Hurricane Ike

[texas2step]

On my 5th day without power here in Houston and I'm relying on my River Rock 1xAA. This little light has come through like a champ! As long as I have a good supply of AA batteries I should be good until power is restored. My wife was using my 2xAA mini-mag with NiteIze LED conversion until my 4 yr old daughter dropped in on the tile kitchen floor. It only took one blow to deem it unusable so that will be my last NiteIze purchase. Luckily I had a Dorcy 1x123 LED that I kept in the truck that can be used as a backup.

Well there you have it. Just thought I'd share my real life experience with hurricane Ike and the LED lights that are being put to the test.

 

[Hondo]

Welcome to CPF!

BTW, what are you using for power for you computer?

Too bad about that NiteIze, I assume you took everything apart and re-assembled it. I have not heard of too many deaths of those, and they are a real loooong running battery-sucker.

Hope you get back up and running soon. My brother-in-law evaced from Houston, but the town where he is staying is without power too.

 

[texas2step]

I actually drove in to the office today for the first time. It seems that the power companies are making businesses a priority over residential neighborhoods. Not sure how much longer our house will be without power but fortunately a cool front came through which is making the night time more tolerable.

 

[primox1]

Thanks for sharing.
Goodluck to you and your family.

 

[alfreddajero]

Just love to hear stories where it involves lights.....i own two of them and they do the job. Stay safe.

 

[lukevsdarth]

God bless you all Hurricane Ike survivors. I know that in a time of need flashaholics shine brightly. Now is the time when wives, co-workers, friends ask hey "insert name" you got a light i can borrow. "Who me i might have one, how many lumens you want?".

Remember a 12v solar panel can go a long way. I have recharged my phone to a few Rcr123a takes all day but it will get you through.

:twothumbs

A modded Q5 Romisen 14500 G2 and a Solarforce UF502B got me through Hurricane Dolly during a power outage. While stopping leaks in my attic, a smaller light with a metal clip helps alot.

 

[toolpig1]

Living near the Gulf of Mexico doesn't seem all that alluring anymore. Hope things get better for all of you soon. I live in Northeast Ohio and we get our fair share of crappy weather. We just got blasted with something left over from the hurricane. Just about everyone I know lost power on Sunday. I was only out for two hours, but that was the exception and I'm not complaining! I live walking distance to a Walmart (like most people in America). It was funny on Monday, they were closed due to power outage and my neighborhood had power just around the corner. It's Wedsnesday evening and my family in the East Cleveland suburbs are just getting turned back on. I have a few remodel jobs in that area, we've been working off generators for the past three days to try and keep things moving along.

I have an obsene number of flashlights, so in that regard, I'm prepared for the flashlightaholic's Holy Grail of events-the protracted power outage. Be that as it may, I'm much happier to have the current flowing through my meter.

 

[Woods Walker]

For black outs I find headlamps are best. We don't get much in the way of Hurricanes here but can get tagged with ice storms from Nor-Easters. I think this year was the first tropical storm to hit CT in a while and it never did anything despite warnings.

 

[Chao]

Hi texas2step, welcome to CPF, I live in Houston too, when hirricane IKE came, I moved to hotel, and the hotel lost the power at around 2:00 am, even in the early morning, you can not go through the hallway or stair without flashlight, it was very dark, however, my surefire E2DL did a good job, everybody has flashlight because of hurricane, but my E2DL really bright, and the throw can help me saw the end of the hallway easily, even help others saw the whole hallway, some body told me: nice light! Thanks SF for make this nice light.
I also had my new fenix TK20, and olight T25 in my luggage, I used them alot in the room, however, the size, output, and throw of E2DL were just perfect for me to use out of the room.
Fortunately, there was no power outage in my apartment, but many of my neighbors house had damaged.

 

[kramer5150]

Good for you and your family. As much as I like my RCR123 lights theres no way I'm relying on them completely in an emergency. Thats where AAs come in.

