What flashlight for home power outages for elderly

[chefwong]

what do you guys use at home....it has to be ~simple~.
One or 2 flashlights to have around the house. Whether they stay on a permanent charging station or not. Strictly for when there is a power outage *usually during summertime* very rare but it happens moreso in summer in NYC, and for brief moments (whether it be 20 minutes or 2 hrs).


Maglights is what I did prior and unless you keep swapping out the batteries, by the time the next outage happens, the battery for sure is drained.

I then resorted to using the Pansoniv batterry (lion) sitting on our drill charger, and it's like a mini-lantern sort of setup. Easy to take battery out and just out it in the lantern.

Any other ideas/suggestions

 

[Marduke]

A light using lithium primaries would be much better IMO. A couple long runtime lights using Energizer L91's will be much more reliable than a charging station light.

 

[farmer17]

We purchased a couple of the flashlights from Target for about 12 bucks that have duplex outlet prongs in the tail end I think they are made by Coleman. They stayed plug in to an outlet and are pretty powerful and always worked fine for over 8 years and are still working just fine any time we need a light. Of course I buy much more expensive lights now but its hard to fault the Coleman plug-in lights

 

[metlarules]

What type of Maglites were you using? The magleds are known for excellent runtime. I would use a 2c or d cell with a Smjled like this http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.com/product_info.php?cPath=48_52_82&products_id=853. If you want to go with lithium aa's use a mini mag with this one http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.com/product_info.php?cPath=48_52_82&products_id=940.

 

[curlyfry562]

Had a small power outage in my neighborhood last week. My big 8D coleman lantern really came in handy, although for elderly I would recommnd the 4D version.

Great blackout light is the Inova X5, good output, about 30 Lumens, and it runs forever on 2x CR123s. If the Inova X5's batteries died before power was restored you would have much bigger problems than lighting.

 

[donn_]

I'd stick with Maglites...probably C-cell models, and fill them with low self-discharge NiMH cells, like Eneloops.

Simple and reliable lights and batteries which can sit in the light, unused, for months and months, without losing much charge.

 

[cougar_67]

I bought my dad Black & Decker's "Storm Station" -
it's an all-in-one unit that contains a radio, a power inverter with 12VDC plugs (for charging cell phones), a room light and a basic removeable rechargeable flashlight.

The idea is to leave the thing in a corner always plugged in and it keeps the flashlight and room light on a trickle charge. When the power fails, the room light comes on automatically.
The flashlight is nothing special but it gets the job done.

They used to sell them at Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, etc. but now I can only find them online.


Steve

 

[brighterisbetter]

Great blackout light is the Inova X5, good output, about 30 Lumens, and it runs forever on 2x CR123s.

+1, that's my suggestion too. Somewhere around 20 hours from 2 CR123A's, and just about bombproof.

 

[aussiebob]

Id recomend the Energizer Hard Case LED.
Simple to use, 5mm led, 1 mode click switch, about 10lum, there as tough as old boots.
Runs off 2aa, whack some lithiums in it for reliability, it runs for days.
Keep a few spare batts and you have light for a long time.
They are only about $15, ive got a few stashed around the house, incase of blackout etc.


Another good one would be the big mag led 3watt, very simple to use.The 4d runs for 40-50 hours to 50% on alkalines, and have a shelf life of 7 years.
I keep one of these in the boot (trunk) of my car.

 

[Chrontius]

Something in a similar vein - my grandmother's vision is only so-so at best, and she's rather night-blind. She mentioned wanting a bright flashlight while I visited her last, and I just happened to have my ROP-Hi handy. Needless to say, she loved it and wants something similar... but when I mentioned that I had about $100 tied up in that light, wanted something cheaper.

Anyone know of any simple hotwires for the elderly?

 

[foxtrot29]

Old people only know how to use candles. Buy those instead.

 

[Cydonia]

Old people only know how to use candles. Buy those instead.

I'm sure that statement will anger some readers... but it contains a lot of truth. The elderly often encounter difficulty and confusion changing batteries in any light. That has been my observation anyway. They may easly give up on a fading flashlight and break out a candle instead.

For a flashlight I would say to get one with a very easy to unthread head/tailcap to replace batteries.
Maglites tend to have difficult tail caps to thread on. Especially the "C" size maglites.

 

[ugrey]

My dad is 90. When the power goes out I hang a Fenix EO1 around his neck and it stays turned ON. He never walks into a dark room that way and he always has a light on him that he can't lose. It is put on his bedside table when he goes to bed and stays on all night so he does not wake up in the dark. I figure 1 battery a day and I of course keep extra AAA batteries. The 9 volt Pak Lite and Pal lights also make great overnite and/or room lights. He always has one of those in his bathroom. Before these I used chem lights. They are as good as candles and will not burn the house down. Buy them on line in bulk. The best lantern I have found is the River Rock 3AA at target for about $25. For a bright pocket sized light, get them an LED mini m*g light, maybe an incandescent with a 1 watt TerraLux drop in. I have thought for a while now that the ultimate "hang around the neck and leave on light" would be the SureFire L1, 10 lumens left on for 16 hours on 1 battery and 65 lumens when you grab it and mash the button. Also go to a restaraunt supply house and get a $25 butane stove and some extra cans of butane. Don't forget a battery operated radio or two. Oh yeah, a cell phone or a plug in the wall phone that will still work when the power is off. For Summertime get one or two D battery operated small fans at Campmor. That and a cold shower will get you through some hot days with no air conditioning. In addition, I always like to have a pistol and a SureFire M6 but I think that is a different discussion. Now, ask me how I know all this.:)

