Maintenance & Restoration

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:22 AM

Ok, I confess.

I'm addicted to flashlights.

I probably own a hundred of them, or so.

The newest, neatest flashlights are LED flashlights (LED is light emitting diode).

I own a dozen or so LED flashlights ... but over the summer, I've fallen in love with one ... the one we used as a nightlight while dry camping for 7 weeks in the heavy dark forest in Colorado this summer.

<img src=http://www.palights.com/Images/palcolorsani.gif/>

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:24 AM

Does it blink like that? :wak

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:26 AM

Actually, I've owned PALight flashlights for some time ... you can purchase them anywhere, but I usually buy direct from the manufacturer ...

http://www.palights.com

All Palights run off a nine-volt battery.

Once you install the battery, the LED glows ever so slightly in the "always on" mode.

When it's in the "always on" mode, it will illuminate the trailer's bathroom, just enough so you can find your way around in the dark.

Perfect for our little trailers.

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:29 AM

No, Mary, the case doesn't change colors ... those are all the colors of the Palight flashlight case.

There are several different models.

I prefer the Workman ... or the Survival models.

The workman has three settings.

Always on
On Low
On High

As I said, once you install the 9 volt, the flashlight turns on in the "always on" mode.

It will run in the always on mode for two years on a single 9 volt battery.

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:33 AM

>>No, Mary, the case doesn't change colors

Okay. You know I was teasing. :r

How bright's the high setting?

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:34 AM

Buying from the manufacturer, you can select the color of the LED in some models.

If you've never seen an LED flashlight, you may be disappointed in the beam when you first see it ... but you will soon learn to love it.

LEDs will probably out outlive you. They last for something like 10,000 hours of use.

Note ... most LED flashlights will break the bank.

These little babies cost under $20 for the most part.

Get a couple.

Keep one in the always on mode in your home in your bedroom, with the 9 volt installed, in the always on mode on your bedstand.

And another PALight inside the trailer, and only install the 9 volt battery when you are camping ... so that the PALight is in the "always on" mode so you can use it as a night light ....

Since the battery will last for 2 years in the "always on" mode, you'll have a nightlight good for two years of dry camping ... not sucking any juice out of your trailer's house battery!

It's a good thing.

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:37 AM

The high beam is bright enough to walk around your house ... no problem. Even take the dog on a short walk around the trailer.

But I won't count on it for a midnight hike through the woods.

As I said, LEDs aren't as bright as regular bulbs.

Don't get me wrong.

Any PALight is plenty bright enough to see your way around on the HIGH setting.

But don't expect the beam to be as bright as a 4 D cell maglight.

As I said, the perfect use is in the "always on" mode, as either a nightlight in the trailer ... or by your bed at home, so you can quickly find it (because it will always be on dimly), then click it to a higher setting

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:39 AM

For the truest color rendition from an LED (I told you I was an addict), select a white LED in your PALight.

Interestingly enough, BLUE and GREEN LEDs are brighter, and will appear much brighter to the human eye. (although please don't shine directly into your eye, because you could damage your eye!)

However, in the dark, a BLUE or Green LED will cause everything to appear different colors ... kinda neat for a GEE Whiz sort of thing, but I prefer white LEDs in my LED flashlights.

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:42 AM

My wife, Pam, tells me she prefers that I keep a BLUE cased PALight because it's close to "Casita blue," a color all Casita folks have come to love.

We keep the PALight in the trailer bathroom sink, where in the always on mode, it shines up the bathroom wall and reflects off the ceiling.

Plenty of light for me to do my business ... even in the dark of night, in the deepest forest, while dry camping.

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:44 AM

One of my favorite PALights is the Workman ... only costs US$13.95 from the manufacturer ... I'd pay twice that!

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:46 AM

While I like Workman and Survival models the best, I also own a couple of Selector models ... where the longer you hold the button, the brighter the light becomes (I think there are 7 levels on brightness).

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:48 AM

PALight flashlights are barely bigger than a 9 volt battery. As a matter of fact, I doubt it's more than a half inch taller, and a quarter inch wider than a 9 volt battery ...

Since it's small, and we all love small trailers ... it's a natural fit.

No, I'm not a dealer.

Although I considered it.

I gave you the address of the manufacturer ... buy directly from the source.

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:53 AM

oh yeah, price from the factory used to include the 9 volt battery ...

I think it still does!

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 10:59 AM

I've often wondered why Charles won't pony up the $$$ for one of those neat little Honda gen sets. :chin

Now we know why; it's because he has all his hard earned dough tied up in flashlights! :loltu

Actually, you've got me interested now - I figured they were more of a novelty and not good for much.

And when you mention taking care of business in the middle of the night......... that's marketing I can relate to!

(snort)

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 11:16 AM

Yep, Charles is telling the truth (as he always does). Nothing works as well for general lighting around the camp. I bought one a year or so ago, and wouldn't be without it. Don't know the brand, but it operates on 2 AA cells, which I like, because it seems everything else I have operates on AA batt's. I forgot how long the AA are supposed to last, but over a year old and still going strong. Charles and I are in different tax brackets obviously, because I only have one. Un less you are getting old and keep forgetting where you put it, why would you need more?

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 02:05 PM

i just picked up 2 pack of amber lights i plan on moouting them for use as night lites , dont laugh Kat has been know to leave little presents on the floor amd you dont want to step in them ever lol:cheers

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 02:06 PM

>>why would you need more

When you are an addict, your "need" knows no boundaries.

When Pam comes home from work, if there's a bulge in my pants pocket, instead of asking the proverbial Mae West "Are you glad to see me," .... she said "Did you buy another darn flashlight?"

James, I'll bet you have a Brinkmann Rebel 2AA LED ... I use my Brinkmann 2AA to "use up" AA batteries from other devices. You can take a dead (to other devices) AA battery and get months of continued use in an LED light.

Most expensive LED is a Surefire with a KL4 head. Pam has no idea how much I spent on that one!

But, as I said, the "always on" feature of the PALight is what caught my attention!

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 02:15 PM

[
But, as I said, the "instant on" feature of the PALight is what caught my attention![/quote]
I thought all flashlights were"instant on". It's not like you have to lift the chimney turn up the wick and find the matches,
I figured you needed more than one to have always have one handy, 'cuz you never know where you'll be when the lights go out.
Jean

Legacy Posts · 08-19-2003, 02:19 PM

Whoops ... how dumb am I! Thanks Norm (or Jean)

I mean "always on" ... not "instant on."

The flashlight is always on ... shining dimly. You can't turn it off! It lasts two years in this mode!

I'm gonna go back and edit all my "instant on" to "always on."