LED Lighting with a Wave of a Hand: Sylvania's DOT-it

September 15th, 2009 by Timothy B. Hurst

From green gadgets and gizmos, to DVDs and loose-leaf teas, I get the occasional product sent to me for a review. In most cases, I like to give it a thorough once-over before I’m comfortable putting a stamp of (dis)approval on it.

If I take a long time to review a product, it is usually because: the product stinks and the manufacturer wouldn’t want me to publish anything anyway; the product really stinks and I don’t want to waste my time or my readers’ time with it, or; the product is actually quite good and the length of time spending reviewing it is extended because I’m trying to find something bad to say about it — but can’t. In the case of the DOT-it LED lights Sylvania sent me, the reason for my slow turnaround is definitely the last one. These lights are great.

The first of the two lights sent to me by Sylvania was the DOT-it Golden Dragon (pictured top). The ninja-sounding Golden Dragon is the Cadillac of Sylvania’s puck-style LED lights.

Sylvania says the Golden Dragon offers 30x more light and 8x more coverage than a typical push-on light and can be expected to last for years to come with a typical life of over 50,000 hours. With extensive use of this light over the last six months, I have yet to see any decline in performance. But the best part is that it isn’t a push-on. See that little red oval next to the bulb? That’s a built-in infrared motion sensor. One wave of your hand over the sensor and the light will come with bright white beam of light, wave your hand again for low power and a third time will turn it off.

The LED light can be mounted to almost any surface using the built-in magnet or by using the included Velcro adhesive. After using the bright light around the house a couple times when the power went out, I mounted the Golden Dragon to the underside of a shelf above my bed for night-time reading (see pictures below). While the focus of the light is not exactly where I want it (mostly because of the shallow depth of the shelf), this little sucker provides plenty of ambient light for nighttime reading.

The Golden Dragon retails for $16.99, but a cursory survey of online outlets turned up lower prices and volume discounts.

Perhaps the best feature of the second of the two lights, the DOT-it Original, is its flexibility. This light is compact with a low-profile, easily fitting in the front pocket of my jeans. While this light can also be mounted to almost any surface using the enclosed Velcro, I have used the light more as a flashlight while walking the dog, camping and working around the house. As opposed to a traditional flashlight, the DOT-it can just sit flat on its back, creating a lantern effect (especially in a small tent). The push-on DOT-it is also waterproof, meaning you can use it on your boat or in other wet applications.

The light’s three AA batteries will give you 100 hours of bright, white light. Retailing at $9.99, the DOT-it Original is priced for consumers to have several scattered around the house or workplace for quick, easy and reliable light.

Photos: Tim Hurst

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Tags: Energy, gadgets, led lights, sylvania, sylvania dot-it

About the Author

Timothy B. Hurst is the founder of ecopolitology and the executive editor at LiveOAK Media, a media network about the politics of energy and the environment, green business, cleantech, and green living. When not reading, writing, thinking or talking about environmental politics with anyone who will listen, Tim spends his time skiing in Colorado's high country, hiking with his dog, and getting dirty in his vegetable garden.

http://www.svetorezerv.com Tedd

super article – leds forever!!!
http://www.svetorezerv.com Tedd

super article – leds forever!!!
Pingback: EcoFit Promises Easier Transition to LED Street Lighting : CleanTechnica
de

Remember NOT to have these DOT LED lights anywhere near electronics as the magnet will ruin your expensive items.

it ia a powerful magnet.
de

Remember NOT to have these DOT LED lights anywhere near electronics as the magnet will ruin your expensive items.

it ia a powerful magnet.
http://www.greenlifeanswers.com Dave Kay

I love the idea of the Golden Dragon having built-in hand motion sensor instead of push on. We use a generic push on in our woodshed, but pushing a button with gloves on and 50 lb. of wood in the other hand invariably means screwing up the aim. The shed is already pretty dark on the opposite side, too, so more lumens and a broader beam would be welcome when trying not to trip over the snow blower.
http://www.greenlifeanswers.com Dave Kay

I love the idea of the Golden Dragon having built-in hand motion sensor instead of push on. We use a generic push on in our woodshed, but pushing a button with gloves on and 50 lb. of wood in the other hand invariably means screwing up the aim. The shed is already pretty dark on the opposite side, too, so more lumens and a broader beam would be welcome when trying not to trip over the snow blower.
pb

Are there any LED lighting solutions that can be fitted in buildings like schools, and so can be wired permanently to the mains, but even better, just switch on for at least the period of a lesson when it detects movement.

At the moment T5fluorescent tubes seem to be the best option. I’d appreciate any advice.

Also, I work in the field of cleaner coal research, and we are not all profit hungry, we recognise the fuel’s threat to climate change and the environment, but are doing our best to get those burning it, to do so with minimal or zero impact on the environment.

Fascinating photo montage of lignite mining in Germany by the way.
pb

Are there any LED lighting solutions that can be fitted in buildings like schools, and so can be wired permanently to the mains, but even better, just switch on for at least the period of a lesson when it detects movement.

At the moment T5fluorescent tubes seem to be the best option. I’d appreciate any advice.

Also, I work in the field of cleaner coal research, and we are not all profit hungry, we recognise the fuel’s threat to climate change and the environment, but are doing our best to get those burning it, to do so with minimal or zero impact on the environment.

Fascinating photo montage of lignite mining in Germany by the way.
http://ecopolitology.org Tim

MD, Aix:

I know, I have some comparable puck lights that are push-on as well. However, not only did they not last as long, the lights were not as bright and they were constructed kind of poorly.

Like anything else, you can get the cheap version that doesn’t perform that well and doesn’t last that long, or you can pay a little more for more performance and longer life.
http://ecopolitology.org Tim

MD, Aix:

I know, I have some comparable puck lights that are push-on as well. However, not only did they not last as long, the lights were not as bright and they were constructed kind of poorly.

Like anything else, you can get the cheap version that doesn’t perform that well and doesn’t last that long, or you can pay a little more for more performance and longer life.
http://www.rentinaix.com Aix

MD is correct. I have bought something very similar but at the hardware store. I use it to read or sometimes when i draw in my sketchbook at night. I find it very handy and usefull.
http://www.rentinaix.com Aix

MD is correct. I have bought something very similar but at the hardware store. I use it to read or sometimes when i draw in my sketchbook at night. I find it very handy and usefull.
MD

Our local “Dollar Tree” has something similar to the dot-it.. it costs… 1 BUCK
MD

Our local “Dollar Tree” has something similar to the dot-it.. it costs… 1 BUCK