FAQ

General Questions 

Who Is Ecopia?  
Why should I buy from you?
What makes Ecopia different to other online stores?  
Isn’t online purchasing a complicated process?
What payment methods do you accept?
Are my credit card details safe?  
How safe are my personal details?
How much will it cost to deliver my order?
Where do you deliver?
What if I don't like what I've purchased?
What if my purchase is damaged or faulty?
How can I contact you?
How soon will you reply to my question about my purchase?  

Solar panels and solar regulators

Are solar panels cost-effective?  
What is a solar regulator?
How does a solar regulator work?

Solar Lights

What’s the advantage of using solar lights and solar lanterns?
How does a solar light work?
Do I have to switch the solar light on at night?
What is the most common complaint when installing solar lights?
How can I test if the solar light is working properly?   

Eco products

What exactly are eco products?

Renewable energy products

What are renewable energy products?
What are energy efficient products?

Eco Gadgets

What is an eco gadget?
How do I connect my mobile phone, MP3, digital camera or personal electronic handheld, to the charger? 
What is your most popular eco gadget?
What is a solar powered backpack?
Which is the most popular solar charger?
Why are batteries bad for the environment?
Do all the eco gadgets have rechargeable batteries?

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General Questions

Q: Who Is Ecopia?
A: Ecopia is an online shop for renewable energy products started in 2006 by John McBride who says: I have had an interest in mechanics and electronics since childhood,  always taking things apart to see how they worked. So naturally when I grew up I became a mechanical technician.  About ten years ago I became a convert to sustainable living like many others. I spent most of my time researching the best products and found some of them hard to obtain locally. I remember one day in particular when I needed a solar charger to keep my mobile phone recharged while cycling long distances slowly. Not  finding any I liked  I imported a couple and then decided there was a local market for them.  I became an online retailer of eco products for the home but over time my fascination with gadgets dominated and now supply mainly portable solar chargers and similar green gadgets because I love playing with them. One day I hope to market some of my own designs.

Q: Why should I buy from you?
A: You save time, money and most importantly, help to save the planet by using renewable energy and minimising pollution through using natural clean energy and recycled products.

Q: What makes Ecopia different to other online stores?
A: Ecopia products are selected because they really are environmentally beneficial, we do not sell products that a savvy environmentally aware consumer would not want.

Q: Isn’t online purchasing a complicated process?
A: No, Ecopia has streamline the buying process into 3 easy steps:

1. Click the BUY button to add products to your shopping basket
2. Register your delivery and invoicing details
3. Select Paypal to pay using your credit card or select Offline payment to pay later by cheque or bank transfer

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Q: What payment methods do you accept? 
A: Ecopia accepts online payments processed by Paypal or you can choose offline payment. If you choose paypal you will be able to complete your purchase online using one of paypal's payments options, most customers pay by credit card because its the same as making any other purchase using your credit card and you don't need to join Paypal, so its convenient and fast. You can also choose offline payment, the details of your order will be automatically recorded and a copy emailed to you for payment by EFT bank deposit, postal money order or cheque. If you want to cancel an order or if you have any problems when paying, just send a message using the CONTACT screen or phone  08-93048896.

Q: Are my credit card details safe?
A Yes, Ecopia uses the Paypal payment system used by millions of online customers every day. Your details are  encrypted to safeguard them, in fact nobody else gets to ever see your credit card details. 

Q: How safe are my personal details? I don’t want to be put on mailing lists or be spammed with emails.
A: Ecopia will NEVER pass on your personal details to anybody else or breach your confidence. Ecopia will only send newsletters to customers who have specifically requested to be added to Ecopia's mailing list.

Q: How much will it cost to deliver my order?
A: We charge a flat rate of $9.90 per order, which is probably the best shipping rate in Australia. The shipping charge is added to your bill during checkout so you can see the total cost of the order. You are not charged for handling. Click the DELIVERY button at the top of the page for more details.

