Hand-Cranked Emergency Devices

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untamed

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Jan 7, 2003
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I hope this is a better fit here rather than in the G&G subforum since the emphasis is on survival.

I was looking at the family emergency kit and thought: why not invest in one of those wind-up radio/flashlight devices? Batts tend to lose juice in a couple of months and a compact, portable device like that might be handy. But are they a truly proven design? Are they really reliable? I did see one previously in a mall, a led flashlight and cell-charger combo, but no radio.

Do you guys have these? Could you recommend me one that has a light/radio/charger combo? If its possible, I also want one that's fairly sturdy and well-made (i.e. - not have to worry about the lever breaking when your winding it, adequate lighting, good controls on the radio, etc.)

TIA
 
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i have an Eton model....similar to Etón American Red Cross ARCFR160R, except in orange...got it last christmas (huge power outage the day of too so i got to use it). i cant say enough about it...its great. its no bose system but it works...i have left it out in drizzle while listening to the radio and no ill effects.
 
I have the Grundig (same as Eton) but is an earlier model without the charger capability...works as the Master Chief commented...listened to a lot of BBC during the 04/05 hurricane season
 
mcjhrobinson said:
i have an Eton model....similar to Etón American Red Cross ARCFR160R, except in orange...got it last christmas (huge power outage the day of too so i got to use it). i cant say enough about it...its great. its no bose system but it works...i have left it out in drizzle while listening to the radio and no ill effects.
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What he said.:D:thumbup:--KV
 
i have an Eton SolarLink 500 and it's absolute crap. the knobs to select functions/power sources don't have positive clicks and are poorly marked.

MSRP is $80, i got it NIB on ebay for $20 and think i got "ripped off". looks cool, but doesn't work worth a shit. :rolleyes:

some of the cheap hand crank stuff looks and feels very weak/fragile.
 
fixer said:
i have an Eton SolarLink 500 and it's absolute crap. the knobs to select functions/power sources don't have positive clicks and are poorly marked.

MSRP is $80, i got it NIB on ebay for $20 and think i got "ripped off". looks cool, but doesn't work worth a shit. :rolleyes:

some of the cheap hand crank stuff looks and feels very weak/fragile.
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I had the same experience. I returned after a few day.

Jozsef
 
Check out Freeplay:

http://www.freeplayenergy.com/

I've had good experiences with their stuff.

Keep in mind that the hand crank charges a battery. You should probably use it periodically to maintain the battery; the rechargeables can have a shelf life, especially if they are not used. Also, I'd recommend that you separate your functions....I know it's more equipment; but it's a good idea to have a radio and a flashlight, rather than a do-it-all.

Also, try these guys:

http://www.appliedinnotech.com/products/crank-flashlights/crank-flashlights.php

The are the makers of the only decent shakelights...they've also recently created cranklights. Capacitor, not a battery; so the charge has a relatively short life. However, they are buy and forget, because the capacitor only loses ability to hold charge with extreme long term charge/discharge; so as a practical matter, they'll last forever. So, if you're looking for something to sit on a shelf or in a kit, waiting for emergency use, that's what you want. I've got the two that are currently in production, and eagerly awaiting the third one. Plus, I've got several of their shake lights. For a short term work light, they're excellent.
 
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^ Thanks BlackKnight86.

I figured it was more about redundancy rather than separating functions, though you have a point (i.e. - the light as a stand-alone function).

Also, the Etón American Red Cross and the Freeplay Companion model look remarkably similar in form and function.
 
untamed said:
I hope this is a better fit here rather than in the G&G subforum since the emphasis is on survival.

I was looking at the family emergency kit and thought: why not invest in one of those wind-up radio/flashlight devices? Batts tend to lose juice in a couple of months and a compact, portable device like that might be handy. But are they a truly proven design? Are they really reliable? I did see one previously in a mall, a led flashlight and cell-charger combo, but no radio.

Do you guys have these? Could you recommend me one that has a light/radio/charger combo? If its possible, I also want one that's fairly sturdy and well-made (i.e. - not have to worry about the lever breaking when your winding it, adequate lighting, good controls on the radio, etc.)

TIA
Click to expand...

I have one "just in case," but modern alkaline batteries, purchased when fresh take years to lose 50% of their power. In a sense, the windup is a solution to a problem unlikely to arise. But I have one. (BEWARE. GEAR FREAK!)
 
fixer said:
i have an Eton SolarLink 500 and it's absolute crap. the knobs to select functions/power sources don't have positive clicks and are poorly marked.

MSRP is $80, i got it NIB on ebay for $20 and think i got "ripped off". looks cool, but doesn't work worth a shit. :rolleyes:

some of the cheap hand crank stuff looks and feels very weak/fragile.
Click to expand...

i had those same experiences and thats why i never purchased one. i got mine as a gift, if i didnt id probably never get one.

on my model i crank the hell out of it and it still works. even my 2 yr old cant seem to damage it (except for the ant.) :)
 
BIG, BIG thumbs down on the Freeplay.

I, and my family have owned easily a dozen of their devices. After a period of time the brake system fails causing the drive spring to fully unload in seconds. It will scare the hell out of you the first time it happens. This happens to all of them, its just a matter of when.
 
jw2n said:
BIG, BIG thumbs down on the Freeplay.

I, and my family have owned easily a dozen of their devices. After a period of time the brake system fails causing the drive spring to fully unload in seconds. It will scare the hell out of you the first time it happens. This happens to all of them, its just a matter of when.
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Are you talking about the older versions, where you literally wound them up like a watch; or the newer ones, where you are charging a battery?
 
I have a Midland "Base Camp" that is supposed to do SW, AM, FM, and FMRS/GMRS. Hand charges a battery? The light works ok. But I cannot receive any channels on any systems at all. Not even the local FM and AM power stations. Does anyone else have this problem with Midland, or do I just have a dud?
 
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