FAQ
1. What’s ILAND products?
ILAND products are portable solar kits (portable solar generator) generaly in a tube form. Weighing from 0.5kg to 12kg, it can be transported everywhere and installed in a few seconds only.
2. What are its features?
ILAND product is autonomous. It allows lighting a house, pump water, charge a laptop, a GPS or a cellular telephone. Equipped with several connectors for lamps, with two USB entries, as well as an automobile lighter connector, it adapts itself to all the electronic / electric devices (12V-220V).
3. What makes ILAND an innovative product?
ILAND is the fruit of a long scientific research. It allies the last technologies in photovoltaic and luminous energy. Thanks to its flexible solar panel and to its lamps LEDs, it opens a new dimension in the world of the solar autonomy. Furthermore, thanks to its last generation battery and to its futuristic design, it adapts itself to all the situations and allows a daily use. It doesn’t need a lot of space, ILAND product fits perfectly in the trunk of a car or in a backpack.
4. To whom is ILAND product?
ILAND product was specially conceived to be multifunctional and easy to use. It’s for everyone as far as he allows complete and clean energy autonomy.
5. In what conditions can we use ILAND product?
Shockproof, waterproof and resistant to bad weather, ILAND can be taken everywhere. It adapts itself perfectly to all the situations and to all the climates. The solar panel can line up in the tube when the battery is charge, allowing to save space and eliminating any risk of vandalism.
6. Does ILAND product need necessarily sunlight?
ILAND product also works by cloudy or rainy weather. The daylight is sufficient, but not behind a wall or a windows, the panel has to receive UV radiation. In that case, it’s the refill of the battery that will be longer and not the capacity of Iland everywhere to supply electrical energy for the diverse uses. Moreover, even several months without recharge, the battery keeps its full capacity.
7. Can we feed with ILAND product the electronic / electric devices at the same time as using lamps?
The grips for the GPS or the computer are not as the ones of the lamps. On ILAND product, it is possible to connect 8 lamps, 1 computer and a telephone. If all these devices are connected at the same time, it’s the time of use that is going to vary and not the capacity of the tube to supply the electricity.
8. Thanks to ILAND product we can charge mobile phones, GPS, laptops, or even connects a refrigerator but is there an electric plug on the side to charge?
The system can be charged on an electricity network, but the purpose is to be used with sunlight. The question is to plan its reload before a departure (the day before a departure for example) and not arrive in the evening at a camp without light. The experiences showed that the fact of allowing solar systems to take charge on electric network drove to failures because of the variations of tension in the different regions of the world, as well as bad handling of users.
9. The technology imposes you to have a technician for the assembly or the installation?
It doesn’t need the presence of technicians. We developed our product to be used by every common person. We ended up with the systems for the engineers or the handymen.
10. What’s the function of the USB Connection?
More and more devices charge with USB Connections (mobile phones, MP3 and especially I-Pad and I-Phone).
11. How long the battery takes to recharge?
The time the battery takes to recharge is calculated according to the "STC", that is from 6 to 8 hours of load depending on the period of sunshine!
12. What means "STC"?
"Standard Testing Conditions", in the sun with 45° inclination and 25°C temperature, are the conditions to define the performance of the solar panels.
13. What maintenance Iland everywhere needs?
Besides cleaning in cases of "extreme" use, there is no other maintenance.
14. The autonomy is approximately 8 hours, in need of 12 hours for example, which is the solution?... A second battery?
For more than 8 hours with 8 lamps, you will need a second battery of course! Several cans of fuel are needed to run a generator for a whole night.
15. How long lasts a charged battery?
A fully charged battery lasts several months without discharge itself. It’s for that reason that ILAND product can also serve as a 1st aid system in case of power failure.
16. Are the LEDs used for lighting common, purchasable LEDs in any trader of material of electric equipment or have special features for ILAND?
The LEDs are developed by DCUBE, as all the details of the tube. The intention is not to make an elitist product, but there isn’t in the market high quality products enough to answer the requirements of the manufacturing of Iland everywhere.
17. What is the length of the electric cables? Standard size or different choices?
The basic cables are delivered with variable lengthes from 5 meters, but it will be possible to buy cables with 10 meters or more if necessary.
18. What makes you different from your competitor?
There really isn't anyone out there currently offering anything comparable to ILAND. We are unique by providing more power at a lower price with units smaller and lighter than our closest competitor. We use amorphous solar cells and lithium iron phosphate batteries (see technical aspects…). Our products are chainable which allows you to daisy chain our batteries and solar panels to instantly boost your storage/collection abilities. Start with one system and add power to it if needed without having anything become obsolete.
19. Can I take the battery on my carry-on on an airplane?
Yes. That is one of the benefits of having a portable power source. Use it in places where you don't have access to a grid.
20. What can you charge with the batteries and for how long?
It is up to you really. You can use the formula (Watt Hours/ Watt Usage = Time). For instance, (200 watt hours / 50 watts = 4 hours)
21. How do I figure out the amount of watts my device uses?
To find out the amount of watts your device uses, simply multiply the Amps times the Volts. (Amperes x Volts = Watts) This information is usually found on the wall charging cord of the device or possibly somewhere on your device. You may have to look up your device online and find the technical specifications or read it in the device's product manual.
22. Can the batteries be used while recharging?
Yes.
23. What happens if the solar panel or battery gets wet?
ILAND products are made to withstand rugged environments. All elements of the products are 100% water resistent.
24. Why can't I get my solar panel to charge my battery from the sun?
Getting a proper angle to the sun is very important to get the best efficiency. Proper angling will give you 50-60% efficiency. Cloudy conditions reflect a lot of sunlight back into the atmosphere. We over compensate on our calculations so most batteries will charge in a day.
25. Can I charge my battery with solar panels on a cloudy day?
Our panels work in cloudy conditions but you will still get some charge on a cloudy day just plan on a little more time to recharge your battery.
26. Can I charge a device while charging my battery?
Yes.
27. Do your solar panels have blocking diodes?
Yes, all of our panels have blocking diodes in place.
28. My batteries are in storage for my next adventure, and I'll be recharging them every 6 months or so. Is there anything else I can do?
Just be sure that when you store them, they are fully-charged to begin with.
29. When I leave my battery in storage for a month or more it seems to be self-discharging it says it is almost completely discharged when I turn it on to use it. Is this normal?
Our batteries go into hibernation mode when you store if for a good amount of time. You should notice when you plug it in, the battery will almost immediately jump back up to full for this reason. There is no memory damage to the battery from this.
Post your FAQ to : faq@iland-solar.com