Body heat powered flashlight never needs batteries
Offered as providing an "everlasting light source," the Lumen flashlight uses a thermoelectric generator (TEG) to convert a user’s body heat into electricity to power an LED. The electricity is generated based on the temperature difference between a user’s body heat – from a thumb pressing on the flashlight – and the surrounding environment as detected by the upper and lower parts of the ceramic bar TEG on the flashlight.
This temperature difference – typically expected to be about 16°F – is enough to produce about 15 mA at 3 V, which can light a single LED. Under conditions where there is a greater temperature differential, excess power is stored in an on-board supercapacitor for use when needed.
The flashlight uses a 5-mm ultrabright Cree LED with a light output of 3,000 mCd. It measures 1.6" x 0.4" x 3.2" (40 x 10 x 80 mm).
The Lumen flashlight is available in titanium and aluminum body materials, and delivery is expected in February. The flashlight is also available with a glow-in-the-dark tritium vial to assist in locating it in the dark.
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