Why do we always reccomend dim lights with long runtime during outage?

[D-Dog]

I had the same question two days ago. Jarl answered to me. He said there's no attach option on this forum. To upload your pics, you'll need an account on imageshack or something similar. From there you will get a browser window up. Now open one of your pics, get the URL using properties for example and then use this URL in the forum using the image button. Max size is 800x800 pixels.

Does that mean every pics I posted will disappear if I cancel my imageshack acount?

I would think so as they clear the room for new people signing up but I'm not totally sure. I tend to use photobucket more as I have yet to have any problems with them... they even automatically convert to 800*600 when you upload :thumbsup:

 

[NightTime]

[...]they even automatically convert to 800*600 when you upload :thumbsup:

Great option, but I prefer resizing myself so I can keep the picture ratio.

 

[Socrates67]

Just get a car charger, LSD nimh AA/AAAs and you can use high on stuff. I survived the ice storm of Dec 2007 without power for 4 days and 7 hours and went through about 20AAs.... ALL were nimh and I recharged 32 AAs in my truck... 8 at night and 8 while driving around shopping for food. I used a doublebright CCFL for most lighting and a lantern with the CCFL out of another energizer light I made. You need a certain amount of light to play cards because you computer has no power. I used dim LEDs in the bathroom and my bedroom and recharged them too. I have a 3D dorcy LED that will run off D batteries I could pull out of my 8D 18watt rayovac fluorescent lantern had I used it.....lol

I forgot to mention the run on GASOLINE at the gas stations. 90% of the gas stations for a hundred miles around had no power to operate their pumps, and the ones that did had people hogging the pumps with gas cans for their generators, the result being lines a quarter mile long around the corner. I had to almost drive to the state line to get my gas.

So yeah I agree about getting a car inverter which I had planned on doing anyway, but you cannot even rely on that totally. Diversify.

 

[Cydonia]

A red LED Inova X5 runs for many days. It uses a single CR123A cell.
This is another must have light for the emergency kit, by the way....

 

[abvidledUK]

To upload your pics, you'll need an account on imageshack or something similar. From there you will get a browser window up. Now open one of your pics, get the URL using properties for example and then use this URL in the forum using the image button.
Does that mean every pics I posted will disappear if I cancel my imageshack acount?

You don't need an Imageshack account to convert & post pics.

However, that means each photo has to be done individually.

 

[rotncore]

I agree with the diversification statement above. I have lights that will run every AA, AAA, D, CR123, and a healthy stack of primaries. I also agree that often a really low level for indoor navigation is all that is needed, especially when your eyes are dark adapted. On my annual hunting trip this year, I was worried that my tritium keychain fob was too bright in the dark cabin at night, as I could see quite well just by it's throw in the cabin with no light pollution.

My go-to emergency battery sippers are Nitecore D10 on low (but with the adjustable levels is good for all-around), Mag 2D with SMJLED, Zebralight H50-Q5, and Gerber IU. Those lights and a Costco pack of 48 primaries will last a long time, long enough that I'd run out of way more important supplies long before it became an issue. I do want to get a Pak-Lite to round out my options, and the Milky candle sounds awesome.

 

[saabgoblin]

You must live in a rough neighborhood. :candle:

In case of a hardcore emergency, most if not all of us will will be in a "Rough" neighborhood. I am more afraid of panicky humans than most other animals on the planet.

 

[D-Dog]

I bet a bright tritium vial would suffice as a late night bathroom light to dark adapted eyes... plus the runtime can hardly be beat. Thanks for mentioning tritium as I almost forgot how useful even it could be in a pinch.

 

[Stereodude]

In case of a hardcore emergency, most if not all of us will will be in a "Rough" neighborhood. I am more afraid of panicky humans than most other animals on the planet.

I lived through the NE blackout a 5 years ago. I don't remember seeing any rioters or looters in my parents neighborhood (where I lived at the time).

 

[D-Dog]

I lived through the NE blackout a 5 years ago. I don't remember seeing any rioters or looters in my parents neighborhood (where I lived at the time).

Same here and I live in the typical suburban NE neighborhood. I would think this is a very legitimate concern in a city perhaps, however, we have to have some faith in human nature right?

 

[jhellwig]

We are supposed to have a big ice storm tonight. I wandered through walmart to day out of boredom and the flashlights were picked clean of every cheap light there was. Even d cell mags were gone. All that was left were the more costly led colmens and minimags. The lanterns in the camping section were also picked over.

Far as I can tell, the only reason you need those bright lights is to blind the creep trying to steel your generator.

 

[D-Dog]

We are supposed to have a big ice storm tonight. I wandered through walmart to day out of boredom and the flashlights were picked clean of every cheap light there was. Even d cell mags were gone. All that was left were the more costly led colmens and minimags. The lanterns in the camping section were also picked over.

Far as I can tell, the only reason you need those bright lights is to blind the creep trying to steel your generator.

