I got a call today from the “birthday girl” that the wife of the other couple had gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and the current went out. She was afraid to move in the dark. She called her husband and he remembered the lights I had given them. He found his pants and used the light to get his wife back safely in bed.
All this is to ask where I can get a night light that plugs in, charges, and does not light up until the current goes out. Appreciate any help.
About a decade ago, I got a bunch of Sylvania night lights which automatically turn on when the current goes out. The have the option to light upward in a wide pattern, downward in a cone shape, or both, and the default is that they’ll light upward when it’s dark and downward when you pull it out of the wall to use it as a torch. I think they were $7 each.
They were nice at first, but it seems that they didn’t know when to stop charging so the batteries didn’t last very long. In other words, I think they overcharged the batteries to death.
I can’t really provide any details about the exact model because I left them with the house when I moved out. In any case, they were readily available from a local grocery store.
This one has a decent feature — when the power fails, it flashes instead of coming on and staying on. Maybe a bit disorienting, but the reserve battery should last quite a bit longer (handy if you’re not home and arrive to find the neighborhood blacked out — the light might still have some life in it) http://www.dorcydirect.com/p-527-41-1032-failsafe-rechargeable-emergency-light.aspx
Thanks, All for the good information. I found an Ever ready at Lowes for $8.89 I think. My friend gave it to her at bridge last night. Thanks again.
Jerry
The power went out here two nights ago and they lit up my rooms well. My neighbor even commented on seeing the light through my windows the next morning.
Somebody here (or on CPF) mentioned these Dorcy motion sensitive lights awhile ago.
Next to the house is a detached, partially enclosed porch/deck; I have one of these mounted right next to the steps by the porch door.
When the girl delivers the newspaper at 4:00-5:00 in the morning, she has to walk about 20-feet down a sidewalk to the door; being in the suburbs it is pitch-black!
It’s pointing down the length of the walkway (towards the street), and actually triggers when anyone walks down the street (right in front of the house), or when a car drives by.
It can be set to stay on for 30 or 60 seconds, and stays off during the day (only works when it’s dark).
It does a good job lighting up the steps (and part of the sidewalk), and just feels a lot safer. I was out mowing the lawn, and when she happened to be walking by, and thanked me for the light. I told her I put it there so she doesn’t have to trip on the steps, and can see the icy-patches in the winter time.
Anyway, I put Energizer Lithium batteries in it (3xAA), and it lasts about 7-8 months; which is pretty good considering it’s mounted outside.
The LEDs will get dimmer when the batteries are getting a bit tired, so it’s easy to tell when it’s time for a fresh set.
The husband was in bed without a light close by, except for the coin cell light I had given them earlier in his pants pocket. I guess his pants were close to the bed so that is what he used. I doubt he put the pants on.
The wife has had MS for may years and can hardly get around I don’t know how she got to the bathroom as she has to be lifted into her wheel chair. I guess she had a walker. So the only thing that would work in this type situation is the power failure light.
My friends sometime make fun of me about flashlights. I bet none of you have experienced that. At least these folks know that when you need a light in the night it does not take much light to be enough, and being REAL HANDY and close count a lot.
The older Eveready emergency lights don’t hold up well whether used or unused. I gifted several of them and within 2 years all were dead. Within one year none ran for more than a couple minutes dimly. My guess is the cells were crap but it could have been charging-related. It’s a great concept though, and I’m sure there’s somebody who makes decent ones.
Have not been to a hospital for some years but they used to have something like this;
The loop makes it easy to understand and the rechargeable aaa batteries get changed anually?
