Emergency lighting for elderly couple

Green_hopeful

My in laws are quite elderly and lack mobility. They asked me to get them some candles and matches for any power failures. I don’t think that would be safe. So looking at emergency lighting. I have previously seen emergency lighting where someone had fitted a cable and plug so it could be plugged into a normal socket. Then I saw these lightbulbs and wondered if these would be good. They have three standard lights in the main rooms they used. Does anyone have any experience of these. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rechargeable-Emergency-Light-Bulb-Failure-1200mAh-Equivalent-Operated/dp/B08315GVXX

lohr500

I know nothing about them but if you read some of the reviews on the Amazon page you linked to, it seems as though they are not as straightforward as you may hope.

Feedback suggests that they cannot determine the difference between a power cut an simply being switched off. To activate in a power cut the comments mention that you have to unscrew the bulb from the fitting and attach the special cap provided to light up the bulb. Not sure that this would work well for your in laws and would leave them in the dark anyway until they could get to a light fitting, unscrew the bulb and fit it to the holder   

You may be better with a couple of torches like these plugged into easily accessible sockets in the areas of the house they use most. I got the black version several years ago for my parents and it works well. It is plugged into a socket in their kitchen. Doubles up as a regular torch as well which is handy.

https://www.safefiredirect.co.uk/escape-evacuation/emergency-torches.aspx

or these.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/6127918

Green_hopeful

Thank you. Would be good for us but given they are in their late 80s I think minimum effort and completely automatic is what we are looking for. They have the lights in those lamps on all night so they are not worried about the electricity. But they fret about things quite a lot and I think they would cope better if the lights stayed on.

Nebulous2

I'd agree that candles aren't safe. While they were used in the 70s things have moved on.

You get stick-on battery led lights, some of them motion sensitive. I have a couple I use in the back of my van, they work well and were quite cheap. 

Mine are click ones, you press them to turn them on, but looking at Amazon you get motion sensitive ones and remote control ones.  These are one example:- 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Generation-Ilyever-Touch-Activated-Battery-0perated-Basement/dp/B01EY0MPYU

lohr500

Green_hopeful said:

Thank you. Would be good for us but given they are in their late 80s I think minimum effort and completely automatic is what we are looking for. They have the lights in those lamps on all night so they are not worried about the electricity. But they fret about things quite a lot and I think they would cope better if the lights stayed on.

Understood. But based on the Amazon feedback, it sounds like those bulbs you were looking at will not stay on when the power goes off. The only way to activate them is to screw them into the special holders supplied or to hold the screw part of the bulb with your fingers whilst touching the tip contact at the same time. 

poppasmurf_bewdley

I have a solar generator.  It's main purpose in life is to provide power in my touring caravan when off grid.  But in the winter it comes into the house (without the solar panels) and provides enough power to keep my lights, TV and wifi going for several hours if the need arises.

And it can be recharged in about 4 hours using overnight cheap electricity. 

HP_Source

We have some emergency lights scattered at strategic points throughout the house. They're completely automatic and come on as soon as they sense a powercut. The one we bought are   https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BOWUCT6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .

Alnat1

Have a look for rechargeable camping lights, lots of styles and prices to choose from. Easy to plug in and charge up when the power comes back on.

elsien

Second vote for camping lights. Mine aren’t rechargeable, they are battery operated but basically you just grab hold of them and pull the top up and you have light. I keep one by my bed. Couldn’t  be easier.

RobM99

I have a selection of camping lights! OK not motion sensors but they run on rechargeables and are pretty bright - certainly adequate in a cut. 

   https://www.campingthings.com/category/camping-lights-lanterns-flashlight/

Should be something here that fits the bil!

diystarter7

Alnat1 said:

Have a look for rechargeable camping lights, lots of styles and prices to choose from. Easy to plug in and charge up when the power comes back on.

Great post as I too was thinking of rechargeable/portable lighting, cheap, cheerful and it works.