Recently, I have noticed more and more retail stores carrying higher powered flashlights whether powered by primaries or Li-On batteries. Times are changing and technologies improving. That's a good thing.
On the hand, I do have reservations of the general public using rechargeable lithium batteries and the possible dangers that are associated with improper use.
Here's an example. One of my favorite woodworking/gardening stores, Lee Valley is now carrying a particular torch which comes with rechargeable lithium batteries and charger. It looks like a 18650 (edit: 26650) sized battery. As you know a good majority of the customers at LV are aged 55 & over. How do you feel abut grandpas & grandmas charging lithiums? I can see some of them draining them until they stop working or forgetting them in the charger for days. I haven't bought one to see the packaging but no where on the website do I see any warnings, sighting any particular dangers, or care/handling measures.
I think you are right on, Bigwood. Until they get LI batteries standardized with excellent protection circuits and foolproof chargers that actually shut off at the right voltage, I don't think this is such a good idea.
This is exactly why Walmart has not gotten into the Li-ion powered flashlight segment in the USA.
It’s not just the older people they have to worry about.
Today’s consumers by and large are impulse driven and lazy when it comes to wanting to even read an instruction manual or research the technology and associated risks.
Yes the young nerds will research it and run with it, but they are a small piece of the pie.
My wife ran a 14500 down all to squat last week.
Now she only gets AA’s in her SK68.
Yeah, that is kind of worrisome. Most people don’t really take care of their stuff or read the instructions. Although I guess that cell phone batteries are also Li-Ion, and hardly anybody takes care of them either. Amazing there aren’t more accidents and fires from them.
i guess i am one of those grandpa’s significantly older than 55 and , yes, without appropriate safety instructions, might be at peril just as the vast majority of folks under 55 would be! i hope you do not think that being under 55 buys you a pass on common sense!
Ken - It was not my intention to imply that anyone over the age of 55 lacks common sense. For that I appologize if it came out that way.
I was trying to prove a point and wanted the reader to picture their precious grandpa's and grandma's being put in harms way because the market has not taken their due diligence before they put a product out into market.
I guess children would have worked better especially if the readers were mostly mothers but I couldn't work it into my senario just right.
no offense taken! i just find that it takes a while to get used to the stereotypes for senior citizens now that i have become one. i still picture myself as a pretty sharp (director of IT at a hospital) guy that works out regularly, has more flashlights and knives than i can count and, as a combat vereran still believes that if i can not kick ass out of a situation i can shoot my way out! although i do believe that my granddaughter does view me a big ol cuddly “papa”. probably TMI but hey……
Now it would really scare me if i thought my wife’s parents were going to own a rechargeable li-ion setup. either the technology needs to be made safer or sales need to be severly restricted, even inclusion of extensive directions or warnings would not work since most folks,myself included do not RTFM.
btw, i really value this forum for bringing issues like this and others to the front. this place is really addictive.
i guess i am one of those grandpa’s significantly older than 55 and , yes, without appropriate safety instructions, might be at peril just as the vast majority of folks under 55 would be! i hope you do not think that being under 55 buys you a pass on common sense!