''Sauce'' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

[Doug]

\'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

So, anyone find theses wands in local stores yet? If so, what (body) colors have you seen? Actually, I am interested to see the various AC powered lights, like the wall washing one

... should be fun for parties

!

Doug

 

[Brock]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

I haven't sen one in person yet but Craig has a good review over at
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/sauce2.htm

 

[vcal]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Doug:
So, anyone find theses wands in local stores yet? If so, what (body) colors have you seen? Actually, I am interested to see the various AC powered lights, like the wall washing one

... should be fun for parties

!

Doug<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Try an REI store (if you have one in your area)-I did, and after trying it's operation through the bubble packaging, I just couldn't resist.

p.s. the plug-in models are also avail. from: www.shoplifestyle.com

**check out thread started 6/30/01-"Long awaited Sauce Wand makes it's debut"

 

[Chris M.]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

p.s. the plug-in models are also avail. from: www.shoplifestyle.comhttp://www.shoplifestyle.com[/i]

they also ship overseas it seems

I never thought I`d get hold of one of them, not easilly anyway, but it seems now I will cos I just ordered one. Of course non-US buyers wanting one must have access to the correct 2-prong 120 volt supply, which I have here, otherwise you won`t be able to use it.

Craig- you`re one of their "insiders" so to speak. Do you know of any plans of theirs to make UK/European/Australian versions of the plug-in Sauce lights? That`d be good....

hope it works on 115v 50Hz, I forgot to ask!

 

[The_LED_Museum]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chris M.:

Craig- you`re one of their "insiders" so to speak. Do you know of any plans of theirs to make UK/European/Australian versions of the plug-in Sauce lights? That`d be good....

hope it works on 115v 50Hz, I forgot to ask!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I haven't heard anything specific about making a 220VAC 50Hz version for overseas use.

Checked the back of my Light washer, and it says 115VAC 60Hz ONLY.
The step-down power supply is just a big mylar cap and some resistors (?), folowwed by a full-wave bridge and the usual junk to get DC +5 volts regulated for the electronics. This same capacitor/resistor arrangement has been seen in LED replacement lamps for exit signs that run directly on 120VAC.

So I don't know what that will do on a 50Hz line. You may end up getting only a single yellowish-white flash as the fuse inside pops.

 

[Doug]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

Brock, Yeah, I have known about Craig's review for many months now

, but thanks anyways!

VideoCal & Chris, thanks for the site guys, but the odd thing is.. they list the same price for all 3 items! Shouldn't the wand be only $15???? Thanks!

Doug

 

[vcal]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Doug:
Brock, Yeah, I have known about Craig's review for many months now

, but thanks anyways!

VideoCal & Chris, thanks for the site guys, but the odd thing is.. they list the same price for all 3 items! Shouldn't the wand be only $15???? Thanks!

Doug<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's right, Doug. -My wand from REI was only $14.95 :O)

 

[Chris M.]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

You may end up getting only a single yellowish-white flash as the fuse inside pops.

Well I`m looking at finding a 24vDC-120vAC 60Hz inverter, OR modifying my 240v 50Hz AC inverter to give 60Hz, which I can then use with a 240-120 auto-transformer to step the voltage down.

We`ll see though. If it`s a series-capacitor type power supply then it`ll probably end up giving less volts out on 50Hz than 60Hz (as I discussed about the white LED bulb), but if there`s 5v regulators and stuff, that shouldn`t mind should it? The worst tha should happen is the LEDs will be dimmer...

 

[Doug]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

Ok... what color bodies are you guys seeing for the wands? REI seems to only have the red ... actually, the REI "near" me, is not near enough for me to just go there... I would have to have a reason to drive all the way over there.... ya know?

Doug

 

[Doug]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

Why the heck do other countries use 50hz, instead of 60hz? I can understand 240v...

Also, why do some countries drive on one side of the road, and other countries on the other side? Why though theses things up, AND WHY?! Well, maybe I should put this into the CHAT area, eh

?

Doug

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chris M.:
You may end up getting only a single yellowish-white flash as the fuse inside pops.

Well I`m looking at finding a 24vDC-120vAC 60Hz inverter, OR modifying my 240v 50Hz AC inverter to give 60Hz, which I can then use with a 240-120 auto-transformer to step the voltage down.

We`ll see though. If it`s a series-capacitor type power supply then it`ll probably end up giving less volts out on 50Hz than 60Hz (as I discussed about the white LED bulb), but if there`s 5v regulators and stuff, that shouldn`t mind should it? The worst tha should happen is the LEDs will be dimmer...

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[Chris M.]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

Why the heck do other countries use 50hz, instead of 60hz?

Dunno. Actually most countries use 50Hz, it`s you Americans who`re wierd

.

Seriously, I expect it came from the early days of electricity generatio and distribution. The States, being so far away from us, developed seperately to Europe, so when it came to standardising things nationwide, US chose 60Hz and Europe chose 50. Before then, well it was all over the place. Some places in the UK I read about, used a headache-inducing 25Hz (even the old carbon incandescents would flicker on that frequency!), some places had their own generators giving 60 volts, there were even DC systems- in fact Edison`s first installations ran from DC. There were all sorts of things used. Makes it interesting for us collectors of antique light bulbs and electrical stuff, but it was probably a bit of a pain for someone who travelled round a lot! Be thankful that you can go anywhere in your country today and be able to use your appliances no matter where you go!

