NOTE: I have received several reports of issues with crank powered lights similar to this one. The problem is that they sometimes don't hold a charge, especially if fully discharged. There is a Lithium-Ion rechargeable coin cell inside that holds the charge for all of these lower-cost lightweight crank lights. What I suspect may be happening, is that if the coin cell is being over-discharged it may not take a charge anymore. As a result it may be possible to keep it in good shape by never letting the light fully discharge and by giving it a minute of cranking once a month to keep a decent charge in the cell... If I'm right, this could be a problem with ANY cranked light that uses a Lithium Ion coin cell. It could also be a problem for crank lights using other rechargeable battery types too since all rechargeables can be damaged by over discharging them... The result is a downgrade of this light's rating since it uses the same power source and could suffer the same problem.

Short Description:

The ET-0100 is a dynamo powered LED light designed for power outages and general use.

The body of the ET-0100 is silver colored plastic with chromed plastic highlights. Rubberized grips reside on the sides of the body. Folded on the back is a crank which can be opened outward and spun to charge the internal rechargeable batteries and power the 3 LEDs used to produce light. The 3 LEDs in the bezel are protected by a plastic lens cover and sit in recessed silver divots to help direct their light forward. The switch has four states: Click for 1 LED on, click for off, click for 3 LEDs on, click again for off. The switch sits in a recessed dimple and is protected by a rubber cover.

Detailed Information:

The ET-0100 dynamo light looks very futuristic. In fact it looks like it came right off the set of the latest science fiction TV show where people are trekking among the stars. Do the looks match the function? Let's find out!

The body of the light is silver colored plastic with rubberized grips on the side. Silvered plastic highlights surround the switch and the LEDs. The crank which is used to charge the internal batteries rests flush against the underside of the light when not in use. Unfold the crank and start spinning to charge the system. When you spin the crank the mechanism sounds and feels a bit coarse, like it needs some grease. I did open the system up and found that the gears were greased, so I guess it's just a noisy mechanism.

The bezel end of the light is protected by a plastic dome. Inside are the 3 LEDs used to produce light for the unit. All 3 LEDs sit in a silvered reflector area that helps project the light forward.

Output is in the form of a directional flood of light. In single-LED mode there is sufficient light for navigating in the dark while the 3-LED mode permits more functionality.

The switch is a simple click type. One click and the center LED turns on. Next click turns it off. Next click turns on all 3 LEDs. Next click turns it off and starts the pattern all over again. The switch is protected by a rubber cover and is recessed a bit to prevent accidental activation.

As with most dynamo powered lights, I would recommend keeping it dry. Avoid anything more than a misting rain and dry it off as quickly as possible.

Ergonomics: This unit is more slim than any of the other dynamo lights I have seen to date and it sits very comfortably in the hand.

Batteries: Since it is powered by a cranked dynamo, there are no batteries to replace. If it doesn't light up just unfold the crank and give it 30 seconds worth of spinning and you'll be ready to go. The cranking actually recharges an internal, non-replacable lithium-ion battery which then feeds electricity to the LEDs.

What I Liked: Crank powered, 2 levels of output, sleek design

What I Didn't Like: Charging mechanism a little rough, Water resistance questionable

Conclusions: Very sleek looking light. Smallest of the dynamo powered lights I've seen. It is nice to have variable output, but the durability of the mechanism concerns me a little considering the noise it makes when cranked. It will probably perform well for most folks regardless.

Quick Facts Table: