Emergency lighting for elderly couple

ariarnia

we got two of these 'full size' lamps for the top and bottom of the stairs. they are bright enough to light a hole room but you wouldn't want to spend hours reading using them. then we also got the kids one of these each as there small and cute and bright enough they can get to and from the loo and cheap enough that if they get broken or dropped its not the end of the world. 

both types are battery powered but all with rechargeable batteries. so we will just check them at the start of winter every year and replace the batteries with fresh ones if they are used. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0078ZTWP4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00PRQ0OPS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

pseudodox

Another vote for rechargeable camping lanterns.  My late mother lived in an area with a lot of power cuts so I got her a couple of these so she could keep one in the bedroom in case she needed to get up in the night & the mains was down.  The other she could move around between kitchen & sitting room & whilst she was in a bungalow it gave a good light if she had needed to use stairs.  I used to charge them up for her every 8 weeks so they were always ready to use.  I have them now & when I had a mains outage lasting several hours I was the only house on my street showing anything other than candlelight.  Good enough to safely cook by or to read by.
Note - that even if not using them it is advised to put them on charge regularly or the battery will eventually fail (I found this out the hard way!)

pseudodox

I also made sure Mum had a small torch in every room - mostly on a hook on the back of a door so she always knew where to find one to them safely go get a camping lanterns.

[Deleted User]

After reading this thread, I rang my daughter and asked her what she intended to do to help her elderly and vulnerable parents?

Her response was 4 candles. Apart from making me laugh, I couldn’t see how a Two Ronnies sketch was going to light my way up to bed.

I sense that, as yet, she doesn’t deem us to be vulnerable. She did say that if the lights went out she would pop round to see how we are, as we are the ones with the 13.5kW battery.

QrizB

[Deleted User] said:

I sense that, as yet, she doesn’t deem us to be vulnerable. She did say that if the lights went out she would pop round to see how we are, as we are the ones with the 13.5kW battery.

She has a point!

chris1973

Just get a standard emergency light unit, as used in hundreds of thousands of pubs, hotels, public buildings etc.

https://cpc.farnell.com/red-arrow/lfacled-2/led-bulkhead-maintained-3-5w-6500k/dp/LA07719

Stick a 3 core flex and 13A plug (fused to 3A) on it, wired in non maintained mode, and plug into a standard 13A socket. The internal batteries will charge, and in event of the power failing it will automatically light up. When the power returns, the light will go off and then automatically charge.

These are very bright as they are used to light doorways, fire escapes, corridors during a power cut, and will generally stay lit for 3+ hours.

Mister_G

Good call - And even cheaper here!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175051363298

QrizB

Mister_G said:

Good call - And even cheaper here!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175051363298

I've got one of those (well, very similar) with a 13A plug attached. Works a treat, and uses hardly any power when charging (the internal battery is three rechargeable AAs).

kazwookie

A couple of decent torches.

MoneyMate

Great lantern in Halford and rechargeable   https://www.halfords.com/tools/torches/energizer-rechargeable-lantern-550350.html around £30 or cheaper with FREE membership  https://www.halfords.com/motoring-club.html