BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?

18 Sep 05 - 09:08 AM (#1565956)
Subject: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

Morning Campers!!

me & fiends are again awa' for w/end folking & camping in wilds of North York moors at end of month.

for nighttime lighting we presently use mainly portable gas lanterns, supplemented - if weather's calm- by candles.

inside the tent, battery torches or solar lights are safest.

i've been considering trying out the new led camping lanterns.

anyone used 'em or got info on best kinds to get?

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18 Sep 05 - 09:18 AM (#1565959)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Sorcha

Solar. Nice soft candle type light and safe.

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18 Sep 05 - 09:24 AM (#1565963)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

thanx sorch,

already use solar lights- great for finding tent in dark!

but what i really want to know is what are the brightest, most economical battery wise, non-mains lights for tent camping, esp for illuminating the awning area or lounge of large tent ?

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18 Sep 05 - 09:27 AM (#1565966)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Keith A of Hertford

LEDs give much longer battery life and you don't need to carry spare bulbs.
Not tried solar. Do they still work on a dark morning?

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18 Sep 05 - 09:40 AM (#1565973)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

keith

no they only work from dusk til about 3/4am, but this can be extended for the dawn if you turn 'em off at night & then switch on again if you need for early morning.

i charge 'em o/s the tent during the day & use them either in small tent or in big tent bedroom where even one can give a reaally bright light.

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18 Sep 05 - 09:45 AM (#1565974)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Sorcha

Check out propane shop lights...there is one that mounts on top of a 5 gal. tank. Same sized used on barbies.

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18 Sep 05 - 09:52 AM (#1565978)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

'a 5 gal. tank'?? --gasp!!

sorch- thanx again 4 info buti'm talking small here!

what i presently use are round this size


but want i really want to know is has anyone tried/ got experience of led lights- like how they compare in light output against battery life?

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18 Sep 05 - 09:53 AM (#1565979)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

also has anyone used a wind powered generator for tent camping?

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18 Sep 05 - 09:59 AM (#1565985)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: nutty

I have a very useful wind-up torch. Keeps you warm while you're winding.

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18 Sep 05 - 10:04 AM (#1565986)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

mm me too- but again, the light's not very bright & very short duration.

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18 Sep 05 - 10:49 AM (#1566003)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Calcium Carbide

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

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18 Sep 05 - 10:56 AM (#1566008)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Sorcha

Can't find the kind I'm talking about....Ask a pub with a beer garden what they do in the outdoor serving area if electric isn't available.

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18 Sep 05 - 11:01 AM (#1566011)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Rapparee

Actually, Gargoyle, the old carbide lamps were quite good and efficient. I wish I still had mine.

I'd like to know about the LED lights, too. They seem like a good idea.... Fluorescents are okay in warm weather, but kinda peter out when it gets cool out.

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18 Sep 05 - 11:04 AM (#1566015)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Metchosin

With LEDs the batteries will last virtually forever but are best for task lighting as they are very directional. I made myself an LED headlamp using 5 white LEDs and 3 small 6V camera batteries. I've used it nightly for over four years while feeding the pony and the batteries are still operational.

Propane lamps as Sorcha described are still the best way to go for larger area flood lighting. We've never screwed our lights to anything more than a 1 litre bottle. Two 1litre bottles of propane would be more than enough to last the weekend no matter how late you plan to party. ( You'll probably be able to save the extra bottle for for next year or the next time you have a power outage).

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18 Sep 05 - 11:09 AM (#1566017)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

gargolye, thanks for the tip.


do you know where i can get them?

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18 Sep 05 - 11:10 AM (#1566018)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Rapparee

I've got an LED headlamp (Petzl) and it seems to work pretty well, but like Metchosin says, it's task lighting.

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18 Sep 05 - 11:15 AM (#1566020)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Metchosin

Any of the LED lighting I have seen is still only providing about the equivalent of a 20 W incandescent light bulb max. There might be better stuff in the market now but I've not seen it yet.

