The Dorcy Solid State Flashlight
Last updated: 8/26/03

An essential item in a technician's tool kit is a reliable flashlight. The single biggest problem with most flashlights is that they run out of juice when they are most needed. Rechargeable flashlights take too long to charge-up. Many aren't reliable. Most of those that use regular batteries are expensive to operate. The batteries always disappear when you need one or the bulb burns out.

Solution: a flashlight that uses regular batteries, but gets a lot more mileage out of them--a "solid state" flashlight with one of the new very bright LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) instead of an incandescent bulb. I just added one to my tool box: the Dorcy Solid State Flashlight.

This flashlight is bright yellow and big enough that it is hard to lose, but three inches shorter than the one it replaced. It's made of rugged nylon-like plastic with heavy rubber at both ends. The switch is a simple rubberized push button. Push it once and the flashlight stays on. Again, and it's off. The package says it's waterproof. There is a fold-out metal ring at the rear to hang the flashlight on a nail. The "bulb" is "made to last forever." Although the bluish, monochrome light takes a little getting use to, it's single LED is bright enough to give the inside of a PC a good visual. It casts a focused beam more than 30 feet. It's not a high-powered spot light, but it's enough to move around a shop or house when the next blackout occurs. A fresh set of batteries should last longer than the duration of most blackouts. It uses four AA cells and they should last 200 hours. That's over a week of continuous use.

I got mine at Sears for about $11.00. I understand that Walmart has them for about $9.00. The flashlight comes with a lifetime guarantee (that's what it says on the package). Batteries are included. A very good deal. Larry

Dorcy's web site.