Peri Hartman via EV wrote:
I was considering buying an emergency flashlight that stays plugged in all the time, automatically turns on when the power goes off (like a commercial emergency light) but can be grabbed and used as a flashlight. Made in China. From stories like these I decided not to - until the Chinese develop a better reputation for putting a BMS in their lithium ion products.
I have exactly such a light. It's at least 20 years old, and still works today. It was made by Coleman. It's solidly built, works fine, and is repairable (the bulb has been replaced once, and the batteries probably 3-4 times).
It uses a #PR2 flashlight bulb, and two AA nicad batteries. The night light is a small blue-green fluorescent panel. Originally, the batteries only lasted a year or two -- it has the usual el-junko charger that mindlessly charges the batteries to death. I added a diode in series to drop the charging voltage a bit; then they last 5 years or more.
But it's the exception. I can't count the number of other flashlights I've had over the years. No matter how nice they look, they all seem to be throw-away junk; worthless after a few years.
Flashlights are a perfect "Draino" product. Ten cents worth of materials that sells for ten dollars. Sold on advertising claims and appearance. But then it isn't used, and goes in the cupboard "just in case". If it is needed, it doesn't work. So you throw it away and buy another one. Pouring money down the drain...
Manufacturers love this kind of product. Foreign manufacturers particularly love them, because they *know* that no matter how bad it is, they can't be sued and never have to give anybody their money back. This encourages them to sell all sorts of dangerous products.
The situation won't improve until people wise up and stop rewarding the junk manufacturers with sales!
-- Salesman: Wanna buy some Smart Pills? Cheap price, just for you! Customer: OK, I'll try some... Gee, these things taste like shit. Salesamn: See? You're getting smarter already! :-) -- Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, www.sunrise-ev.com _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