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18 Sep 05 - 11:22 AM (#1566022)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: JennyO

I don't really know anything about carbide lamps myself, but looking at this page The Carbide Lamp Page it appears they are mainly used for caving, and can still be bought new in the UK but not in the USA. Hope this helps.

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18 Sep 05 - 11:24 AM (#1566023)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Metchosin

Carbide lighting might be good, but from experience, they are no fun when you are a hundred feet below ground and your light goes out and you have to find a supply of water in the pitch black to get it operating again......oh right, you're going camping, not spelunking. LOL

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18 Sep 05 - 11:35 AM (#1566029)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

speleology?

not me- defo not a troglodyte!!

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18 Sep 05 - 11:59 AM (#1566042)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: GUEST,Jon

Not tried any LED camp lights but they sound like a good idea. You really should have an LED torch. I carry a little one that just takes one AA battery in my pocket (see here (I asso canablisled a few of those for pond "rock" lighting BTW). Good strong beam and the battery lasts ages while maintaining a good light.

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18 Sep 05 - 12:10 PM (#1566046)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: GUEST,Jon

metsochin, it seems to me to be easy to get very bright LED torches but I'm not sure about other lights. I THINK one difficulty with LEDs is they seem to very directional.

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18 Sep 05 - 12:12 PM (#1566048)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Metchosin

Consider getting an LED headlamp instead of a torch. They aren't that expensive anymore and they leave your hands free...for other things.

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18 Sep 05 - 12:22 PM (#1566054)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Dave Swan

I've got a fair amount of experience with LED's and can't recommend them for area lighting, or for intense, focused light. That said, I keep LED flashlights in the car, around the house and in my briefcase.

When I'm on the trail, I keep this light with me at all times. It's quite small, but puts out enough light to find something at the bottom of a pack, tie a knot or see your feet. When I'm running sled dogs in the Yukon this light is around my neck day and night. It's small enough that I never notice it and it stays warm, improving battery performance, until needed. I've probably given a dozen of these away to rave reviews. It's just a neat little tool.

D

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18 Sep 05 - 12:57 PM (#1566070)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: robomatic

I am going to spring on an LED head lamp before winter sets in. Haven't seen anything I can say with certainty I will get, but I'm noticing that a lot of them have an LED set of lamps and also an incandescant lamp so one can 'throw' a beam of light out there, much brighter.

REI stores have a wide assortment of LED headlamps. Most of the headlamps I've seen at REI come with three batteries, which I'd rather not buy. Batteries are sold economically in boxes of four or larger, and I'm not a fan of buying a box of four and having to leave one little battery hanging out somewhere. Besides if you have an even number of batteries in your lamp or radio, you can do this little trick where you reverse half of them against each other. This means that you can leave fresh batteries in the device but it can't be accidentally turned on in shipment or travel. You can't do this with an odd assortment of batteries.

The sports columnist of the Anchorage Daily News just wrote about LED lights here

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18 Sep 05 - 01:21 PM (#1566078)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

thanks robomatic,

a most interesting & informative piece,

can't wait til they become widely available! [but i guess i'll have to-sigh]

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18 Sep 05 - 01:24 PM (#1566080)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Allan C.

Carmen I liked the Cabela's 12 LED lantern with remote so much that we got a second one. The remote is extremely handy to have. You can just leave the lamp in a tree somewhere near the tent. Then you can switch it off from within when you are ready to bed down. But the best part is that you can switch it on again from inside the tent if you should need to get up in the middle of the night for some reason. The light is most certainly bright enough for most purposes. We got the second one to keep at the house in case the power should go out. The battery life is most certainly as good as is advertized.

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18 Sep 05 - 01:41 PM (#1566090)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Metchosin

Allan C. that is a great lamp and price too! How does the light compare to propane?

robomatic, considering the battery run time with LED lights, you could buy a pack of 12 and be set for life. *BG* Or buy 4 batteries and toss or give the extra one away and still be streets ahead.

