Dot-it: LED's To Go
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.06
Soon we won't need wiring at all- LED lights take so little juice that they can run on next to nothing. This new stick-on light from Sylvania goes anywhere, and lasts up to 100 hours on three AAA batteries. Just press on it and it goes. Now if they integrated a timer or motion detector to turn it off....
What are SYLVANIA DOT•it lights?
DOT•it lights are the first portable LED lights from SYLVANIA you can stick and re-stick practically anywhere.
Where can DOT•it lights be used?
DOT•it lights are small enough to fit in your pocket and can stick to a variety of surfaces, including fabric, leather, plastic, glass and fiberglass. Use them anywhere you need light: in your car, in your home, where you play, where you work or with your kids.
How do I use a DOT•it light?
Just a press in the center turns a DOT•it light on and off. Peel off the adhesive backing and stick it wherever you need light. Leave on the adhesive backing to carry it like a flashlight.
Are DOT•it lights an improvement over flashlights or tap lights?
DOT•it lights are easier to use than flashlights, just press them on and off. Three white LEDs make DOT•it lights brighter and longer lasting than standard incandescent tap lights.
Do DOT•it lights come in different colors?
DOT•it lights are available in six sleek, metallic colors: red, silver, black, purple, lime green and orange. Pick one to match your car, your home or just your personality.
Do DOT•it lights require an electrical outlet?
No. DOT•it lights feature a wireless, portable design you can use at home or on the go. Three replaceable AAA batteries are included.
What makes a DOT•it light stick?
A unique 3M adhesive on every DOT•it light sticks and re-sticks to practically any surface, without marring. The adhesive can withstand extreme temperatures from zero to 120 degrees.
How long will DOT•it lights last?
DOT•it lights include three replaceable AAA batteries that provide power for about 100 hours of bright, white LED light. The LEDs inside DOT•it lights will last for years.
When will DOT•it lights be available?
DOT•it lights are in stores now, just in time for the holidays.
Where can I buy DOT•it lights?
DOT•it lights are available in selected retailers. For a complete list visit www.sylvania.com/DOTit . The suggested retail price is $9.99 each.
Seen at ::IIDEX
eco friendly? NOT! Dot-its design promotes use and trow, why? since the adhesive is on the backside covering the small screws, you will not be able to replace batteries in a easy way. It also not informs about the possibility of battery replacement. By this its easy to understand that Osram with this product want people to throw away a perfect LED lamp when the batteries are empty. Dilemma for industry is that LED is everlasting, making it hard to sell parts like in ordinary lightbulbs sales. With this product they have made a new trash filler..
What´s need to be done is to make the lid covering the batteries into a twist open mechanism, giving easy access to batteries, then, and only then this would be a eco friendly product! Using rechargables would also help alot..
I have a few of these lights. Don't worry about the adhesive, because it's not very strong to begin with. I got these to use in my closets, but they didn't light them very well and then fell off the wall and got lost.
You can now buy a "3-LED Touch Light" by Garrity at Wal-mart. It uses 4 AA batteries, making the use of rechargeables easier than with 3-battery lights, the batteries are easy to replace, too. They have picture-hanger holes in them so they are easy to put up.
LEDs are overrated. They are not as efficient as HID lamps and have much less power (HID goes up to 2000W), but somehow are in the media all the time.
So give HID lightning more attention.
Except HID's require a ballast of some kind and can't be run from batteries. That I know of. I thought LED's were fairly efficient. They produce little heat.
I was just about heading out the door to get one of these lights at our local Ace Hardware store ... then thought I'd read the comments. Glad I did. There's always something to be improved in new products.
Would be nice if you would do a companion TreeHugger review of the "3-LED Touch Light" by Garrity, mentioned by someone else. I won't purchase the Sylvania lights until they do something about the battery issue.
Thanks -- TreeHugger is my favorite emailed newsletter. So much info packed into a daily missive. Thanks for everything you're doing for our planet.
JiltedCitizen - HIDs can be run from batteries. Plenty of mountain bikers who ride at night use HID lights, although the cheapest i've seen are around $75. They do light up the trail though
Really? Cool. I did not know that. I may be confusing Metal Halides with HID's.
the three led light configuration looks like a biohazard symbol...
I brought these to help with lighting under the stairs.
They do absolutely nothing but cast a horrible blue glow.
Although they stick well enough they don't cast enough light to be useful.
HID are high intensity discharge and include metal halide, xenon and halgens among just a few.