From concept to design, we discover more about the brainchild and journey behind the launch of the new Enkin Solar Box.
With 60 years of combined electrical expertise, the Enkin design team is dedicated to solving residential and commercial lighting challenges, and this includes re-imagining an overlooked and unreliable aspect in lighting – portable solar panels.
With poor battery operation, unreliable charging, and ineffective waterproofing, some solar panels can have a less than stellar reputation, particularly when it comes to outdoor lighting.
The problem
Enkin began to address the problems associated with outdoor lighting as a whole by recognising the benefits that outdoor lighting provides and how these practical aspects are negatively affected.
Installing exterior lighting to properties adds functional and aesthetic benefits, including improved visibility, safety and security, highlighting architectural structures, extending the use of the outdoor spaces in darker evenings, as well as improving visual and atmospheric ambience. Combining these elements can be particularly challenging when faced with constraints such as wiring access, listed building regulations, power consumption, and lack of portability.
Next, the team collected data on the issues surrounding the construction of poorly manufactured solar panels and began conceptualising a portable solar box that not only provides solutions for outdoor lighting, but overcomes the technical problems associated with some solar panels on the market today.
The concept
With field research and data collection completed, the design team was able to begin working on innovative solutions to the multitude of problems that affect not only solar panels, but outdoor lighting as a whole. It was important for the final design to include features that would prolong the longevity of the solar panel itself, as well as ensure reliability and convenience for the user.
Portability is a main design feature for the Enkin Solar Box, which is housed in an IP66 rated casing constructed from high quality plastic, measuring 500 mm (W) x 350 mm (L) x 100 mm (H) that can be relocated and set up with ease (sizing is subject to change and may vary).
The solar panel itself measures 465 mm (W) x 300 mm (H). This fully removable panel comes with the use of a 10-metre cable and can also be angled within the housing by using the adjustable support legs situated beneath the panel.
Housed inside the protective casing of the Solar Box is a power off/on button, with optional timer modes as standard, with up to eight-hour timed operation and 5 V, 12 V, and 24 V lighting connectors.
The option for additional PIR motion detectors can be attached to activate lights, allowing the user to place the Solar Box in a high traffic or dimly lit area to act as a security light or motion activated guide light.
Further developments
It’s worth noting that in conjunction with the Solar Box having Zigbee compatible smart mode functionality, the team is working to improve user convenience with an Enkin ‘smart’ App that will play a crucial role in all Enkin products in the future.
This App, which is currently in development, will enable the user to view real-time charging, battery percentage, estimated charge time, estimated battery run time, and weather forecast, as well as allowing practical remote functions such as powering on/off and dimming.
Visit the product information page online here
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