RE: your nite-ize... double check the pathetic MAG twist-switch head. I dropped mine on the bezel and it died. I took it apart and fixed the bent/distorted contact piece inside the body and it has worked fine since.

 

[Sevy]

Thanks for sharing your experience.
Once again I notice that even a LITTLE light can provide a HUGE service.

I hope all ended well for you.

 

[chiphead]

Let this be a lesson to all of us in being prepared with good gear! Hang in there man, things are going to work out! We here in Austin sure could have used all of that rain though.

chiphead

 

[glockboy]

I used the Energizer folding led lantern, change battery once, last over 5 days.

 

[X_Marine]

I used the Energizer folding led lantern, change battery once, last over 5 days.

I have to thank glockboy again for the little Sylvania lantern that he had already modded with a cree and I added an optic to. That guy lit the kitchen nicely for 3 nights and is still going strong.

I also found the Sylvania Dot*it Golden Dragon was great for other rooms and placed high facing up at ceiling for a soft light. They also turn off after 30mins which helps to save batteries. They are the single led with 3 AA's and turn on H or L by just waving your hand over it. Sams had them for $29 for a 3 pack.

Things are starting to look better as for stores opening etc.
Wish those w/o power yet the best and may your batteries live forever. :thumbsup:

Thanks
X/BillyD..

 

[alfreddajero]

I also have the Golden Dragon and like it as well........pretty bright if i say so. I also have there Nightlights where you have one led at the top that lights up when its dark and there's also 3led's at the bottom that come on when the power goes out. I have two of them in the living room and one in each room.......Its not bright persay but it does the job.

 

[Sub_Umbra]

Go with what you need. That's where we usually meet the fork in the road. If ya need a lot you'll use a lot. If ya don't, ya won't. In the words of a noteworthy cpf astronomer and light manufacturer, 'the more you use the more you'll need.'

For every action there is a reaction. Discretion is the better part of valour. I love these threads.

 

[Burgess]

Best of Luck (and health) to everyone affected by Ike's fury.



BTW, to Chao (post #9) . . . .

Wow, thank you for those great beamshots, and Lux readings ! ! !

Very helpful and handy. :twothumbs


Oh, could you perhaps tell us which version
of the Inova X1 you've tested ?

To my / our knowledge, they've produced
what we refer to as: version 1, version 2, version 2.5,
and (their most recent attempt), version 3.

Thank you for your extensive time and effort
in producing all that Data.

:goodjob::wow:
_

 

[oren1s]

Unfortunately we don't have black outs over here

However having a bunch of AW R123R and fast charger can be very useful as it can be recharged from the vehicle battery. Also a lightbox with 8w bulb (wait for some LED conversion) can run for about 8HR and can be recharged from 12v too. In order to "go prepared" i have a 5.5Kw generator and in the truck i have 1.5Kw DC/AC converter, in the house i have 2 banks of 12v/180amp batteries(charged by Xantrex) for radio communication and charging my lights. The only thing is that i can't have the fun of a flashaholics and have some serious (which last for a few days) black outs....

Wish you all the best out there....

 

[glockboy]

It's no fun when you don't have power and water.
And your kid cannot sleep 'cause it's too hot.
A few hours is fun, but over 5 days.:shakehead
It's pass 7 days, across the street from my place still don't have power.

Unfortunately The only thing is that i can't have the fun of a flashaholics and have some serious (which last for a few days) black outs....

Wish you all the best out there....

 

[Chao]

Best of Luck (and health) to everyone affected by Ike's fury.



BTW, to Chao (post #9) . . . .

Wow, thank you for those great beamshots, and Lux readings ! ! !

Very helpful and handy. :twothumbs


Oh, could you perhaps tell us which version
of the Inova X1 you've tested ?

To my / our knowledge, they've produced
what we refer to as: version 1, version 2, version 2.5,
and (their most recent attempt), version 3.

Thank you for your extensive time and effort
in producing all that Data.

:goodjob::wow:
_

Thanks for the kind words Burgess, and the X1 I tested was the version1 with Nichia LED and optic lens.