Solar Powered Computer Lab and Classrooms

Prepared By Ankit Garg

Overview
The following project was used to provide a reliable and clean energy source to power lights and a couple computers at a Secondary School. This is a good project for schools in rural areas that are away from any major power grids. It is especially a good option for schools that are situated in areas where there is lots of sun since the system does rely on solar power. The project could also be done at orphanages, business offices, dispensaries or any place that needs a source of light during the evenings and use of a couple computers during the day.

Project Summery
The project was done in a rural part of the Sonipat District in Haryana. It started as a project to get a reliable light source but due to having extra funds we were also able to purchase three laptop computers. aptop computers were chosen because they could be transported easily and they use very little electricity ma!ing it easy to run on solar power. The expensive e"uipment of this project was purchased in Dar es Salaam where there is a larger variety of things at a much cheaper price. This did produce a small hassle of transport, but with the help of the schools headmaster it was less painful. #nce the e"uipment was brought to the school we hired a solar installer to install it. During the instillation a teacher stayed with the installers so that if there were any small problems in the future he would understand the wor!ings of the system and be able to ma!e the slight adjustments to fix it. $fter installation the solar system pretty much runs itself. %ith the solar system installed my school is able to have four classrooms fully light for at least five hours during the evening and have two laptops running throughout the day time. The teachers also use the time when computers are not in use to charge various things such as cellular phones.

Materials
&. Solar 'anel () % *. +) amp ,ontroller +. Solar -attery .. $, ights ). D, ights /. ,able . mm 0auge 1. ,able *.) mm %ire (. &222 watt Inverter 3. aptop ,omputer &2. 4arious Hardware 5nails, screws, switches, paint, wood, etc.6

Suggested Steps to follow

&. 7orm a meeting where those who are involved in the project can add input to what they need from the project. This should also be a time to start setting up a simple budget to see how much money can be raised for the project since *)8 of the total project funds must be paid for by the community. *. #nce the total amount that can be raised is !nown for both the community and ','' 0rant the volunteer can start loo!ing at what can be purchased. During this time the ','' 0rant write9up should be started since the more detailed it is the better chance it has of getting through without a problem. $lso the one in charge of donors bac! stateside should be informed that they need to start

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finding the people who will fund the project. :y father was responsible for this and was very successful so attached at the bottom of this document is his tips. $ttached after these tips is a rough estimate of solar prices as well as an example of how to budget the project. #nce you have a general idea of what you want and can afford, start contacting various solar dealers in your area as well as those in a major city to help get a more accurate idea on prices. If it is only slightly more expensive to buy locally then that is the best option because remember you are going to have to pay more for transport from the major city. $fter you have limited your search and found the company you want to deal with, contact the one you plan to install the system and as! for their advice on the matter. If it chec!s out with them and nothing more is needed to be added to the budget start finishing up the ','' 0rant write9up. #nce the 0rant is finished and is being processed in %ashington start organi;ing a basic time9line that you will follow once it has cleared. Depending on the funds re"uested from ','', the time to receive the funds will vary, but it should ta!e about a month if the donors are organi;ed. This time9 line should consist of when you will purchase and receive the e"uipment, means of transport, installation and any other small things that need to be ta!en care of. This is also an important time to ma!e sure the community has started to rise or has already raised its portion of the project cost. #nce the funds have been received then you can follow your time9line that you constructed by starting with the purchase of materials and transporting to site. Then finishing off with the installation of the system. During this time recites should be saved and duplicated to save time in the future. <ou can also purchase a recite boo!let to help since some places will be difficult to receive recites from. $nother word of advice is that ma!e sure when you buy any e"uipment that there is some !ind of warranty that protects you if there are defects when it is all set up at your site. #nce the system is set up and running properly it is now time for you to organi;e all the recites that you collected along the way and started doing the final write9up which goes over how the project turned out and where all the money went. I also included than! you notes from those that were directly affected by the project to show their appreciation to the donors. $fter all this has been completed it is now time to grab a drin! and give yourself a pat on the bac! because you have made it through this long and rewarding process.

Advantages of Solar Power

The advantages of using solar power as a source of energy are that you are not relying on oil which is a very expensive commodity and is no longer a reliable one. During this time the accessibility and fluctuating oil prices ma!e it difficult to predict what may happen in the future. This is why solar energy is considered reliable source of energy because the sun is not going anywhere and it is always free. $lso solar power is a clean energy source so it does not produce any harmful pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, so as not to add to the already great problem of global warming.

Lessons Learned
The first lesson was to ma!e sure and chec! more then one solar company for prices to be sure to get the best system for your buc!. #nce you have found a company that has good prices and are helpful then you can as! them to refer you to a reliable dealer in computers. -y using a referred company as a starting point then you can have them do the introductions and possibly get you a better deal on the computers you are buying. $s for transporting the e"uipment, for me this was the worst part of the whole process because it was the only time all the expensive e"uipment was not in my possession. I eased the stress a little by having my headmaster 5a host country natural6 present to help negotiate transport prices and also share my burden. $s for finding a reliable solar installer for instillation, you can either go to a site that already has had solar installed and chec! to see how the wor! was done. However if this is not an option then you can as! the company you are buying from if they !now of any

installers in your area. The last suggestion I have is to maybe install a system first and chec! its ability to run things before going out and buying computers. I bought three laptop computers only to find that the system I installed can only run two at one time. astly be prepared to go over budget so be sure to overestimate the costs of things li!e transport and labor so as not to get stuc! with an unfinished project. $lso, be sure anything electrical you buy for the system can run on the system. %e bought a great laser printer which re"uired more energy than we could generate, so it=s now useless for the school>

References
&. $llen 7ox, foxa+*3?gmail.com *. Dale 7ox, daleafox?gmail.com +. :.$. @ashilili!a, Agana Secondary School, '.#. -ox .31, @yela, Tan;ania 521(.+(&/(+6 .. David @wegela, '.#. -ox )+3, Tu!uyu, Tan;ania 521(..)&&316 ). $glex ,ompany imited, '. #. -ox 3(&(, Dar es Salaam, Tan;ania 52***1222/36