ABSTRACT   Nowadays, because of low energy or power consumption, low heat emission,    low cost, the portability, wider application, energy saving bulb are highly used    than florescent lamp which is powered and recharged using solar system    Solar mini lamp also known as solar light or solar lantern, is a lighting system    composed of an LED lamp, solar panels, battery, charge controller and there    may also be an inverter. The lamp operates on electricity from batteries, charged    through the use of solar photovoltaic panel.   Solar-powered household lighting can replace other light sources like candles or    kerosene lamps. Solar lamps use renewable energy with infinity supply which is    cheaper than standard lamps. In addition, solar lamps reduce health risk as    kerosene lamps have a bad impact on human health. However, solar lamps may    have higher initial cost, are weather dependent.   CHAPTER ONE   INTRODUCTION   1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY   Over the years the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity has not produced    enviable results. Besides, fossil fuels have caused a lot of havoc to the    ecosystem with Africa not being able to tap into the advantages of using    fossil fuels to generate electricity. Therefore, the need for an alternative source    of generating electricity arises. The alternative source must be cheap, reliable    and efficient. An alternative energy source is solar energy. This is a preferable    choice as Africa is in the tropics with considerable amount of sunlight in a    day that can be converted into electricity.   Solar energy utilization is on the rise in our modern world as the fossil fuels    have great adverse Effect on our environment. Solar energy as a form of    renewable energy has been in use since the times of Archimedes in 212 BC. At    the time solar energy was being converted to heat energy for defense purposes.     Other notable scientists have made countless improvements in the    utilization of solar energy since then. In 1839, Edmond Becquerel a French    scientist discovered the photovoltaic effect. In 1966 the first orbiting    astronomical observatory was launched by National Aeronautics and Space    Administration (N.A.S.A) which was powered by 1 kW photovoltaic array. As    at 1999 the cumulative installed photovoltaic capacity in the world had    skyrocketed to 1000MW. Today, solar energy is being used to generate    electricity worldwide.   Light is crucial in everyday activity for the continuity of normal life. From    plants to animals, from human beings to domestic insects, from technology    to science, nothing seems to maximize its existence without the availability    of light (Garg and Prakash, 2000). Even the human eye requires some amount of light to function well (Perlin, 1999). Light from the sun is natural and it is    called sunlight. This sunlight can serve as a source of solar power which is    converted to electric power for both household and industrial utilization.   Solar rechargeable lantern is a valuable device that can be used in homes and    offices. It has been observed over the years in Nigeria that power failure and    fuel scarcity has been a serious problem over the decade. Due to this fact we    have designed a portable handy dual rechargeable lantern, while many have    designed an A.C lantern and a solar lantern.   The aim of this project was to achieve a simple reliable lighting system, by    converting alternating current (AC) voltage from mains supply together with    direct current (DC) voltage from a solar panel to a constant charging voltage    for feeding a lead-acid battery, to provide Voltage and current for LED    lightning.    This lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used    to illuminate dark areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as torches, or    as general light sources outdoors. Low light level varieties are used for    decoration. The term "lantern" is also used more generically to mean a light    source, or the enclosure for a light source.   Solar Rechargeable lights are very useful electrical gadgets and are quite    popular, too. During a power failure these portable lights are able to instantly    illuminate through battery backup and never allow us to stumble in the    darkness. Although you will find a variety of them in different shapes and sizes    in the market, but building your own emergency light at home can be a totally    different experience. It will not only help you to create a quality design but also    will acquaint you to the technical aspects of the unit. Besides, you also get an opportunity to customize the circuit as per your own needsIn developing countries the solar lantern is a cheap alternative to a Solar Home    System (SHS) providing 4-5 hours of high quality lighting service or 15 hours    of listening to the radio. It provides higher quality light than the use of candles    or kerosene lamps. They are also used to provide street lighting in rural areas. In    this case Light Emitting Diode (LED) solar lanterns are usually used.   It uses a PV panel to charge up a 12-Volt lead-acid gel cell battery located in the    base of the lamp which is designed to withstand many charge/ discharge cycles.    Other manufacturers may have different battery specifications. The light source    is a compact fluorescent tube which should last four years in normal operation.    There are many lamps on the market but the main working principles are the    same.   1.2 Statement of the problem   In the last decade candle stick and kerosene or gas lantern were used as a source    of light for mankind but the problem of using candle are numerous such as it    cost effective, weighty, convenient and unsafe to environment and human    health. Because of these disadvantages led to the invention of solar rechargeable    lantern. Rechargeable lantern has the following advantages over candle stick,    kerosene or gas lantern:   a. Compared to a gas lantern, a mini solar rechargeable lantern is light. Gas    lanterns are typically made of glass and have metal canisters that add weight    that rechargeable lanterns are able to eliminate. The lighter the weight of the    lantern the more versatile it can be, whether it be to light up the card table or    take it for your bathroom break.   b. With the variety of lanterns like liquid fuel, gas, or even candle, a mini solar    rechargeable lantern is an alternative that offers ease of use. All you have to    do it switch it on and light is available. This saves you from having to    remember to bring other items on the trip like gas to fuel the lantern or matches to light the candle. If you happen to have kids joining you on a    camping trip, spoiler alert: they will more than likely drop a gas lantern and    break the glass. Skip to the good part and allow them to carry a mini solar    rechargeable lantern without worry.   c. Lanterns with flames always come with a small risk of causing a fire, but   mini solar rechargeable lanterns don’t require a babysitter. By avoiding a    kerosene powered lantern, you can eliminate potential fumes.[   d. A mini solar rechargeable lantern can be charged via with solar panels or AC    plug, DC plug, dynamo crank function.   1.3 Significance Of The Project   Solar Rechargeable Lanterns are independent of the utility grid resulting to    lessened operation costs. These means that these are wireless lights and are not    connected to your electricity provider. The lights are dependent of the heat    energy given off by the sun, storing as much of it throughout the day. Solar    Rechargeable Lanterns require lesser maintenance than conventional street    lights. These have lower chances of overheating. Since solar wires do not have    external wires, the risk of accidents is minimized. A lot of times, accidents    happen to the personnel who fixes the street light. These can include    strangulation or electrocution. Solar home lamp is environment-friendly    because its panels are solely dependent to the sun hence eliminating your carbon    footprints contribution. Some parts of Solar Rechargeable Lanterns systems can    be easily carried to remote areas making these more efficient and handy    solutions to lighting problems.   1.4 Scope of solar rechargeable lantern   Solar rechargeable lantern can be use for various variety of application such as    solar generation, lightning, heat generation of electricity to reduce the high rate of electricity failure, in order to contribute and make life in the society    easier and comfortable for humanity.    1.5 Objective of the Project   The objective of this work is to design a portable lighting gadget that can be    powered directly from solar panel for the purposing of charging the battery    which later used whenever there is power outage during the night.    Engineering a solar-rechargeable lantern involves the integration of    several technologies, making the project well-suited as an interdisciplinary    senior project.    The solar rechargeable lantern was designed to provide 3- 6 hours of light on a    full charge, and charge in 6- 10 hours of direct sunlight using the external 3-W    solar panel.    These lights provide a convenient and cost-effective way to light room, street,    church etc, at night without the need of AC electrical grids for pedestrians,    drivers users etc.    1.5.1 Definition of solar panel:    This can be define as a electronic device which absorb energy from the sunlight    and convert it into electric current   1.5.2 Definition of rechargeable battery:   This is an energy solar devices that can be charge again after being discharge    by applying dc current into terminal.   1.5.3 Definition of lamp:    Lamp is an electrical converter that works by electricity or burning oil or gas. It gives light to the environment