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 Q:  Where do you deliver?
A: We  deliver anywhere in Australia and we also deliver to PO Boxes except for the larger suntech solar panels, we cannot deliver large solar panels and portable solar panels to PO Boxes as they are sent by road freight. Posted orders over $50 are sent by registered post at no extra charge to you.

Q: What if I don't like what I've purchased?
A: If you change your mind after buying, you can return it for a full refund within one week of receiving it, but it must be still be unused and in the original packaging so we can resell it. If you receive faulty goods just return it within 2 weeks of delivery for a full refund including return delivery costs.

Q: What if my purchase is damaged or faulty?
A: If you receive faulty goods, return it within 2 weeks of delivery for a full refund  including return delivery costs. Please notify Ecopia by phone or letter or email prior to returning the goods, that will ensure your refund is processed quickly and include a written note with the return explaining the nature of the fault or defect. Ecopia has the right to refuse refund if the customer caused the damage by  inappropriate use or mishandling.

Q: How can I contact you?
A: Send your comment or query via the Contact Form or phone 08-9304886 or 0438020125 

Q: How soon will you reply to my question about my purchase?
A: Emails from customer are given the greatest priority. You will never have to wait more than a couple of hours for a reply.

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Solar panels and solar regulators

Q: Are the portable solar panels cost-effective?
A: Yes, Solar chargers and the larger portable solar panels are comparatively cheap when you consider the power savings and the convenience of being able to use clean energy wherever you are, the larger portable solar panels are ideal for providing power when camping and traveling.  For  more in-depth information about solar power using photovoltaics see  this list of books about  the  use of solar power at the university of New South Wales.

 Q: What is a solar regulator?
A: A solar regulator is a device that prevents the solar panels from overcharging the batteries which causes the battery plates to break down.  

Q: How does a solar regulator work?
A: There a different types of regulators. The less sophisticated types are basically switches, stopping current flow to the battery above a certain voltage and permitting flow when the voltage has dropped to a lower level after usage. The more sophisticated types adjust the charge current and voltage depending on the state of battery charge. When the battery is low the regulator allows a substantial flow of current, as the battery nears a fully charged state the regulator restricts the flow to just a trickle. Once the battery is fully charged the regulator stops the current flow until the battery charge decreases due to use and the regulator permits a certain level of charge current to flow again, and so on, in a continual cycle. The Prostar solar regulators are an excellent example of this technology, even the Projecta solar regulators have a float charge capability but lack the intelligence of the Prostars.

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Solar Lights

Q: What’s the advantage of using solar lights?

A: The most obvious advantage is the energy savings, solar lights use energy from the sun. Another advantage is the easy installation, It does not require external wiring because each light is a self-contained unit.

Q:  How does a solar light work?
A:  A solar cell uses sunlight during the day to charge a rechargeable battery that powers an LED light at night. 

Q:  Do I have to switch the solar light on at night?
A:  No, the light has a light-sensitive switch to automatically switch the solar light on at night and off during the day when the solar light is not needed.
Some units do have an on/off switch to avoid discharge of the battery when left in storage; once the solar light is installed it should be left on.

Q: What is the most common complaint when installing solar lights?
A: Sometimes the light does not come on at night. This is usually because the solar light is too close another light source and the photo switch sees this as daylight. The remedy is to cover half the photocell (the small circular lens on top of the unit) with some masking tape or duct tape to shade it from the other light source. 

Q: How can I test if the solar light is working properly?
A: Try covering the photocell with your thumb, if that does not cause the light to come on then place the light in a very dark room or closet and the light should come on.  If it still does not work, the battery may be faulty, try replacing it with another rechargeable battery of a similar size, (usually AA). It may also be that the battery just needs to be charged up, it takes two or three days for the solar cell to fully charge a flat battery. 

