DX listed this decent looking hand-crank recharging light recently:
So, after so many years, we get finally a hand-crank light, which:
- looks like a flashlight, not a toy
- is made of aluminum (instead of plastic)
- has CREE emitter (XR-E)
- is zoomable (read: should have nice, even, usable flood)
What do you think?
Please help me saving money and tell me why I shouldn't buy this. ;)
most of them produce so little power you’ll end up wanting to smash it, i can’t speak to personal experience on this model, but i assume it will generate under 0.5 watts leading to low 2 digit lumen output, if your lucky
though 15 mintues will just tire you out and remind you to buy a AA battery, its far cheaper then the time you waste
This one uses a 18650 & XR-E, so I would assume the output is at least semi-decent.
So I could charge the cell before camping trip and use the crank only in emergency situations..
Do you realize how long 15 minutes of cranking is ? Why not get a mouse and a wheel. Why charge batteries for your camera . Just add a crank and wind up your Cannon .
Nikor Crankor
you could, but i would just bring more 18650s taht can be paid for by not buying this light
i am very cynical about crank powered lights, and besides, should you not get more then 3 hours of battery life at 180 lumens?
Actually I think it’s pretty cool. Can you replace the battery or is it wired in? If the battery can be taken out and a fresh one put in that would be really nice. Plus these are just kinda cool to have around for the 30 seconds or so that you often use a flashlight. Say you walk out to check the garbage cans or something. Well you pick it up crank away and there you have enough power for a quick walk around. But being able to change the battery would be nicer or at least if it’s possible to take it our and eve wire it back in. Eventually the battery will need to be replaced.
It looks really nice for sure!
On the other hand, cranking such a thing is really unpleasant. Even just 3 or 4 W mechanical input for 15 minutes will make your wrist hurt bad I guess. Also I think the battery is to big for hand charging. After 15min of sweaty and hand burning cranking, there will be not such a big rise in cell voltage. (depends on actual battery)
Not saying it’s bad, just that it has some downsides.
If price was half of it, I would rip out the battery and put in a smaller one and a supercap. (where only the cap is charged from the crank)
But if someone buys it, please let us know how it works out! 
I like these kinds of things where it provides more power sources than just the battery. But I think the price range is too high. For the same price range, I can get an ETON which has crank and solar in addition to running off replaceable and safer NiMH rechargeable AAs. Also has the bonus of emergancy radio, USB port for phone charger, and supports the Red Cross. I’d be willing to part with all those bells and whistles if this flashlight was significantly cheaper, but it is what it is.
hit or miss guys,at the worst you’ll only waste 15 minutes of your life :bigsmile:
Perhaps decent LOOKING is correct.
Unfortunately it is impossible to believe anything claimed on these sites.
Let's look at the claims shall we? Some very rough "bush maths" to follow.....
Usage time over 3 hours from an 18650 cell. Let's assume a Q4 emitter which would need about 800mA to produce 180 lumens if I am reading the data sheet correctly. So our cell has to be at least 2400mAH even before allowing for circuit losses. Lets be generous and assume 90% efficient so our cell has to be just over 2600mAH capacity - possible but not likely.
Now they say that 15mins of cranking/charging produces 2 hours of light. So we are putting in at least two thirds of a charge in 15 mins are we? (Runtime is quoted as 3 hours on high). Approximately 1800 mAH now deliverable from the cell after only 15 mins of charge. Boy - that must be some charger. Let's forget 0.6C rates here folks, we are going for about 7.2amps here without figuring charging circuit and battery takeup losses!
Now perhaps they mean 2 hours on low mode? According to the claims, low mode uses about half of the current of high mode (3 hrs vs 6 hrs). So we are still managing to crank out 3.6A from our little winder? Not likely!
The concept is nice, a decent hand-cranked light is long overdue but the majority of them have such low output as to be novelty factor only. It almost certainly has cheap plastic gearing that will wear out with any serious attempt to charge the cell. The pack includes a mains charger as well so I think we can assume that this is the best way to charge. The crank will be like the token solar cells you see on some lights. A nice "feel green" concept that offers little contribution in the real world.
It's really sad that some people will be taken in by this cr*p.
Feel free to take one for the team _the_! We'd all like to hear your assessment and teardown report. 
But it’s plastic fantastic.
This is one of those lights where it's better than nothing. No light at all. It's better than that.
With all the recent advances in capacitor tech, I’m surprised that they haven’t shown up in this kind of flashlight more. Especially the hybrid cap style.
If you want the real deal, a true magic light for wandering the waste lands 30 years after the nuclear war and that will last for a couple of lifetimes, then look for a generation 3, Nightstar shakelight.
It looks good, but I don’t have any good experiences with hand cranking lights.
Personally I’d get a Sipik SK68, which I don’t have yet for some reason… Hmm…
The concept is fun... Until the novelty wears off. The reality is that my money would be better spent on batteries, more lights or modding parts. I've had at least three handcrank powered radios and two camping lights and they are just not practical when any other power source is available. If I didn't get bored cranking it the first time I used it, I did the second time. About the best thing that can be said about a hand cranked light has already been said - it's better than no light at all. Just.
They sell surplus hand cranked ringing generators for field telephones over here for 50cent … 1€ sometimes.
I converted one of them to a hand crank generator with a simple gear and a decent crank handle. I can get ~5W electrial out of it with bearable effort, but it’s still no fun I can tell you. 
These little lights with their little handles are just pure pain.
I still like the idea of them though. 
Put in decent electronics which support your cranking efforts, a 10F double layer capacitor and a good LED.
(something like Nichia NS2W757AT-V1 with 155lm/W @ 30lm output)
It would make a perfect gift for a Child.
Why? Because they can learn a lesson about electricity and how much mechanical work it actually takes to generate some of it.
You don’t get that concept by switching the 2kW A/C on with a finger’s flick.
(I just got an idea for a birthday gift! :P)