Solar Forever Light

[Kirk]

Hello!
Anybody ever seen this light? http://www.scientificsonline.com/Products/DisplayProduct.cfm?productid=1094 . Comments? Opinions?
Thanks,
Kirk

 

[x-ray]

Never seen that exact light, but seems very similar to the free light concept.

Looking at the photo, it doesn't look that sturdy.

 

[Saaby]

Yup...I smell patent infringement

I am sure it is sturdier (Is that a word?) or more sturdy than it looks...that cheesy plastic peatree dish around the important stuff makes it look cheap!

 

[Whistler]

Sorry Saaby,

it looks nothing like the Free light. The idea is the same, but design seems to be different.

Does anybody have a 'Forever' light? Looks not as 'solid' as the Free light!?

 

[bmsmith]

I used to have one of those Forever lights. It was so long ago (15 years? more?) that I'm surprised they still make them. Neat!

The LED on the one I had was a bright yellow one, which, at the time, probably was one of the brightest LEDs around. Looks like they haven't changed much. There were 2 NiCd button cell style batteries inside. The case was clear plastic, not too brittle, but not designed to ever open (superglued shut). A wheelchair running over it might crack the case, though I'm not sure how much weight is on a single wheel. Craig?

You squeezed the case (top to bottom) to activate the momentary switch (which was nothing more than a bent piece of springy metal just inside the bottom case half). After a few years of having it (and not using it much except for play), the NiCds died and leaked those white crystals you see on dead NiCd cells. The Freelight might be better due to better battery design.
The Forever Light is fairly "large" for what it is by today's standards. And thick, too (1/2" I think). Not very comfortable on a keychain.

 

[bmsmith]

I just went looking for the pieces of my light. I took it apart a few years ago to remove the dead NiCds and destroyed the case in the process. I saved the innards.

There are 8 solar cells stacked together in a series connection. There is a single diode for current reversal protection. Everything is mounted on a thin blue PCB. The company that made it was "Solarts" and the copyright date is 1984.

 

[B@rt]

here is a better pic of the light...

 

[Saaby]

Here is another light by the same name ("Forever Light") but it's hardly the same thing. Aparently you shine your angry dog green urine luxeon at it which activates some kind of battery in it. What is this thing?!? A wet cell battery that has been dried out? I'll start a new thread on it...

 

[Steelwolf]

Saaby: A battery basically consists of an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte. In this case, it appears that the electrolyte is removed from the equation so that there is no reaction and hence the cell can stay good as new for the day of emergency. (Unless the seal leaks and moist air is introduced in which case, the anode or cathode will corrode and your light may not operate as desired.)

You add water and the equation is complete so the cell starts producing power for your light. It would probably have some packet of additives to mix in the water to ensure it is a good enough electrolyte. All in all, quite a good emergency-light idea.

 

[Badbeams3]

May be a good emergency light to have in the life rafts on your yacht. But I need lights I can play with.

Ken

 

[The_LED_Museum]

It says in the text that if you don't have water handy, you can pour coffee in it or even pee in it and it will work.

Now that's what I call a "Flushlight".

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

do we know about, or have we done business with this place (below)?
It looks like the "Free-Light" in X-ray's ost, but they call it the "Swiss-Light" -- 'only' $20.--, too...

from:
http://www.countycomm.com/light8.htm
"..This is a small LED flashlight about the size of a US dog tag. It has a real glass solar cell to charge the battery when it's not being used..
Made in Switzerland to the highest standards
ONLY $20.00....
SPECIFICATIONS
o A fully charged battery provides over an 2 hours of light
o 1 day of sunlight is enough to recharge the battery
o Recharges itself at no cost from any other light source.
o Battery can be recharged up to 10,000 times. The battery is Panasonic Vanadium, Lithium ACCU. The battery and is environmentally friendly and will not develop a memory.
o Long life Nichia R-rank white LED. One of the whitest light emitting diodes made. More than 4cd (or 4000mcd) of brightness. 30 degrees of wide angle light. Long life, reliable and rugged.
o Momentary pushbutton power switch.
o Integrated DC to DC converter with overcharge protection. Protects battery while charging and squeezes every last bit of energy from the battery
o Water resistant construction. We placed the light in a 3 feet of water and fished the light out of the water about 1 hour later and it worked fine.
o Top quality glass solar cell...." ????

????

 

[x-ray]

The free light is $19.95 at TAD GEAR, that's where the pic in my first post came from.

TAD Website

 

[remuen]

When I first introduced the free light to the CPF I called it Free Light but the correct name then was free light. For their export business Avexa now uses the name Swiss Light.

So the only two correct names for this light are either free light or Swiss Light. I've a prototype of the new generation here on my desk where Avexa names it SWISS SOLAR LIGHT.

 

[Saaby]

The link above is to Country Comm...yes we do buisness with them. Frank at Countrycomm is a regular poster here... he's a CPF poster child

 

[MY]

remuen:

What about this new prototype? Does it have a constant on switch?

 

[Spork]

thanks for the link to tadgear! I didn't know they carried the free light.

 

[remuen]

Originally posted by MY:
Does it have a constant on switch?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yes!

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

remuen,

Is there any word on when that prototype will be available for purchase by the public? And are there any other differences between the prototype and the free light / Swiss Light?

Thanks