Portable Solar-Powered LED Lantern Tells Batteries to Take a Hike

TORRANCE, CA - June 30, 2003 - LEDtronics introduces the SolarLED Lantern, the newest addition to its expanding line of solar-powered Light Emitting Diode (LED) products. The SolarLED
Lantern uses sunlight to power a high-intensity LED lamp that provides light for up to 24 hours on a fully charged battery. That's four times longer than a compact fluorescent lamp! The SolarLED Lantern features a built-in handle, a rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic solar panel, and a 100,000-hour LED cluster lamp. The linear-configured LED lamp has 36 White 1206 SMT LEDs (18 per side in two columns of nine) on a double-sided PCB. A nickel metal hydride battery, located within the base of the lantern, features memory-free recharging and a discharge circuit to prevent battery damage from excessive recharging. The lightweight, flexible and compact solar panel connects to the lantern by a 5 ½ - foot cable, allowing the panel to be positioned where it will receive maximum light. The SolarLED Lantern (battery installed) with the solar panel weighs 2.06 lbs. (934.4g). It is 8.9" (226mm) in height. The solar panel measures 8.25"W x 11.25"L (210nmm x 287mm). A rugged ABS plastic body makes the lantern resistant to dents, scratches and foul weather. The SolarLED Lantern is child-safe, ideal for camping and roadside/home emergency kits, and a terrific light source for areas where electricity is absent or unreliable.

The SolarLED Lantern eliminates the hazards (e.g., fires, burns, fumes, spills and explosions) of conventionally fueled lanterns, the trouble of primping fuel pumps, and the fuss of replacing mantles. Operating the SolarLED Lantern is clean and easy. Simply plug the solar panel into the lantern and set the panel in a sunlit area to charge the battery. Under bright sunlight, a dead battery takes 13 hours to fully charge. Recharging time varies with atmospheric and environmental conditions. Users can expect more than 500 charges before battery replacement is necessary, which not only saves the operator hundreds of dollars over the lifetime of the lantern, but also lessens the environmental impact associated with one-time-use batteries.

Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology with its inherent energy efficiency makes an excellent accompaniment to photovoltaic-based energy systems. Solid-state design renders LEDs impervious to electrical and mechanical shock, vibration, frequent switching and environmental extremes. With an average life span of 100,000-plus hours (11 years), LEDs operate reliably year after year and are virtually maintenance free.

Founded in 1983, LEDtronics leads where others only follow when it comes to designing, manufacturing and packaging state-of-the-art LEDs to meet the world's constantly changing lighting needs. Our inventive product line encompasses an array of direct incandescent lamp replacement Based LED Lamps, low-cost snap-in and relampable Panel Mount LED Lamps and holders, high intensity sunlight-visible Discrete LEDs, PCB LEDs circuit board status indicators, surface mount diodes SMT LEDs, full-spectrum rainbow RGB LEDs and Infra-Red (IR) LEDs.

The SolarLED Lantern is priced at $110.00 per unit. For additional information, contact LEDtronics toll free at 1-800-579-4875, telephone 310-534-1505, fax at 310-534-1424 or mail at LEDtronics Inc., 23105 Kashiwa Court, Torrance, CA 90505. Ask for log #160. Visit our website at www.LEDtronics.com.

For Technical Information Contact:
Jordon Papanier at 310-534-1505
E-Mail: webmaster@ledtronics.com