Updated on January 25, 2024

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Created on October 20, 2020

d.Light D180

Upcoming Update

d.Light D180 is a plug and play solar home system with Pay-As-You-Go functionality that includes a solar panel, three lights each with a switch, a battery pack with mobile charging, a portable torch and an FM radio.

Developed By
  1. d.light
Tested By
  • Lighting Global
Content Partners
Unknown

Author

Product Description

The d.Light D180 is a Solar Home System that provides home lighting and charging capabilities through an energy system composed of a solar panel, a lithium iron phosphate battery, two LED bulbs, and a tube light each with wall switches, a portable torch, and an FM radio. The device comes with USB output for the universal charging of mobile phones and other electronic devices. Designed and manufactured by d.Light, and with a plug-and-play installation, it has Pay-As-You-Go functionality and the battery pack has an LCD screen to indicate the state of charge.

Target SDGs

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Market Suggested Retail Price

$151.71

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

The product is sold by online retailers and locally through d.Light’s 25,000 retail outlets across 70 countries worldwide.

Competitive Landscape

Manufacturing/Building Method

The product is mass-produced in China.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Users purchase the d.Light D180 Solar Home System directly from one of d.Light’s partners with 25,000 retail outlets across 70 countries worldwide or online.

Distributions to Date Status

No data is available on distributions of the D180. Beyond the D180, d.Light has sold over 20 million solar lights and power products in over 65 countries through the four centers in Africa, China, South Asia, and the United States, based on calculations done using d.light's developing world sales and United Nations and International Finance Corporation research.

Description of power outputs

1 USB outlet

Description of light points

2 LED bulbs and 1 LED tube light

Total lighting service (lumen-hours per solar-day)

Unknown

Peak power rating (Wp)

12 Wp

Battery capacity (kWh; mAh)

10,000 mAh

Nominal battery voltage (V)

3.2 V

Battery type

Lithium iron phosphate

User replaceable battery (yes/no)

No

Remote system diagnostics (yes/no)

Unknown

Payment structure

Pay-as-you-go

Mobile service required (yes/no)

Unknown

Design Specifications

The d.Light D180 is comprised of a 12 Wp Polycrystalline silicon solar panel, a 10,000 mAh, 3.2 V Lithium iron phosphate battery and a solar controller, 2 LED bulbs and 1 LED tube light (each with wall switches), and a USB port for phone charging. Also included are a rechargeable portable torch (with 2000 mAh, 3.7 V battery), a rechargeable solar FM radio (600 mAh, 3.7 V battery), and a universal USB adaptor for mobile phone charging. The individual lamps each emit 120 lm of white light in wide distribution on their high brightness setting and the torch emits 75 lm of white light on its high brightness setting. The battery and solar controller unit shows the credit remaining based on current Pay-as-you-go payments and current battery levels on an LCD screen. Additional details can be found in Lighting Global's Specifications Book from their testing of the D1XX Family.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Products within the 2 year warranty period (from the date of purchase) can be returned to the retailer at a user’s point of purchase for replacement free of charge. Beyond that, d.Light provides customer support (contact details available here).

Replacement Components

Except for the FM radio and torch being covered by a 1-year warranty, the product has a 2-year warranty covering manufacturing defects.

Lifecycle

5+ years

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

D.Light specify that the D180 is capable of "bright lighting in several rooms at once in homes and businesses" and "charging mobile phones and other small, USB-powered devices". They also expect users to be able to "us[e] the FM radio to stay up-to-date on important news" and use the torch as portable lighting inside and outside. They also intend for the users to be able to upgrade their D180 with additional lamps. The product page described that the battery should last "Up to 12 hours of light per full charge" and that it should emit light "20x brighter than kerosene".

