We Care Solar Suitcase User manual

We Care Solar - Solar Suitcase WCS200 –2017 Page | 1
We Care Solar Suitcase
User Manual
Rev 2.7
INSIDE THIS MANUAL
Contents
About the Solar Suitcase.................................................................................................2
Understanding the Solar Suitcase...................................................................................3
Batteries, Panels, and Lights.......................................................................................3
Main Control Board......................................................................................................4
The Charge Controller.................................................................................................5
Start-Up Sequence..........................................................................................................6
Appliances.......................................................................................................................8
Multi-Tip Phone Charger..............................................................................................9
Headlamps ................................................................................................................10
Fetal Doppler.............................................................................................................12
Optimizing Performance................................................................................................15
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................16
®

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About the Solar Suitcase
The Solar Suitcase Includes:
Appliances:
1 Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP)
12 volt battery
2 rechargeable headlamps with micro
USB cable
2 bright, rugged LED lights
1 multi-tip phone charger
1 homerun cable for solar panels
1 2-slot USB adapter
Solar panel(s) –EITHER:
1 roof mounting hardware kit
2 plastic-backed solar panels (20 watts each)
OR
1 aluminum glass solar panel (50-200 watts)
1 wall mounting hardware kit
Optional Appliances:
▪Fetal Doppler
▪AA/AAA rechargeable battery charger
▪Expansion switch box (provides 2
additional LED lights)

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Understanding the Solar Suitcase
Batteries, Panels, and Lights
Main Battery Solar Panel
The Solar Suitcase includes a Lithium Ferrous
Phosphate battery (LFP; 12 volt, 12 amp-hour)
that stores electricity for night time use.
The LFP battery lasts for 5 years, and can be
fully charged and discharged hundreds of times
before it needs replacement. It can also be
stored for months without harm to the battery.
The Solar Suitcase is also compatible with
Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries.
Battery Replacement. After years of usage, if
you notice the battery is full at the beginning of
the evening, but runs out of charge quickly (for
example, the battery cannot provide enough
power for one LED light through the night), it is
time to replace your battery.
Lights
The Solar Suitcase can power two LED lights
throughout the night and an additional two LED
lights in systems using a 65-200 watt solar
panel. The LED lights plug into the light sockets
and be secured with the locking nut. The LED
lights can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
The solar panel turns sunlight into
electricity. The electricity is used to
charge the main battery in the Solar
Suitcase. The solar panel for the Solar
Suitcase is sized so that the battery can
fully charge every day.
Plastic-backed
(G-10) Everbright
Panels
Aluminum Glass
(Conventional) Panel

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Understanding the Solar Suitcase
Main Control Board
Main power switch/circuit breaker
Internal battery cable
Charge controller
Battery terminals/slip-on connectors
Light sockets
External battery socket
Light switches/circuit breaker
Solar socket
Appliance switch/circuit breaker
Solar plug on homerun cable
Appliance sockets (12V DC)
2 expansion sockets
Internal battery socket
Terminal screws (on charge controller)
5
4
3
11
10b
10a
7a
8
12
6
2
9
7b
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7a
7b
8
9
10a
10b
11
12

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Understanding the Solar Suitcase
The Charge Controller
The Solar Suitcase connects solar panels to a charge controller, which optimizes the
solar charge into the battery. The charge controller also regulates the use of the energy
stored in the battery to power lights and other appliances.
Solar Charging Light
CHARGING –During the daytime,
when the solar charging light is solid
green, it means that the solar panels
are properly wired and that the Solar
Suitcase is receiving charge from the
solar panels. If you do not see this
light in the daytime, the system is not
properly connected.
Battery Type Selector
The selector must be on “2-
SEALED” for all sealed lead acid,
AGM batteries and LFP batteries like
the kind that comes with the Solar
Suitcase.
Battery Status Lights
The three colored lights allow the user to
assess the level of charge in the battery.
Lithium Ferrous Phosphate Battery
BLINKING GREEN –Battery is
full. This is a good time to charge
mobile phones and other
appliances.
SOLID GREEN –Battery is
between 10% and 90% charged.
You may charge appliances on
sunny days.
YELLOW –Battery is getting
very low –10% or less. Conserve
energy. Turn off all lights and
discontinue charging appliances.
RED BLINKING –Battery is
very low and power will soon turn
off. Turn off all light switches and
appliances. Wait until next sunny
day for battery to recharge.
13
15
14
13
14
15

