Free: That's a really cool idea. I wonder why it hasn't been done yet. On a similar note, I've always wondered why they didn't make a glowstick that converted heat energy from a person's hand into light so that you could hold it in your hand and see how to walk by it. I know that such chemicals exist that can do this, so why hasn't someone taken the next logical step? Perhaps they don't think it would be bright enough for people to be interested, or maybe it just cost too much. Hmm… That brings something else to mind that you may not have heard of. Did you guys know that the American military has performed operations on some people to make them capable of seeing into the infrared spectrum? They got the idea because there are a very very tiny percent of the population that can naturally see in infrared. Wouldn't that be a trip to see the T.V. remote light up when you hit a button. Believe it or not there are a very few people in the world that can do this naturally. I remember reading a report on this a few years back and they asked one of the people that has this ability what the color infrared looked like and the guy said something to the effect of "how would you describe the color red to someone that has never seen it," meaning, of course, that such a thing couldn't possibly be described to someone that had never experienced it for themselves. I wish I could find a good URL on the subject.
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by X-CalBR8:
Free: a glowstick that converted heat energy from a person's hand into light...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The higher the fever the brighter the glowstick. Wow, it can also be a thermometer!!
Free: a glowstick that converted heat energy from a person's hand into light...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The higher the fever the brighter the glowstick. Wow, it can also be a thermometer!!
Brock
Flashaholic
I have seen the Baygen, hand crank light sold with LED's in the light. I think I saw them at CCrane, but don't know for sure. I know I have seen them on EBay and you could always buy them and throw in a Ledcorp replacement.
Along those same lines, I never understood why the people who made the Nightstar (shake LED light, charges a capacitor) didn't up the voltage to the LED. Maybe we can get Gransee to make one with the output of the Arc or Photon. I wouldn't mind shaking it more often to get more useable light output. I have always wanted one of these, but they are just to dim.
Brock
Along those same lines, I never understood why the people who made the Nightstar (shake LED light, charges a capacitor) didn't up the voltage to the LED. Maybe we can get Gransee to make one with the output of the Arc or Photon. I wouldn't mind shaking it more often to get more useable light output. I have always wanted one of these, but they are just to dim.
Brock
Brock
Flashaholic
Bummer so you are saying the Baygen lights are 3v or there abouts?
Brock
Brock
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Would you trust info from someone with a star missing??? Here's an Aladin hand- cranked generator with an LED attachment, and I guess a battery somewhere, since you don't have to keep cranking it for light, thought it might be of interest; http://www.jademountain.com/energyProducts/battery/alladin.html
Brock
Flashaholic
Don't know the voltage on this one but since you have to keep squeezing it, it probably uses a capacitor or maybe nothing at all. Again no mention of voltage.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1237045248
Brock
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1237045248
Brock
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Don't know the voltage on this one but since you have to keep squeezing it, it probably uses a capacitor or maybe nothing at all. Again no mention of voltage. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1237045248 <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have one similar to that (actually 2, but the kids destroyed the one I gave them within a day). They aren't made to last. No capacitor, just gears and a motor. Mine has a 2.4V bulb in it.
I have one similar to that (actually 2, but the kids destroyed the one I gave them within a day). They aren't made to last. No capacitor, just gears and a motor. Mine has a 2.4V bulb in it.
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by X-CalBR8:
2d_edge: LOL. Good one. I hadn't thought of that.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
X-CalBR8 here's another...imagine distributing those glowsticks to couples in lovers section of a big park or moviehouse!!
2d_edge: LOL. Good one. I hadn't thought of that.
X-CalBR8 here's another...imagine distributing those glowsticks to couples in lovers section of a big park or moviehouse!!
Hey Guys,
I have a hand crank flashlight and a solar charge flashlight. I would try converting them to LED's but I am having difficulty finding a bulb. They both appear to take PR4 bulbs. The bulbs at ledcorp are PR2's. Any suggestions where I could find the right ones? The solar light is rated at 2.3v-0.27A.
I have a hand crank flashlight and a solar charge flashlight. I would try converting them to LED's but I am having difficulty finding a bulb. They both appear to take PR4 bulbs. The bulbs at ledcorp are PR2's. Any suggestions where I could find the right ones? The solar light is rated at 2.3v-0.27A.
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This topic has covered so much ground! For the futurists among us, don't forget a viable future power source: fuel cells.
One day, when your flashlight begins to dim, you'll just add some water to provide another several hours of light.
Fuel cell technology may not be ready for prime time yet, but its not not all that far from it, either (most of the projections I've heard or read are in the 3 to 5 year range). Making a fuel cell small and affordable is the challenge & some significant research is focused on those goals right now for digital cameras, MP3 players, etc.
As for something do-able right now, solar charging of capacitors is limited by the size of the solar cells used. A big enough solar cell will make for an awkward flashlight. Hand-held generators that charge capacitors probably hold the most promise.
Stored kinetic energy is very interesting ... compressed air or CO2 turning a minature turbine offers some potential. But, I believe a good, old-fashioned wind up spring would deliver the most stored energy and be the least expensive to produce.
All offered as food for thought. My fantasy 2¢ worth.
One day, when your flashlight begins to dim, you'll just add some water to provide another several hours of light.
