Development of Dual Charging Sources for an Affordable Rechargeable Lantern to Support a Green Environment

This article presents the development of a dual-source charging system for an affordable rechargeable lantern designed to support a green environment. The proposed system integrates waste plastic materials for packaging, used laptop batteries for energy storage, a DC-DC power converter for DC source charging, and an AC-DC power converter for AC source charging. A distinguishing feature of the design is its dual charging capability, which allows the battery to be charged using either an AC or DC source, depending on availability-unlike conventional systems that typically support only one input type. Although both charging converters are incorporated within the same system, they do not operate simultaneously. Sensors and a control unit detect the available power source and activate the appropriate charging converter. The DC charging path is deactivated when an AC source is detected, and vice versa. When a DC source is available, the system charges the battery using a regulated DC voltage and current via the DC-DC converter. When an AC supply is available, it is rectified and regulated before charging the battery. The proposed system contributes to environmental protection by reducing pollution and mitigating carcinogenic risks, as it repurposes waste plastic bottles in the lantern’s packaging, thereby minimizing plastic litter on land and in aquatic environments.