For those into prepping and such, I was @ Menards yesterday to return some un-needed plumbing parts and pick up a couple others. They have on sale, 3 (pack) for $10, some nifty little LED headlamps with a built in Li-Polymer rechargeable battery. The main beam is not focusable, but is quite bright for such a small headlamp. I guess I’d call it a medium beam - it’s certainly not a “flood” pattern. Better yet, the red flashing function turns out to be true “SOS”.
A slight disadvantage is that the charge port is USB-C, but, that does allow for a charge time (100%) of only 2.5 hours claimed, from a USB-C source, I would guess. Also, a short “A” to “C” charge cable is provided. Run time is anywhere from 3 hours to 12 hours depending on function selected. (SOS is rated at 8 hours.) Should make for handy spares or backup, if nothing else.
The brand is “LitezAll” — obviously not top quality stuff; it’s cheapo Chinese, but, I’ve had “decent” luck with their headlamps, given the prices. They have a US support phone number, too.
BTW, the headband starts off pretty tight on my not-too-swelled (I hope!) medium-size head. Likely it will stretch a bit with use (I hope), as I have it loosened as much as possible. Maybe that’s why they are on sale - hahaha. :-)
Re: Headlamp. We go through a local guy for all of our hunting needs. Wishbone Hound Supply. When we were dating, Beau bought me my OWN headlamp for shining ‘coons, LOL!
Now THAT is romantic! He also bought me a wood-splitting maul, 1/2 a hog and grew me ‘Moon & Stars’ watermelons and Popcorn. Also gave me a 8# organic roasting chicken!
But it was the gift of 7-year aged CHEDDAR that sealed the deal. ;)
FINALLY... I got the “drain” piping upgrade for the “flood pump” completed. The last PVC pipe joints are curing now. (This drain line and pump evacuates water from the low area a little east of our house.) First I’d added a home-made “filter” to house the pump, said filter made of a 5 gallon Menards bucket with large holes cut in it and those holes covered with stainless steel 30 mesh screen. (Good stuff, if pricey!) This prevents silly 3/16” pebbles from getting in and jamming the pump’s impeller. (Pretty frustrating for a pump rated to handle 2” “solids”!) Then the pump exhaust was just inserted into the end of the 3” drain pipe, but, that of course partially blocked the entrance of the drain pipe, causing the pump to run more in moderate rain events. Now there is a 45 deg. “Y” to “inject” the pump output into the drain pipe. I’m hoping this will create a bit of a venturi effect, something like a jet pump injector / foot, and perhaps drag additional water from the 3” inlet, down the 3” ID pipe. The nice thing also about the bucket is that I can drill holes in it to position the pump float however I want, maximizing the run cycles and thereby hopefully prolonging the life of the pump motor capacitor. I should be able to lengthen the operational life of the float, too.
I’ve estimated the water out there after a good rain at 50,000 - 60,000 gallons. Maybe 100,000 gallons after very heavy rain. (This is not water from a stream or ditch — it’s just water pooling. Proper landscaping would solve the problem with “natural” drainage, which is pretty much what happens once we get 2-3” of water out there anyway, but that would be QUITE a project.
This pump can chuck out 10,000 GPH at the under 3’ of “head” involved, so, worst case is to drain that side yard in 10 hours. In reality, it usually takes much less. :-)
Until we get some rain, though, I’ll have the opposite problem of having to water whatever of the garden survives the next few nights’ frosts, as we are really getting dry again. :-(