Target is selling AIT Nightstar!! (Batteryless flashlight)

starsupernova

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Sorry if someone mentioned this before, but I saw the AIT Nightstar at Target here in New York City.

It was an interesting experience. When I picked it up, my Swiss military watch stopped. The seconds hand just stopped altogether. Apparently the magnetic field was so strong, it disrupted the internal mechanics of my watch. This is important for me because my time was synchronized with the U.S. governments atomic clock, and the flashlight just ruined that by picking it up. Also, it's actually a heavy flashlight even though it's made of plastic ----- the capacitor probably weighs a ton!

There were two models selling:

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]AIT Nightstar (3rd generation) - [/font]US $40 (review: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/ait_nightstar2sc.htm)

Nightstar CS - US $30 (review: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/ait_nightstar_cs.htm)
 

tvodrd

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I've had a couple of those dumb-A shake light things and wasn't impressed with either brightness or runtime. I had one on the living room coffee table for a while, and it had the disgusting habit of trying to mate with any decent, aluminum-bodied light that got within 4-6 inches of it. Absolutely disgusting! :D
Welcome to CPF!!!!!!

Larry
 

phatalbert

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tvodrd said:
it had the disgusting habit of trying to mate with any decent, aluminum-bodied light that got within 4-6 inches of it. Absolutely disgusting! :D
Welcome to CPF!!!!!!

Larry

:crackup:
 

geepondy

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When they say the new 3rd generation is brighter, I wonder what it compares to? Is it as bright as a standard (non nichia-cs) Arc AAA?
 

The_LED_Museum

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And the motion necessary for charging can resemble a "spanking the monkey" motion to some observers too - close the doors & curtains when charging one of these flashlights. :crackup:
 

nemul

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The_LED_Museum said:
And the motion necessary for charging can resemble a "spanking the monkey" motion to some observers too - close the doors & curtains when charging one of these flashlights. :crackup:

yea, dont charge it up with your back turned to someone!!!
 

srvctec

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Just saw these at my local Target for the first time tonight- they didn't have them last week. Nightstar CS $29.95 and the Nightstar $39.95.
 

Nitroz

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I would much rather use batteries then have to spank my flashlight to make it work for just 30 seconds or a minute. This light need some form of viagra. :naughty:
 

PlayboyJoeShmoe

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I saw a shake light of some sort at Walmart today. It was a little tough to get one apart from the others. The beam was pretty smooth, but there ain't no way I'd buy one!

I put three D cells that an Energizer 4D folding lantern didn't care for much anymore (1.17V each) into my EL Starlux. It is still bright enough to easily overcome ambient light. A sorry a$$ loaner 3D incand got the better batteries...
 

edison

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starsupernova said:
Sorry if someone mentioned this before, but I saw the AIT Nightstar at Target here in New York City.

I remember seeing these at Target when buying a RR lantern. I checked them out but wasn't impressed. I think the concept has merit in the niche of emergency flashlights, but I've yet to see a rendition that has been good enough to open my wallet.

I hope this isn't too off-topic, but when seeing mention of lights like this it makes me wish for something in the form factor of a cut-down 1D M@g. It would have a crank-style generator in the tube that charges some type of Li-ion cell. Something custom built with a retractable or folding crank powering a white Luxeon I.

The shake-lights are usually pretty weak in terms of output, and I would like to see one with a SERIOUS generator in there. A geared-up mechanism would make the crank hard to turn; but then it would actually be able to produce enough power to be useful. I've seen crank-powered Nichia based lights that looked much better to me than the shake-powered style, but again the output was lacking. Nor did they look very durable.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to dive into building something like this; which is frustrating because I'm certain it's a viable idea.

Thoughts?
 

tc17

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The throw distance and overall output that review site has it rated at, makes it sound like a very weak light. I can't understand why they would give it 4.5 stars. But then again I'm still new to these LED lights.

It seems way overpriced also.
 

Sean

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So did anyone pick one up from Target to see if it's actually brighter than the cheapie shake-lights out there. (Or is this just another cheapie shake light that cost more) Maybe I'll have to check my local Target. :)
 
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srvctec

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Sean said:
So did anyone pick one up from Target to see if it's actually brighter than the cheapie shake-lights out there. Maybe I'll have to check my local Target. :)

I don't know if these are very bright, but I got the Nightstar RS online a few weeks ago and wish I hadn't. It's so dim, it's ridiculous! Maybe I should have gotten one of these. The run time claim on the package is 20 minutes for 30 seconds of shaking for both lights. The RS I have will only run for 8 minutes on 60- 90 seconds of shaking.

The
ONLY reason I got one in the first place is for an emergency light in my car which is hardly driven anymore- but when it is, I want a light that will work if I need it. I have had many batteries over the years leak and ruin several lights when stored in my trunk- too many and extreme heat and cold cycles, I guess.
 
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tc17

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srvctec said:
I don't know if these are very bright, but I got the Nightstar RS online a few weeks ago and wish I hadn't. It's so dim, it's ridiculous! Maybe I should have gotten one of these. The run time claim on the package is 20 minutes for 30 seconds of shaking for both lights. The RS I have will only run for 8 minutes on 60- 90 seconds of shaking.

The
ONLY reason I got one in the first place is for an emergency light in my car which is hardly driven anymore- but when it is, I want a light that will work if I need it. I have had many batteries over the years leak and ruin several lights when stored in my trunk- too many and extreme heat and cold cycles, I guess.
I don't plan to, but had always thought if I ever got one of these type of flashlights, I would probably get the crank kind instead. To me it seems like you would get a lot more leverage to create electricty with that, than you would something you have to shake.

But I could easily be wrong.
 

abvidledUK

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There's a very nice see through shakelight in my local £ shop, for £2.50!!!, similar to light quoted above, it is much brighter than my Hummer shakelight bought from Virgin on a recent trip to the states, it comes with a couple of 3v (rechargeable?) coin batts in series, giving volts to a very bright large led, via a small circuit.

batts come charged, so at first torch is very bright for 40 mins, then dims, shaking recharges, though I hate to guess how long you have to shake it to fully recharge small coin cells.

It would break if you stood on it, the hummer is more substantial.

Tornado Flashlight, item Z-5168 made in china
 

James S

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I was disappointed in the packaging that kept me from being able to turn on the switch in the store. I wanted to see how dime it was after shaking the packaging, but wasn't able to do so. I tend to overspend in the flashlight isle at target lately, but not on that light, sorry. Not interested.
 

TrueBlue

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The more I think about it the more I think it was marketing that made sure I couldn't try the light to see how 'strong' the beam is. The package was made so I couldn't try the light.

I was interested in the packaged light when I saw it at Target so my son and I had to give the light the shake test. I was having fun until I saw my son copying me. He looked like he was doing the 'singles bedroom dance' so I figured I looked just as bad. No sale for us. I think a crank powered light would be more efficient but probably the same poor brightness as a sealed package shake light that I couldn't try out.
 
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