Lights For Camping
Victor Epand
Recently, flashlights which use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of
conventional light bulbs have become available. LEDs have existed for
decades, mainly as low-power indicator lights. In 1999, Lumileds
Corporation of San Jose, CA introduced the Luxeon LED, a high-power
white-light emitter. For the first time this made possible LED
flashlights with power and running time better than some incandescent
lights. The first Luxeon LED flashlight was the Arc LS in 2001.
LEDs can be significantly more efficient at lower power levels, hence
use less battery energy than normal light bulbs. Such flashlights have
longer battery lifetimes, in some cases hundreds of hours, although the
LED efficiency advantage diminishes at higher power levels. LEDs also
survive sharp blows that often break conventional light bulbs.
LED flashlights are often electronically regulated to maintain constant
light output as the batteries fade. By contrast a non-regulated
flashlight becomes progressively dimmer, sometimes spending much of the
total running time below 50 percent brightness level.
A common misconception about LED-based flashlights is that they
generate no heat. While lower-power LED flashlights generate little
heat, more powerful LED lights do generate significant amounts of heat.
For this reason higher-powered LED flashlights usually have metal
bodies and can become warm during use.
A headlamp is a flashlight worn on the head for hands-free operation.
Powerful headlamps mounted on helmets have been used in mining for
decades, but general-purpose ones with fabric straps are now also
available.
Sometimes a light is mounted to a handgun or rifle.
Most flashlights are cylindrical in design, with the lamp assembly
attached to one end. However, early designs came in a variety of
shapes. Many resembled lanterns of the day, consisting largely of a box
with a handle and the lamp attached to the front. Some others were made
to have a similar appearance to candles. It is possible that future
developments of battery and LED technology will bring interesting new
designs. For instance, one very small light that exists now in 2004
consists of a few LEDs with a switch, designed to be an end cap for a
9-volt battery.
High-quality flashlights go for as much as several hundreds of dollars.
Such flashlights are very advanced, using special batteries, have
adjustable brightness levels, dive-depth waterproof ratings,
interchangeable optics, and are very bright.
Lantern is another important source of light while camping. Some
lanterns are battery-powered and have simple light bulbs, but bright
and efficient electric lanterns will employ a specialized power supply
to operate a fluorescent type. They are easy to use and comparatively
durable, but less bright than propane or liquid fuel lanterns.
Depending on the design, these lanterns may use disposable batteries,
rechargeable replaceable batteries, or permanently-installed
rechargeable batteries and either require battery replacement, or if
rechargeable and not constantly plugged in must be brought to full
charge every few months by plugging in.
Some rechargeable fluorescent lanterns may be plugged in at all times
and may be set up to illuminate upon a power failure, a useful feature
in some applications. During extensive power failures (or for remote
use), supplemental recharging may be provided from an automobile's
twelve volt electrical system or from a modest solar powered charger.
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for
http://www.CombatCloth.info/
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CombatCloth.info carries the best selection of combat clothing, gear,
and accessories on the market: http://www.CombatCloth.info/categories/adventure-
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