Categories: HOME IMPROVEMENT

Batteryless Flashlights – the End of the Road for Dead Batteries

Can you remember back to when you were a kid and dad would always have times of needing a flashlight, only to finally find it with dead batteries? It happened all the time and I am sure you went through the same thing. It seems that is always the case with a battery operated flashlight. When you need it the most it never fails to have dead batteries. Well, there is a solution and it comes in the form of a batteryless flashlight. Let’s take a closer look at how these flashlights.

Exactly how does a batteryless flashlight operate?

Without getting too technical, a batteryless flashlight works from a magnet that slides up and down inside a copper coil. The current is then changed from AC to DC and kept inside of a capacitor. Then, when you turn on the flashlight, this stored current inside the capacitor will make it light up.

There are several different types of batteryless flashlights to choose from. One of these is called a shake flashlight. You operate this unit by shaking it back and forth for 10-15 seconds. Switch it on and the LED light will give off power for about 20-30 minutes. After that you simply give it another shake to keep it lit.

One of the other good things with this type of flashlight, besides the savings on not having to buy batteries, is that the LED light bulbs will last a long time. In fact, they will last 10,000 hours before needing replacement.

Something to keep your eye on though is where you store the flashlight. Since they use a magnet as their power source they can easily attract themselves to anything else around them that are also magnetic. This means you should never keep them close to items such as computers.

There are also a few other models of batteryless lights including the squeeze flashlight. This particular unit works by squeezing the flashlight itself which causes a tiny dynamo generator to operate the light. When you run out of light you simply give it another squeeze.

Finally, there is the wind up flashlight. Again, the unit has a tiny dynamo generator which powers up the LED light bulb. Instead of squeezing the light you have a little handle that folds out and you wind up the flashlight to make it work. Again, when it goes out you simply wind it up some more.

I think you can clearly see how nice these types of flashlights are for use around the house, car, garage, etc. You will never have to go through the routine of needing a flashlight and finding it with dead batteries again. If only these would have been available when my father needed them.