Fuel cell technology may not be ready for prime time yet, but its not not all that far from it, either (most of the projections I've heard or read are in the 3 to 5 year range). Making a fuel cell small and affordable is the challenge & some significant research is focused on those goals right now for digital cameras, MP3 players, etc.
As for something do-able right now, solar charging of capacitors is limited by the size of the solar cells used. A big enough solar cell will make for an awkward flashlight. Hand-held generators that charge capacitors probably hold the most promise.
Stored kinetic energy is very interesting ... compressed air or CO2 turning a minature turbine offers some potential. But, I believe a good, old-fashioned wind up spring would deliver the most stored energy and be the least expensive to produce.
All offered as food for thought. My fantasy 2¢ worth.
About a year ago I put a red LED in my Baygen wind-up flashlight. First I discharged the internal batteries completely then cranked it up. It lasted about 8 hours.
You could add a setup circuit like the Satcure and use a couple white LEDs to get a brighter light. I might try that when I have time.
You could add a setup circuit like the Satcure and use a couple white LEDs to get a brighter light. I might try that when I have time.
I just tried my Turtlelite 2 bulb in my hand crank flashlight. It worked!! with each crank of the trigger the bulb burned about twice as long. I also tried it in my solar flashlight and it just didn't seem to be providing the right voltage.
Luffokc: I agree that a wind up spring would be a good way to go, but for my own purposes of trying to make a flashlight that wouldn't require batteries and would last a lifetime, the wind up spring wouldn't be so encouraging because the mainspring will loose it's spring after a few years just like in a wind up clock or watch, then become worthless. I would still like to see such lights for use in camping type situations, but for the purpose of putting it in an emergency kit for a decade or two, I think the hand powered capacitor storage system is currently the best way to go. If built out of high quality components, it would last a lifetime in storage and still work for years when taken out. I believe you are definitely right about the fuel cells taking over when it comes to power storage in just a few years though. Batteries just will never be capable of storing the kind of portable power that people would like to have with them. I am a very firm believer that it is the big oil companies that keep such technologies from seeing the light of day because they could be used to build cars that don't run on gasoline (that is currently one of the primary planned uses of fuel cells). I once knew a man when I was just a kid, that I went to church with, whose brother was one of the people you hear about that invented a car that would get over 100 miles to a gallon (I think it worked by vaporizing the gas just before combustion, if I remember correctly), and one of the big oil companies bought him out for a million dollars even though he didn't want to sell, but they implied that he would be killed if he didn't agree to sell. Obviously he believed that they were serious because he sold out when he didn't want to. I've also seen T.V. programs about inventors turning up dead in very mysterious ways after getting into it with the oil companies and I believe many such stories are true. It makes sense when you think about it. A several trillion dollar a year industry would do absolutely anything to hold onto the energy strangle hold they currently have on the world (including trying to kill fuel cells…). Here's to hoping they don't succeed!
Keep in mind those old wind up clocks were run year after year (some still working even today) constant...that would not be the case with flashlights, I believe they would last a lifetime, if done right,and...in combination with a capasitor might offer great run time and they do not need solar charging to work. This would be a big plus in my book. Lights whether you remembered to charge it or not.
I think the capasitor would be much easier to make, with solar charging. I am reminded of the old crank radios we see in old army moveis, crank for a few seconds and talk for a minute or two...I wonder if they have the capasity to hold a charge and run a light...for very long. Worth looking into, would be neat.
I think the capasitor would be much easier to make, with solar charging. I am reminded of the old crank radios we see in old army moveis, crank for a few seconds and talk for a minute or two...I wonder if they have the capasity to hold a charge and run a light...for very long. Worth looking into, would be neat.
Here is a link to one that looks just like the one I put a Turtlelite 2 bulb in. Mine is green but the rest looks the same.
Hand Powered Flashlight
Hand Powered Flashlight
I just did a test with my converted hand crank flashlight. With the normal bulb one crank yields 1 to 1.5 seconds of light. With the dual LED bulb one crank yields 3 seconds of bright light and another 2 seconds before it completely goes out. Pretty cool!!
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This Russian hand-generator light may be the best built for the money; $10 -- and there's a discount for quantity orders from: http://www.lighthings.com/enter.html?target=L_E_D__THERE_BE_LIGHT.html
--a search for "Russian" finds it:
"...Made of sturdy, impact resistant plastic with a glass lens and incandescent bulb and a spot to flood top mounted sliding focus switch. The handle is ergo dynamically contoured cast aluminum. There's a lever lock to secure the handle in the closed position when not in use for compact carry and storage. All load bearing, moving parts are overbuilt in true Russian style to last a lifetime!
Just one squeeze and you'll notice right off how smooth and well balanced the internal components are..."
--a search for "Russian" finds it:
"...Made of sturdy, impact resistant plastic with a glass lens and incandescent bulb and a spot to flood top mounted sliding focus switch. The handle is ergo dynamically contoured cast aluminum. There's a lever lock to secure the handle in the closed position when not in use for compact carry and storage. All load bearing, moving parts are overbuilt in true Russian style to last a lifetime!
Just one squeeze and you'll notice right off how smooth and well balanced the internal components are..."
