• DEFINITION *
• MODEL *
• DUTY CYCLE *
• LAMP *
• BATTERY *
• ELECTRONICS *
• PV MODULE *
• ELECTRONICS PROTECTIONS *
• MECHANICAL COMPONENTS *
• OTHER FEATURES *
• OTHER CONDITIONS *
• Annexure (Format of Warranty Card) *

A solar home lighting system aims at providing solar electricity for operating lights and (optionally) for energising DC operated portable TV sets for specified hours of operation per day.
 
• MODEL
A solar photovoltaic home lighting system shall be of the following configuration:

1 × 35 W_p PV module; 2 × 9 W CFLs; 1 × 12 V, 40 Ah Battery; Control electronics; Module mounting hardware; Battery box; Inter-connecting wires/cables; Switches; and Operation, instruction and maintenance manual.

The system may also have a point for connecting a 12 V DC operated TV set.
 

• DUTY CYCLE
Average Hours of Operation/day : Lights 3-4 hours

The average hours of operation/day will be reduced, if TV set is also energised from these system.
 

• LAMP
• The lamps will be of compact fluorescent (CFL) 4-pin type, with ratings of 9 W. A preheating circuit, conforming to the specification of the CFL manufacturer should be provided for the lamp. The CFL should preferably be of reputed makes such as Philips or Osram or equivalent. If equivalent is supplied, a certificate from standard national test laboratories stating that the CFL is equivalent in performance to Philips or Osram should be submitted with the tender.
• The light output from the lamps should be around 600 ± 5 % lumens. Also please see (iii) of VI given below.
• The lamps should be housed in an assembly suitable for indoor use, with a reflector on its back. While fixing the assembly, the lamp should be held in a base up configuration.

• BATTERY
• The battery will be of flooded electrolyte type, positive tubular plate, low maintenance lead acid battery.
• The battery will have a minimum rating of 12 V, 40 Ah (at C/10) discharge rate.
• 75% of the rated capacity of the battery should be between fully charged and load cut off conditions.

• ELECTRONICS
• The inverter should be of quasi sine wave/sine wave type, with frequency in a range of 20-35 kHz. Half-wave operation is not acceptable.
• The total electronics efficiency should be at least 80 %.
• No blackening or reduction in the lumen output by more than 10% should be observed after 1000 ON/OFF cycles (two minutes ON followed by four minutes OFF is one cycle).
• The idle current consumption should not be more than 10 mA.
• The electronics should operate at 12 V and should have temperature compensation for proper charging of the battery throughout the year. However, systems not having the temperature compensation facility would also be allowed under this year's programme.
• Necessary lengths of wires/cables, switches suitable for DC use and fuses should be provided.

• PV MODULE

• The PV module shall contain crystalline silicon solar cells.
• The power output of the module(s) under STC should be 35 W. The operating voltage corresponding to the power output mentioned above should be 16.4 V.

• ELECTRONICS PROTECTIONS

• Adequate protection is to be incorporated under no load conditions, e.g. when the lamps are removed and the system is switched ON.
• The system should have protection against battery overcharge and deep discharge conditions.
• Fuses should be provided to protect against short circuit conditions.
• A blocking diode, should be provided as part of the electronics, to prevent reverse flow of current through the PV module, in case such a diode is not provided with the solar module.
• Full protection open circuit, accidental short circuit and reverse polarity should be provided.

• MECHANICAL COMPONENTS

• Metallic frame structure (with corrosion resistance paint) to be fixed on the roof of the house to hold the SPV module. The frame structure should have provisions to adjust its angle of inclination to the horizontal between 0 and 45º, so that it can be installed at the specified tilt angle.
• A vented metallic box with acid proof and corrosion resistance paint for housing the storage battery indoors.

• OTHER FEATURES

• The system should provided two LED indicators: a green LED to indicate charging in progress and a red LED to indicate deep discharge condition of the battery
• There will be a name plate on the PV module which will give the following minimum information:
• Name of the Manufacturer
• Module Type
• Serial Number
• Rated output under STC
The name/logo of manufacturer, model and serial numbers should be laminated under the glass.
• There will be a separate name plate on the system which will give:
• Name of the Manufacturer
• Model Number
• Serial Number
• Components and parts used in the solar home lighting systems hold conform to BIS specifications, wherever such specifications are available and applicable
• The PV module will be warranted for a minimum period of 10 years from the date of supply and the home lighting system (including the battery) will be warranted for a minimum period of 15 months from the date of supply.
 
