Abstract

The recent development in technologies of storage of electric power and lighting of energetic efficiency makes viable, from the technical and economic point of view, the utilization of off-grid electrical devices for lighting. This type of devices is not only of great usefulness in those regions where the electrical network does not exist, but also in those spaces where it is not desirable to install electrical wiring for esthetic, environmental or economic reasons.

Even though there are in the market off-grid lighting devices, their cost, life span and performance do not make them attractive or competitive with respect to conventional lighting systems. Reverse engineering analysis done at the Laboratory of Electronic Systems for Sustainability (SESLab), of the Electronic Engineering School of the Costa Rica’s Institute of Technology, have proved that the electronic subsystem of many commercial lighting devices can be modified in order to extend significantly its performance and durability.

This paper contents a design process for off-grid electrical lighting systems. The process takes into account the electrical characteristics of the lighting system, storage technology and the optical characteristics of the luminaire. In this way, the design allows to improve performance and durability of the lighting system.

Keywords: LED; Li-On Battery; current/voltage control; power processing