Guide to solar power and wind-up lighting

When I first approached this feature I thought that a test of several power options would be the right way to deliver some useful verdicts on performance and value. Then the reality sunk in about the vast range of options available and the difficulty in getting clear feedback on how they work. My favourite was the question: “Can you tell me how your wind-up torches work?” answered with: “Yes. You wind them up”. Sorted? Well, no. The feeling grew that a degree in physics combined with the dogged persistence of Hercules Poirot would be a good idea to help unravel the science options in delivering light when you need it.

It is clear that performance has come a long way over the past fifteen years or so. Way back then, a torch wound up for several minutes delivered a feeble light for a few more before fading to nothing. A solar powered torch left on the car parcel shelf for several weeks beamed happily for twenty minutes before taking a nap. Now, a few minutes’ winding gives light for some considerable time. Sadly, there are no universal guarantees and it’s not light by which to tackle skull surgery. But it would get you in and out of the tent, off to the washblock and let you read for a few minutes. With wind-up head torches available, you could cook a late night meal but trail running after dark could be tricky.

So, suspicion and cynicism were roaming around the room based on a healthy dose of disappointment, particularly with solar powered mole repellers. These would have been better marketed as Mole Social Clubs but that’s another story. A quick Internet sweep revealed dozens of options. The Argos catalogue groaned under the weight of alternative technology. Even Tesco and the RAC are in on the act. However, the lack of useful independent info was surprising. Most suppliers seem happy to offer the product without much technical input. Fair enough. When you pop into a car showroom, you don’t expect a lecture on the workings of the internal combustion engine and transmission systems.

Alternative power sources have been around for a long time. Clockwork was once mainstream rather than alternative until re-invented by Trevor Baylis in a portable radio that needs no batteries and has low power needs. Winding the clockwork key, of course, has powered toys for centuries as well as, ummm, clocks.

SOLAR POWER

Solar power is nothing new - it's been drying clothes for millennia and does a good job of turning my house porch into a tomato factory (should that be 'plant'?). For torches and lanterns, you need to be able to recharge for several hours each day for use in the evening. Torches can be left on car shelves or dashboard but lanterns are not so easy to recharge.

On site, the most practical solar powered light is one of those on a spike that is used in gardens to light paths. Handy, though, parked by the tent doorway or moved inside to give a soft light in the living area through the night. Like flat batteries, it’s easy to discover that a solar powered torch is, when needed, powerless. I’m still waiting for the solar powered LED torch with a pull cord for its internal dynamo ordered online and hopefully not a wind up.

WIND-UP

Early wind-up torches claimed all manner of gadgetry benefits ranging from recharging your mobile phone to disciplining your children but falling short of predicting winning lottery numbers. Strangely, many included a built-in button compass. Presumably, in case you needed to find your way to your supper.

Internet searching for answers to the question, ‘How does a wind up torch work?’ included “a generator is driven, via a gearbox, this generator in turn charges a small Lithium ion battery” and “the crank drives a spring or gear that revolves a magnet around a stationary magnet. The magnet spinning around the stationary one generates electricity through the magnetic fields ripping away electrons from each other. The electricity then travels through the wire to the bulb and you have light.” Crystal clear, though I prefer to think they are powered by tiny sea monkeys running on treadmills.

With the buzzwords ‘sustainable, renewable, recycling, eco’ rocketing around everywhere we look, it’s easy to get drawn into relying solely on a wind up or solar powered torch or lantern for lighting on site. Better to keep your eyes firmly on the need for reliable functional lighting and keep the trendy options as alternatives. Hopefully (and sincerely), we’ll soon be in a world where our jackets and rucksack use solar power to charge lights and laptops as well as mobile phones and mp3 players.

Having wandered around the aisles of power for a while, I ended up where most of us find ourselves – compromising. Perhaps that should have been ‘hedging’ as multi-power source options seem to be the most practical, reliable and useful. Charge them up from the mains, the car, the sun and/or winding like fury to deliver light when you need it. On the other hand, go to bed early and get up early.

1. Featured in our Camping Awards 2010, Vango’s 15 LED Eco Lantern, around £40, can be powered in a number of ways. The solar panel on the top of the lantern grabs the sunshine. Alternatively, there is a wind-up handle on the lantern that gives some eight minutes of light for one minute of winding. Car and mains adapters for the product are also included for when the need for light is urgent. (www.vango.co.uk)
2. This Wind-Up LED Animal Torch, £3.50, from Sunnflair has two big pluses for use by children – it’s fun for reading and midnight feasts and it needs no batteries so there will be no falling out about wasting them. It’s actually recharged by a dynamo with hand squeezing action. There’s also a cow version. (www.sunnflair.com)
3. Outwell’s Carina Dynamo Lantern, £27.99, has three different power sources functions – wind up, batteries and mains charging. Winding up for about five minutes (130 times/min) should provide some twenty minutes of light. (www.outwell.co.uk)
4. The Free Energy Wind-up Hand Torch, £12.99, from Millets has a simple to use wind-up feature and built-in long-life rechargeable batteries that won’t need to be replaced. (www.millets.co.uk)
5. Gelert’s Tor torch, £18.99, has a neat integrated solar power panel (five hours’ light from five hours’ charging), soft touch rubber finish and a mobile phone (Nokia) charging adapter. (www.gelert.com)

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