by Marjan van Aubel
Frequently
asked questions
How does it work?
Sunne charges itself when it captures sun-rays. The more sun the better - although in some locations Sunne might get too hot for charging. Read on for more information.
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Sunne charges best in full sunlight. So, when you select a window to hang Sunne - best is to choose a southerly orientation with minimal shading obstructions (avoid trees and tall buildings). To generate energy, sunlight must reach the solar surface on the back of Sunne.
There is a small indication light on the side of Sunne. When this is on, Sunne is charging. When the indication light is blinking slowly, the battery is fully charged.
How to use Sunne?
Sunne can be used immediately with the button, a short press will go to the next light mode. A long press switches the lamp off.
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If you connect the Sunne with the App the Sunne can automatically switch on at sunset, and you can monitor the charging performance and battery level.
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Sunne harvests solar energy; it charges itself when it captures sun-rays. Sunne is intelligent; how brightly it glows corresponds to its battery level, to maximise the length of time it will glow for.
With a fully charged battery, Sunne can glow for more than 20 hours. This means it can still glow for you even on a cloudy day. Each evening, Sunne will use some of this stored energy when it is switched on. Then the next day, if the sun shines, Sunne will generate energy to top up the battery level again. This is Sunne’s self-sufficient energy cycle, powered by the sun.
Sunne charges best in full sunlight. So, when you select a window to hang Sunne - best is to choose a sunny orientation with minimal shading obstructions (avoid trees and tall buildings). To generate energy, sunlight must reach the solar surface on the back of Sunne.
There is a small indicator light on the side of Sunne. When this is on, Sunne is charging. When the indicator light is blinking slowly, the battery is fully charged.
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Seasonal Factors
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In Summer, temperature can be an important factor - some windows get really hot - so we suggest not hanging Sunne directly against the window. It’s best to leave at least 2cm gap, to allow some cooling airflow. Above 45 degrees Celsius, the charging performance is limited for safety reasons. So if you see a lot of sunlight shining on Sunne, but it is not charging well, check the temperature.
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In Winter, sometimes there may not be enough sunshine to charge your Sunne sufficiently, especially if you like to use the light a lot during the day. For this reason, we have equipped Sunne with a USB-C charging port just in case the battery drops too low.
How to install Sunne?
Sunne likes to hang in front of a sunny window. It captures the sun-rays during the day and glows after sunset. Here is a quick explanation of how to hang your Sunne.
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Start by selecting the window that catches the most sun during the day. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, the best orientation is south. But depending on the location, east to west can also work.
Sunne should not be too shaded by trees, or by the window frame. Sunlight must be able to reach the solar surface on the back.
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How to switch light modes?
Sunne can be used immediately with the button, a short press will go to the next light mode. A long press switches the lamp off.
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Download the Sunne app and pair to your Sunne to unlock more features; your Sunne can automatically switch on at sunset, and you can monitor the charging performance and battery level.
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Charging tips
To generate energy, sunlight must reach the solar surface on the back of Sunne. So, check if there’s any obstacles shading Sunne from the sun, like the window frame or a tree. The way solar panels work, even partial shading can have a massive impact. Adjust Sunne’s position to avoid shading.
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Sunne won’t charge well when it is switched on. Any solar energy harvested will go directly to powering the lighting, instead of charging the battery. So, it’s best to enjoy Sunne’s glow after the sun sets.
Check the temperature. Of course solar panels need bright sunshine, but they actually don’t perform well when they get too hot. Plus, Sunne’s charging performance is limited above 45 degrees celsius for safety reasons. So, make sure you don’t hang Sunne directly against the window, but leave a gap for cooling airflow.
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Consider a boost charge. If Sunne’s battery level is very low, and the sunshine isn’t optimal, it might require a boost charge (via USB) to get back into its self-sufficient cycle. We suggest using a USB 3.2 or higher cable and a charger rated for a minimum of 2 A (2000 mA) charge current.
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The Sunne App
The App for your iPhone, iPad or Android can be downloaded from the Apple Appstore or Google Playstore. Search for Sunne, install the Sunne App and pair it to your Sunne.
Your Sunne can automatically switch on at sunset, and you can monitor the charging performance and battery level.
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The Sunne can connect to your app using Bluetooth Low Energy. Using the app you can see the battery status, but also change the modes and the light intensity.
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Once you have the app open and searching for Sunne, press and hold the Sunne button until it flashes blue to enter bluetooth pairing mode.
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