PERFORMANCE OF AMORPHOUS-SILICON SOLAR-CELL MODULE AND SOLAR LANTERN

The solar lantern (manufactured by BHEL) could regularly be lit for 5- 6 h up to a maximum of 7 h, if the battery was fully charged. It is de sirable, for regular use, that the solar lantern should be lit for not more than 5 h a day if the clear sky condition exists. If the weather is partially cloudy, use of the lantern should be reduced accordingly . A performance study of the amorphous silicon (a-Si) module shows tha t the maximum power transfer voltage (V-mp) and corresponding current is ca. 65 and 75% of the open circuit voltage (V-oc) and short circuit current (I-sc), respectively. Efficiency of the module is 3-4% under held conditions and is slightly greater for a higher ambient temperatu re. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.