Don’t Be Left In the Dark With The Extra Time You Gain With The Best Rechargeable Light Bulbs
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The power going out doesn’t mean you need to search for your candles or navigate around your home with your phone’s flashlight as your only light source. Rechargeable light bulbs can continue to light up your home even when the power is out.
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Here’s how it works: a built-in lithium battery charges inside these light bulbs when they are in use. So when the power goes out, that’s when the battery takes over. Even though the rest of the block may be pitch black, you’ll still be the one with the lights on.
There’s no need to dig for those tealight candles you haven’t seen or used since the last time the power was out. Add these rechargeable light bulbs to your household and “let there be light” when the power goes out.
Things You Should Know About Rechargeable Light Bulbs
Rechargeable light bulbs are best used during emergencies as opposed to your everyday light bulbs. Although some do, many of them don’t get as bright as the light bulbs you might already have in your home. Don’t expect to have infinite light either, since many rechargeable light bulbs only provide a few hours of light when operating on battery power.
The best part about rechargeable light bulbs is their versatility. Rechargeable light bulbs can:
Be used as LED lights for maximum efficiency
Attach from above with optional hooks
Offer adjustable color temperature
A normal light bulb, once unscrewed out of the power source, such as a lamp or light fixture, is essentially a useless delicate sphere of glass. Rechargeable light bulbs, on the other hand, can be used almost like a flashlight. You can carry them around from room to room, hang them outside or in storage closets (many come with hooks to do this), and some can even be controlled remotely.
BEST OVERALL
Neporal Emergency Rechargeable Light Bulbs
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$35 at walmart
Why We Chose It: These lightbulbs are powerful and cost effective.
Key Specs:
Wattage: 15 watts
Battery Life: 4-5 hours
Brightness: 900 lumens
Bulb Base: E26
When power goes down, these bulbs get bright. With 900 lumens of brightness, these get a bit brighter than your average rechargeable light bulbs that often peak out at 800 lumens. The light automatically kicks on when the power goes out.
You can remove the light and use it as a flashlight by placing your finger on the bottom of the light as well. We also like that it comes with hooks so you can hang the lights both indoors and outdoors.
Pros
Bright
4-5 hours of battery life
Comes with hooks
Cons
Can only charge in lamp
ALSO GREAT
AmeriTop A19 Battery LED Bulbs
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$34 at walmart
Why We Chose It: We like that this light can be used for both indoor and outdoor use.
Key Specs:
Wattage: 9 watts
Battery Life: 3-4 hours
Brightness: 800 lumens
Bulb Base: E26
We like that this light gets plenty bright when running off battery power. You can expect about 500 lumens of light and for it to last up to 3-4 hours on battery life. It recharges on its own when plugged in too.
It fits in any standard light socket fixture and can be used both indoors and outdoors. These are a handy minor investment to have around the house.
Pros
Bright in flashlight mode
Comes in two different lighting colors
Universal E26 bulb base
Cons
Battery life could be better
BEST VALUE
TFOI Rechargeable Emergency LED Light Bulbs
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$16 at walmart
Why We Chose It: These bright bulbs are affordable equalling out to just over $6 a bulb.
Key Specs:
Wattage: 12 Watts
Battery Life: 4-5 hours
Brightness: 800 Lumens
Bulb Base: E27
We like that you receive four rechargeable light bulbs, but each also comes with a handy hook so you can hang it outside, or in a storage room, or light up a tent while you’re camping. The bulb automatically turns on when the power goes out so you aren’t stuck in the dark, and lasts up to 5 hours on battery life.
Pros
Good battery life
800 Lumens
Comes with hooks
Cons
Doesn’t stay at full brightness on battery power for long
MOST VERSATILE
Flyhoom Rechargeable Light Bulbs
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Why We Chose It: We like the flexibility of the remote and it can be charged via USB.
Key Specs:
Wattage: 7 watts
Battery Life: 13-15 hours (40 lumens)
Brightness: 100 lumens
Bulb Base: Non-removable base
We understand that these don’t get as bright as others, but we like the versatility this rechargeable light bulb provides. If you’re planning on lighting your whole living room up with rechargeable lights, you’ll want to look for a brighter light, but these bulbs do have a few tricks up the sleeve.
You can stand it on a table like a miniature lamp and use the remote control to change the brightness, or you can use it as a nightlight and set a timer for it to automatically turn off. On low (40 lumens which isn’t very bright at all) it can last all the way up to 15 hours, which goes a long way in providing light for you even during extended power outages.
Pros
You can control it with a remote
It is dimmable
Long battery life
Cons
It can’t replace a traditional light bulb
WORTH CONSIDERATION
GE LED+ Backup Battery Light Bulb
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$20 at target
Why We Chose It: We like that you can switch this between working inside of a lamp or as a flashlight.
Key Specs:
Wattage: 8 watts
Battery Life: 5 hours
Brightness: 795 lumens
Bulb Base: E26
The 795 lumens will light a room when the power is out. What we like is that there isn’t any extra step to charge the light — it charges when its plugged into electricity. When the power is out, you can expect about five hours of extra light when it is used conservative at 95 lumens (which equates to a mildly lit flashlight). We think these are a great utility to have at home for those “just in case” moments.
Pros
Charges when plugged in
Works as a flashlight
5 hours battery life
Cons
Flashlight isn’t very bright
Rechargeable Light Bulbs – Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Rechargeable Light Bulbs Last?
Depending on the size of the battery, when operating on battery power, a rechargeable light bulb can last anywhere from 2 to 15 hours.
How Do Rechargeable Light Bulbs Work?
Like a normal bulb. Electricity from the power source (like a lamp) powers the battery inside the bulb. During a power outage the battery takes over and continues to keep the bulb lit.
How Do You Recharge a Rechargeable Lightbulb?
Most will charge when in use from a power source like a lamp or a light fixture, and others recharge via USB.
Does a Rechargeable Lightbulb Charge When the Switch Is Off?
No. The lightbulb has to be in use (power on and the bulb is lit) for the battery to charge.
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