Anyone recommend a good rechargeable torch? My elderly B&D one has given up
the ghost, the cheap bazillion power spotlights in the sheds have batteries
made of lard and Maglite want hundreds of pounds(!) for their "rechargeable
torch system".

I want one that I can leave plugged in all the time and it would be nice if
it recharged from 12V as well as mains and came on automatically in a power
cut.

-- 
            "Other people are not your property."
        [email me at huge [at] huge [dot] org [dot] uk]

"Huge"  wrote in message 
news:di2r65$7of$1@anubis.demon.co.uk...

> Anyone recommend a good rechargeable torch? My elderly B&D one has given 
> up
> the ghost, the cheap bazillion power spotlights in the sheds have 
> batteries
> made of lard and Maglite want hundreds of pounds(!) for their 
> "rechargeable
> torch system".
>
> I want one that I can leave plugged in all the time and it would be nice 
> if
> it recharged from 12V as well as mains and came on automatically in a 
> power
> cut.



I got a cheap UniRoss one from Argos and it has been active and plugged in 
for probably 8-10 years. It starts flashing if the mains goes off (assuming 
the switch is in flashing mode - the flashing stops when an active charge is 
detected). The batteries probably don't last as long as they might now but 
still long enough for emergencies. I think it cost 8.99 at the time. They 
still do the same torch (restyled) for 9.99 and it has 12V car adapter 
(which mine didn't). Given my experience, for emergency use, I would buy 
this.


-- 
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Huge   wrote:


> Anyone recommend a good rechargeable torch? My elderly B&D one has
> given up the ghost, the cheap bazillion power spotlights in the sheds
> have batteries made of lard and Maglite want hundreds of pounds(!)
> for their "rechargeable torch system".
>
> I want one that I can leave plugged in all the time and it would be
> nice if it recharged from 12V as well as mains and came on
> automatically in a power cut.


Have you considered the wind-up variety - which you can recharge yourself
without needing a mains supply?
-- 
Cheers,
Set Square
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.

Set Square wrote:

> In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
> Huge   wrote:
> 
> 
>>Anyone recommend a good rechargeable torch? My elderly B&D one has
>>given up the ghost, the cheap bazillion power spotlights in the sheds
>>have batteries made of lard and Maglite want hundreds of pounds(!)
>>for their "rechargeable torch system".
>>
>>I want one that I can leave plugged in all the time and it would be
>>nice if it recharged from 12V as well as mains and came on
>>automatically in a power cut.
> 
> 
> Have you considered the wind-up variety - which you can recharge yourself
> without needing a mains supply?


Can you really get those - are are you just winding me up? :)

Richard Conway  writes:

>Set Square wrote:
>> In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
>> Huge   wrote:
>> 
>> 
>>>Anyone recommend a good rechargeable torch? My elderly B&D one has
>>>given up the ghost, the cheap bazillion power spotlights in the sheds
>>>have batteries made of lard and Maglite want hundreds of pounds(!)
>>>for their "rechargeable torch system".
>>>
>>>I want one that I can leave plugged in all the time and it would be
>>>nice if it recharged from 12V as well as mains and came on
>>>automatically in a power cut.
>> 
>> 
>> Have you considered the wind-up variety - which you can recharge yourself
>> without needing a mains supply?
>
>Can you really get those


Oh, yes. Several kinds.




-- 
            "Other people are not your property."
        [email me at huge [at] huge [dot] org [dot] uk]

Huge wrote:

> Richard Conway  writes:
> 
>>Set Square wrote:
>>
>>>In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
>>>Huge   wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Anyone recommend a good rechargeable torch? My elderly B&D one has
>>>>given up the ghost, the cheap bazillion power spotlights in the sheds
>>>>have batteries made of lard and Maglite want hundreds of pounds(!)
>>>>for their "rechargeable torch system".
>>>>
>>>>I want one that I can leave plugged in all the time and it would be
>>>>nice if it recharged from 12V as well as mains and came on
>>>>automatically in a power cut.
>>>
>>>
>>>Have you considered the wind-up variety - which you can recharge yourself
>>>without needing a mains supply?
>>
>>Can you really get those
> 
> 
> Oh, yes. Several kinds.


Nah, you're just cranking my handle now!

On Thu, 6 Oct 2005 12:37:56 +0100, "Set Square" 
wrote:


>Have you considered the wind-up variety - which you can recharge yourself
>without needing a mains supply?


There is also a torch which can be shaken. It comprises a tube with a
fixed magnet at each end. In the tube is a third magnet which is free
to move. Around the tube is a coil. Shake the torch and it charges a
capacitor which in turn powers the light.

http://www.gadgets.co.uk/dual-power-faraday-shake-torch.html

wibble@email.com (s--p--o--n--i--x) writes:

>On Thu, 6 Oct 2005 12:37:56 +0100, "Set Square" 
>wrote:
>
>>Have you considered the wind-up variety - which you can recharge yourself
>>without needing a mains supply?
>
>There is also a torch which can be shaken. It comprises a tube with a
>fixed magnet at each end. In the tube is a third magnet which is free
>to move. Around the tube is a coil. Shake the torch and it charges a
>capacitor which in turn powers the light.
>
>http://www.gadgets.co.uk/dual-power-faraday-shake-torch.html


Which then goes out at the exact moment you need it shone directly on
something...

