# DC in and out ports on LED crank flashlight **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 23, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-in-and-out-ports-on-led-crank-flashlight/438810 "2008-02-23T01:35:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-in-and-out-ports-on-led-crank-flashlight/438810/1 "2008-02-23T01:35:54Z")
I just bought a couple hand cranked LED flashlights for a camping trip. One is the [Energizer weather ready led crank light](http://www.energizer.com/products/flashlights/preparedness/Pages/emergency-lights.aspx). On the bottom it has a couple small ports. One is labeled “DC in 12V”, and the other is “DC out 4.8V”. However, these ports are not mentioned on Energizer’s web site, or any other site that I’ve found that reviews it. Could you use a 12V adaptor of some type to charge this from a wall outlet? Could you use the DC out port to hand-crank-power another device? Thanks, ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-in-and-out-ports-on-led-crank-flashlight/438810/2 "2008-02-23T01:46:18Z")
The 4.8v out is so you can charge your cell-phone-- I would assume you’d probably need an adapter and/or a transformers to make it work on most models. I’d guess with the 12v in that you could get an AC or cigarette lighter adapter if you don’t feel like cranking ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-in-and-out-ports-on-led-crank-flashlight/438810/3 "2008-02-23T02:19:00Z")
[QUOTE=GreasyJack] The 4.8v out is so you can charge your cell-phone-- I would assume you’d probably need an adapter and/or a transformers to make it work on most models. [/QUOTE] It seems like a feature like this would be so useful in an emergency that it would be touted on their website and on the packaging. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-in-and-out-ports-on-led-crank-flashlight/438810/4 "2008-02-23T03:12:20Z")
[QUOTE=Rucksinator] It seems like a feature like this would be so useful in an emergency that it would be touted on their website and on the packaging. [/QUOTE] To speculate wildly, perhaps they don’t want someone plugging a cell phone in that takes a different voltage and frying it. I’m sure the same light gets sold in all sorts of different packages and for whatever reason Energizer has chosen not to emphasize the cell-phone charging aspect. Or, maybe it’s a standard case gets made with the hookups, but it doesn’t have the internal parts. If you had one of those universal AC adapter kits and a small electronic device you’re not too attached to, you could give it a try! ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-in-and-out-ports-on-led-crank-flashlight/438810/5 "2008-02-23T22:09:08Z")
Just a slight bump - I have the same flashlight, and was also wondering about the DC in/out ports. I don’t recall any information on the packaging. Does anyone have a solid answer? (and, thanks to **GreasyJack** for his input). -Wallet- ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-in-and-out-ports-on-led-crank-flashlight/438810/6 "2008-02-23T22:21:51Z")
Did you try and contact Energizer? They’d probably be the best source for accurate information… Be sure and post their reply here if you get one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-in-and-out-ports-on-led-crank-flashlight/438810/7 "2008-02-23T22:34:06Z")
[QUOTE=BrandonR] Did you try and contact Energizer? They’d probably be the best source for accurate information… Be sure and post their reply here if you get one. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Sure, give a reasonable solution… 🙂 Of course you’re right. I just sent an e-mail, and will post any results. Thanks!