[blparent] Light Probe.

[Judy Jones]

This is a piece of equipment I wouldn’t do without.

They are $20, and can be obtained at NFB’s Independence Market.

It’s a small device with 2 triple A batteries, and a sensor covered by a rubber “nipple” with a small hole in one end.  I have had one of these in the house for years.  I actually cut a slightly larger hole in the top of the nipple to let in more light.  Once that was done, I could stand at the top of the stairs and tell when our older daughter had her tv on late at night hahahahaha.

The device has a button in the back you push to emit a tone.  The higher the pitch, the brighter the light.

It’s interesting that daylight and candles have a solid tone, while artificial electric light has kind of a gurgly tone.  TVs and computer screens have even more of a gurgly tone.

We have laser Christmas lights, and it can pick up some of the light dots.  I can also tell the difference between the red and green, because red is at a lower wave length than green.

I have used this for countless tasks over the years, but the thing that inspired me to write is that this afternoon I was able to program a garage door opener using it.  I scanned the directions with OpenBook, and the directions say you have to press and hold the program button until the display lights up.  Then you press the learn button on the motor, then press the button you want to use on the opener, and press again once display stops flashing.  Couldn’t have done it without the light probe.

What it is meant for is office use to tell when phone lines are lit or blinking, and I have a probe at the office, too.  I use it to test lighted magnifiers to make sure they are working as well.

If you all don’t have one, it would be a good Christmas present for yourself.

Another great item is the Independence Market battery tester.  I have one at home and at work.

Enjoy.

Judy