It all started back in 1830 when the English physicist Michael Faraday discovered that passing a magnet near a wire coil could induce an electric current in the wire. This "Faraday Principle" forms the foundation for all of today's electric motors, generators, & transformers.

Generation Gear has taken this principle to the next level. We have combined it with two advanced semiconductor devices to create a flashlight that never needs batteries!

Shaking the ShakeLight will cause a magnet to slide back and forth inside the flashlight handle. As it does so, it passes through a copper coil, thereby inducing a current in the coil's wire. This current is then stored inside an electronic component called a capacitor which in turn provides power to the LED (Light Emitting Diode).

The components that affect the quality and performance of a shake flashlight include the quality of the LED element (in terms of its brightness & efficiency), the strength of the magnet that moves through the coil when shaken, the number of windings in the coil (more will create a greater charge with each shake), and the quality & size of the capacitor that stores the charge. The GenerationGear ShakeLight models have been designed with careful attention to each of these components, the result being two of the best shake flashlights available at any price.

What is a "Capacitor" and why do shake flashlights use one?

A capacitor is a basic electronic component that stores electric charge. A capacitor is used in the shake flashlights instead of a battery due to the fact that power is always available by shaking, thereby requiring less electricity storage than normal flashlights. The Gen III shake flashlight's capacitor holds enough charge for over an hour of light without further shaking.

What is an "LED" and why do shake flashlight use one?

An LED, or "Light Emitting Diode" is an electronic component that emits light when an electric current is applied to it. LED's, long used for electronic indicator lights, have become very popular for other llighting applications over the past few years in everything from street lights to roadway hazard lights and vehicles. A big reason for their popularity is their efficiency and lifespan. An LED is many times more efficient than a halogen or fluorescent bulb, uses much less power, and lasts for up to 100,000 hours - a perfect match for shake flashlights!