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18 Sep 05 - 02:13 PM (#1566104)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Allan C.

The propane light might seem just a bit brighter because the LED light is more purely white light; but I think the Cabela's lamplight is generally comparable in intensity. There are other 12 LED lamps available elsewhere; but one think I really like about the Cabela's lamp is that there is a quick-clip on the lamp where you can keep the remote when you are storing the lamp. This way, they never get separated or nor does the remote get lost.

I can't say enough about the luxury of being able to switch on "the porch light" from within the tent. That's just so cool!

The other added feature of using the LED lamp is that there is no need to be concerned with heat issues - scorching trees, igniting tents, etc., not to mention the problems of carrying extra fuel canisters or even liquid fuel for those other kinds of lanters. (Remember those all-too-fragile lantern mantels?)

Oh, I forgot to mention that the Cabela's lamp is completely plastic and is a lot less fragile than those glass chimneyed lanterns. The battery chamber, BTW, is sealed with an O-ring and so is quite resistant to rain.

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18 Sep 05 - 07:52 PM (#1566303)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Ahhh - little Sunday clonie - how do I love thee - let me count the ways. Keep Laughin

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18 Sep 05 - 08:04 PM (#1566315)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: The Fooles Troupe

Ducky - I don't know about those things...

But you can get a LED hand torch that you shake to generate a charge from a magnet in a coil which is stored in a ginormous capacitor (not a battery). Never need a battery.

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18 Sep 05 - 11:37 PM (#1566402)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Rapparee

Here's the headlamp I have, a Petzl Tikka Plus. I took it up to Alaska, but didn't use it other than for reading in bed (worked just fine).

Gargoyle, thanks for the link to the carbide lamps. If I can locate a carbide supplier around here I'll get one -- they've come a long way from my old Justrite.

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19 Sep 05 - 12:16 AM (#1566413)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: The Fooles Troupe

I once was involved in a theatre group that used carbide lamps borrowed from the local caving club for an outdoor production.

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19 Sep 05 - 04:10 AM (#1566463)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Wilfried Schaum

With the boy scouts we didn't use lamps or torches. We were proud to find anything we needed in the dark ASAP. And there is a moon sometimes.
In camp we kept a fire burning in the centre; when you opened a tent flap you got some light.

In the army we had gasoline lamps called Petromax; I think it is a system similar to the Coleman lamp and very effective.
I still own a "lantern, unity" which was formerly used by the army and can be lighted with carbide, petroleum, candles or "Hindenburg lights". You only have to change a set in the lantern. I prefer the carbide set, it is cheaper and the filling lasts long.

For working in the dark corners of my house I bought a LED headlamp which is very effective. It has 3 levels of lightness and lasts, depending on the level, for 60 to 80 hours. I can recommend it sincerely for the use in atent also to avoid trampling upon your buddies.

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19 Sep 05 - 04:36 AM (#1566470)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: John MacKenzie

You could also try getting Julian Clary and Dale Winton to stand by holding candles, this of course would be not only twice as bright but twice as camp. No that wouldn't work, Dale can't hold a candle to Julian,
G ¦¬]

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19 Sep 05 - 06:34 AM (#1566514)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Allan C.

Trivia question: What kind of lanterns were used in the book, "Journey to the Center of the Earth?"

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19 Sep 05 - 06:38 AM (#1566515)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: The Fooles Troupe

Boom! Boom!

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19 Sep 05 - 06:42 AM (#1566519)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Paco Rabanne

Camp lights, instructions as follows-

1) Locate any tents that house banjo players.

2) Set said tents alight.

3) Enjoy the brightness.

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19 Sep 05 - 06:50 AM (#1566528)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: The Fooles Troupe

You can wedge a candle in the bellows of an accordion, even while being played.

