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Water-Activated, Emergency Light — Parallax Forums

Water-Activated, Emergency Light

Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
edited 2014-10-13 14:50 in General Discussion
http://www.etoncorp.com/en/productdisplay/blackout-buddy-h2o

Interesting product...

Dip the Blackout Buddy H20 in a small cup of water to activate the battery module and light the way. Simply add water once per day to keep the light shining for up to 72 continuous hours.

The rugged, environment-proof package means you can store it for up to 10 years without degradation.

Comments

  • mklrobomklrobo Posts: 420
    edited 2014-10-13 11:03
    :cool: Cool! This will be great, especially for the storm season coming up! (Eastern USA) :smile:
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2014-10-13 11:41
    Honestly?

    No...

    Good Alkalines have a shelf life of 10 years, and can be used in all kinds of devices.

    The Water activated batteries have an achilles heel... A horrendous self-discharge rate as soon as it has been activated.
    And some of them can be activated by high air-humidity, so they need to be packaged in airtight boxes.
    Once activated, the process can't be stopped, only slowed.
    (Which explains the 'up to 72 hours'.)

    I bet the water-activated battery is non-replaceable, too...
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-10-13 12:13
    Got that greeting with a Radio Shack mass email today.

    Looks like a throw-a-way. Not good for environment?
  • PropGuy2PropGuy2 Posts: 360
    edited 2014-10-13 12:43
    If I may suggest al water based battery charger that really works. It is called a GMAG AA Battery charger. See their website at www.greenivative.com It uses a salt water type, air /Mg cell, to make the voltage to charge six NiMH double AA batteries. It can be used over and over. To stop the reaction just hold it under a faucet to flush the salt water out of the cell- And it is ready to go again. No bad chemicals to pollute.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2014-10-13 13:08
    You will have to replace the magnesium anode after 15 recharges...
    (The salt water recharger is a based on a similar tech as the battery in that LED light.)
    I bet that the anode slowly dissolves even if there's no cells in the charger if there's even a hint of moisture left in the system after use.

    EDIT: And it seems they don't sell the anodes separately...
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2014-10-13 14:33
    Come on, guys, think outside the box. The thing weighs less than an ounce. It's more compact than separate batteries and a flashlight. It's for emergency use. People can stock up on these by the half dozens, taking far less space and weight than the equivalent in batteries and flashlights. One for every member of the family, plus spares. The thing about emergency supplies is that you forget about them. Alkaline battery makers don't warrant their cells will be leak-free in even half the shelf-life of these water-activated cells.
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2014-10-13 14:50
    PC magazine review http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2462090,00.asp
    To stay fully illuminated, you just have to add water once a day. Eton claims the Blackout Buddy can last for up to 72 hours; I found it worked closer to 120 hours,
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