Curious if anyone’s tried those hand-crank emergency lights for shelters... worth it or just a gimmick?
I picked up a hand-crank lantern on sale last year, thinking I was being clever. It works, but man, your arm gets tired fast if you want more than a dim glow. Good backup if you’re desperate, but I’d still stash some regular flashlights with decent batteries just in case. Plug-in nightlights are smart if you’ve got an outlet—less “where did I put that thing?” moments when the power’s out.
I hear you on the hand-crank lanterns—tried one during a power outage and my arm was sore for days. They’re decent in a pinch, but I wouldn’t rely on them as your main light source either. I keep a stash of lithium batteries for my LED flashlights, just in case. Ever looked into those rechargeable puck lights? They’re surprisingly handy and you can stick them anywhere in the shelter.
Ever looked into those rechargeable puck lights? They’re surprisingly handy and you can stick them anywhere in the shelter.
Yeah, I actually tried the puck lights in my basement workshop. They're awesome for quick installs, but I noticed some brands have pretty weak magnets—ended up finding one on the floor after a week. Have you found a brand that actually stays put? Also, how’s the battery life holding up for you? I’m always a little skeptical with rechargeables, especially after a couple cycles.
ended up finding one on the floor after a week
Ha, same here—mine took a nosedive right onto my workbench mid-project. I swear some of those magnets are just for show. The only ones that’ve actually stayed put for me are the Brilliant Evolution pucks, but even then, I stuck a bit of double-sided tape on them just in case. Battery life’s decent for now, but I’m with you—rechargeables always seem to lose their mojo after a while. Still beats fumbling around in the dark, though...
I get the frustration with those magnetic puck lights—
—but honestly, I’ve had better luck with the old-fashioned hardwired fixtures in my storm shelter. Maybe it’s just the age of my place, but I tend to avoid anything that relies too heavily on adhesives or batteries. The last time I tried one of those stick-on lights, it ended up dangling by a wire after a month, and replacing batteries in the dark is its own kind of hassle.I swear some of those magnets are just for show.
I know hardwiring isn’t always practical, especially if you’re renting or don’t want to mess with the walls, but for permanent spaces like a shelter, I’d argue it’s worth the effort. Plus, you never have to worry about battery life or whether the tape will give out during a storm. Just my two cents—sometimes the “old school” way is less trouble in the long run.