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Start-Up Sequence
1.Place the solar panel(s) in the sun and connect the solar
panels to the homerun cable
Place the solar panels in a sunny location. The panels should be permananetly
mounted on a rooftop with no shade between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM. The panels
should have a minimum of 10 degree slope so that the rain will clean the panels off.
2.Connect the homerun cable to the Solar Suitcase
Make sure that the solar plug
(yellow and blue) is fully inserted
and rotated so that it is locked in.
The silver tab will face forward
and click into position.
3.Insert the battery plug into the battery socket
Plug the battery plug into the internal battery socket.
The Solar Suitcase arrives with a battery cable already
connected the battery with slip-on connectors.
If the slip-on connectors have come loose from the battery terminals, then:
Attach the (+)RED terminal on the battery to the (+)RED cable.
Attach the (–) BLACK terminal on the battery to the (–)BLACK cable.
Make sure the slip-on connectors are fully inserted.
✓


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4.Turn on the system
Once the solar panel and battery connections are secure, you can turn on the system.
Use the main power switch to turn ON the system. The battery status lights will flash
in sequence and the charge controller will turn on. After 3 seconds, the solar charging
light will glow solid green . The Solar Suitcase is now ready to use.
The main power switch should remain ON at all times
The only time to turn the main power switch OFF is when you are replacing
the main battery.
The battery is charged every sunny day. The solar charging light indicates that the battery
is charging. When it is daytime and the homerun cable is properly connected, this light
will be green. If you do not see this light in the daytime, the system is not properly
connected.
Solar
Charging
Light

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Appliances
The Solar Suitcase comes with the following appliances:
Depending on the product specifications ordered, your Solar Suitcase may also include
the following optional appliances:
Charging Appliances
Appliances should only be charged during the day and when the battery status light is
green. The battery status light on the charge controller will tell you whether or not it is ok
to charge appliances.
If the battery status light is:
BLINKING GREEN –Battery is full.
This is the best time to charge mobile
phones and other appliances.
SOLID GREEN –Battery is between
10% and 90% charged. You may charge
appliances on sunny days.
If the yellow or red lights are on, your battery is
low. Do not charge any appliances at this time.
To charge appliances, BOTH the solar
charging light AND the battery status
light should be green.
2 headlamps
Micro USB cable for
headlamp
2-slot USB
adapter
Multi-tip phone
charger
fetal Doppler
AA/AAA rechargeable
battery charger

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Appliances
Multi-Tip Phone Charger
The Solar Suitcase comes with a multi-tip phone charger that is able to charge most
types of cell phones.
Using the phone charger:
1) Plug the 2-slot USB adapter into one of the appliance sockets and flip the appliance (red)
switch to turn the appliance charger on.
2) Plug the multi-tip phone charger into the 2-slot USB adapter and the appropriate plug on the
other end of the multi-tip phone charger into the cell phone.
The appliance
switch turns on
both appliance
sockets.
X
Only charge ONE phone at
a time with the multi-tip
charger. If you charge more
than one at a time, it can
break the charger.
You can also use your own cell phone
charger with the Solar Suitcase, either
by using the 2-slot USB adapter or by
plugging a car charger directly into the
appliance
socket.
2-slot USB adapter

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Appliances
Headlamps
The Solar Suitcase comes with two headlamps.
Using the headlamp:
1) Use the strap to put the headlamp on your head and
push the on/off (top) button to turn it on.
2) If fully charged and with the light on the brightest mode,
the headlamp will last for about 3 hours. If you want to
conserve power, you can dim the light. To do this, hold
the on/off button down and the light will get dimmer. To
return the light to the brightest setting, simply push the
on/off button to turn the headlamp off, and then turn it
back on again.
3) You can also adjust the angle of the light beam by rotating the light away from the
strap once it is on your head.
4) When you are done using the headlamp, push the on/off button on the top to turn it
off.
Charging Light:
When you turn the headlamp on, the charging light on the side of
the headlamp will briefly flash green, orange, or red, before
changing to white. If it flashes orange or red, it is time to charge
the headlamp.
If the charging light is blinking blue when you try to turn it on and
it will not turn on, it means the headlamp is locked. To unlock it,
hold down the on/off button until the blue light turns off and the
main light turns on (about four seconds).
strap
charging light
on/off
button
charging port

