Solar powered flashlights are getting more and more awesome. For use from camping to disaster relief, they’re handy, getting more efficient, and more readily available…sometimes even free! Well, Sanyo doesn’t want to be left behind, so they’re come out with the Eneloop solar light.
The light is rugged enough for camping with a splash resistant exterior, bright enough to illuminate a small room, can be used as a flashlight or panel light (which has three different levels of illumination), and just flat out looks pretty. The solar technology utilizes Sanyo’s high efficiency solar cell and has a rechargeable battery that can store enough energy to charge a cell phone.
The only problem is that it takes 15-30 hours of daylight to charge – taking a couple of days to charge a light isn’t all that handy. It does come with an AC adaptor that takes 3.5 hours to charge up the pack, but that doesn’t do much good when you’re off grid. However, when it is fully charged, you get between 9 and 50 hours of light time, depending on the mode. Most people only need at most 4-5 hours of light at night, so you can probably get all the light you need each night if you set it out in the sun for the day, making this another neat-o light option.
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written by HomeEnergyTv, September 06, 2008
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written by Don Marang, September 06, 2008
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written by Bob, September 07, 2008
Going camping for a few days? Take a LED flashlight with a couple of freshly charged AAs. You'll have plenty of light.
Carrying a small solar charger on anything less than a month long trip makes no sense to me. An extra set of AAs would weigh less, take less pack space.
Stocking your emergency kit? Get a solar powered battery charger so that you can charge both your flashlight and radio batteries.
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written by the006iceman, September 07, 2008
As for the memory effect problem, the charger uses Nickel-metal hydride, which probably means that it uses Sanyo's special 'eneloop' series which reportedly overcome the memory effect problem, thanks to its inherent design.
I personally would use this when I go camping even if overnight, just to be familiar with the product in the case that I would have to use it in an emergency. Besides, if you can recharge it with AC and use it for up to 50 hours, why would you need to grab a flashlight and a few batteries? Plus it can be used as a light inside the tent, so I can actually read without having struggling to set up the flashlight just right.
This is a great product idea Sanyo, keep it up!
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