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Oct. 31st, 2012
Let's Shed Some Light the Subject
Oct. 31st, 2012 08:10 pmStorm Sandy has me thinking about preparation for emergencies. Specifically, emergency lighting.
Have higher capacity batteries and high efficiency LED lights made things like naphtha pressure lanterns and kerosene mantle lamps obsolete? For the same weight, volume and cost can you get enough out of electrical lights to not need the older technologies? Especially if you include the less easily
quantifiable aspect of increased safety?
I suspect that if you include rechargeable lights - especially those with built-in cranks and generators, which can be recharged without other gadgets - the answer is yes... conditionally. Some combustion-based lights are still brighter for longer than any electrical gadget of similar dimensions and cost I am aware of. White gas and kerosene pressure lanterns, for example. For most personal uses, though, those are overkill. Not to mention dangerous in enclosed spaces.
Mind you, I'm not tossing my Aladdin lamps or Coleman lantern, or even my candles. Though the first two require more skill than simply flipping a switch.
Also, will purely chemical lights - such as Cyalume light sticks - ever be economical and effective enough to rival the combustion and electrical lights?
Have higher capacity batteries and high efficiency LED lights made things like naphtha pressure lanterns and kerosene mantle lamps obsolete? For the same weight, volume and cost can you get enough out of electrical lights to not need the older technologies? Especially if you include the less easily
quantifiable aspect of increased safety?
I suspect that if you include rechargeable lights - especially those with built-in cranks and generators, which can be recharged without other gadgets - the answer is yes... conditionally. Some combustion-based lights are still brighter for longer than any electrical gadget of similar dimensions and cost I am aware of. White gas and kerosene pressure lanterns, for example. For most personal uses, though, those are overkill. Not to mention dangerous in enclosed spaces.
Mind you, I'm not tossing my Aladdin lamps or Coleman lantern, or even my candles. Though the first two require more skill than simply flipping a switch.
Also, will purely chemical lights - such as Cyalume light sticks - ever be economical and effective enough to rival the combustion and electrical lights?