Vetted Performance Status

Lighting Global confirmed that the d.Light D180 complies (verification document) with the Lighting Global Quality Standards by testing according to the Quality Test Method given in edition 3 of IEC/TS 62257-9-5. The results and certification were valid until August 31, 2021. The testing categories (all passed) are Truth In Advertising; Lumen Maintenance; Circuit and Overload Protection; AC-DC Charger Safety; Wiring and Connector Safety; Hazardous Substances Ban; Battery Protection; Battery Durability; PV Overvoltage Protection; Miswiring Protection; Physical Ingress Protection; Water Ingress Protection; Drop Test; Soldering and Electronics Workmanship; Mechanical Durability; Cable Specifications; User Manual; Component Specification and Replacement; Minimum Warranty Terms; Performance Reporting.

Safety

This Solar Home System is a plug and play device, however, electrical installation and control guidelines provided by d.Light must be followed to avoid electrical shocks.

Complementary Technical Systems

d.Light commercializes multiple solar products from solar lanterns and solar home systems to solar appliances.

Academic Research and References

Chen, A. Z., Fischer, J., Fraker, A., Shah, N.B., Shirrell, S., Stein, D., 2017, Welfare impacts of an entry-level solar home system in UgandaJournal of Development Effectiveness, 9(2), pp. 277-294.

Esper, H., London, T. and Kanchwala, Y., 2013, Access to clean lighting and its impact on children: An exploration of solaraid’s sunnymoney. Child Impact Case Study No. 4, William Davidson Institute, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

IDinsight, 2015, d.light Solar Home System Impact Evaluation. IDinsight Report.

Institute of Developing Economies, 2015, Impacts of Solar Lanterns in Geographically Challenged Locations: Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh.

International Rescue Committee, 2014, “Lighting the way: The role of handheld solar lamps in improving women’s and girl’s perceptions of safety in two camps for internally displaced people in Haiti.

Lemaire, X., 2018, Solar home systems and solar lanterns in rural areas of the Global South: What impact?, WIREs Energy Environ, 7(5), e301.

These pieces of research are not specifically about the d.Light D180, but highlight the value solar home systems can provide in resource-constrained environments.

Why Choose Us. n.d. d.Light.

Partners. n.d. d.Light.

About us. n.d. d.Light.

United Nations. n.d. un.org.

International Finance Corporation. n.d. IFC.

D180 Solar Home System. n.d. d.Light.

VeraSol. n.d. d.light design | D1XX Family. data.verasol.org.

VeraSol. 2023. VeraSol Product Certificate: d.light design D1XX family. data.verasol.org. VeraSol.

VeraSol. 2024. Specifications Sheet: d.light design D1XX family. data.verasol.org. VeraSol.

Customer Support. n.d. d.Light.

IEC TS 62257-9-5:2018 | IEC Webstore. n.d. webstore.iec.ch.

Solar Products. n.d. VeraSol.

Compliance with regulations

This product meets the Lightning Global Quality Standards for Solar Home System Kits valid until August 31, 2021. Through the same testing by Lighting Global, it was found to also comply with IEC Technical Specification 62257-9-5.

Evaluation methods

The D180 was tested using the Quality Test Method (QTM) by Lighting Global in the Shenzhen Academy of Metrology and Quality Inspection in China. This is the full test method within IEC Technical Specification 62257-9-5 used by Lighting Global to verify comprehensive product performance. Results from QTM testing determine if a product meets the Lighting Global Minimum Quality Standards and IEC Technical Specification 62257-9-5. As part of the QTM, the d.Light D30 has passed the following tests: Truth In Advertising; Lumen Maintenance; Circuit and Overload Protection; AC-DC Charger Safety; Wiring and Connector Safety; Hazardous Substances Ban; Battery Protection; Battery Durability; PV Overvoltage Protection; Miswiring Protection; Physical Ingress Protection; Water Ingress Protection; Drop Test; Soldering and Electronics Workmanship; Mechanical Durability; Cable Specifications; User Manual; Component Specification and Replacement; Minimum Warranty Terms; Performance Reporting.

Other Information

d.Light has won several awards and recognition since 2007. All the details can be seen here. This case study video highlights the impact of a d.Light Solar Home System in Kenya has had.

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