durable power failure light

[charles2]

This isn't a code question, but Mike's receptionist invited me to ask here anyway.

For an elderly disabled woman I've replaced a couple of lead-acid power failure lights, and we're both tired of it. Does anybody make a durable power failure light that won't be junk in a couple of years? Something with a NiMH or Lithium-ion battery with LED's would be great. It has to monitor line voltage - she can't be fumbling around in the dark for a flashlight.

 

[mdshunk]

Didn't you get an answer you liked at the other boards you asked on? Apparently, there's nothing on the market that suits you. The LED type Streamlight light box is the best one I know about.

To save the intellectual effort folks on this board, I provide this link for reference, lest the material be repeated: http://forums.jlconline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33166

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

Cant she afford a battery replacement every 2 years ?

 

[charles2]

mdshunk, everything's out of stock at BrightGuy, I don't see any mention of LED's, and I wouldn't try lead-acid again anyway.

If no one has a better idea, I think what we will end up using one of those small, cheap direct-plug nightlight-type power failure lights that last so much longer, then nearby have a regular fluorescent light plugged into a UPS.

 

[W6SJK]

If no one has a better idea, I think what we will end up using one of those small, cheap direct-plug nightlight-type power failure lights that last so much longer, then nearby have a regular fluorescent light plugged into a UPS.

"Maintenance free" UPS batteries are typically lead-acid also, so you're not gaining much in the way of reduced maintenance intervals.

 

[W6SJK]

Here's an LED Emergency Light but it probably uses lead-acid batteries. http://www.theledlight.com/power_outlight.html It is retrofitted with LED lights so it is no longer UL Listed.

 

[mhulbert]

What about an emergency ballast for a flourescent fixure??? I think most of them have Ni-Cads, which should last longer. You could retrofit it into one of the fixures in the area, or install one just for emergencies.

 

[tallgirl]

In terms of cost per amp-hour capacity, I think lead-acid is still the cheapest thing going. All of the rechargable battery technologies have life expectancies, some just happen to be worse than others.

As for the maintenance, this sounds like a business opportunity -- keep track of all your emergency light installs and come back every other year (or once a year, even ...) and check and/or fix whatever is broken. Leave business cards with Seasoned Citizen groups.