It’s often the simple ideas that work best.  Take the Consol Solar Jar, a clever little product which combines the simplicity of a jar with solar powered LED capabilities though its integrated solar cell lid.

Suntoy, based in South Africa manufactures the Solar Jar which has proved very popular and this trend has no signs of stopping.  The original concept was to provide a green and renewable light source for people in areas without electricity.  After becoming a cult item in South Africa, the rest of the world wants in and the product is now used for decorative and functional purposes too.

Now let’s be honest, the sun’s rays aren’t always guaranteed to be strong enough depending on the weather conditions and where you are in the world, so an optional power input source to counteract these situations would be prudent.  This presented GCT an opportunity to include one of its industry leading micro USB connectors for additional charging capabilities.

Due to the design within the lids electronics, space on the PCB was limited.  GCT’s USB3140 was the ideal choice – a Micro USB vertical connector with its space saving footprint – it also made charging more accesible versus other micro USB Styles.

More recently, the success of the product has culminated in two week long Illumination Event at Compton Verney Art Gallery & Park in Warwickshire, UK.  I attended one of the sessions and it was great to see the solar jars in action. GCT is proud to be part of something which is not only making a difference to people’s lives, but also something for individuals to express themselves creatively.

You can find out more about GCT’s exciting USB connector range here, including the recently launched USB3160, a new ultra-low profile vertical Micro USB.