Thanks for the comments, everyone.
Arno, you have a Dutch sounding name; are you in NL?
I expected these lights not to be very good, with the LED barely glowing at best after 30+ seconds, which I think will be the case. But, since they seem so easy/simple to make (few components, all of which I have) I'll give it a try & keep you informed. The voice-coil from speakers is a good idea, will see what I can find. I wasn't planning to wind such a coil myself. Too many windings of very thin wire.
BTW, just today I got my other wire (1.3mm+insulation) for my 'bike generator'. Coil winder is ready, so I know how I'll spend this weekend :-( The only thing I hate about building generators is making the coils. Not difficult, just boring.
The shape of the cow magnets reminds me of something else, and the story that this doctor on TV told yesterday about the sound of a vibrator he heard from someones belly. Apparently, it got stuck (in rear reverse ?? :-) ). Shape also reminds me of suppositories and stories of my brother (pharmacist) about them :-| Dirty mind, trying to turn it of, but doesn't work. And anytime I see a UPS car or man, I wonder whether that UPS-girl with the solar-panels works in my area... Know who I mean ?
Anyway,
had heard about the cow magnets but still made me laugh. Whoever thought of this application for magnets must have a sick mind too.
Nando, thanks for the information! Seems you've got quite some experience with one of those. Very to the point, thanks. Anyone ever try to reverse engineer (read: dismantle) one of those shake lights?
We used to own one of those 'squeeze lights' too (until the bulb went out & replacement couldn't be found). If I find one again, I'll modify it to LED & supercad. BTW, over here those squeeze lights are called 'knijpkat' (lit. 'pinch cat'). This has some innuendo, since the proverb 'hij knijpt de katjes in het donker' (lit. he squeezes the little cats in the dark') means something like 'he gets his nookie in the dark'. All this innuendo for such an innocent squeeze light....
BTW, I always got my skin stuck under the squeeze handle; hurt a lot and it happened often. Never liked those lamps. Prefer my Surefires (2 on my body, plus 2 photons; paranoid or what ? )...
That's why I'd like to give the shake light a try; sounds simple, have all the parts, plus it has a huge gadgety attractiveness (and buying them is out of the question; ridiculous prices, 57 E (70$) or around...
Thanks for all the replies so far.
Peter,
The Netherlands.