Solar Suitcase

The Solar Suitcase is a rugged, compact, easy-to-use solar electric system that provides last-mile health facilities with highly efficient medical lighting and power for mobile communication and medical appliances. This prewired device has been tested and proven in thousands of health centers. Designed to support timely and efficient emergency obstetric care, the We Care Solar Suitcase can also be used in a range of medical and humanitarian settings. The newest version of the award-winning Solar Suitcase incorporates years of human-centered design and field research and includes improved safety features, enhanced functionality, greater durability, and an improved user interface. It is easy to install and requires minimal maintenance. A 5-year, 20Ah lithium ferrous phosphate battery allows for a minimum of 240 watt-hours of energy storage, ensuring light throughout the night.

The Solar Suitcase features:

• A water- and dust-tight case that becomes a cabinet that mounts to the wall.
• A 100 watt solar panel to be mounted to the wall (smaller portable panels can be sent in emergency relief settings).
• Four high-efficiency, water-resistant, LED lights with color-rendering capacity suitable for medical and surgical procedures, including a light expansion box.
• An integrated 12V, 20Ah lithium ferrous phosphate battery designed to last at least five years.
• A custom display and user interfaces for simple and intuitive operation.
• Two 12V DC accessory (lighter) sockets.
• Two USB ports
• Two expansion ports for optional accessories or additional lights.
• A 40’ homerun cable and all the hardware needed to install the Solar Suitcase and solar panel.
• Two rechargeable LED headlamps.
• An electronic fetal heart rate monitor (fetal Doppler) including rechargeable AA batteries.
• An AA/AAA rechargeable battery charger.
• An electronic infrared thermometer.

In addition to powering headlamps, fetal Dopplers and infrared thermometers, the Solar Suitcase has been used to power range of devices for primary care, such as:

• Tablets and e-readers equipped with educational materials
• Laptop computers
• Portable ultrasound equipment
• Nebulizers for treatment of asthma
• Electronic blood pressure cuffs
• Radios for referral communication

We Care Solar has been a leader in advocating for renewable energy for healthcare since 2010. Dr. Laura Stachel, obstetrician, and Hal Aronson, solar energy educator, initially designed Solar Suitcases for midwives at maternal health clinics in Northern Nigeria. As word of their innovative power solution spread, they received requests from clinics and health workers around the world. We Care Solar was founded to meet that demand and the original Solar Suitcase design was improved upon by Director of Engineering Brent Moellenberg, with scale and manufacturability in mind. After years of field testing, design modifications, and technology improvements, Version 3 of the Solar Suitcase launched in 2019. To date, We Care Solar has equipped over 5200 health centers in 49 countries, primarily in Africa and Asia, with life-saving, renewable energy.

Publicly available: no

Dimensions: 20” x 16” X 8”
Weight: 32lbs