My friend Geiger Counter Guy is going through an LED phase. Don’t ask: He has…enthusiasms.
Anyway, he turned me on to this little thing, which unlike some of the other gadgets Fedex has delivered lately (A remote-controlled LED bulb that can flash colors like a disco ball?) actually seems practical. My problem is that I don’t usually carry a flashlight unless I know I’ll be out after dark or climbing into a dark place. Of course when you’re loading your belt in the morning you don’t always know that ahead of time. So I’m always getting caught without a light. I wanted something I could just put in my pocket with the rest of the kibble. This is quite clever.
It’s called a Blocklight, and it’s just exactly what it looks like. It’s a little cubical thing with six LEDs, that snaps onto a 9-volt battery. The result is about the size of a Bic lighter. It’s light and compact, well-packaged, inexpensive and appears more-or-less indestructible without a fire or something.
It’s got a three-position switch. Center is off. Right lights the two center LEDs, and left lights them all. Battery life I’ve seen claimed is 20-36 hours depending on which setting you use, though I have to say both figures seem optimistic. Nine volt batteries are not renowned for their capacity when they actually have to produce amps.
Light quality is quite good. This isn’t a burn-out-the-bad-guys’-retinas “tactical” light, but on the high setting it will nicely illuminate a yard. The beam isn’t very concentrated, of course, since there’s no lens. But some of us just want a little help seeing in the dark, and this gets the job done for about eight bucks on ebay.
If I run into any issues with it, I’ll let you know.
Actually, that thing looks pretty cool.
Nice and compact and, rectangular.
I have a small LED freebie from Harbor Freight and it works, OK, but it is round and a pain when having to squat down at work, it digs into my leg.
The one here I could put in my shirt pocket or even a half smoked pack of cigarettes just like a Bic.
The part I really like is it only has ONE battery.
Carrying a spare would be a breeze.
Good job Joel, now I gotta go find one and try it out.
I just ordered one.
C. Crane has been selling the Pak-Lite for some time, same concept but it only has 2 LEDs and costs 3 times as much, claims 300 hours on low. I have resisted buying one of those, but the price on this one might get me to bite.
Make that 600 hours on low. Short term memory loss….check facts.
I’ll believe 300 hours when a golden unicorn tells me so. In person.
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Looks good… if the switch is recessed enough not to be activated in one’s pocket. 300 or 1,000 hours are meaningless if it is only glowing in your jeans pocket. 🙂