Many companies sell plugin emergency flashlights, but what makes Capstone’s Eco-i-lite series cooler than most is that it charges inductively just like some toothbrushes and phones. You can’t screw up putting it away because there’s no incorrect position, simply slide it back into the base and it’s charging.
Capstone sells several models of the Eco-i-Lite which differ in regard to functionality and number of LEDs.
The 4 LED 3-in-1 Eco-i-lite, shown above, plugs into an outlet to recharge its built-in lithium-ion battery, which can power the flashlight for up to 4 hours per charge. The plug rotates so the flashlight is always upright whether your wall outlet is right-side-up, upside-down, or sideways.
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The Eco-i-Lite turns on automatically when it senses that the outlet has lost power, so that you can easily find it in a blackout. There is also a three-position switch, so you can use the flashlight manually. It also can sense when the room darkens, and when it does it goes into a special lower power nightlight mode.
Going up in functionality, the Eco-i-Lite Power Failure Lights also have a separate 3-position power button for setting the flashlight to on, off, or flashing modes. The 4-in-1 models have an additional light on the side for extra utility.
Here is a complete list of the Eco-i-Lite models:
- 4 LED Power Failure Light
- 6 LED Power Failure Light
- 3-in-1 Light with 4 LEDs
- 3-in-1 Slim Light with 4 LEDs
- 4-in-1 Light with 8 LEDs
- 4-in-1 Light with 16 LEDs
The models with higher LED counts are sometimes advertised as 5 and 10 LED lights. The 8 LED model has 3 of those LEDs for its nightlight mode, and the 16 LED model has 6.
The 4 LED Eco-i-Lite will run you about $10 at Home Depot, or you can pick up a two pack of the 16 LED 4-in-1 Eco-i-Lites for $31 including shipping. The 16 LED model has 10 that can be used in flashlight mode, and 6 that are used in nightlight mode. Other models are priced between these two.
Buy Now (3-in-1 4 LED Eco-i-Lite via Home Depot)
Buy Now (4-in-1 16 LED Eco-i-Lite via Amazon)
More Info (Capstone)
Don’t think would be useful? Imagine that you are ripping boards on the table saw in your windowless basement shop when the power fails. After you grope for the table saw off switch (so that it doesn’t start up automatically when the power returns), you scan your shop to see faint red and green lights from your various chargers. You head in the direction you know the door is located and slowly start towards it. Midway there, you slam your hip into the edge of the workbench. As you climb the stairs to find the sliver of daylight peeking out from under the basement door, you make a mental note to yourself: “I’d better get one of those emergency flashlights.”
mike aka Fazzman says
I think i may get some and try these.would be good for the man cave area and garage.
Wonder if you leave it on the charge up base all the time does it stop charging on its own? I would assume so,just wondered.
Jerry says
I’ve had automatic power failure lights in the past, and I had one gripe with them. They were awkward to use as a grab-and-go light. The kind I had plugged directly into a recepticle via a little folding plug. You had to always fold and unfold the little plug, and if you had something in your hands, it was hard to grab, and almost impossible to plug back in one-handed. I would really like this, because 99% of my uses for a light like this would be to have an always-charged grab and go light when you need to take a quick look at something in the dark. Just being able to grab a light you know had a full battery, and having it recharge just by dropping it in the ring seems to me to be a clever, and handy invention.
Caleb says
I purchased something similar form Costco a couple of years ago. They include a second light that shines out like a nightlight. I love them. I bought them on sale for basically $5 a light when they were changing the packaging. I wish I would have purchased a few more! I could not find them online and cannot recall the brand.
ktash says
I got these too, and really like them. Wish I’d seen the $5 deal, they would make great small gifts.
farid says
A few years ago, I bought a couple of sets from a warehouse club that were GE branded. I don’t know who the actual mfg. is though. They are inductively charged, and are very close in appearance and size to these. Mine have an extra set of LEDs in the side that light up in nigh-light mode.
They have saved us a few times with power outages. Nothing worse than being in a cluttered basement or taking a shower at night and and a sudden power outage comes along!
Farid says
Correction: The label has ECO-Light by Intertek not GE. My mistake. An updated version can be found on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eco-Lite-Function-LED-Lights-Pack/dp/B008VAY10G
Rick says
I have the one shown in the picture. Works great as a night light and it is a decent flashlight.
Eric Hamilton says
I have one of these, and it works great!
Leonard Dietz says
I have an eco lite that the flashlight doesn’t work any more, can the battery be changed or just throw it away and buy a new one?
Stuart says
You would have to contact the company, but to me it doesn’t look like the battery is replaceable.