battery free torch

[Getwet]

Has anyone any experience of this or similar battery free torches for emergency use. I like the idea of a back up torch that will always be ready to go.This one claims to be robust and waterproof, some of the wind up ones Ive seen look very flimsy and not waterproof

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/40-OFF-NIGHTSTAR-FLASHLIGHT-BATTERY-FREE-TORCH_W0QQitemZ230169303281QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230169303281

 

[dunc]

I bought some cheapo ones of ebay ages ago, quality not great - in particular the switch but otherwise it worked a treat when the power failed once last year! The one you posted a link to does appear a fair bit more robust looking than the one I got..

 

[AndyF]

Homebase had some LED ones that you "shook" I liked that as there were no mechanical gers and cogs to break.... (the charge was generated by a metal block running up and down in a coil)

<edit> just like the one you posted, sorry should have followed the link first 

 

[Downer]

Has anyone any experience of this or similar battery free torches for emergency use. I like the idea of a back up torch that will always be ready to go.This one claims to be robust and waterproof, some of the wind up ones Ive seen look very flimsy and not waterproof

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/40-OFF-NIGHTSTAR-FLASHLIGHT-BATTERY-FREE-TORCH_W0QQitemZ230169303281QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230169303281

What's wrong with glowsticks?

 

[francis]

They stop working after X units of time.

Francis

EDIT: Yeehaa, I can modify my post!

 

[darkplaces]

Has anyone any experience of this or similar battery free torches for emergency use. I like the idea of a back up torch that will always be ready to go.This one claims to be robust and waterproof, some of the wind up ones Ive seen look very flimsy and not waterproof

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/40-OFF-NIGHTSTAR-FLASHLIGHT-BATTERY-FREE-TORCH_W0QQitemZ230169303281QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230169303281

What's wrong with glowsticks?

Glowsticks have a shelf-life and end up unusable when you come to use them.

Personally I find its best to have something like a tikka xp and use (say when sat about naattering) it as opposed to leaving it for when you have a failure, then you know it works and when you need to change battery's. I feel anything else is just fondling.

 

[Downer]

Has anyone any experience of this or similar battery free torches for emergency use. I like the idea of a back up torch that will always be ready to go.This one claims to be robust and waterproof, some of the wind up ones Ive seen look very flimsy and not waterproof

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/40-OFF-NIGHTSTAR-FLASHLIGHT-BATTERY-FREE-TORCH_W0QQitemZ230169303281QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230169303281

What's wrong with glowsticks?

Glowsticks have a shelf-life and end up unusable when you come to use them.

Personally I find its best to have something like a tikka xp and use (say when sat about naattering) it as opposed to leaving it for when you have a failure, then you know it works and when you need to change battery's. I feel anything else is just fondling.

I suspect that anything mechanical is going to be less reliable than a glowstick, shelf-life notwithstanding.

 

[darkplaces]

hmm No I would disagree with that statement. While an untouched glowstick will degrade to an unusable state my tikka xp and any other torch will last longer, mounted on a helmet, being smacked on the roof, going though water. I dislike glowsticks very much they are environmentally and cost wise very expensive with not much directional light. Once used they are normally disgarded/left by the runts who use them thinking they are cool. They are not.

 

[potholer]

Especially now there are low-self-discharge NiMH cells, which hold the great bulk of their charge even over a year, and long-running LED torches, it's possible to have a rechargeable electric backup which is rarely used, yet which doesn't require topping up on a monthly timescale to keep at near-peak runtime.
I really can't see much point in shake-powered lights for caving.

 

[ian.p]

has anyone tried a petzl e light out yet? sory bit of topic

 

[darkplaces]

I have seen two in action, very compact and bright for the package but the size I think makes the cost a premium and the battery's are button type. Personally I would prefer a tikka with very common AAA batterys almost every shop sells.

 

[Walrus]

has anyone tried a petzl e light out yet? sory bit of topic

I've got one - Absolutely tiny, batteries can be bought for about 60p each (it takes two) and it lasts for ages - seems quite robust (I haven't broken it yet - I sat on it yesterday and slept on it last night!). Bright enough to see by to get you out of trouble, waterproof and attaches to almost anything. Very happy with it.

 

[wormster]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/40-OFF-NIGHTSTAR-FLASHLIGHT-BATTERY-FREE-TORCH_W0QQitemZ230169303281QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230169303281

ooo a wa%^£rs torch (all that 5 knuckle shaking up and down) you mean.

 

[barrabus]

has anyone tried a petzl e light out yet? sory bit of topic

I have had one since Xmas last year and take it everywhere (up mountain and down cave).

I have used it on the hill when I got err...slightly lost and it worked well.

Very small and compact and I even manage to cram a couple of painkillers (self medication for when times get hard) in the container too.

Recommended.