At first it didn't make any sense.

[plonq]

We recently bought a set of battery-powered LED lights that are meant to hang in a closet, cupboard, or any other place that needs additional lighting but doesn't have a readily-available outlet or light socket. In addition to having a push-on/push-off light switch built into the dome, these lights also have a photo cell on the side so that they will come on automatically when needed. You know, when there is enough light to trigger the photo cell.

Yes, you heard me right, these lights will turn on automatically when the room is bright, and shut off again when the room is dark.

I think I know why they do this, but it still seems a little backward to me. Isn't this a bit like having one of those apocryphical "solar-powered flashlights"?

Comments

[tzisorey.livejournal.com]

I have a solar-powered flashlight :) Though, granted, it doesn't automatically turn on when it's light out....

[pierrekrahn.livejournal.com]

Can you manually turn it on and off, or are you at the mercy of the gods?

[pfcottontail.livejournal.com]

Mike: "Hey guys, guys! We can put a solar cell in this so it turns on from light and it's only like 4 cents more in parts!"
Bob: "Tbat's a photoelectric cell, a couple wires, and a battery to store it, but that battery adds like another 15 cents to the product."
Mike: "Well, okay dude, check this out: no battery. Light just turns on whenever the hell there's enough voltage coming through. Like... like if you put it in a dark corner but the cell is pointing to a bright light you have like if you put a mirror under a skylight to direct it there to light it up so that that cubby can get lit up."
Bob: "That's a terrible idea why w--"
John: "Come on, Bob, it'll cost 4 cents and it will shut Mike up, isn't it worth it?"
Bob: "..... fine."

[pierrekrahn.livejournal.com]

I think this thread needs MORE cat icons