Comments on: Valor “Shake” Flashlight http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:56:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Mark http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-394629 Mark Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:06:50 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-394629 I think these flashlights are great, but only for an emergency - not long term use. I do have my suspicions on how these things are wired. Here's my own performance test (without cracking it open): 1. Flashlight had been stored in a bag for 2 years - no movement, no charging. 2. Took it outside at night - flashlight emitted a good 150 feet beam of light - satisfactory visibility. 3. Left flashlight on overnight. Beam was dim but still visible after 8 hours. 4. Shook flashlight vigorously for 60 seconds - beam was initially bright but lasted only about 2 minutes until dull again. 5. Hooked up flashlight to the end of a reciprocating saw with zip ties and charged for a full 5 minutes at a moderate speed (charging LED was lit the entire time). Turned on flashlight, beam was bright this time for about 3 minutes, but went dull again. My independent conclusion (without cracking it open) is that the initial long lasting charge must be provided by a hidden long-life battery. The charging circuit is present, though weak, and only provides about 2-3 minutes of new light at the very most. These are very good flashlights to have around for an emergency, but will have reduced performance once the initial battery charge is gone. Constant shaking will be required in order to get several minutes worth of use after a full discharge. I think these flashlights are great, but only for an emergency - not long term use.

I do have my suspicions on how these things are wired. Here’s my own performance test (without cracking it open):

1. Flashlight had been stored in a bag for 2 years - no movement, no charging.
2. Took it outside at night - flashlight emitted a good 150 feet beam of light - satisfactory visibility.
3. Left flashlight on overnight. Beam was dim but still visible after 8 hours.
4. Shook flashlight vigorously for 60 seconds - beam was initially bright but lasted only about 2 minutes until dull again.
5. Hooked up flashlight to the end of a reciprocating saw with zip ties and charged for a full 5 minutes at a moderate speed (charging LED was lit the entire time). Turned on flashlight, beam was bright this time for about 3 minutes, but went dull again.

My independent conclusion (without cracking it open) is that the initial long lasting charge must be provided by a hidden long-life battery. The charging circuit is present, though weak, and only provides about 2-3 minutes of new light at the very most. These are very good flashlights to have around for an emergency, but will have reduced performance once the initial battery charge is gone. Constant shaking will be required in order to get several minutes worth of use after a full discharge.

]]> By: Brau http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-317148 Brau Wed, 14 May 2008 08:14:26 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-317148 Just have to back up Joe. These cheap shake-lights are using watch batteries (wrapped up to appear like a big capacitor) to power the LED. The shaker coil only energizes the little red "charging LED" on the top for a split second. There is no way a coil that size could produce enough energy for 100 minutes from 1 minute of shaking. Just have to back up Joe. These cheap shake-lights are using watch batteries (wrapped up to appear like a big capacitor) to power the LED. The shaker coil only energizes the little red “charging LED” on the top for a split second. There is no way a coil that size could produce enough energy for 100 minutes from 1 minute of shaking.

]]> By: Zathrus http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316992 Zathrus Wed, 14 May 2008 03:13:56 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316992 They work just fine as pure emergency-use flashlights -- don't expect them to replace a maglite or even an el-cheapo LED flashlight for work/DIY use, but that's not the point. If your power goes out, the last thing you need to discover is that the "emergency use flashlight" you had on your dresser has had its batteries go dead in the several years since you last used it. If you have one of these handy then you shake it for a few seconds and you get enough light so that you can go find the candles/matches/batteries/whatever. Really, for $10 it's worth having around. They work just fine as pure emergency-use flashlights — don’t expect them to replace a maglite or even an el-cheapo LED flashlight for work/DIY use, but that’s not the point.

If your power goes out, the last thing you need to discover is that the “emergency use flashlight” you had on your dresser has had its batteries go dead in the several years since you last used it. If you have one of these handy then you shake it for a few seconds and you get enough light so that you can go find the candles/matches/batteries/whatever.

Really, for $10 it’s worth having around.

]]> By: fred http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316965 fred Wed, 14 May 2008 02:18:59 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316965 These are more useful as demos of the Faraday Effect than as working flashlights These are more useful as demos of the Faraday Effect than as working flashlights

]]> By: bbot http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316777 bbot Tue, 13 May 2008 22:11:22 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316777 The NaN shakelight he reviews, by the way, doesn't make any preposterous claims at "battery" life. Five minutes of useful light is what you'll get; depending on your definition of "useful". The NaN shakelight he reviews, by the way, doesn’t make any preposterous claims at “battery” life. Five minutes of useful light is what you’ll get; depending on your definition of “useful”.

]]> By: bbot http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316774 bbot Tue, 13 May 2008 22:08:05 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316774 Dan reviewed a version of the shake light which he called "a working definition of the term "built to last"" http://www.dansdata.com/ledlights11.htm It's definitely a cut above the Made For TV crap, that's for sure. Dan reviewed a version of the shake light which he called “a working definition of the term “built to last”"

http://www.dansdata.com/ledlights11.htm

It’s definitely a cut above the Made For TV crap, that’s for sure.

]]> By: Ron http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316701 Ron Tue, 13 May 2008 20:36:11 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316701 100 minutes? Prove it! 100 minutes? Prove it!

]]> By: Joe http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316559 Joe Tue, 13 May 2008 17:36:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/05/13/valor-shake-flashlight/#comment-316559 Is it really a "no battery" light? Because a lot of these cheap flashlights claim to be shake lights, but when you crack them open you discover that there's a lithium button cell hidden in there somewhere and the "shake" mechanisim is purely cosmetic - the weight isn't magnetic and the coils aren't hooked to anything (or aren't even wire). Caveat emptor and all that. Is it really a “no battery” light?

Because a lot of these cheap flashlights claim to be shake lights, but when you crack them open you discover that there’s a lithium button cell hidden in there somewhere and the “shake” mechanisim is purely cosmetic - the weight isn’t magnetic and the coils aren’t hooked to anything (or aren’t even wire).

Caveat emptor and all that.

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