-- 
            "Other people are not your property."
        [email me at huge [at] huge [dot] org [dot] uk]

Huge wrote:

> wibble@email.com (s--p--o--n--i--x) writes:
> 
>>On Thu, 6 Oct 2005 12:37:56 +0100, "Set Square" 
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Have you considered the wind-up variety - which you can recharge yourself
>>>without needing a mains supply?
>>
>>There is also a torch which can be shaken. It comprises a tube with a
>>fixed magnet at each end. In the tube is a third magnet which is free
>>to move. Around the tube is a coil. Shake the torch and it charges a
>>capacitor which in turn powers the light.
>>
>>http://www.gadgets.co.uk/dual-power-faraday-shake-torch.html
> 
> 
> Which then goes out at the exact moment you need it shone directly on
> something...


I suspect that anything that comes from 'gadgets.co.uk' is probably a 
totally worthless gimmick.  Functional but not practical comes to mind.

"Richard Conway"  wrote in message
news:4781f.5326$yu2.1039@fe06.highwinds-media.phx...

> Huge wrote:
> > Richard Conway  writes:
> >
> >>Set Square wrote:
> >>
> >>>In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
> >>>Huge   wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Anyone recommend a good rechargeable torch? My elderly B&D one has
> >>>>given up the ghost, the cheap bazillion power spotlights in the sheds
> >>>>have batteries made of lard and Maglite want hundreds of pounds(!)
> >>>>for their "rechargeable torch system".
> >>>>
> >>>>I want one that I can leave plugged in all the time and it would be
> >>>>nice if it recharged from 12V as well as mains and came on
> >>>>automatically in a power cut.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Have you considered the wind-up variety - which you can recharge
yourself
> >>>without needing a mains supply?
> >>
> >>Can you really get those
> >
> >
> > Oh, yes. Several kinds.
>
> Nah, you're just cranking my handle now!



They really exist. We bought one when we went wandering around the Amazon.
It has two light settings but with full charge it only lasts about 5 min on
the brightest. They now make them with LEDs instead of a bulb so they might
last longer. You also get ones that you shake instead of winding up. As you
can imagine that caused many comments when someone started recharging it
before leaving the pub.

Found a shake torch on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8701321486
and here is a wind up one http://www.ogormans.co.uk/freeplay.htm


 Simon

Richard Conway wrote:


> I suspect that anything that comes from 'gadgets.co.uk' is probably a
> totally worthless gimmick.


The LED shaker torch is actually a pretty useful piece of kit. Modern
LEDs and supercaps make it viable.

They're about 30 quid from most places, but I've also seen them for a
fiver at a local garage. Certainly worth the fiver!

Huge wrote:

>> Can you really get those
>
> Oh, yes. Several kinds.


I bought a few of them in Makro a few weeks ago.  Use LED bulbs and 1 mins 
winding give 30 mins light apparently.  Axminster do one that will also 
recharge your mobile!

I have seen one where you shake it up & down to charge it - I'd be a bit 
careful about where I did that!

Dave

On 6 Oct 2005 05:06:59 -0700, dingbat@codesmiths.com wrote:


>Richard Conway wrote:
>
>> I suspect that anything that comes from 'gadgets.co.uk' is probably a
>> totally worthless gimmick.
>
>The LED shaker torch is actually a pretty useful piece of kit. Modern
>LEDs and supercaps make it viable.
>
>They're about 30 quid from most places, but I've also seen them for a
>fiver at a local garage. Certainly worth the fiver!


Around a fiver on ebay too.

s--p--o--n--i--x wrote:


> Around a fiver on ebay too.


And Makro.

Dave

dingbat@codesmiths.com wrote:

> Richard Conway wrote:
>
> > I suspect that anything that comes from 'gadgets.co.uk' is probably a
> > totally worthless gimmick.
>
> The LED shaker torch is actually a pretty useful piece of kit. Modern
> LEDs and supercaps make it viable.
>
> They're about 30 quid from most places, but I've also seen them for a
> fiver at a local garage. Certainly worth the fiver!


Id go for the wind up, shaking is a very inefficient process.

NT

On Thu, 6 Oct 2005 12:06:59 UTC, dingbat@codesmiths.com wrote:


> Richard Conway wrote:
> 
> > I suspect that anything that comes from 'gadgets.co.uk' is probably a
> > totally worthless gimmick.
> 
> The LED shaker torch is actually a pretty useful piece of kit. Modern
> LEDs and supercaps make it viable.
> 
> They're about 30 quid from most places, but I've also seen them for a
> fiver at a local garage. Certainly worth the fiver!


8.99 or thereabouts from CPC. Work OK, but should be shaken (not too 
hard) in a hrizontal plane to avoid the risk of internal damage due to 
the magnet hitting the end too hard. Rather a narrow beam, but OK.

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