Having experienced the use of Emergency Lighting in the shape of Lights manufactured by a certain French Gas Manufacturer over the years, this excellent product from Mr Beam, has dragged the subject of Emergency Lighting, fighting and screaming into the 21st Century. Emergency Lighting is a necessity, here in the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada as Power outages are quite a regular occurrence. Apart from the risk of fire, the gas canisters for the French made Lamps we were using, were becoming more and more scarce. Time to change, but what was the alternative.
Well I have found it in the shape of Mr Beams MB470 Weatherproof 260 Lumen Lantern.
Robustly manufactured, the lamp is versatile in that it can be free standing with a carrying handle or it can be placed in a suspended situation, with a cleverly designed hook concealed in the base of the lamp. On two sides of the lamp, substantial rubber grips have been molded to the main Body.
On the front of the MB470, there is a USB Port for charging a mobile phone and/or other devices and that works very well. The USB Port is weather proofed by a rubber cover.
Below the USB Port, there is a Battery Power Indicator Light, that warns when batteries are running low and need replacing. (Four D-Cell Batteries are required)
Below the Battery Indicator Light is an On/Off rubber switch/button.To activate the lamp;(1)Press this button Once(2)Press the button again for a low light.(3)Press the button again to turn off.
Incorporated in this switch gear is an Automatic Shut Off Facility.After the lamp has been on for 58 minutes, it will start to blink for a further 2 minutes and then turn itself off completely. This is a wonderful innovation to conserve the life of your batteries. This action applies to both the Bright & Dim lighting modes. You cannot forget to turn the lamp off should you walk away and leave it or as I did, fall asleep. After the one hour has elapsed, the Lamp will have turned Off before your return or when you wake up. To re-activate the Lamp again, merely press the On/Off Switch just Once for another One Hour of Light. Without detracting from my assessment, perhaps an override could have been added to this function.
The illumination this lantern gives out in our Lounge more than satisfies our needs. I found it more than useful in those dark corners of the house when performing DIY tasks. The Lantern has to be a "must have" for outdoor enthusiasts where its uses could be seemingly endless in a variety of Locations and Situations.
One final note. In view of the excellent construction, its ruggedness and design, I was surprised that although marketed through an American Company in Ohio, the lantern is in fact manufactured in China. However, make no mistake, this is a quality Product.
Highly Recommended.
UPDATE (23rd July, 2014)
As I was unable to go out and buy the company, I did the next best thing and bought an additional MB470 Lantern(White), so impressed am I with this product.
| Brightness | 260 Lumen |
|---|---|
| Item weight | 0.4 Kilograms |
| Mounting type | Tabletop Mount |
| Water resistance level | Water Resistant |
| Battery life | 30 Hours |
| Number of batteries | 4 D batteries required. |
| Specification met | certified frustration-free |
| Voltage | 6 Volts |
| Wattage | 10 watts |
| Manufacturer | Mr Beams |
| UPC | 837316004800 013341019006 855691005250 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00855691005250 |
| Part Number | MB480 |
| Product Dimensions | 20.32 x 10.16 x 10.16 cm; 400 g |
| Batteries | 4 D batteries required. |
| Item model number | MB480 |
| Style | 1 Unit |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number of Pieces | 1 |
| Number of handles | 2 |
| Special Features | waterproof |
| Batteries included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Item Weight | 400 g |
