I was wondering if anyone has come across a non-battery powered renewable light source. I have been using a older shake flashlight but it is weak. I did try to use a small device that had two LEDs and that you wound but it was not waterproof I found out. Anyone with anything else? Thank you.

Kerosene hurricane lantern?

Cheers

Nope. There are non-renewable that involve burning things and produce poor to so/so quality light, fuel cells which are experimental in small sizes and also aren't sustainable. There devices that use a capacitor to buffer energy generated by physical movement (like your winder and the shaker). My experience is not enough power is generated by them for good quality light, and every devices I have purchased like this has failed within a year of purchase. Maybe I have gotten bad units, but I haven't had that problem with my more traditional flashlights. I think the best bet is using a battery as your storage, and then find an appropriate way to recharge it... but it solar is motion capture.

--Mark

Edited by verber on 01/12/2011 10:59:45 MST.

Pelton Wheel.

It is not very portable, but that was not one of the original requirements.

--B.G.--

B.G. +1 for careful attention to requirement.

As I remember there was a kero candle you could buy as a replacment for the candle lanterns. Bout 6 hours light, not as bright as parafin. They also leak so you also had to seal them in a separate container...not worth the hastle IMHO. You could also use lamp oil that was somewhat brighter, and burned a bit cleaner, about 4-5 hours as I remember. I'll see if I still have it...I don't remember the manufacturer though.

Tea lights and candles, of course. The large sized version of the candle lantern. None were satisfactory for hiking.

Found an address for one at:
http://www.campmor.com/oil-insert-uco-candle-lantern.shtml?source=CI&srccode=cii_10043468&cpncode=25-19536271-2

Edited by jamesdmarco on 01/12/2011 12:53:45 MST.

I have had quite good luck with the dynamo torches (wind up, not shake). Aside from that, we use rechargeable batteries in traditional torches, and have a solar panel to recharge them if necessary. We don't take the panel hiking...it is for civil emergencies only and lives in our campervan, along with a dynamo torch/clock/radio and two small dynamo torches. 5 LEDs on the dynamos give good light and last about 30 minutes per charge. The radio/torch has something like 10 LEDs and is VERY bright.

A winding one that has good light and is waterproof would be nice.

An ordinary wind up is prolly a lot cheaper than a rugged, waterproof one. Not an expert, but I can just imagine the intricacy involved in keeping a moving part (the crank) and its housing waterproof while still allowing you to crank... How often will you be using your light in blinding rain? If less than "regularly" -- maybe just crank the thing first and then place it inside a ziploc bag the few times you need to and call it good?

Edited by ben2world on 01/13/2011 11:26:06 MST.

I have used the Windup handcrank in camp. It was useful but thankfully I wasn't hiking with it. My wrist aren't "that" built up.

Yes, people complain about having to pump water through their filters. Those crank lights require a lot more effort to keep em going.

Just about anything crank-based has its own internal battery that charges while you crank. Eventually that battery will wear out and it'll be useless. Not sure if that's a concern, but you did say "non-battery."

The two things that immediately come to mind are beeswax candles (burn longer & cleaner than equivalent weight of paraffin) and a Beta Light. I've never actually been able to find a Beta Light for sale anywhere, but they're recommended in the SAS Survival Handbook as "the size of a small coin but ideal for reading a map at night and a useful fishing lure - expensive but just about everlasting."
After further research: they've everlasting because they're slightly radioactive, though not in the dangerous sense. I just don't know where to find them.
Don't think they're very bright either.

I find the dynamo torches that you squeeze rather than crank to be much less effort for some reason. They also only require one hand to recharge which is a big advantage IMHO.

Anybody else think a miniature Pelton Wheel could be really cool? You could camp by a creek/river and set it up for the night where it could generate electricity overnight and either store that or directly charge your electronics. I'm thinking something around 4-6" diameter and 4-6oz. Who wants to build one?

Dan, the two parts are the water wheel and the generator. You would have to build those into a submersible housing and then fasten it by a wire to hold it in the water current.

I think that diameter will be far heavier than 4-6 ounces.

I have visited old goldmining camps where large ones were installed. They were made of wood and were maybe 12 feet in diameter. But then, they generated a lot of power.

--B.G.--

@Lynn, what are the ones that you squeeze?

The two things that immediately come to mind are beeswax candles (burn longer & cleaner than equivalent weight of paraffin) and a Beta Light. I've never actually been able to find a Beta Light for sale anywhere, but they're recommended in the SAS Survival Handbook as "the size of a small coin but ideal for reading a map at night and a useful fishing lure - expensive but just about everlasting."
After further research: they've everlasting because they're slightly radioactive, though not in the dangerous sense. I just don't know where to find them.
Don't think they're very bright either.

Bradley, like this?



http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8922

It's not bright enough for reading, but it's just 0.18 oz with the metal ring.

Shark torch from ecotopia.co.uk around £42, water resist to10m with a1w lamp and and can recharge mobile devices

The Sun.

My sunny disposition? My bright personality?