Human Powered Domestic Lighting in Rural India

In remote villages of India, many families cannot afford electricity to illuminate their homes. Many in such areas would love to possess a source of light to dispel darkness and by which to study, read, work, cook, and the like. Presently most families depend on kerosene lamps, which not only is a recurring expenditure but also a cause of health and fire hazard.

The process not only combines the generation of power with the daily routine of the villagers but also drastically reduces the capital cost to nearly 50% when compared to a solar powered lamp of equivalent output.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• firefly
• power
• cycle
• van
• india
• human
• electricity
• led
• suprio
• light
• rural
• poverty
• kerosene
• battery
• lamp

[chipmaker2]

I live in central Ammerica and the sell a solar powered night light for about $5-6 US

In the states they are used in the garden and light the lawns. I think I will buy one and try charging in the day and bring it into the house at night.

I was impressed with the CD/LED lamp. Does it throw more light than just leaving the led exposed? Nice Video :<)

[FIREFLYPOWER]

LEDs have a narrow angle of light dispersion and the CD does not really help as a reflector. I needed some hard flat surface to mount the LEDs and a discarded CD seemed a good option. Looks good too.

[Tirikitadha]

Truly amazing invention and video. Nice to know that there are people like you who are devoted to helping the less fortunate.

[FIREFLYPOWER]

Why, thank you

[josephdupont]

He might be better off putting magnets on the spokes with pickup coils as friction

generators lose a lot of energy.. and wear

out the tire.

but great concept.

[FIREFLYPOWER]

I agree with you. I had two things in mind - to integrate the expended energy into the daily activities and to make it low cost. Bicycle parts helped in keeping the cost within $18, which is recovered shortly from the saving of kerosene. To minimize tire wear, a replaceable plastic cap on the tip of the dynamo is being used. I wish to see this for not only providing lights to many but also employment to some by way of assembly and maintenance of the units. Thanks for your appreciation.

[MrMranupam2011]

very nice work, I have some question regarding the same, i would be great-full if you answer the same. How much power could the van driver generate per day? is there any additional drag on the van driver because of the dynamo attached ? what is the capacity of the dynamo used ?

Hats off to you sir for thinking about the less fortunate citizens of India.

[ZeFlasher]

I'm sorry...My comment was directed at the poster who recommended using animals...Fireflypower is a both a genius and a humanitarian.

[ZeFlasher]

It took me three years to come across this comment and call you an idiot...Better late than never.

[ZeFlasher]

It took me 3 years to come across this comment and call you an idiot...Better late than never :)

[indianspartacus]

Ingenious, great concept. I would love to do something for this. Let me know if I could be any help.

[pj06yaa]

१) मैं भारत से प्यार। क्या तुम?