NiteLite warning - parents of young kids

[NeedSpace]

So this morning I went into my kids room and it smelled of something burning. When I looked around I found this. The plastic zamboni the protects the bulb had come off and his sheets were resting against the bulb. Needless to say, that nitelite is in the trash and we have a brand new LED light in its place. Not worth the risk.

[stomachmonkey]

That'll put a cramp in your sphincter.

Glad you caught it in time.

[john70t]

As a child, I'd put a favorite blanket over the bed lamp to engage in furtive book-reading untill the wee hours.
One morning, I awoke to a 8" hole in it.

Space heaters are another liability.

[aigel]

Man, that's scary. Don't take it for granted that the LED does not create enough heat for issues. I'd definitely install it in a location that is safer, away from combustibles.

On the note of night lights - my kids sleep in the dark. It is important in my book. I know GROWN UPS that are afraid of the dark. I think it starts in childhood ...

G

[NeedSpace]

Originally Posted by aigel

Man, that's scary. Don't take it for granted that the LED does not create enough heat for issues. I'd definitely install it in a location that is safer, away from combustibles.

On the note of night lights - my kids sleep in the dark. It is important in my book. I know GROWN UPS that are afraid of the dark. I think it starts in childhood ...

G

I agree, I had a hardtime weaning myself off of lights at night...The light I bought him is very dim, I am hoping to wean him off pretty soon as well. Thanks for the advice. I'll test the heat of the LED.

[onewhippedpuppy]

We have an LED in my 3 year old's room. Zero heat to the touch, and pretty dim lighting.

[flipper35]

We have a light in the bathroom in the outlet above the counter in case the kids have to shake the dew off in the middle of the night. It is one of those flashy UFO LED lights with different colors.

[NeedSpace]

OK, officially tested, 4 hours later, cool as a cucumber. My light is the same, it changes colors too. My son likes it and bonus, the old one kept blowing bulbs. I suspect the LED will last longer.

[bgyglfr]

Another option. We use this in my kids bathroom.
http://www.legrand.us/passandseymour/gfcis-outlets/tamper-resistant/combination-nightlight/1595ntltrwcc4.aspx#.U2-m5-69LYU

[Tilikum Turbo]

Is a night-lite really conducive to sleeping well(since the eyes pick-up the stray light thru the eyelids)?

At least from my perspective, I can't sleep at all with even a tiny led anywhere in the room and prefer total darkness. The only light I want to see is the crack of dawn.

[NeedSpace]

Funny, you mention that, when I was younger I wanted light, then out of nowhere, maybe around 12 years old, I needed it to be pitchblack. Any light was a problem. I even got rid of my digital clock for an analog clock with no light.

This became a big problem when I worked the graveyard shift as a garbage man. I hung thick blankets over my windows and doors.

Now, it isn't as much of a problem, but I agree, those little green/red/yellow led lights that everythign needs these days is a bit of a nuisance. I can walk all the way to my bedroom up 3 flights of stairs without having to turn on a light!

[mrybczyn]

There's 120 volts AC at potentially up to 20 amps going into that piece of plastic, with circuits composed of aluminum-coated-sawdust, and the dregs at the bottom of the electronics manufacturers discard bins, assembled by underage labour in Inner Mongolia by the cheapest sub bidder of the cheapest ODM in Shenzen, found via a web search by some schmuck in the big box store supply chain basement in New Jersey.

None of these people knew what they were doing, or would be liable in the case of some horrible accident, so they don't care.

The LED might not draw much power under normal conditions, but it could fail, and then close the circuit, creating a short for a while, long enough to burn...

I don't put such plastic "electronics" in my home, especially plugged into high power lines next to my children...