Though the flashlight is of a very simple design, it is a relatively new invention. It came into being after the incandescent light bulb and the dry cell was invented.

The name “flashlight” has a humorous background. In the early days of the dry cell, the power of a dry cell battery was very limited. To save the it from discharging quickly, the flashlight was operated intermittently and just long enough to check out the environments, hence the name “flashlight”.

There are many flashlight designs available in the market today. Like dry cell flash lights, rechargeable acid type flashlights, rechargeable dry cell type, LED (Light Emitting Diode) type, solar charging type, electromagnet type, head lamp type, underwater type, rifle or gun light etc.

The flashlight is the simplest design and used in most households and consists of batteries to power the electric bulb. As the batteries discharge the illumination dims in these flashlights.

Rather than buying a flashlight, which needs battery replacement frequently, a better design is to use rechargeable batteries, which can be lead acid type or dry cell type.

Some use solar panels for recharging during daytime. Electromagnet type uses a clockwork arrangement or a knob arrangement. In clockwork arrangement a spring mechanism is used to power the flashlight and has to be wound as required. The knob type arrangement has a moving coil or magnet which moves when the knob is pressed and charges a capacitor, which provides power to the bulb.

LED type flashlights are of a recent design. Though LED:s have been around for decades, the LED flashlight was not available till late 90s because the LED:s could not be operated continuously and their luminosity was very poor.

LED flashlights consume very little power compared to the conventional electric bulb as LED:s do not produce as much heat as electric bulb. These flashlights usually have a metal body to dissipate heat by conduction since LED:s do not dissipate heat through the light beam like electric bulbs do.

A headlamp type has a flashlight on a helmet so that the hands are free. Underwater type is a special flashlight, which is used for illuminating underwater objects and is waterproof. Rifle or gun lights are special flashlights used for illumination of target.

Flashlights are fairly cheap and available in attractive designs. The price ranges from a few dollars to a couple of hundred dollars.

A traditional flashlight
These days, traditional flashlights use batteries to power light bulbs. Depending on the type, these lights can be weak or strong, with professional quality lights putting out better beams than the cheap flashlights that you might find on the racks of a home improvement or department store. The bulbs are not terribly energy efficient, meaning that they go through batteries a lot faster than LED lights, and the bulbs burn out a lot faster than LED’s as well. Overall, these are not recommended if you are buying a new flashlight. Spend a couple extra dollars on some quality gear.

Manual power flashlights
Manual power flashlights do not use batteries. Instead, they use cranks, triggers (which you squeeze repeatedly) or are simply shaken to create the power needed to run an LED light. (Usually, these flashlights do not produce enough power to get a reliable beam out of a traditional incandescent bulb.) These good for quick uses like taking a quick look at the fuse box, but require a lot of shaking, turning, or squeezing to make them continue to run. Users usually tire out quickly, so don’t plan to use them for nighttime walks or other long-term applications. On the plus side, you will never be caught without batteries again.

Flashlight Size matters
If you are looking for a light to stow in your car or emergency kit, you will want a small light that still puts out a bright beam. LED flashlights are best for this application, hands down, and manual power lights are great for emergency kits as a backup for when batteries run out. Keep both kinds of light stocked so that you will have a stronger light if you need it. Use the manual light for brief uses, like checking on your child’s skinned knee, and the battery powered light to scan for danger or signal for help.

If you are looking for something good for hunting or camping, you will likely want a more powerful light that will illuminate a good area brightly or present a focused beam on whatever you want to see. These lights work great for signaling at a distance, or even better for late night walks or treks to the toilet hole. LED is, again, hands down the best choice, but only if you can find a professional quality light that presents the features (broad vs. narrow beam) that you need.

All in all, it is almost impossible to beat an LED light for applications ranging from pen lights to LED camping lanterns. There are many features available, so choose your LED flashlight with care, and be prepared to use it for many years to come. You too will soon find that these LED flashlights are made to last.

-Ben Anton 2007

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There are really times when the electricity goes out. There are various reasons too why this happens. There might have been an accident that involved a huge truck smashing right through the wires that bring electricity to your home. Or maybe a bolt of lighting just struck that electric post near your home. Or maybe a hurricane decided to pass through your town and damaged all those wires and electric posts.

One of the main benefits that electricity gives us is light. Many just could not imagine a world without electricity. That would mean dark nights and we just could not make do with the light that could come from gas lamps or maybe even the light that come from the flames of candles. They are just too dim for you, right?

The best thing that could come into your life during times when the light goes out is the 4 LED flashlight which can be found over at Gadget Epoint. What is interesting about this metal tool is that it is very small that you can carry it around with ease. This sure would not hold a candle to those big and bulky flashlights of yesteryears. See, this metal tool is far more than that. It may be small but it surely packs a really bright light. Mind you, it has LED bulbs that does not just burn out like other bulbs do.

Aside from being the small, handy, and bright metal tool and gadget that it already is, the 4 LED flashlight has been also made to be waterproof. So it does not matter if you are in the middle of a storm. This metal tool is still going to work out really fine. Plus, it is also resistant to shocks and is also resistant to corrosion.