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 Eco products   

 Q: What exactly are eco products?
A: Certain products are called environmentally friendly, ecologically acceptable or green products for various reasons.
Products made from recycled or recyclable materials are the highest caliber eco products, more so if the manufacturing process is ecologically benign as well.
Non-toxic cleaners, pest controls, household consumables, etcetera, that do not pollute the soil, air and water are, by definition, environmentally friendly.
Composting systems, that convert food waste and other organic material into beneficial soil enhancers and plant food, like the popular Bokashi bucket, are the epitome of greenness.
Water saving products conserve water by diverting wastewater and rainwater to the garden or conserve water using tap timers and flow restrictors. Or it could be a simply be a bucket to collect bath water for reuse instead of letting run down the drain. Eco products make good economic sense too, why not recycle, conserve energy or re-use water if it's going to save you money!

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Renewable energy products

Q: What are renewable energy products?
A: Renewable energy products use new energy technologies to assist in averting global warming caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases.
The most widely used alternative technology is solar power in the form of solar panels, also know as photovoltaic cells.
Another widely used clean energy technology is wind power using wind turbines.
Fuel cell energy generation technologies are an emerging green technology as well.

Q: What are energy efficient products?
A: Energy efficient eco products use less electricity.
Compact fluorescent lights and LED lights, commonly called eco lights, are the most well know example, we could even include electrical timers.

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Eco Gadgets

Q: What is an eco gadget?

A: A device, usually electronic, that utilises alternative energy such as solar power, wind power or hand operated dynamo to provide  a small amount of electricity to charge small handheld devices like mobile phones, cameras, mp3 players, etc. 
 

Q: How do I connect my mobile phone, MP3, digital camera or personal electronic handheld, to the charger?
A: Just plug the solar charger into your device's charger socket but make sure the tip is identical to the original.
Most phones and MP3 players can be charged with the supplied connectors but some late models or makes may not fit, If you’re not sure after reading the product specifications then please call or send an email with the make and model of your device.
 Some chargers are only capable of charging a mobile phone so ask first before you buy.
The universal chargers have different voltage outputs so check your device's charging voltage first, for instance, most mobile phone chargers will have the output voltage written on the plug, for instance: 4.2V    1.5A , that means the output voltage is 4.2 volts, the current is 1.5 Amps , it’s the voltage that is important, so select the nearest output voltage setting on the solar charger, eg; 5 volts. 

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 Q: What is the most popular eco gadget?
A: The magic torches are popular because of their dual use as a torch light and mobile phone charger. It has connectors for most makes of mobile phones and the solar powered backpacks have become popular as well.

A: The solar powered backpacks and sling bags are normal backpacks that have integral solar panels connecting to a battery pack.
The battery pack can be used to power handheld devices such as mobile phones, walkmans or Mp3's.
The power and charging leads are run through weatherproof  ports in the compartments that allow you to use it while walking without having the cables getting tangled. 

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 Q: Which is the most popular solar charger?
A: My favourite, and the most technologically superior, is the Soldius universal solar charger, it is truly ‘green’ solar charger because it does not require batteries to store the charge, it takes power directly from the solar panel to charge your device, it has special circuitry to sense what it connected to and provided the correct volts and amps (within its range of capability).

Q: Why are batteries bad for the environment?
A: Batteries are a real blight on the environment, some have nasty chemicals and heavy metals inside them that pollute and poison the natural ecosystems. We can reduce environmental damage by using rechargeable batteries whenever possible.
 

Q: Do all the eco gadgets have rechargeable batteries?
A: All except the Osram Dot-It LED lights, they have standard AAA batteries fitted when purchased because that is how Osram packages them, please replace them with rechargeable cells when they run to ensure you minimise waste.
We chose to include the DotIt lights because they are very useful. The adhesive backing allows you to stick it to plastic, wood or glass surfaces, or use the magnetic back to stick to metal. The LEDs use very little power so it can be left on for more than a week before the power runs out.

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