 

[DaveG]

My dad is 90. When the power goes out I hang a Fenix EO1 around his neck and it stays turned ON. He never walks into a dark room that way and he always has a light on him that he can't lose. It is put on his bedside table when he goes to bed and stays on all night so he does not wake up in the dark. I figure 1 battery a day and I of course keep extra AAA batteries. The 9 volt Pak Lite and Pal lights also make great overnite and/or room lights. He always has one of those in his bathroom. Before these I used chem lights. They are as good as candles and will not burn the house down. Buy them on line in bulk. The best lantern I have found is the River Rock 3AA at target for about $25. For a bright pocket sized light, get them an LED mini m*g light, maybe an incandescent with a 1 watt TerraLux drop in. I have thought for a while now that the ultimate "hang around the neck and leave on light" would be the SureFire L1, 10 lumens left on for 16 hours on 1 battery and 65 lumens when you grab it and mash the button. Also go to a restaraunt supply house and get a $25 butane stove and some extra cans of butane. Don't forget a battery operated radio or two. Oh yeah, a cell phone or a plug in the wall phone that will still work when the power is off. For Summertime get one or two D battery operated small fans at Campmor. That and a cold shower will get you through some hot days with no air conditioning. In addition, I always like to have a pistol and a SureFire M6 but I think that is a different discussion. Now, ask me how I know all this.:)

Good post,sounds like you lost your power a time or two.

 

[M@elstrom]

I know (trickle) mains charging lights are not too well thought of here @ CPF but we've got an Energizer LED (Nichia) flashlight that lives in the wall socket, can double as a night light and features a dual output switch, sounds like the perfect solution to the OP's requirements...

* No battery to replace OR go flat whilst in storage (integrated NiMH)
* Dual output ability for close up illumination
* Additional Night light ability could be left on for ease of location during 'black outs'
* 8 hours runtime off full charge on High OR 55 hours on Low

 

[Chrontius]

Got one of those Energizers for my grandfather. We'll see how he likes it.

 

[Sgt. LED]

This is just what I thought of!
Put 1 in each room they are likly to hang out in and 1 in the bathroom.
Keep it ON in nightlight mode all the time.

I know (trickle) mains charging lights are not too well thought of here @ CPF but we've got an Energizer LED (Nichia) flashlight that lives in the wall socket, can double as a night light and features a dual output switch, sounds like the perfect solution to the OP's requirements...

* No battery to replace OR go flat whilst in storage (integrated NiMH)
* Dual output ability for close up illumination
* Additional Night light ability could be left on for ease of location during 'black outs'
* 8 hours runtime off full charge on High OR 55 hours on Low

 

[GPB]

This may be a bit off topic but, don't forget that if you have a UPS/surge protector for your computer, it will supply enough 110 AC to run your cordless phone, recharge a set of batteries or a cell phone or power a laptop for a while. Since we don't have any corded phones, we keep the base of the cordless plugged into it so we can use the cordless phones during a blackout.

 

[M@elstrom]

Got one of those Energizers for my grandfather. We'll see how he likes it.

I imagine he will, it's not hotwire/Q5 bright but certainly sufficient to navigate about a darkened house, ours tends to keep disappearing as the kids are fond of it's ready-to-go-ability (don't need to ask Dad for batteries all the time) :thumbsup:

 

[flashfan]

Those Energizer models look pretty good. However, depending on the age/mobility of the user, make sure your outlets are easily reachable (easy arm's length). If they have to bend over to reach and unplug the light, you're risking a fall.

Following is part of what I wrote about a year ago in a similar thread:

"I have elderly parents, and here's what has worked well for them over the years: Princeton Tec Surge, Princeton Tec Rage, and Underwater Kinetics 2AAA penlight.

My basic criteria (YRMV):

1) Easy on-off is possibly the most important...including "soft"accessible switches, and/or easy to grip and turn. I loosened the screw on the Surge switch to make it super easy on-off. I also removed the o-rings from the Rage and UK 2AAA penlight for the same reason.

2) Not completely round so that if the light is set down on a table or counter, it won't roll off somewhere...possibly leading to a fall (and hip fracture!) when trying to retrieve the light.

3) Size and weight: Not too large, yet not too small. Fairly light in weight. Almost think of it in terms of what would be easy for young kids to use.

4) Non-metallic: Just not as cold to the touch, and less likely to scratch and dent other "stuff."

5) Bright colors: Easy(ier) to see and/or locate.

NOTE: Battery changes are an issue...which is why I make it my job to check and change the batteries when I'm visiting. That's also why I make sure they have more than one back-up light."

Since it has been several years since I provided lights for my parents, there are surely many new lights that work as well or better. However, I think the basic criteria is still apropos.