I've seen the Light......and it's Rechargeable (Energy Saving Shake Torch)

Member Name: carcraig

Product:	Energy Saving Shake Torch
Date:	07/03/09 (769 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Rechargeable, Everlasting Bulb, Convenient, Environmentally Friendly, Reasonably Priced

Disadvantages: Only that you can't recharge it silently

Torches. Very handy to have for those power cut emergencies, forays into the cellar or up into the attic, breakdowns in the middle of nowhere in the dead of night or camping trips but why is it that the batteries are always dud when you need them (or have been "borrowed" for the TV remote control)?


Our girls have a fascination for torches so "Santa" had brought them a couple of cheap battery operated torches for their Christmas. Being only three years old though, our daughters had a tendency to leave their torches switched on and the batteries didn't last very long. Luckily my brother, Uncle David, trumped Santa and bought them a couple of these rechargeable torches.


It's an ingenious idea. The 18cm/7" long torch is charged simply by shaking it up and down. No replacement batteries, no electricity or car cigarette lighter required. It can be charged in the middle of a field, up a mountain, anywhere.


The body of the torch is plastic and semi-opaque so you can kind of see the inner workings. The body of the torch rows of dimples down the length of the torch; I presume this is to make the torch easier to grip. It has a black rubber base and a black rubber collar round the bulb end too, and a substantial, adjustable wrist strap with a sliding woggle-thingy. It's operated by depressing the black rubber button and has just one setting i.e. it's only either on or off!


It has an energy efficient, non-replaceable LED bulb, but it is very durable, supposedly everlasting. It's also pretty powerful and visible from a mile away (I haven't tested this and I'm not about to run down our street in the dark to test the theory, thank you very much). It certainly cast ample light for me the last time I was down in our cellar hunting for a top hat that I just KNEW was in a box somewhere...(don't ask!)


So how does it work? The shaking motion causes a magnet inside the torch to generate an electrical current which is stored in a holding cell inside the torch until you need to use it. Because the torch casing is semi-translucent you can see the magnet moving back and forth as you shake it, and you can feel the weight transference too. (I had to look that bit up; I'm not really very scientifically minded)


Apparently, 45 seconds of shaking should provide you with 5 minutes of light. I think the torch I have must have had a heck of shaking as I have been sitting with it switched on while I type this review to try and run it down to test that theory and it is still working (and I'm not very fast on the keyboard either).


In the interests of research, I have left the torch on all night, and it is still glowing dimly. As soon as I pick it up, the movement seems to recharge it slightly and it brightens up a bit. I will now shake it for 45 seconds and see what happens.....Right the torch is shining brightly and, as we are in daylight just now, I'm going into the cupboard under the stairs to test the light......Ok, I can confirm that that short amount of shaking did give sufficient light (and my husband thinks I've gone completely insane). I know it's not a scientific test but I'm satisfied with the results.


Weighing a mere 129 grams, this is ideal to slip into a rucksack as a just-in-case item and it is small enough to stow in the glove compartment or kitchen drawer. It will even comfortably fit into a jacket pocket as it is only 17cm in length. They're robust - our torches have been bounced down the stairs, dropped on the floor and stood on and still show no sign of wear or tear.


Although the labelling on our torches does say that these should be kept out of reach of children, there are no small parts to constitute a choking hazard (unless the woggle on the strap where to come detached). The LED light should not, however, be shone into the face or looked at directly, so these are probably best used under supervision by younger children. In a way these are actually ideal for children in that it doesn't matter if they are left on to run down, and there are the educational merits in explaining the "green" credentials of the product and how it actually works.


I know my brother bought these in Tesco (as they have big stickers on them announcing that they are part of the "Tesco Greener Living" range) and I'm pretty sure he said he paid £5 a piece for them. I couldn't trace them on the Tesco website or find them in-store, but I did find them on www.shop-com.co.uk for £5.99 + £3.95 P&P which seemed a bit steep if you were only ordering a single unit. The best buy I could find was on Amazon.co.uk where they were just £4.50 (eligible for free delivery on orders over £5 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-Tools-60753-Shaky-F lashlight/dp/B000WDTIEO)


The only disadvantage that I can see with this product is that it does make a noise when you shake it to charge it, so no good for covert surveillance....


Overall, a highly recommended product; convenient, reasonably priced, environmentally sound, effective, efficient and robust. Buy a few and you'll never be left in the dark again.

Summary: A Rechargeable Torch with an Everlasting Bulb - How Handy is That??