March 16th, 2006 - Flashlight longevity
Katie asked in a comment how long my new flashlight keeps its charge. So yesterday, home due to Eric being sick, I did some testing.
Shaken for 1 minute and left on, the flashlight stays well-lit for 5 minutes. The light fades to nearly nothing aroung 30 minutes of being on continuously without being shut off. To completely drain the charge takes an hour or more.
Shaken for 1 minute and then turned off except for hourly testing, the flashlight remained well-lit over 12 hours later. I tested houly for 5 hours then went to bed. 9 hours later, it was as bright (to me) as when I’d first shaken it. I refrained from using it this morning and will see how the charge is in the morning.
You do not have to shake it for a minute straight. You can shake it for about 30 seconds then start using it. Shake occasionally while in use and you’ll recharge it. I haven’t tested this part, but know it from my morning usage.
It has an LED light, which I think is plenty bright, and not harsh. Eric has a halogen flashlight that he prefers because it’s brighter.
I saw shakeable flashlights for sale at Menard’s (WI-based store like Lowe’s or Home Depot) for $19.95 for two, one large and one small. (Michael, would you share where you got this one and how much it cost?) I don’t think I would have noticed them, however, if I hadn’t had one already. I’m tempted to get more–I’d put one in the tornado emergency kit downstairs and the other one on my bedside table, or in the car. These flashlights are mentioned in the latest Reader’s Digest, in their annual review of “As Seen on TV” products. Their reviewers weren’t impressed with them, mainly because of the shaking involved. Too bad I wasn’t a reviewer. I think the extra bit of exercise required is a bonus! If I recall correctly, they thought the light wasn’t bright enough either. I’ve used them outside (the light goes all the way to the back of our yard, probably 30-50 feet) as well as in a dark closet (excellent!). Another advantage to the LED is that you don’t get circles of light and dark like with a regular bulb. (I’m not sure if halogens give the concentric circles; I can’t recall.)
March 17th, 2006 at 7:43 am EST
Thanks for the info!
March 17th, 2006 at 12:36 pm EST
I’ll look up where I bought them (it was around 10 each, or $27 for two counting S&H), but I found some on ebay.