In this project, we will work as pairs and individuals to create a light which can be used in a third world country. Three countries which are possiblities are: Costa Rica, South Africa and Malawi. What we will need to do is create a design which is durable, repeatable, easy to operate and simple to maintain. You will need to make several versions of the light before shipping it.
One of the aspects of this flashlight is that it can make use of batteries which would otherwise be thrown away. The JouleThief is not the most efficient circuit, but it does work in many ways.
Many of the world's poorest countries are located near the equator. In these countries, the twenty four hour day is split evenly between day and night. 12 hours of light, 12 hours of night. Many communities do not have access to electricity, and when they are wired for electricity, it is often unreliable.
The lights we make must be inexpensive to manufacture. They should be durable. They should have an easy way to change the battery. The wires of the circuit should be minimized and highly unlikely to break.
We should consider making our own circuit boards to minimize the use of breakable wires.
With each design, we will need to make a brief instruction manual. The instructions should be translated into the local language of the country we are targeting. For a country like Costa Rica, Spanish will be relatively easy, for South Africa and Malawi, we will need to get assistance.
Take photos of your light before it is shipped. Use the photos in your online documentation. The audience of your documentation is the person who uses the light.
Label your light with a web address and your first name or group name so that you can tie your online documentation to it.