By popular demand, we're continuing our "Product Review Monday" series. Up to this point, it's been "Book Review Monday," but we're expanding somewhat to profile some favorite products besides books.
So today, let's examine a great light source during power outages.
Our favorite go-to light source during power outages is the kerosene lamp. I've been in love with kerosene lamps since I was a teenager, and in fact still have (and frequently use) a beautiful lamp my parents gave me when I was sixteen.
But as much as I love the ambience they give, kerosene lamps are not ideal. They require care (so as not to be knocked over), they're potentially dangerous (fire!), the light is not overly bright, and some people are sensitive to the odor, even when using lamp oil instead of kerosene. Plus, of course, you need kerosene (or lamp oil) for fuel.
When we moved here to our new home, it didn't take long to learn power outages are very, very common. A windy day, a snowstorm, a Tuesday ... outages can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
The logical question that arose during this realization is: What happens if there's a much longer power outage? Do we have enough kerosene on hand to supply all the lamps for a long time?
It was about this time we started searching for an LED light source, something portable, easy to handle, and off-grid. There are numerous options on the market, but we ended up purchasing something called a Dynamo hand-crank solar powered lantern.
This item had extremely good reviews, so we purchased one to see how we liked it. In fact, we liked it so well we purchased four more, and keep them in various locations around the house (and Older Daughter keeps one in her car for roadside emergencies).
This lantern is ten inches high and lightweight. While we usually keep them charged up by electricity, they can be charged a number of ways, including a USB port or a car charger. They have a solar panel on the top (ours still has the protective clear plastic film over it)...
...a AAA-battery case at the bottom...
...and best of all, an option to hand-crank the lantern (one minute of spinning the crank will give about 5 to 8 minutes of light, depending on how fast the crank is turned).
Fully charged, the lamp gives 16 hours of light at the lower (60 lumens) setting, or 10 hours of light at the higher (120 lumens) setting.
These are, unfortunately, a Chinese-made product, so I don't know what (if anything) the tariffs situation will do to the price. Also, be aware a number of different names appear to be on the lantern: Aeptek, Whetstone, etc., but the product is identical.
(Obligatory disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a small commission.)
We have used these lamps extensively during power outages. They're easy to grab when moving to a dark part of the house at night (bathroom, closet, etc.), safe for children and pets to be around, and provide very decent light. It's not the warm yellow light of a kerosene lamp, but instead the bright white light typical of LEDs. However it's plenty bright to read by, do household chores, or place in a bedroom for children to see.
They are also, in my opinion, an important addition to our emergency inventory. Highly recommended.
Your article is an answer to prayer. My wife recently pulled our old, six D-cell battery emergency lantern from its storage place and found that, once again, the batteries were dead, even with no usage. I've been praying about a more efficient replacement when, lo! your review presented itself this morning. I clicked your Amazon link, read their reviews (that substantiate your conclusions, by the way), and ordered one. It'll be here next week. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and Don, your daughters, and your parents and family this Happy Easter season.
As one that has a tendency to be ready for most anything that may come, AKA part-time prepper, I call for, on a different BLOG, for people to do what I call a "Lights Out" weekend, yes named after the book.
ReplyDeleteTake one weekend a month or so, and don't use any outside electrical source (Power Company), turn everything off, except for the necessities, O2 Machine Freezers/Refrigerators and such (PS: don't risk yourself or others on my suggestion). Talk about an Eye opener. Let me tell ya, when it gets dark outside in the middle of winter, ya had best be ready.
Can you lite your Gas Stove without that little spark thingy going Zap Zap and the flame starts? How about those Kerosene Lanterns? I LOVE em, I have the actually "Hurricane" Lanterns that I hang off the wall at about 6 feet, best way too not get then knocked over.
How about the hundreds of other things we use Power for?
Try it for a weekend, than if ya can, a full week.....
BTW, a friend in eastern Michigan has been without power going on the third week now, remember North & South Carolina and Tennessee a few months back? How about all the "Other" places you read/hear about that lose power for weeks on end, remember Texas a few years back? Months without power.
All that said, a few Lanterns, Kero or Solar Power, are a GREAT thing to have around. And yes, having some "stuff" stashed away for "those times" may not be such a crazy thing after huh?
Lastly.... the Amazon link now has those lanterns at -60% $17.63. So mush for the Tariffs huh?
I used to love oil lamps but I've become extra sensitive to the oil smell. I now use Luci Lights. They are solar powered blow up lights. I love them! I keep them in the window to keep them charged and they are always at the ready. No need for batteries anymore. Zero footprint. They have a high, low and flashing mode. I have 10 I keep fully charged in a window at all times, so when one is drained, I grab another one and put the drained one back to the window. No chance of fire and I can see in every room of my house. They have a candle version that I use as a night light, then I recharge it the next day on the eindow sill.
ReplyDeleteLuci solar lights are the way to go. Zero footprint. Keep them on the window sill to always be charged. Then once the battery is drained, return to the sun & you have constant light with no need to change batteries. I've used mine for 10 years and they are still going strong!
ReplyDeleteWhat is usb port for on front? It comes with a barrel to usb cord I assume to charge via usb
ReplyDeleteThe lamps are currently marked down from $43 to $17 on Amazon!!!’n
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the recommendation and link. I have a few simple Etekcity lanterns I ordered back in 2021, and a Streamlight I bought last year, but I like that this one offers so many ways to charge, including the solar panel and hand crank. As others mentioned, the price is right, too. Ordered one for myself and one for each of my sons. Back on April 11th, Survival Blog featured a review of alternative lighting, and it demonstrated quite definitively that solar lighting was far less expensive (not to mention less dangerous and more effective) than either oil lamps or candles.
ReplyDelete