge. In full
sunlight, a tile will become fully charged in as little
time as one to three hours. The light source within
each tile is a set of four super bright Light Emitting
Diodes (LED) which produce from 3,000 to 10,000 milicandelas
per square meter of visible light.
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SolarCap
LETs are semi-permanent : each tile has a new energy
storage component built into it. Instead of using standard
rechargeabl batteries, SolarCap chose to use an Electric
Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC) or ultracapacitor for
its energy storage component. There are three distinct
advantages of using ultracapacitors over rechargeable
batteries. One: Life Span. Rechargeable batteries need
to be replaced every two to three years, while the ultracapacitor
will last for over ten years (maybe even indefinitely)
without needing to be replaced. Two: Safety and Toxicity.
Rechargeable batteries contain toxic and hazardous chemicals,
while ultracapacitors contain only activated carbon
and an organic electrolyte. Three: Energy Storage Capacity
Degradation. Rechargeable batteries lose their ability
to store energy and deliver it to a load as they age,
while ultracapacitors have shown very little loss of
capacity (less than 20 percent after 500,000 charge
and discharge cycles) with age and use, at far more
demanding rates of charge and discharge than the SolarCap’s
solar cells and LEDs require.
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Each tile
has a built in photo detector that automatically turns
the light on at dusk and then off again at sunrise.
Additionally, each tile has a wide operating temperature
range of -40 to +167 degrees Fahrenheit, making them
suitable for outdoor use almost anywhere. If the tiles
ar subjected to temperatures below -40 degrees Fahrenheit,
they will not suffer any damage from the cold; they
simply will not turn on or charge properly until their
ambient temperature warms up.
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Available now, samples
of green light tiles start at $69.50 US dollars per
tile. Quantity discounts are also available. Additionally,
SolarCap LETs can be custom designed into almost any
shape imaginable. For more information on the pricing
of the other colors, quantity discounts and ordering
custom sized and shaped LETs contact Sean Kim, of SolarCap
Lighting, by telephone at 82-31-219-0673, or visit them
on the worldwide web at http://www.solarcap-lighting.com
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(You
can also visit their virtual booth at this year's Builder
Show: http://www.buildersshow.com/bsn/vbooths.pl?masid=010419040-1)
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