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Lighting it up. Mohankumar with the solar lamp at his workshop in Abu Dhabi Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/XPRESS

ABU DHABI An electrician in Abu Dhabi has invented a high-powered solar lamp that can also be charged by a fishing boat engine.

P.K. Mohankumar from Kerala, India, said his battery-operated lamp named ‘Sea Tec’ can last up to 24 hours and is perfect for fishermen making long sea trips.

Water-proof

“The body of the lamp is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to keep it waterproof and rust free. The battery unit is made of fibreglass packing to prevent any potential damage by sea water,” said the 48-year-old who works for the Equestrian Club in Abu Dhabi.

Sea Tec has holders on the sides and a dry battery in the unit is used to power a compact fluorescent lamp.

Mohankumar, who has been repairing electronic gadgets for 20 years, claims unlike other lamps, Sea Tec needs only six hours to be fully charged.

“It took me more than a year to design the circuit and battery of the lamp. I had earlier made a lamp that could last up to 16 hours,” he said.

Cheap and efficient

Mohankumar says his lantern could be a handy device for fishermen as it’s both cheap and efficient.

“Since the lamp is solar-operated, it can be used in places where there is no electricity,” he added. The lamp weighs around 7kg and can also be charged with an electrical socket. Mohankumar said the challenge is to keep the cost low so that people can afford it.

“It costs Dh700 and I am already getting orders from Egypt and India,” said the electrician who is planning to apply for a patent for Sea Tec.