Love it! Does anyone know where to buy these? I don't see any links that say where or how to get... I can think of several places I would like to use them.
Interesting to say the least. Only drawback is the limited time it provides light: I thought I heard them mention 20 min, which would require hoisting the weight 3 times for an hour's worth of light. Same power-generating method could possibly be applied to run a small fan in case Noreco deceides to turn the power off again....
WOW! Thanks for posting this Wrye83. Lack of light is a BIG issue for the world's population. What a kewlly innovative, low-tech and low cost creation. V/R, nwlivewire
Did you see how long the cable was for the weight on the clock? I bet that lasts a bit more than 20 minutes. I believe they said you get 20 minutes of light.....but that's when the weight starts around 5-6ft above the ground. A long pole and cable/chain could make the thing last several hours. If not....I can think of a few battery powered tools with high RPMs that could get that weight up in a hurry and with absolutely no effort if someone wanted to get a bit creative.
"This generates just under a tenth of a watt, to power an onboard LED and ancillary devices." Very little output for such a complicated device. Looks to me like the "pinch light" from 60 years ago but instead of pinching with the hand the weight is doing the work.
It's not intended to take you off the grid or be some type of solar alternative. I've watched quite a few videos of the product and they aren't trying to sell it as anything but lighting for people without power. From their FAQs: I really have no idea what those "other devices" might be (other than some small computer components that would be of no use on their own). Seems they don't really know and Google hasn't offered me much information either. I should get one around December (assuming it ever makes it from Africa to my home going through the postal service here ). It's gotta be better than these crappy Chinese solar lamps I've been buying here in the Philippines.....considering all 4 I bought broke within a couple months. I don't think it is very complicated at all. It uses gravity to turn potential energy into kinetic energy. The technology has been around for a very long time.
I am interested to see how they work in real world situation. I can think of a few uses for family/relatives in the province if they prove to be useful and don't fall apart after the 2nd use.
I don't think it is very complicated at all. It uses gravity to turn potential energy into kinetic energy. The technology has been around for a very long time. Well, Lifting 12 kg 6 or more feet every 20 minutes to get one tenth of a watt is to me like killing a mosquito with a machine gun. I don't see people using kerosene or candle light, bcs there's nothing better, having use for: can also power other devices, such as a radio. You will find a DC jack at the back of GLO1 for connecting SatLights and/or other devices. Pinch light as I called this and developed during the war is according to Wikipedia : A dyno torch, dynamo torch, or squeeze flashlight is a flashlight or pocket torch which stores energy in a flywheel. The user repeatedly squeezes a handle to spin a flywheel inside the flashlight, attached to a small dynamo, supplying electric current to an incandescent bulb or light-emitting diode. The flashlight must be pumped continuously during use, with the flywheel turning the generator between squeezes to keep the light going continuously