By Jenn K.
The eGear Solar Pull Light is a handy 3 LED light that provides 15 lumens of light. The LED lights are claimed to be unbreakable and never need replacing. It can operate on both a solar charge and a dynamo pull (by using a pull cord). I like this idea, because I do not know how many times I try to use a flashlight and the batteries are dead.
The power for the Solar Pull Light is stored in a rechargeable 3.6 volt Lithium Ion Battery (LIR2450). This battery is stored in the plastic casing and is accessed by opening a battery cover. I used a quarter to open the cover. It would be handy if the pull cord tab was sized or slotted to fit the battery cover slot to open it.
Back of Solar Pull Light
The Solar Pull Light weighs 3.15 ounces and it measures 5.25 inches long and just shy of 2 inches wide. The light is operated by an on/off switch (a slide type) on the side of the light.
The front face (or the top panel) has a solar panel that measures 3.5 inches long by 1.25 inches wide. This panel is to be exposed to sunlight or indoor light to charge the Solar Pull Light. When it is exposed to sunlight for 5 hours it is claimed to provide 30 minutes of light. Interior light can also be used to charge it. This can be either daylight interior light or artificial light. The Solar Pull Light is supposed to take 5 hours to charge on daylight interior light and will provide 15 minutes of light. With regular interior light it is claimed to take five hours to charge and will provide 5 minutes of light.
Three LED Lights
The other option to power to the Solar Pull Light is to use the string pull. The string pull is housed on the back of the light; at the bottom. It is operated by gripping the plastic pull cord ring and pulling it until the red line on the clear cord is seen. At that point the cord is released. The cord should be pulled for one minute to charge the light for 18 minutes of use.
There are a few cautionary statements on the packaging of the Solar Pull Light. When charging the light by using the pull cord, 8-10 minutes is recommended between charges to prevent overheating. There is a warning statement not to look directly into the LED for more than a few seconds. Also, do not allow children to use the LED light unless under the supervision of an adult.
Lines seen on the projected light
So far I have only charged the light using the pull cord feature. I found it easy to pull the cord for one minute and it is entertaining with the whirling noise that is created from the dynamo pull. I was not tired after pulling the cord, as there is not much resistance. I then had light. The LED lights produce a white/blue spot light. What I found odd is that when I look at the spot of light on a wall there are lines in the center of the light. I tried looking at the plastic housing of the LED lights to see if there is a crack, but I could not see any defects.
Update 7/1/10
The eGear Solar Pull Light is a handy light; simply because it can be charged using the solar panel or at anytime using the pull cord. Charging the light using the solar panel takes about 5 hours. There are many times I do not have adequate light or time to charge the Solar Pull Light using the solar panel. So I just opt to use the pull cord. It is a handy light, but I have been encountering some issues.
By charging the light with the solar panel in daylight I was able to get a good 40 minutes of bright light. After that the light went dimmer until it completely went out after almost 2 ¼ hours. During the last hour of light it was barely usable except for looking at something very close. I still think that is good in an emergency situation, but the light can always be charged using the pull cord. I am confused as to why the light lasted as long as it did. I wonder if I did not drain the light completely from the last charge.
I have mixed light times after using the pull cord to charge the light. I decided to go ahead and time the light output. It varied significantly; ranging from 3 to 12 minutes of solid light before it noticeably dimmed. I am confused why the light output time varied as much as it did. I am wondering if it has anything to do with the force of pull on the cord or the length of cord pulled. I am making sure when I pull the cord I am seeing the red area before retracting it. And I am also waiting the recommended wait time of 8-10 minutes before charges, so the light does not overheat.
I noticed several times when the light was on and I touched the solar panel, the casing, or near the LED lights; the light will flicker or at times turn off. This is still perplexing to me. I noticed that this most frequently happens when the light is going dim. Sometimes I would just pick it up and it would shut off.
I think the light is great for looking at something close up, for reading and distances up to 25 ft. The further away the light is from the object the light appears more flood like. Close up the light has more of a spot appearance. Very close up you can see the individual LED circles of light. This starts to happen at about a 4 inch distance. Then the circles become more defined as the light is pulled closer to the object.
I am disappointed that the light produced has a line in it looking as if there is a crack in the light. I can not see a visible crack in the plastic encasing the LEDs. This visible crack is most disturbing when I am reading or looking at something close.
In the next month I will be continuing to research how much light is produced after charging it using both the solar panel and the pull cord.
Update 8/2/10
I have used the Solar Pull Light during the past month while walking on the beach path, tinkering with my mountain bike, and on my evening fitness hikes.
Well I am sorry to say that the Solar Pull Light is not working well for me. I have a few issues to discuss here with this light; mostly with how long the light stays charged.
I am still having the issue of seeing a line in the light field. I have held the light at different angles while it is turned off to try to troubleshoot this issue. It appears to me that something inside the LED protector is cracked. When I hold the light a certain way I can see a black line inside two of the LED’s.
After pulling the pull cord for one minute I decided to test the light again while walking on the beach path at night. The light initially turned on bright and progressively went dimmer as time went on. After just shy of 5 minutes the light was completely dead.
After charging the Solar Pull Light in 6 hours of bright sunlight the Solar Pull Light had enough juice to produce 22 minutes of bright light. Charging the Solar Pull Light by using natural bright light seems to work best.
I like the concept of the Solar Pull Light because it can be charged with natural/artificial light or with the pull cord. I would think by having this light there would be no purpose in me carrying a back-up light. However, this is not the case since the light is not performing well for me when using just the pull cord. In using the Solar Pull Light I feel most comfortable having a back-up light with me.
For more information on the eGear Solar Pull Light please visit www.essentialgear.com. The Solar Pull Light retails for $19.95 and is available in a red, blue, or silver case.
[...] eGear Solar Pull Light [...]