Oil lamps versus LED flashlight - a comparison

[papaof2]

Flat-wick lamps have the lowest light output, center-draft round-wick lamps have 3–4 times the output of flat-wick lamps, and pressurized lamps have higher output yet; the range is from 8 to 100 lumens. A kerosene lamp producing 37 lumens for 4 hours per day consumes about 3 litres (6 pints) of kerosene per month.[14] (wikipedia)
(Above usage would be 3/8" wick turned down about 1/3 from maximum light.)

Oil lamp output in candlepower (CP), lumens and incandescent electric watts equivalent[15]

Flat-wick width Candlepower Lumens Watts[15]
3/8" 4 50 3.3
1/2" 7 88 5.9
5/8" 9 113 7.5
3/4" 10 125 8.3
7/8"–1" 12 151 10.1
1-1/2" 20 251 16.7
2× 1", 1-1/16", 1-1/8" 30 377 25
2× 1-1/2" 50 628.5 42
1-1/4" round "Dressel Belgian" 67 842 56
1-1/2" round "Rayo" 80 1000 66.6
2-1/2" round "Firelight" or "store" lamp 300 3771 251

12.57 lumens = 1 CP

Typically, the Aladdin burns 3 ounces of kerosene per hour (one pint in just over 5 hours). This is based on a 60 watt light output, under normal conditions. If the lamp is turned down, the fuel consumption will also be lower.

60 watts ~900 lumens

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For comparison, the Fenix E12 LED pocket light has outputs of 8, 50 or 130 lumens with associated battery life (1 AA alkaline cell) of 40, 6.5 and 1.5 hours. It also works with rechargeable AA NiMH cells. It's waterproof at 2 meters for 30 minutes (mine's been through the washing machine at least twice so I can confirm the waterproof claim ;-) The E12 is 3.5 inches long and weighs 1 ounce with battery.
8 lumens of directable light (versus a small oil lamp's 8 lumen circle of light) is very useful in finding things - even finding your way in the dark. The highest level can be painfully bright at close range.
Yes, I paid $27 for each of them (more than one) but they ALWAYS light on the first click (gold-plated battery contacts).
www.fenix-store.com/fenix-e12-led-flashlight/

I also have some 2 D cell LED flashlights (in the vehicles and in the house) and an LED headlight for under the very short hood of my wife's SUV. Plus some Dorcy LED "lanterns" that run for many hours (100+) on 3 D cells (and some AA to D adapters for the rechargeable AAs).

[9idrr]

Thank you, sir. Nice to see the actual numbers. We do have a couple of hurricane lamps and lots of kerosene but I do like the convenience of LED lights and headlamps.

[papaof2]

Mar 15, 2020 20:23:12 GMT -6 9idrr said:

Thank you, sir. Nice to see the actual numbers. We do have a couple of hurricane lamps and lots of kerosene but I do like the convenience of LED lights and headlamps.

I like the instant on/off and the can't be spilled of LED lighting. We have two glass font, brass burner oil lamps (one a wedding gift and the other I think belonged to my mother) plus a couple of metal-framed, glass globe, hangable lanterns in different sizes. Plus a couple of the "woodshed" oil lamps with the mirrored wall mount. I also have some of the floating wicks that you put in a bowl with a layer of cooking oil (canola, olive, whatever) on top of the 2/3 fill of water. There are a dozen plus floats and 50+ wicks. Not much light but at the back of the kitchen counter and with a mirror behind it, you do have a decent nightlight - or as a friend called them "stumble lighting".

One set of floats is clear plastic so the water in the container lights up as well, making for a larger source of light than just the flame on the wick. The ambiance is free ;-) The floats have "bubbles" which hold enough air to keep the float on the surface of the oil but the float has small channels that the oil can run through to get to the wick. When you run out of oil. water runs up those channels and extinguishes the wick. Probably a good basis for a science lesson if you have kids in the house.

Why does the oil float on the water? (weighs about a pound less per gallon than water)

Why does the plastic disc float? (molded in "pockets" that trap air)

Why does the metal disc float? (cork on the bottom) (What's cork?) (Where does it come from?)

On the Free section of Craig's List today, I saw a "Collier's Science Encyclopedia". Great find if your kids' school is closed for a couple of weeks. Many of the K-12 schools in the state are closed, public libraries are closed, jury trials are suspended for 30 days but other judicial things are still happening, police stations are not generally open to the public, the entertainment venues are closed, etc, etc.