In this paper a lighting unit is developed for homes to minimize energy consumption and cost. It has dual mode of charging batteries through a grid or photovoltaic solar energy devices. The utility of such devices has increased in recent times because many countries around the world are reducing or eliminating subsidies on kerosene, diesel and other fossil fuels due to the continued high price of crude oil. This has made solar energy cost competitive. The present work shows that solar energy is far more economic than kerosene based lighting systems (kerosene lanterns).
SharanA.M., and PrateekM., 2006, “Automation of Minimum Torque Based Accurate Solar Tracking Systems Using Microprocessors”Journal of Indian Institute of ScienceVol. 86, Sept. – Oct., pp. 415–437.
4.
SharanA. M., 2008, “Variation of Energy Conversion Efficiencies of Stationary Photovoltaic Systems with Latitudes”, Energy and Environment, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp. 679–689.
