General Product FAQs
How long does it take to charge different products? This depends on the intensity of avaible sun light and the latitude. To fully charge one lamp takes about 6 hours under full tropical sun: there might be 8-12 useful sun hours per day depending on the location. Most cheap phones in develop countries take 3-4 hours to charge. Most people buy one panel and one lamp, and then use the extra panel capacity to charge up a phone or listen to the radio.
Will my solar products work even if it is not sunny? ToughStuff products are designed to work when the sun is out. The solar panel will work in low light conditions but will charge more slowly than in bright, direct sunlight.
How can you tell when the products are charged or how much life they have left? A green led flashes while charging but will burn continuously when products are fully charged (but still connected to the power source), to alert the user that he can now use the panel for another appliance.
How tough is ToughStuff? ToughStuff relentlessly tests our products with very low-income families in Madagascar. Our research and their feedback has determined that 1 watt is the ideal size to minimize costs and solve people’s needs. This 1 watt panel will charge most cheap African cell phones in 2-3 hours of good lighting. It will also full charge our LED lamp in 5-6 hours; a fully charged Lamp provides ambient (low) light for 40 hours and lighting bright enough to read by for 4-5 hours! Additionally, because our products feature thin-film technology, they perform better in less-than-perfect lighting than other types of PV.
Our panels are unbelievably Tough!
LED Lamp
Can I use my lamp straight from the packet? ToughStuff lamps come 30% charged, however, like all rechargeable products, it is recommended that you fully charge the lamp before using it to optimise the battery life.
How long should I charge my lamp for? It takes approximately one full day to fully charge the battery from the solar panel.
Are lamp and the battery pack protected from overcharging? The lamp & power pack have charge controllers that protect the rechargeable batteries inside from overcharging.
Can I leave my lamp in the rain? Are they water proof? The panels are fully weather proof. Whilst the lamp is not fully waterproof, it will continue to operate in most weather conditions. The lamp is also designed to withstand humidity (e.g. heavy dew if accidentally left out overnight).
Can you charge the lamp directly with the solar panel, or do you have to have the battery pack? You can charge the lamp directly, as it has a chargeable battery included. In most cases people choose the solar panel and rechargeable lamp as the entry set. It is not necessary to purchase at the same time the battery pack, which is mainly used to charge mobile phones at night or play radios during the evening when the sun has set.
How long does the lamp shine for? Depending on the intensity setting, the lamp will last between 5 and 40 hours, when fully charged
How many years does the lamp last? At least two years. The limiting factor will be gradual degradation of the rechargeable batteries. These cells confirm to IEC European standards of retaining more than 60% capacity after 500 cycles. A cycle is counted as discharging and then fully (not partially) charging a fully charged battery. Deterioration is therefore gradual. A product is not necessarily fully discharged every day, and 500 cycles is likely to equate to over 2 years, after which 60% service can still be expected. The LEDs have a life of over 70,000 hours so they will exceed the batteries significantly.
Mobile Phone Connectors
Are the phone connectors for specific makes and models? We supply 8 different phone connectors (including micro-USB, soon to be the universal charger) that connect from our solar panel & power pack directly to a phone. The connectors can charge well known brands including Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung. ToughStuff connectors are able to charge most phones currently available in developing countries. Due to the power requirements and internal workings of different phones however, ToughStuff is unable to charge many advanced smart phones.
Radio Connectors
Do the radio connectors replace any batteries in radios and other small appliances? Radio Connectors are sized to match D-cells (80% or more of radios in Africa take D-cells). Appliances that take smaller size batteries won’t fit. Other small appliances that use up to 4 D-Cell batteries can also be powered using ToughStuff radio connectors.
Do the radio connectors store power? No. The radio connectors are simply a convenient and safe way to connect a power source (such as the solar panel or the battery power pack) to a radio (or other appliance). One places the connectors directly into a radio where batteries would usually go. The active connector has a jack to plug the lamp or battery back directly into. Thus, a radio will work only while attached through the connectors to a power source.
