Brock Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 For 24 years or so I have carried torches in my caravan or motorhome as a source of emergency lighting. On most occasions when we come to use the torches - once in a year if we're unlucky - we find the batteries flat. Last week, we needed a torch in the van and neither torch worked as both sets of batteries were beyond their 'use by' date. So apart from continuing to buy torch batteries, is there an alternative? We once had a 'wind up' torch which worked but gave a poor light. Gas or oil fired are out because of safety concerns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candapack Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Don't know how long it is since you had a wind-up torch, but as with all things, they have improved. We carry 2, can't say they are any worse than a battery operated one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Hi Muet agree with Chris I have a very cheap one works fine Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 We've got a couple of, what would've been cheapish "Wilko level", LED torches, that we must've had for 6-8 years... They are quite small(about the size of 3-4 cotton reels)and they use 4 of the AAA batteries but these easily last us 18-24months...and we use them quite a bit. (...not just in the van but when walking back from town, along unlit paths and across the fields..). Admittedly, you're not going to go rabbitin' with 'em...but they do the job (lol) ...a mate of mine swears by Maglites, but I've never subscribed to spending a lot on torches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docted Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 John I have found that small led torches seem to keep their battery "alive" longer than conventional torches, I would also commend led lanterns. One tip which I can pass on is to buy fresh batteres once a year but do not unwrap them unless you need them. Duracell seem to have a better best beforedate but this only applies before you open the package. docted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Agreed - led torches are better at preserving battery life and the bulbs never seem to go either and as there are often several leds per torch that is an added measure of reliability. A good brand of Alkaline battery helps too and Duracell have been proven to hold their power up to 8 years beyond use by date - not recommended - but when you find an old torch it comes as a surprise when it still works! Personally I've not been very impressed with the battery life of wind ups - perhaps because they were cheap ones - but I have never known an led torch not work when needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford60 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 buy a wind up led torch for routine use. they are reliable,as bright if not brighter than a conventional one and far better for the environment. plus, think of all that free exercise you get winding the bugger up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly58 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 We won a couple of wind up torches from the Safeguard stand at the NEC and they work really well , small and compact whilst giving good light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corky 8 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 We always carry a rechargeable L.E.D torch and the more powerful L.E.D lamp, the latter I bought this year from Aldi, just remember to charge them when on EH or if you have one fitted by the solar panel via an inverter. battery torches are IMO old hat.safe Journeys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford60 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 what if you forget to charge them? also, to go out and buy a solar panel and inverter, just in case, is going into the realms of fantasy. LED wind up torch approximate cost £2.50. nuf said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Sorry, but in my experience no matter how good the makers say they are very few rechargeables of any sort hold their charge very long and certainly not long enough in my view to be an emergency torch solution. So for a torch that will very little if any use why go to all the expense and faffing about with rechargeables when a packet of Alkalines are hardly expensive and are a lot more dependable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 We have a wind-up torch in our glory hole locker and it does its job because we've never needed to use it. Having said that I had forgotten it was there so I did replace the batteries on the LED torch recently anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 We have a couple of wind up ones brought from Aldi, the larger one about 4 quid in Aldi 9 quid in B&Q. The light is good for our needs, but be aware the rechargeable batteries in them do fail. We had one fail after 4 or 5 years a replacement battery at trade price was about 3 times the cost of a new torch not friendly on the wallet to be environmentally friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford60 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 come on! 4-5 years use for £4. throw it away and buy anew one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks for all the comments. I've ordered a wind up torch and I'll see how it goes. If it works well, I'll do away with hook up and get the missus a treadmill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 The batteries were soldered in and were nicd on the one where I replaced them with new nicd but it was not successful not least I think because the batteries never got fully charged. On reflection maybe if I had used nimh batteries to avoid the memory effect of nicd it might have been better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 For dog owners I find a head torch very useful as it leaves the hands free ;-)...................also comes in handy with the sick plunger for my Dalek impressions :D.............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 And when you take it off might it be the brightest thing ever to leave your head? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Tracker - 2014-08-12 5:08 PM And when you take it off might it be the brightest thing ever to leave your head? You are the Tracker!...........You are the enemy of the Daleks........Exterminate.......Exterminate........ :D...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 pelmetman - 2014-08-12 5:13 PM Tracker - 2014-08-12 5:08 PM And when you take it off might it be the brightest thing ever to leave your head? You are the Tracker!...........You are the enemy of the Daleks........Exterminate.......Exterminate........ :D...... You're a bit late Davros - others before you want me exterminated much more than you do - I think? And to think that I could have plunged into darkness by a Lincolnshire Dalek!! OOOOh what a fate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Strachan Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Candle is useful as long as you have match. But led torch from aldi or lidll much better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 clifford60 - 2014-08-12 4:14 PM come on! 4-5 years use for £4. throw it away and buy anew one. I did, but if you read my post properly I was saying it is not enviomently friend to throw it away when it only needs a small part replacing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Iain Strachan - 2014-08-12 7:09 PM Candle is useful as long as you have match. Wicked idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiesgrandad Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Have cheap led torches dotted around everywhere, house and van, and car. Power them with batteries from the Pound Shop, 12 AA for £1 and 18 AAA for £1, Kodak brand. It seems to me that people do from time to time over-complicate things, if you can afford tens of thousands of pounds for a motorhome, why do you have a problem with a torch? AGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattwg Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I’m with the ‘wind up’ lobby. We have two, each with 5 leds that still work well after several years. When I remember I wind them up for about a minute even if they have not had recent use. Lidle’s also sell (£7.99 from memory) a rechargeable strip light with 60 leds. We’ve had two for about 5 years. When fully charged they are really bright and last for a couple of hours. Cattwg :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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