Used the Solar-Crank Carabiner for 3 years. I like it a lot for everyday use, and it still works perfectly. After hurricane Sandy, liked it even better. It was my primary light. Dual power was very important; Charge by daylight at a window, and use it for couple of hours. When it runs low, use the crank to keep going indefinitely. Carabiner can be clipped onto a string or wire to position it perfectly as a working light. Couldn't be happier. I'm getting one for each of my kids to keep in their homes.
Describes emergency LED Flashlights and other Battery powered emergency lights. See LED Rechargeable emergency lights and windup hand crank Flashlights that give light in emergency situations.
If the power goes out for a long time, and the batteries in this lose their charge, is there any way to use "regular" (i.e. alkaline) batteries in this?
It's rechargeable by natural light. No need for replacement batteries. Even if the solar charge gets exhausted, just crank a half-minute to get a couple of minutes of light.