When the power goes out, it is pitch dark within seconds. With an emergency lamp for power cuts you have light straight away: to walk down the stairs safely, check the fuse box and get through the evening calmly. An emergency lamp works without a socket, on batteries or a built-in rechargeable battery. In this article you can read which emergency lighting works best, how many you need and how to get well prepared in ten minutes.
In short
- The most reliable emergency lamp runs on batteries: always ready, and batteries keep for years.
- At least one lamp per floor, plus a torch by the fuse box.
- 150 to 300 lumens is enough to light a room.
- No candles: little light and a fire risk, especially when it is dark and chaotic.
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Why have an emergency lamp at home?
A power cut usually lasts only briefly, but in a storm, during roadworks or in a major outage it can last hours or longer. The Dutch government advises being able to fend for yourself for about 72 hours, including a battery-powered lamp in your emergency kit.
🪜 Walk safely
No stumbling on the stairs or over toys in the dark.
🔌 Check the fuse box
See at once whether the problem is only in your home or in the whole street.
🧒 Calm in the house
Children and housemates are reassured as soon as the light comes on.
🕯️ No candles
Candles give little light and are a fire hazard.
What types of emergency lighting are there?
🔋 Battery-powered
The most reliable: batteries stay good for years and are replaced in no time. With a hanging hook your hands are free.
⚡ Rechargeable
Handy if you also use it at the campsite or in the garden. Do recharge it every few months, because a rechargeable battery slowly drains.
🏮 LED lantern
Gives all-round light, like a lamp on a table. Pleasant for lighting a whole room.
🔦 Torch
Indispensable for directing a beam, for example in the fuse box. Does not replace a room lamp: have both.
Matching products:
Emergency lamp with hanging hookOn 4x AA, daylight white, hands freeView ›
Dimmable emergency lamp, 300 lumensWarm white, on 3x AA, with handleView ›
Rechargeable emergency lamp, 320 lumensUSB-C, dimmable, warm white or daylight whiteView ›
LED lantern, 300 lumensWarm white all-round light for the whole roomView ›
Comparison at a glance
| Type | Advantage | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Battery-powered | Always ready, batteries keep for years | Keep spare batteries at home |
| Rechargeable | No batteries needed, also for daily use | Recharge every few months |
| Lantern | All-round light for the whole room | Less directed light |
| Torch | Directed and compact | Does not light a whole room |
What should you look for when choosing?
- Burn time: choose a lamp that lasts well over an evening on one set of batteries or a full charge. A dim setting extends the burn time considerably.
- Light colour: warm white is calmer for a long evening, daylight white is brighter for finding things.
- Hang or stand: a hook or handle is practical, so the lamp can hang above the table.
- Battery type: you usually already have common AA batteries at home.
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How many emergency lamps do you need?
| Home | Advice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flat | 1 emergency lamp + 1 torch | Living room lit, torch for the fuse box |
| Family house | 1 emergency lamp per floor + 1 torch | Never go up or down the stairs in the dark |
| Family with children | 1 extra emergency lamp per bedroom | Children feel safer with their own light |
| Holiday home or caravan | 1 rechargeable emergency lamp | Also handy as an ordinary lamp |
Handy to have alongside:
Prepared for a power cut in 10 minutes
- A fixed spot: put the emergency lamp somewhere you can find in the dark, for example by the fuse box or in the hallway.
- One lamp per floor: that way you do not have to go up or down the stairs in the dark.
- Store batteries separately: take them out of the lamp if you will not use it for a long time, to prevent leakage.
- Test twice a year: for example when the clocks change.
- Complete your emergency kit: besides a lamp, also water, long-life food, a battery-powered radio, a power bank and first-aid supplies.
What do you do when the power goes out?
- Grab your emergency lamp and stay calm.
- See whether the neighbours are without power too. If so, it is a fault on the grid.
- Only you without power? Check the fuse box for a tripped circuit or residual-current device. Read more in the difference between AC and DC.
- Switch off sensitive appliances so they do not all start up at once when the power returns.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed as much as possible.
Also handy
All emergency lamps › · All torches ›
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Frequently asked questions
Which emergency lamp is best in a power cut?
How many emergency lamps do I need?
How long does an emergency lamp last?
Is a candle good emergency lighting?
Can I use a camping lamp as an emergency lamp?
Batteries or rechargeable: which is better?
Kind regards,
Bas / LEDPLANET.NL