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by IshKebab 3975 days ago
A battery powered LED torch is far superior for emergencies. The only reason you'd really want to use this is if you really can't afford a solar-rechargable battery. (But for some reason can afford this, which I'd expect to be more expensive.)
2 comments
giarc 3975 days ago
Although that might be true, battery powered flashlights/torches suffer from the problem of leaky batteries. I've tried to use many flashlights that don't work, only to find the batteries have started to leak acid and ruined the flashlight. Sure, one should check the batteries every year or so, but who really does that? I'm not saying the gravitylight is a good replacement, just that battery powered flashlights do have some drawbacks.
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libria 3975 days ago
This is what lithium primaries are for; they don't leak.
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Vexs 3975 days ago
And before anyone jumps in and says "lithium batteries self discharge!" Yes, yes they do. But it's really, really small. It discharges quickly initially, but then tapers off to about 1% per month.
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dragonwriter 3975 days ago
> A battery powered LED torch is far superior for emergencies. The only reason you'd really want to use this is if you really can't afford a solar-rechargable battery.

Rechargeable batteries can be reused, but still need to be replaced; this may prove lower maintenance, which means once you can get it, you are more secure with it with a less secure distribution system. In many of the places where people are without electricity in the world, that's potentially a significant benefit.

(Also, solar recharging in places that experience long periods of darkness, e.g., the arctic, may not be an ideal solution. There aren't any places that experience extended periods without gravity, at least not on Earth.)

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Someone 3975 days ago
That's true, but the statement was as to its usefulness in emergencies. This thing is fixed to the wall, limiting what you can use it for in an emergency. For example, if you have to find your car keys in a different room, make emergency repairs to your water mains after an earthquake, or figure out how to get a friend out from a collapsed wall in the dark, a torch is more useful.

For emergencies, I would prefer a mechanically powered flashlight with a supercapacitor over this thing.

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