Rechargeable lights have become essential tools for South Africans, who have their lives disrupted daily by power failures. There’s no shortage of options, but it’s important to buy the right light for the job. Justus Visagie tried the Eurolux Rechargeable 3W LED Emergency Light to see if it’s an effective weapon against so-called “load-shedding”.
It’s a widely acknowledged fact that men do not read instruction manuals. But it seems some don’t even familiarise themselves with the purpose of a product before buying it. While in Clicks Whale Coast to pick up prescription drugs, I noticed a Eurolux “Rechargeable Emergency Torch/Lantern with lithium-ion battery” in the load-shedding product aisle.
Printed on the attractive box, were the following specifications: “LED”, “230 lumens”, “battery life up to 3 hours”, “lithium-ion”, and “rechargeable”. I paid the R210 sticker price and left with my new Eurolux LED light.
Key features
- Output: 230 lumens (18.3 candlepower)
- Battery: 3.7V 1500mAh
- Voltage: 220-240V
- Dimensions: 228.5mm long & 66.3mm circumference
- Battery life: 1-4 hours
- Charge time: 20-24 hours
- Price paid: R210.00
Reasons for buying the Eurolux Rechargeable Light
I had some lighting solutions at home, including a Campingaz Lumostar Plus PZ gas lantern. Problem is, it emits heat and noise, and the gas in the disposable canisters doesn’t last long. Also, empty canisters mean more waste going into the environment.
I like the Energizer Vision Rechargeable Lantern 1000 Lumens, but a quick search on PriceCheck revealed a list price of about R550. Could the Eurolux be a useful and cheaper alternative? I would soon find out.
Unboxing and setting up
The Eurolux light is wrapped in bubble wrap and fits snugly into a sturdy cardboard box. Plugging it into a mains socket (it requires a two-prong adapter) is simple. It’s easy to fold out the two-prong plug, and it swivels too. But overall, the Eurolux has a cheap feel to it.
Using the Eurolux Rechargeable Light
When I bought the Eurolux, I didn’t notice the stated charge time of 20-24 hours. Could it really take a full 24 hours to charge? Turns out it does. After about 24 hours, the small red LED on its side finally turned green.
As the name and appearance suggest, the Eurolux is a two-in-one thing that you can use as a torch or lantern. The brightness of both lights came as a shock. The torch has excellent range, and the lantern lights up half of a medium-sized bedroom. Even the more diffused lantern light is almost blindingly light.
What we like about the Eurolux Rechargeable Light
What constitutes an emergency is subjective. For some, it’s running out of ice or wood at a braai (barbecue). Other might view it as a threat to physical integrity or the loss of valuable possessions. In South Africa, where we are long past Eskom’s stage 1 or 2 load-shedding, we are experiencing an electricity emergency. For that, the Eurolux lantern/torch, alas, is inadequate.
What it needs is less light and more life. It needs more settings, allowing the user to reduce its output to make the small li-on battery last longer. Unlike the Energiser Vision, it’s the kind of light that you can leave unplugged. Even after a short period (about 1 hour) the light intensity drops sharply, only providing enough light for reading a book, if you have it close enough.
Conclusion and score
Maybe it’s just a typical case of “you get what you pay for”, or maybe there are better products available in South Africa, at the same price or even less. If you own one, or import/sell a superior product, please let us know via Facebook, Twitter, or the contact page.
The Eurolux Rechargeable 3W LED Emergency Light scores 3 out of 5.
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
