In choosing a power supply for the device, the team wanted it to be as environmentally friendly as possible and intentionally looked for one that could be recharged via a solar panel. Keeping this in mind, the battery that was chosen is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. These batteries provide high energy density but do contain lithium ions and highly flammable electrolytes. The battery will be stored within the device and the solar panel will be on top of the housing.

In choosing to use a lithium-ion battery, the team was aware of the possibility of the battery being the cause of a fire. This would be potentially harmful to wildlife, humans, or property in the area and be counter product for our device. The causes of lithium battery failure include puncture, overcharge, overheating, short circuit, internal cell failure, and manufacturing deficiencies. Many of the charging sources reported in such fires were USB port charging connections suggesting that the use of such connections may be a source of the problem. In this project, the system does not utilize a USB port for charging purposes theoretically increasing the battery’s safety further. There will also be measures taken to isolate the terminals in the battery to prevent hazards due to short circuiting.