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We Care Solar Suitcase®

Our award-winning We Care Solar Suitcase® is a robust, easy-to-use solar electric system that provides last-mile health facilities with highly efficient medical lighting and power for mobile communication and small medical devices. The We Care Solar Suitcase was designed to support timely and efficient emergency obstetric care, but can be used in a range of medical and humanitarian settings.

General Information

When properly installed, used, and serviced, and with one battery replacement, the Solar Suitcases can provide light for 10+ years. The main maintenance needs are:

  • Main Battery – The main batteries, which are lithium ferrous phosphate (LFP), will need to be replaced after approximately five years. See Video #17 Replacing the Main Battery.
  • Solar Panel – Solar panels are built to last for 10 years or more and are unlikely to need repair, although they may need to be cleaned periodically. See Video #15 Cleaning the Solar Panel.
  • Appliances – Appliances (headlamps, fetal Doppler, thermometer, rechargeable battery charger) all have a limited life span. We supply some replacements in the spare parts kit (detailed below), and some may also be purchased locally.
 

We Care Solar provides a warranty for two years on the base system. The base system includes: chassis, charge controller, lights, main LFP battery, and solar panels. All warranty claims are dependent on proper installation and usage. No appliances – battery charger, headlamp, charging cords, thermometer, and fetal Doppler – are covered under warranty.

Solar Suitcase progression through the years...

2025

Version 3

Our new and improved Version 3 comes with a variety of specifications that allow for greater longevity. Some key improvements include: 

  • Improved user interface so medical professionals can concentrate on medicine.
  • Lithium Battery support allows built-in accurate battery fuel gauging.
  • Lights with variable output allow bright light when needed.
  • Larger internal battery allows for enough energy to run four lights on high for 12 hrs, or on low for 60 hrs.
2019

Version 2

We Care Solar partnered with Morgan Royce Industries, a small contract manufacturer in Fremont, California to produce our first manufactured run of Solar Suitcases. 

Learn more about what led up to the V2 here. 

2010

Version 1

Some Helpful Links

Technical Support

Please reference this page for user manuals, troubleshooting, helpful videos, and more.

Learn More

Learning Kit

This kit offers students hands-on experience with the ins and outs of our solar suitcase.

Learn More

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