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You will also know if the battery is running low if the light does not seem very bright or the
headlamp won’t turn on at all. The headlamps can be charged just like a cell phone. If the
headlamp is completely discharged, it will take about three hours to fully charge it back
up.
Charging the headlamp:
1) Plug the 2-slot USB adapter into one of the appliance sockets and flip the appliance
(red) switch to turn the appliance charger on.
2) Plug the micro-USB cable into the 2-slot USB adapter and plug the other end into
the charging port on the side of the headlamp.
When charging, the charging light should be flashing green. When the headlamp is fully
charged, it will turn to solid green.
2-slot USB adapter

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Appliances
Fetal Doppler
One of the optional appliances in the Solar Suitcase is the fetal Doppler. Midwives use
the fetal Doppler to hear a baby’s heartbeat and to get a digital reading of the heartbeat.
The fetal Doppler can be used instead of a fetoscope.
Using the fetal Doppler:
1) First, palpate the mother to find the position of the fetus
2) Place lubricant on the probe
•For lubricant, you can use ultrasound gel or any vegetable oil
•DO NOT use water because it does not conduct sound well
3) Turn the fetal Doppler ON using the side switch
•The switch also controls the volume
4) Place the probe on the mother’s belly
5) Listen for the heart rate for five seconds, and increase the volume if needed
6) Shift the angle of the probe slightly if you don’t hear a heartbeat, and wait again for
five seconds
7) DO NOT move the probe quickly
8) PLACE, PAUSE, and LISTEN

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9) You have found the heartbeat when you hear a steady heartbeat and the heart on
the display is solid black
10)Turn the fetal Doppler OFF after you are done using it
Understanding the fetal Doppler display
•The normal fetal heartrate is between 120 and 160. If the heartbeat is less than 120
or more than 160, the baby may be in danger.
•If the heartbeat remains abnormal, turn the mother on her side, begin intravenous
fluids, start oxygen and call for assistance
•Call a doctor or refer the mother to a hospital if the fetal heartbeat remains too fast or
too slow
•If the heartbeat is less than 100, it may be the mother’s heartbeat. To confirm whether
you are hearing the mother, check her wrist pulse with your hand while listening to the
fetal heart rate.
•Remember: You must see a solid black heart in the display to be receiving an
accurate heart rate reading
Low battery
indicator
LCD/Heartbeat display
On-off switch and
volume control
Speaker
Ultrasound probe sensor
Place lubricant gel here
Ultrasound
probe

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Charging the fetal Doppler using the AA/AAA rechargeable battery charger:
1) To take the rechargeable AA batteries out of the fetal Doppler to charge them, open the
back of the appliance. You can now remove the batteries.
2) To charge, placethe positive side of the batteries in the positive side of thecharger. To charge
AA rechargeable batteries, the small white tab on the battery charger needs to be in the
upright position.To charge AAA batteries, the small white tab needs to bemoved downwards.
3) Plug the rechargeable battery charger into the one of the appliance sockets and flip the
appliance (red) switch to turn the appliance charger on.
The LCD display will tell you that the batteries are charging and show you when the batteries are
fully charged. If the LCD screen is not lit, check that the charger is properly inserted into the
appliance socket and that the appliance switch is turned on.
IMPORTANT: The battery charger can charge rechargeable (NiMH) AA batteries (like those that
come in the fetal Doppler) and rechargeable AAA batteries. The charger CANNOT be used with
single-use (Alkaline) batteries. If you place single-use batteries into the battery charger, the
charger will break. Charge the batteries in “families”, meaning all the batteries that go with an
appliance should be charged together at the same time.
White tabs
LCD display
Charging AA batteries
Charging AAA batteries
Appliance
socket
Appliance
switch
Make sure you
match up the +
and –signs

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Optimizing Performance
To optimize performance of your Solar Suitcase, it is important to follow these simple steps:
1.Clean your solar panels if you can do so safely
Keep the solar panels clean for best results. Dirt and dust will reduce the amount of
electricity the solar panels will produce. If dust accumulates, only clean the panels if it
is safe to go up on the roof. To clean the panels, just rinse with water. Do NOT scrub
as you might scratch the panel. Do NOT use soap. If the main battery is getting fully
charged each sunny day, then dirt on the panels is not a problem. Also, rainfall will
help clean the panels for you.
2.Know your battery status
When you know your battery status, you know when it is a good time to charge
appliances and when you should conserve electricity. Knowing your battery status is
important to ensure the lights are always available during an emergency.