This is called giving the accordion player "a wedgie".

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19 Sep 05 - 06:51 AM (#1566529)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: GUEST,Jon

Oh and as we seem to be getting into all types of lights... In our out door "BBQ" shed, I do have one of these LED lamps which is handy for quick light and gives out enough for that room. I also have a small camping gas light out there that burns with a very bright light and makes a lot of noise but the best lights of all for what we want out there are plain hurricane lamps (I bought a lot of 6 "rejects" from here and use them in a couple of places).

They give the "warmth" and "friendliness" that none of the more "advanced" lights we have can manage.

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19 Sep 05 - 06:56 AM (#1566533)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Dave the Gnome

Carbide lamps are excelent - It's where the term 'limelight' comes from if you didn't know. Gives off a brilliant light. As it is naked flame though they may have limited appeal under canvas:-( One other disadvanage I found. Spent carbide outside the tent flap in the morning does look rather like someone has thrown up a very strange dinner:-)

Cheers

DtG

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19 Sep 05 - 08:10 AM (#1566563)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Wilfried Schaum

Spent carbide outside the tent flap in the morning does look rather like someone has thrown up a very strange dinner HORRIBLE!

Remedy:
1. grab entrenching tool
2. remove sod 10x10
3. dig hole
4. put offal into hole
5. reset earth
6. reset sod

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19 Sep 05 - 08:19 AM (#1566572)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Wilfried Schaum

What kind of lanterns were used in the book, "Journey to the Center of the Earth?"

Electrical with accumulator, loaded by a generator operated with a crank handle. Can't you remember James Mason cranking like hell in Middle Earth?

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19 Sep 05 - 09:28 AM (#1566602)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Allan C.

Correct, WS, it was a Ruhmkorff lamp, called that because it implemented Ruhmkorff's electomagnetic inductor, invented by him in 1857.

As my uncle made this remark, he took in one hand the Ruhmkorff coil
apparatus, which hung round his neck, and with the other he put the
electric current into communication with the worm of the lantern.
And a bright light at once illumined that dark and gloomy tunnel!
The effect was magical!
Hans, who carried the second apparatus, had it also put into
operation. This ingenious application of electricity to practical
purposes enabled us to move along by the light of an artificial day,
amid even the flow of the most inflammable and combustible gases. Jules Verne, A Journey To The Center Of The Earth

This was brand new technology at the time. The book was published in 1864, only seven years after Ruhmkorff's discovery.

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19 Sep 05 - 09:37 AM (#1566612)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Rapparee

But I have to ask again -- how well do LEDs do in cold weather (below 0 C.)? Because we do have cold weather here, and sometimes it gets a LOT colder than 0 C., even as low at -30 C. (that's -22 F.) or more.

I am assuming that the batteries are kept warm.

(At those temps, however, I'm probably not going to work well!)

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19 Sep 05 - 10:04 AM (#1566625)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: GUEST,Jon

Dunno... The first standard 5mm LED I've looked at a data sheet for is here. That particular one gives operating temps -40C to +95C. If that's typical you shouldn't have problems with them as long as the batteries are OK.

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19 Sep 05 - 12:13 PM (#1566701)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Metchosin

Gargoyle....too long a story...suffice to say it wasn't a typical Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, the water was 10 feet below the climbing route in a crevass, which was traversed by pressing your back against one side of the cave wall while you inched your feet along the opposite wall. It forever sealed my opinion that when some egotistical expert tells you to trust them, this is a piece of cake, run screaming in the opposite direction.

Wandering ever farther from the topic, I managed to buy a lot of some 9 light LED bars which run on 12 volts on ebay for about $2.50 each a couple of years ago. I'm going to use them with a transformer as under counter lighting in the kitchen and switch them to run on battery when the power's out. LEDs are fun.