The Warranty Card to be supplied with the system must contain details of the system supplied, as given in Annexure. The manufacturers can also provide additional information about the system and conditions of warranty as necessary.
• An Operation, Instruction and Maintenance Manual in English and Malayalam, should be provided with the solar home lighting system.
 
The following minimum details must be provided in the manual:
• About photovoltaics
• About solar home lighting systems
• About PV module
• About CFL
• About battery
• Clear instructions about mounting of PV module(s).
• About electronics
• About charging and significance of indicators.
• DOs and DONTs
• Clear instructions on regular maintenance and trouble shooting of the solar home lighting system.
• Name and address of the person or service centre to be contacted in case of failure or complaint.
• The official logo for the 'Golden Jubilee Year of Indian Independence' should be printed on all components of the solar home lighting system.

• OTHER CONDITIONS

• An Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) should be provided for a period of four years after the fifteen months warranty period. The scope of the AMC must cover supply of spares (excluding batteries) and services during its tenure. Orders will be placed only on companies which agree to offer such an AMC to ANERT or to the end users.
• More than one sample can be submitted for evaluation. All samples should be marked separately and separate prices may be quoted for each sample.
• Once a sample is approved by ANERT, only same make/model of the component(s)/system should be supplied to ANERT. No change in the make or model is permitted at a later date.
• The supply should be as per the supply schedule given in purchase order, to various ANERT/IREP offices and HQ, Thiruvananthapuram.
• 10% of the total payment to the supplier retained during the warranty period will be released only after the expiry of the warranty period.
• If any unit is found defective during the warranty period, the manufacturer should replace or repair the same within ten days from the date of intimation sent to the manufacturer at manufacturer's cost.
• The quality inspection will involve the testing of samples and manufacturer's site inspection.
• Unsuccessful samples will be returned to the tenderer. Successful samples will be retained. This will be returned only after the completion of the whole supply or at the end of the warranty period.
• The samples of second and third lowest among the successful bid will be returned only after a delay of three months just as a standby arrangement for consideration of placing purchase order in case of problems of completion of supply by the supplier to whom orders were placed.
• The samples will be returned in as-is-where-is condition. The tenderer should collect the samples from HQ, Thiruvananthapuram.
• The technical evaluation may be conducted either by ANERT or any other external agency or reputed standard laboratories decided by ANERT.
• Samples of the light unit with control electronics, battery, SPV module, interconnecting wires and switches should be submitted along with the tender.
• If more than one brand/make of module, battery, etc., are offered, the samples of each should be submitted. No deviation from the sample(s) approved will be allowed while effecting supplies.
• Test certificates from Solar Energy Centre of MNES, or other MNES approved test centres/national test laboratories should be submitted with the tender.
• The following words should be printed/embossed/engraved on the module, light units, battery and battery box:
• The supplier should give the list of make, model and serial nos. of module, light units, battery, etc. with the date of supply, guarantee period and name of office to which supplied with each lot, in a printed form, and also as a database file in a 1.44 MB floppy diskette along with every invoice submitted for payment. This is as per MNES request. Payment will be effected only after al these details are provided completely.
• Electronic circuit diagram with complete details and test points should be submitted after the receipt of the purchase order, and before the first supply is effected.
• Test certificates should be submitted with the tender.
• Any specification which is not mentioned explicitly above should be as per MNES specification for the year 1997-98.

 
 

	Name & Address of the Manufacturer/Supplier of the System	.................................
	Name & Address of the Purchasing Agencies	.................................
	Date of supply of the system	.................................
	Details of PV Module(s) supplied in the system:
	Make (Name of the manufacturer)	.................................
	Model	.................................
	Serial No(s).	.................................
	Month/Year of Manufacturer	.................................
	Wattage of the PV Module(s) under STC	.................................
	Warranty valid up to	.................................
	Details of Battery:
	Make (Name of the manufacturer)	.................................
	Model	.................................
	Batch / Serial No(s).	.................................
	Month/Year of Manufacturer	.................................
	Rated V & Ah capacity at C/20 / C/10 rate at 20ºC	.................................
	Warranty valid up to	.................................
	Details of Electronics &: other BOS items:
	Make (Name of the manufacturer)	.................................
	Model	.................................
	Serial No(s).	.................................
	Month/Year of Manufacturer	.................................
	Warranty valid up to	.................................
	Designation & Address of the person to be contacted for claiming Warranty obligations	.................................
		(Signature) Name & Designation Name & Address of the Manufacturer /Supplier (SEAL)
	Date :  Place :
(During the warranty period, MNES / State Agencies / users reserve the right to cross check the performance of the systems with the minimum performance levels specified in the MNES specifications)