EMERGENCY LIGHTING (33)
Solar
Should there be a temporary lapse in electrical power, alternative sources
of lighting must be stored in advance. Before the event, this is relatively
inexpensive and easy. After the event, it becomes very difficult, perhaps
impossible. In most emergencies with a several day time span
(hurricanes, ice storms, etc.) battery operated lighting will often see us through.
However, with a major emergency the duration can be much greater.
There are many products on the market that will serve well for these longer emergencies.
There are now several solar products that can provide lighting, even after cloudy days.
There are solar lanterns, solar flashlights, even solar battery chargers.
The solar walkway lamps that line outdoor paths are available in home centers.
These can be brought in at night to provide ambient lighting.
Solar photovoltaic panels or wind generators, hooked to batteries,
can provide lighting and cost as little as $100 per light.
With solar or wind, once the power is restored, you still have free, non-polluting lighting.
Two-Mantle Gas Lantern
A gallon of Coleman-type fuel utilized with a two-mantle gas lantern
has a burning time of approximately 40 hours. Light output is approximately
the same as a 200W light bulb. Assuming an operating or burning time of
5 hours per day, the following approximate amounts of fuel would be consumed:
White gas may be substituted in some camping equipment, but read and follow
the specific instructions of the equipment manufacturer.
A gas lantern gives a high intensity light and lots of heat, too—though the
pressurized gas delivery system is quite noisy when operating. Two-Mantle
Gas Lantern Fuel Consumption Period Fuel Consumed per 5 Hours of use.
Day,1 pint.Week,1 gallon.Month,4 gallons.Year,50 gallons.
Kerosene Lanterns
Given today’s technology, a kerosene lantern seems a bit old-fashioned and out of place!
However, a kerosene lantern with a 1" wick will burn approximately 45 hours
per quart of kerosene, saving lots of natural resources and utilizing approximately
one-fourth as much fuel as a gas lantern. Kerosene lanterns are an effective and fairly safe lighting source.
There are now scented lamp oils which replace kerosene.
This lamp oil is generally avail-able in retail stores.
Make sure the oil is approved for use in your lamp.
Kerosene Lantern Fuel Consumption Period Fuel Consumed per 5 Hr. Day,
1/ 4 pint. Week,
1 quart. Month,
1 gallon. Year,
12 gallons. Candles
Save your candle ends for emergency use. Votive candles set in empty jars
will burn for up to 15 hours. Non-candles (plastic dish and paper wicks)
and a bottle of salad oil will provide hundreds of hours of candle light.
The type made of hardened wax in a can has the capability of utilizing
several wicks simultaneously. The other type is a liquid paraffin-filled
bottle with a wick for easy lighting. The liquid paraffin burns without odor or smoke.
This candle has a minimum 100-hourburning time and indefinite shelf life.
Tallow Candle Burning Rate Height Diameter Approximate Burning
Time in Hours 6"x1/ 2"= 3 hours 6"x1 ”=8 hours 9"x2” =48 hours