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19 Sep 05 - 12:31 PM (#1566711)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: GUEST,clogger

RE- L.E.D. lamps
They have now improved to the stage where they can out perform other types of light (in certain respects). We used a 7 segment LED head lamp during the carlisle floods (4aaa batteries lasted over a week of 14 hr days) Light output was good for general working but would not campare to a xenon flashlite. Blackspur now do a 4/8 LED headlight for £5, I used this for reading but found that using 8 was too bright and 4 was quite good. The light was very light too! The LED's give a fairly directional white light which looks "cold".
If you want general lighting for an area you could do better with a gas / petrol/ parafin light known as a "tilley light" This works by burning the fuel through a "mantle" causing it to give off a brilliant light! This is held within a glas shell and the lamp can be stood on a table or hung from a tree to give a greater spread of light. They do get HOT though, not so bad in cold weather! Coleman make a fairly good petrol (unleaded) vertion but these used to cost £30.00 about 20 years ago....I can't see them getting cheaper now!

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20 Sep 05 - 11:01 AM (#1566817)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Bunnahabhain

I know it's a little off topic, but anyway

carbide lamps are excellent - It's where the term 'limelight' comes from if you didn't know.

I thought that 'lime light' was a light from an oxygen-hydrogen flame heating up a lump of calcium carbonate, ie limestone. It burns very hot, and the hot limestone glows a blueish white.

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20 Sep 05 - 11:26 AM (#1566841)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: open mike

at a bluegrass fest last weekend the most interesting lighting i saw
was what seemed to be a bulb suspended in a bucket. This was in a
place where there wqaws electricity and the bulb was probably at least 100 watts. the white bucket (5 gallon food-type one) glowed with an
even white light that lit up an area about 15 feet by 15 feet. it was
hung about 8-10 feet above the ground.

there also is a small propane lamp called the mighty light
which uses a small propane cannister.
http://www.rei.com/product/47670651.htm

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20 Sep 05 - 11:40 AM (#1566858)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Rapparee

All of this is well and good, but nothin' beats a good oldfashioned torch.

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20 Sep 05 - 11:47 AM (#1566861)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Metchosin

Right....and an excellent weapon against bears as well.

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21 Sep 05 - 12:30 AM (#1567402)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Les B

Metchosin - in answer to your question about carbide lamps and running out of water (wa-a-a-y up above) - I've seen coal miners spit in their lamp until they could get to a water pail.

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21 Sep 05 - 05:37 AM (#1567494)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Metchosin

A testament to them that they could muster spit Les B., I was so scared I don't think it would have been possible for me....but come to think of it, I probably could have come up with some other bodily fluids as an alternative. LOL

My speleological experiences that day were my first and last caving adventures and while, in retrospect, I'm glad I did it, I can think of better ways to get an adrenaline rush.

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21 Sep 05 - 06:16 AM (#1567511)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: John MacKenzie

At last I have re-found this site, very interesting.
G

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21 Sep 05 - 06:25 AM (#1567515)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: GUEST,Jon

Giok, I gave a link to Ultraleds, in an earlier post in this very thread! ;-)

I've used them a couple of times, for torches, mains voltage bulbs and for individual LEDs and have had good service.

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21 Sep 05 - 09:39 AM (#1567628)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: GUEST,clogger

WOW!!
Coal miners using carbide lamps????
And here is me thinking that nobody would forget what happens when a flame gets near firedamp!
Methane is a problem in coal faces due to rotting down of organic compounds...... that is why Sir Humphry Davy is famous for ;-]
However in the good old days of the theater the front of the stage had a series of lights where jets of flame were played onto pieces of limestone causing them to glow white, hence the term "grabbing the limelight" . (also "upstageing" somebody)

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22 Sep 05 - 08:17 PM (#1568802)
Subject: RE: BS: Camp Lights-What's best kind?
From: Mr Happy

much gratitude to all helpful contributors!


[now I'll check out the links!]


cheers 2 1&all!

Mr H

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