Flashlights

We all need them at one time or another because the power will inevitably go out. In the days prior to LED’s you could buy a basic incandescent flashlight using ‘C’ cells for $3-$4 and life was fine.

Today, you can’t find any of those old flashlights and are stuck with buying LED flashlights, but the cost of the new LED technology was painfully expensive and they were packed with multiple unneeded modes like low, medium, high and strobe. Well, all I want is just a basic flashlight that’s just ‘on’ and ‘off’. Full-featured LED lighting is what my headlamp is for.

A couple months ago, WalMart had just what I was looking for, an LED flashlight that’s simply ‘on’ or ‘off’ and best of all cost just $1.00 each including batteries! I have no idea how WalMart can buy, stock and sell these flashlights for just $1.

I bought 10 of them, they’re perfect for around the house, garage, kitchen drawers, nightstands, bathrooms, etc.

• They have a push button tailstock ‘on’ ‘off’ switch
• Use 3 caged ‘AAA’ batteries. The batteries as expected are not worth much and don’t last long. I replaced mine with DuraCell batteries and they’re still going strong.
• Overall it’s a surprisingly well-made flashlight.
• Remember to unscrew the tail cap and remove the insulating disc before use. The insulator is so people can’t turn them on in the store and leave them on.
• Are they a replacement for a Tactical LED Light? Of course not.

LED Lighting

Off-Grid or just want to save money? LED’s have finally come of age. They arrived with performance, long life and compatibility with incandescent fixtures compared to the current CFL’s.

I’ve worked with LED’s for use in the medical devices we designed and I can say the last seven years have seen dramatic improvements in LED technology. I prefer LED’s over CFL’s because of their long working life and lower operating watts.

Our Gov should have waited with the CFL’s and pushed for the development of LED’s, but hey, what would you expect from them.

Yesterday, I was at Sam’s Club and in the isle they had several skids loaded with GE, LED 60-watt equivalent bulbs. I stopped, read the packaging and bought 3, 6-packs of them. The price, $9.99 for six LED’s or $1.66 each. Each is estimated to last 13.9 years at 3 hours a day of use.

Their reduced size now allows them to fit in existing table lamps, fixtures, etc. The light they emit is smooth even light, no shadowy gray areas or doughnut holes. They completely replicate the light and output of an incandescent 60-watt bulb but instead of using 60 watts they use only 9 watts

Amazon link for more information:

https://www.amazon.com/GE-Bright-Stik-Non-Dimmable-2700K/dp/B01LZ8K9JK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489164958&sr=8-1&keywords=ge+led+bright+stik

 LED vs 100-watt incandescent.

Van or RV interior LED lighting?

Sounds like a good lighting option for your van or RV interior. Dimmer controlled, 3 to 21 watts power consumption @ 12 volts.

Image without lens on.

Product name:

Green LongLife 9090101 LED Dome Light Fixture Single 921 Wedge 230 Lumens 12v or 24v Natural White

Product Description

Green LongLife LED replacement lights are built with the finest LED lighting technology and materials. This Green LongLife LED features: Built-in adjustable dimmer switch; 8-30 volts DC including 12v and 24v--this wide-range voltage is designed to withstand RV power fluctuations that can damage ordinary LED lights; 230 Lumens; Natural White color; 3.0 power watts; 21 High Power 5050 SMD LEDs; beam pattern of 120 degrees; and color temperature of 4000-4500K. Each Green LongLife LED bulb has a life expectancy of 100,000 hours--many times longer than a standard bulb--which saves money and time, especially in those hard-to-reach places. This product does not contain mercury or emit ultraviolet (UV) light.

http://www.amazon.com/LongLife-9090101-Fixture-Single-Natural/dp/B007SYRZH2

12 Volt LED Lamp Update 3-23-12

I finally figured out how to best use the 12 volt LED lamp I bought a few months ago. I went to the store and purchased a small night stand 110 volt lamp with a shade for $9.00 and converted it to accept the 12 volt LED lamp. It turned out very well. For long term emergency lighting this will work for me!

Here’s where I purchased the LED from:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XMW874/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=bisonpress-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B004XMW874&adid=1YAZNE5E36B4SR2KK9XR&

Product Features:
Bulb Type: BA15S Base (Single Contact)
Lumen: 180
Lumen Color Temperature: White 6000K
Working Voltage:10 - 30 V DC
Power: 3.6 Watt
LED: 30 LED’s
200 days warranty!

At the auto parts store and purchased a 12 volt lamp socket for the LED and to make the power connection.

Next I disassembled the 110 volt lamp socket and entirely removed the incandescent 110 volt lamp socket/switch assembly.

I used the 110 volt power cord for the 12 volt power cord and wired it to the automotive socket. To mount the 12 volt socket into the area where the much larger 110 volt socket was I used LocTite’s Power Grab (the white stuff around the base of the LED lamp socket). It filled the gaps between the two nicely and holds the assembly together securely.

The completed lamp.

The brightness, as you can see is more than enough to read with and do normal kitchen cores. It does fill the area with plenty of comfortable light for those times when the electric is out.

I happen to have a 4 year old but still good car battery to use for the power source. I connected the lamp to the battery with two alligator clips. The lamp uses only 3.6 watts so using a battery of this size would power this light easily for weeks with every night use. A battery box will be added for safety.