SKYLIGHT COMFORT
Skylight Comfort solar-recharged LED flashlight, retail $25.00 (www.skylight-swiss.com)
Manufactured by Skylight AG (www.skylight-swiss.com)
Last updated 03-06-05

Skylight Comfort


When you first get a Skylight Comfort, you might think "What kind of idiot would make a solar powered flashlight?" What this is though, is a RECHARGEABLE flashlight that uses its built-in solar panel to charge its built-in lithium vanadium battery. So you never have to buy batteries for this flashlight, and it can be recharged many, many times before the battery starts to poop out.

This model is the "Skylight Comfort", with smash-protection built in. That is, if the switch is pressed and held down (such as might happen in a pocket), the light turns itself off within two seconds.
No dead batteries because of a light that turned itself on unnoticed.


SIZE



The Skylight Comfort comes ready to use right out of the package, however putting it in a bright, sunny window or under a good lamp solar cell facing the light source for a few hours will ensure it's topped off and ready to go when you are.
As of 6:54pm 07-16-04, I placed this sample in my NNW-facing window, so it can get at least a couple of hours of sun today.

To use the new Skylight Comfort, just press the button quickly to turn it on, and press it quickly again to turn it off. If the button is pressed and held down for more than two seconds, the light will turn itself off.

Recharging the battery is as easy as setting the light down solar cell-up someplace bright, such as near a window or under a lamp.



You'll never have to change batteries or bulbs in a Skylight Comfort, so this section really isn't needed.

Place the Skylight Comfort in a sunny window or under a good lamp solar cell side up (button facing down) to recharge it. If the batteries are totally shot, 8-10 hours under good light (like sunlight) should charge it fully.

Skylight in the 'charging' position

The self-discharge rate of the battery is a very low 2% per month, so it won't hurt the Skylight Comfort at all if it's forgotten in a purse for a few weeks or packed in a suitcase for a trip and subsequently not needed. You don't have to go to the trouble of putting it in the sun each and every day if you aren't using it a lot - that simply isn't necessary.



The new Skylight Comfort appears to be well-made and reasonably durable, just like its brother, the original Free Light. The only really fragile component is the glass solar cell; which is slightly recessed so it shouldn't break if the light is dropped. Attacking a defenseless Skylight Comfort with an ice pick or a hammer will probably kill the poor thing though, so please try and play nice.

The unit is sealed and cannot be opened. It is also splash proof and submersible, but I don't know how far you can submerge it before it springs a leak. With the form factor, the rubber pushbutton, and the glass thing in its side, I'd guess 10 feet. I'll have to investigate this some more.

The Skylight Comfort uses a circuit that regulates the solar cell's current to prevent overcharging and also to prevent overdischarging when the light is being used. In ordinary use, you may never have to throw the light away. Truly, a light to last you a lifetime.

This model has smash-protection logic built in. That is, if the switch is pressed and held down (such as might happen in a pocket, car trunk, box, bag, etc.), the light turns itself off within two seconds.





Beam photo at 12" from target.
Measures 8,340mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.

I know for certain this is the correct reading because
I made sure it was fully charged before I measured it.

That blue thing in the lower right is an LED in a computer mouse, and shouold be ignored.




TEST NOTES:
Test unit was received on 07-16-04, sent directly from Switzerland.

The website is at www.skylight-swiss.com.


UPDATE: 03-06-05
I have decided to rate this product 4 1/2 stars and place it in The Trophy Case on this website.


PROS:
Never, ever have to change battery or bulb.
More environmentally friendly than other lights.
Reasonably durable construction.
Can charge under a lamp if no sunlight is available.


CONS:
Some possibility of breakage due to glass solar cell.
A bit dimmer than some LED lights, though not unusably so.



    MANUFACTURER: Swisslight AG
    PRODUCT TYPE: Solar-rechargeable flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Narrow flood with dimmer corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on flashlight body
    BEZEL: None
    BATTERY: Internal rechargeable; lithium-vanadium, capacity not known
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Yes, estimated to less than 10 feet
    ACCESSORIES: Lanyard (12cm looped)
    SIZE: 55mm L, 29mm W, 10mm D
    WEIGHT: 20 grams
    WARRANTY: 5 years

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star RatingStar Rating





Skylight Comfort * www.skylight-swiss.com






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