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Troubleshooting
Description of Issue
Issue
Page
No appliances or lights work
A. System is not functioning
16-17
No lights on the charge controller display
Lights turn out in the middle of the night
B. System performance is poor
17-18
Lights turn out earlier than they used to
One or both lights do not work at all
C. LED light is not functioning
19
One appliance socket is not working
D. Appliance is not functioning
19-21
One specific appliance is not working
A. System is not functioning
Check if the battery terminals are firmly
connected.
Step 1: Examine the Solar Suitcase
Make sure the Main Power Switch
is on and green solar charging
light is lit when the sun is out
Check if the solar plug on the homerun cable is clicked in firmly

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Step 2: Check the homerun cable
for cuts
NOTE: If the wire is only damaged
on the black casing, wrap with
electrical tape to prevent it from
causing a problem.
If the wire inside is severely damaged or
you can see the metal wire in the cable,
wrap electrical tape around each
separate negative and positive wire within
the larger wire, then wrap tape around the
whole bundle.
Or call a technician.
Step 2: Make sure the system is not being overused
during the day. Use the battery status lights to guide
proper usage.
Step 1: Check how old the battery
is. An LFP battery lasts for 5
years and an SLA battery lasts for
2 years. If the battery is old, it will
need to be replaced.
Battery is getting
very low –10% or less.
Conserve energy. Turn off
all lights and discontinue
charging appliances.
Battery is full
–This is a good time
to charge appliances.
Battery is between
10% and 90% charged –
You may charge
appliances on sunny
days.
Battery is very low and
power will soon turn off. Turn
off all light switches and
appliances. Wait until next sunny
day for battery to recharge.
B. System performance is poor
There is a sticker on the battery that
tells you how old it is and when it will
likely need to be replaced

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Step 3: Now check what is causing the lack of energy!
If bad weather
Use light at night only;
don’t charge appliances
If there is shade
Cut branch, or move the solar panels
to an area of the roof that is not
shaded.
If solar panel is dirty
Wash panel with soft cloth
If there is sunshine but no green light above the sun icon (the solar charging light), it means that there
is a problem with the solar panel or homerun cable. Either the solar plug on the homerun cable is not
fully “clicked” into proper position, OR there is a loose or broken wire between the solar panel and the
Solar Suitcase, OR the wires in the homerun cable or panel have reverse polarity (meaning they are not
wired properly).

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Try to connect to socket 2
Step 1: Check light
connectors are
inserted correctly
and the locking nut
is firm
Step 3: Check the
light cable for
damage
Step 2: Check the
light switch is on
Step 1: Make sure the red appliance
switch is in the ON position
Step 2: Make sure the USB adapter
is fully inserted into the socket
Step 3: Make sure both sockets are functioning
properly
If socket 1 fails to charge
Step 4: Try
switching light
connections to see if
it is the light, or the
socket that is faulty
C. LED light is not functioning
C. Appliance is not functioning
OFF ON

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Change to
another charger
or purchase a
new charger.
If that doesn’t work,
it could also be that
the battery in the
phone doesn’t work
and you need to
replace it.
C2. The headlamp is not working
Step 1: Check if the headlamp is charging properly
X
Do not charge multiple phones with the multi-
tip phone charger. If the multi-tip phone
charger is used with many phones, it can
easily fail.
Step 2: Check that the headlamp is being used correctly
If you have done steps 1-3 on the previous page and the appliance still isn’t working,
follow the instructions below for that appliance (phone charging, headlamp, or fetal
Doppler).
C1. Mobile phone is not charging
When charging properly, the charging light should be flashing green.
If the light is any other color than green, it is not charging.
If the charging light is blinking
blue when you try to turn it on, it
means the headlamp is locked.
To unlock it, hold down the main
(top) button until the blue light
turns off and main light turns on
(about 4 seconds).
Make sure the
headlamp is
switched on
properly. Switch
off headlamp after
use.
Review p.10-11 of this manual on how to use the headlamp. A few reminders:
If it still doesn’t work, it may need to be replaced. Contact the organization that delivered the
Solar Suitcase to obtain information on where to get a replacement.