 

[LeopoldB]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

Curiously, Canada had 30 hz up until around 1955 on the east coast. You gotta bet that lights flickered very obviously.
As well, Ted Rogers (please hold your boos and hisses) is the son of the man who invented the vacuum tube rectifier which allowed the home radio (in the '30's) to operate on AC instead of batteries. That's why Ted came onto the scene with lots of money to get the cable company running and buy the Blue Jays.

 

[vcal]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

For budget-minded buyers (including me), I've found that little mini-keychain Sauce multicolor wand @ $14.99 + $3.99 to ship..
-This one needs only a single little itsy-bitsy "N" cell to run on..-it's a really bright one.:O
No overseas shipping tho

-oops!..

almost 4got that URL: www.KBkids.com

 

[Chris M.]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

No overseas shipping tho

UK based Firebox.com sells the Mini Keychain Sauce lights, as well as the Light Saucer too. When I bought my full sized Wand, they were out of stock of the little ones and were still out of stock the next 2 times I looked, over about a month`s period. Things have changed though, http://firebox.com now has all 3 battery operated Sauce products in stock for the present, though I won`t get any just yet. A handful of rather valuable, rare early light bulbs just injured my bank balance and it will take a little while to recover.

 

[vcal]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chris M.:
No overseas shipping tho

Alledgedly, UK based Firebox.com sells the Mini Keychain Sauce lights- but when I bought my full sized one, they were out of stock of the little ones and were still out of stock the next 2 times I looked, over about a month`s period. Things may have changed though, that was a while back, take a look at http://firebox.com if you like- I will in a moment.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Looks like they've got those little guys in stock NOW

Firebox has been one of my favorite sites to visit-along with AdventureKit (nectarine LTD), where I got a FULL 4 color set of those nifty H3 glowrings -for less than $25.US-YES!

 

[Chris M.]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

Doug, looks like you quoted me just before I hit the "edit" button- after my return from Firebox`s site.
I recently upgraded to Internet Explorer 6, it took all night to do it, but it`s much slower than IE5.5, especially on my old coal-fired 166/32Mb/28.8Kbps system. So I posted that first, then went for a look but it took absolutely ages before I could get back and edit it.


BTW Those Glowrings are neat aren`t they? My favourite`s probably the yellow one. Blue is a really nice colour but it`s very dim.
Just take care with your keychain if you fix one to it- I dropped mine (Ice Blue, the brightest to my eyes) quite a long way off some scaffolding onto concrete floor and the little Borosilicate glass vial inside was shattered into many little pieces. It still glows a bit, but it`s fading all the time...

 

[Doug]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

Woah... this site is not very good ... I can not find the lightwand's ... I guess I just don't know the correct name to tyep

... Could you send me the link? Thanks.

Doug

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by videocal:
For budget-minded buyers (including me), I've found that little mini-keychain Sauce multicolor wand @ $14.99 + $3.99 to ship..
-This one needs only a single little itsy-bitsy "N" cell to run on..-it's a really bright one.:O
No overseas shipping tho

-oops!..

almost 4got that URL: www.KBkids.com<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[vcal]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Doug:
Woah... this site is not very good ... I can not find the lightwand's ... I guess I just don't know the correct name to tyep

... Could you send me the link? Thanks.

Doug

-Here 'ya go..index: Sauce Wand in search box on the home page- that'll bring up those mini-wands in two handle colors.
www.KBkids.com<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>[/QB][/QUOTE]

 

[K Horn]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

Just a "HEADS UP".
They have the light wands at Radio Shack.
$15.00
Just in time for my 13yr old's school dance tonight. She should be a hit!

 

[vcal]

Re: \'\'Sauce\'\' Lightwand... Anyone Have One Yet?

A (few)?

words on the the new Sauce lightwand for those of you who have been considering one...
Is this thing a toy or a practical device?-you decide..(for $14.95)

As mentioned before, it operates on a single alkaline (or Ncd/Nimh) battery with a step-up circuit, and uses 3 LEDs: bright red, a pure green, and bright blue (latter two being nitride type LEDs). The mini model is only 4¾" long -with 2" of that being the translucent diffuser.

This wand really has 6 major modes:
1. auto color smooth changing blend.
2. blinking random colors
3. fixed colors (any 2 together)
4. strobe (all colors on)
5. any steady single color
6. ALL colors on together giving a "white" glow
*four of those modes can be operated at 4 different speeds each by holding down the single control button for an extra sec. There are still 2 more "secret" functions I'll not describe

Hint: -try in strobe mode

This wand ran on and on for about 6 hours before it's "N" cell finally went belly-up.....
I was able to generate 12-15 distinguishable different bright colors, (even various shades of lavenders and chartreuses or just about Any color you want), by holding down on the control button 'till I got just the color shade I wanted. -It's really infinitly variable

Btw-this wand easily lit up my 16'x16' darkened master bedroom with a soft glow, and yes, you can
easily read a book with this light.

Finally, this light (in it's "mini" "N" or regular AA version would work great on a camping trip as an effective tent light or strobing/emergency indicator if it was waterproof-it isn't.

For this use,-better enclose the wand in Zip-Loc freezer bag, and make sure that it's sealed.
IMO-a lot of fun/utility @ $15.