[Tyler]

I found this cool flashlight, looked at it and thought the technology was really cool and interesting thought you guys might find it a good read when your bored since it's a neat little flash demo Here's the link: Light For Life UC3.400 Flashlight

[novazer0]

that flash light costs way to much....

[sharpeblades]

I like the sure-fire flash lites.I have been use them for while now

[SwampRat1]

yeah thats a bit pricey. ive got a coleman flashlight, looks very similar to the aluminum body surefires. great light and only 12 bucks.

[Ronnie]

$170.00 + shipping

It needs to be able to set up camp and cook for that price.

Its a flashlight!

[tjwilhelm]

WOW! Yes, it's pricey (and I would not buy one at that price); BUT, here's what's really cool about this flashlight:

This is the first commercial application I've seen for Ultra-Capacitors being used as a replacement for chemical cells/batteries, since their use on computer motherboards to keep the CMOS RAM alive! But that CMOS computer chip is a VERY TINY electrical load. A 90 lumen flashlight is a gigantic load, compared to a CMOS RAM chip. This is a great breakthrough!

Ultra-Capacitors have very thin metal coating (the "plates") on both sides of an open cell foamed ceramic core (the "dielectric"). Because of incredibly high surface area, they can pack multiple farads of energy storage into a very tiny package. When I was in college, one of my profs said something like this, "If I were to show you a capacitor that could store a full farad of charge, it would be too big to get through the door." Now, 40 years later, I have an Ultra-Capacitor here at home that holds FOUR full farads of charge, and it's smaller than a book of matches!

The advantage of replacing batteries with capacitors, is that the capacitors will last just about forever. The disadvantage is that, as they discharge, their voltage continuously drops. What they must be doing in this flashlight is charging the caps to a much higher voltage than the lamp uses. Then, they must be "regulating" the voltage to the lamp to keep it constant (and low). When the caps finally discharge to the low voltage the lamps need, then they electronically shift to back-up mode, and give you more time at half-brightness, regulating down to half-voltage.

As a model for larger-scale applications, this has huge implications for home energy storage and electric vehicles! I'm excited!

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by tjwilhelm

WOW! Yes, it's pricey (and I would not buy one at that price); BUT, here's what's really cool about this flashlight:

This is the first commercial application I've seen for Ultra-Capacitors being used as a replacement for chemical cells/batteries, since their use on computer motherboards to keep the CMOS RAM alive! But that CMOS computer chip is a VERY TINY electrical load. A 90 lumen flashlight is a gigantic load, compared to a CMOS RAM chip. This is a great breakthrough!

Ultra-Capacitors have very thin metal coating (the "plates") on both sides of an open cell foamed ceramic core (the "dielectric"). Because of incredibly high surface area, they can pack multiple farads of energy storage into a very tiny package. When I was in college, one of my profs said something like this, "If I were to show you a capacitor that could store a full farad of charge, it would be too big to get through the door." Now, 40 years later, I have an Ultra-Capacitor here at home that holds FOUR full farads of charge, and it's smaller than a book of matches!

The advantage of replacing batteries with capacitors, is that the capacitors will last just about forever. The disadvantage is that, as they discharge, their voltage continuously drops. What they must be doing in this flashlight is charging the caps to a much higher voltage than the lamp uses. Then, they must be "regulating" the voltage to the lamp to keep it constant (and low). When the caps finally discharge to the low voltage the lamps need, then they electronically shift to back-up mode, and give you more time at half-brightness, regulating down to half-voltage.

As a model for larger-scale applications, this has huge implications for home energy storage and electric vehicles! I'm excited!

When you put it like that $170.00 sounds cheap.

[tjwilhelm]

Well, Ronnie, I am excited about it; BUT, like you said, "It's a flashlight!" $170.00 is more than I would spend for a flashlight. However, for a professional (military/firefighter/LEO/EMT) that may use a flashlight on a daily basis, this thing may pay for itself in just a few years based on the fact they don't have to buy anymore batteries!

I hope the military and the LEOs buy these like crazy. Then, the price may eventually come down for the rest of us. Also, I want to find out how they've designed the onboard electronic controls...that's probably where they're making their magic.

I sell (and use) battery-based power systems. Many of these need new batteries every 5 years, or so. Being able to use capacitors would eliminate the need to cough up more cash every 5 years.

[TaintRight]

For $170 I'll just curl up and go to bed when the sun sets.

Under my pillow of course will be my new $80 Leatherman, my new $45 Buck 110, and my new $45 UltraFire. That was my $170 donation last time the Obsessive/Compulsive Gods passed around their collection plate. My "gotta have one of them" fund is now officially empty.

[Ronnie]

I wonder how long it will be before they start using them in lasers,florescent lanterns radios etc..