Blackout: which lighting to use when batteries fail

Blackout-tested: kerosene lamps leave batteries in the lurch

What do you turn on when the power grid goes down for days? After a blackout drill, a comparison of alternative lighting systems delivered an uncomfortable verdict: battery-powered flashlights are of little use. Their battery runs out when it is needed most, and a blackout rarely gives enough warning to recharge your supplies.

The failure of batteries

Battery-powered flashlights and lanterns were the first to fail in the tests. They drain far too quickly and, without a power grid, there is no way to recharge them. Attention turns to two alternatives: classic combustion and photovoltaics.

Kerosene and oil lamps: effective but smelly

The kerosene lamp, with its wide circular wick, can sit for months without evaporating its fuel if it is closed tightly when turned off. It only smells when lighting and extinguishing it. The oil lamp, on the other hand, fills the air with a rancid smell continuously. Carbide has its fans, but it is not for everyone.

Solar panel, battery and LED: clean and it works

The modern option is the combination of solar panel, battery and LEDs. No smoke, no odors and no recurring costs. The initial investment may put you off, but the resulting autonomy puts this system ahead of any combustion solution.

The experience of rural Spain

Those who lived without electricity for 50% of their childhood recommend something simpler: getting used to living by daylight. Reading five minutes of Jules Verne by candlelight and having your mother blow it out for bedtime is the ultimate lesson in efficiency.

In the end, the alkaline battery has no place: it has neither the autonomy of the kerosene lamp nor the cleanliness of the solar panel. For the next blackout, better to stock up on kerosene and a solar panel, and leave battery flashlights in the drawer of memories.