Assuming there is a generator to steal 😛 Like I said before, we only have one or two outages a year so it's not worth it financially for us to invest in a generator but we are supposed to get about 6 inches tomorrow 🙂

If you don't want a generator or can have one (in an appartment or otherwise), a big battery or two with an inverter can power a few devices in a pinch. I have 30Ah battery pack with a 600 watt inverter for power outages with a 100aH battery I also hook up to if need be... I works well for what I use it for but even a small generator would be better for any type of an extended outage.

 

[Nochrome]

Regarding the comments about human nature makes me recall the poor Walmart employee who was trampled to death by the overexcited mob looking for good deals on electronics.
It is with regret that I say that in my experience the line between human nature and animal behaviour is a function of the amount of time and the level of severity of the hardship.
In my work I see people who are at the end of that line. You always hear the neighbors and friends on the news the next day saying "I don't understand he was such a nice boy" or "He was just turning his life around" etc. I'll tell you for sure "normal" "nice" people are capable of the worst things given the right stimulus.
Back to the point you just need to be aware that things can turn ugly anywhere so be be prepared with proper emergencey supplies such as long term lighting and some very bright lights for when they are needed.
P.S thanks for the tips on the pictures I'll have to investigate more on that issue.

 

[Stereodude]

We are supposed to have a big ice storm tonight. I wandered through walmart to day out of boredom and the flashlights were picked clean of every cheap light there was. Even d cell mags were gone. All that was left were the more costly led colmens and minimags. The lanterns in the camping section were also picked over.

That could just be poor stocking at Walmart. They could have had empty shelves before the doom and gloom came on the Weather Channel.

 

[saabgoblin]

Same here and I live in the typical suburban NE neighborhood. I would think this is a very legitimate concern in a city perhaps, however, we have to have some faith in human nature right?

I do live in a city so my perspective may be a little skewed but I am also referring to to an epic emergency, one that is a little more disruptive than a really inconvenient extended yet dangerous blackout. I believe that humans are capable of great compassion but I also believe that there is a primordial dark side where reason and compassion can be overridden. Think about our dependence on fuel for instance, how many people do you know that are or can be independent without grocery stores and no or little knowledge of agrarian techniques once that nice supply of fresh food runs out.

I will have to say that if such an "Epic" event were to occur, a flashlight, and a long running one at that probably satisfies some primordial fear of being without fire and light which we equate with safety and security. I may be a little paranoid 😗like some others that have posted before me but you know what they say about paranoia don't cha, "Paranoid people only know a little".:nana:

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I forgot to mention the run on GASOLINE at the gas stations. 90% of the gas stations for a hundred miles around had no power to operate their pumps, and the ones that did had people hogging the pumps with gas cans for their generators, the result being lines a quarter mile long around the corner. I had to almost drive to the state line to get my gas.

So yeah I agree about getting a car inverter which I had planned on doing anyway, but you cannot even rely on that totally. Diversify.

yeah it happened here too... for 2 days after the power went out the gas was gone then they got more and more stations back online and the QuickTrip stores all got generators and were back in business and we had plenty of Gas. As far as an inverter it is less efficient to boost 12vdc to 120vac and then back down to low dc to charge batteries. It is better to have a charger with a car adapter cord instead as they tend to draw a lot of current if you have the 1 hour chargers. After about half a day you couldn't get a generator everyone sold out of them but 3 days later they were selling them again.

 

[saabgoblin]

That could just be poor stocking at Walmart. They could have had empty shelves before the doom and gloom came on the Weather Channel.

Poor stocking+scarcity+fear+increased competition=Freak-out😱. I'll be glad that I have my long running light while I focus on other security/survival issues and try to stay out of the fray.

 

[KiwiMark]

I never worry about running out of battery power - if I drain my 14500 cells for my EDC I always have my 2D Maglites with nite ize LEDs that should be good for around 50 hours of light. I can run my Jet-IIIM on low for weeks if need be, so it wouldn't matter if my other lights ran out of batteries. If the stores run out of some batteries but not othes then I would be OK, I can create light from AAA, AA, C, D, CR123a, 14500, 16340 or 18650 cells. I also have a 12V lead for one of my AA chargers and a 12V lead for my WF-139. All my batteries are kept fully charged apart from the partly charged ones in my lights. Just my Fenix L2D on low with 10 sets of LSD NiMH cells could provide 400 hours of light, it shouldn't be too hard to hunt around the house for another 100 to 200 hours worth of AAs for it. I reckon I could get by with enough light for maybe 6-12 months on my current batteries.

So I will use my lights on low, medium or high as I need - I don't use medium if I only use low, but I don't use low if I need more light than that. The longest power cut I have personally experienced in the last 4 decades has lasted less than 24 hours.

 

[saabgoblin]

That's true Kiwi,presuming that you still have a house. Sorry, my Boy Scout Be Prepared training may have been taken to extremes.

 

[jhellwig]

That could just be poor stocking at Walmart. They could have had empty shelves before the doom and gloom came on the Weather Channel.

Nah. That section was fully stocked a week ago. The had tons of cheapo lights. I was surprised that the bread and milk wasn't more picked over. That usualy happens when a big snow storm is comming.