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Make Fire With Headlights https://survivaltek.com/?p=3546 https://survivaltek.com/?p=3546#comments Sat, 04 May 2013 14:14:33 +0000 https://survivaltek.com/?p=3546

Reflective Solar Fire Method

One of the fun things that I enjoy is finding useful trash that can be used to improvise solutions in an emergency situation. It’s amazing what you can find along a roadside. It’s not unusual to find broken car parts resulting from automobile accidents. One of the elements of this trash that I have used to make fire has been broken headlights by using their optical properties of concave reflection or convex refraction.

The mirrored surface of a headlight reflector is described as “concave” in shape, similar to the interior surface of a rounded cup. It reflects light from a light-bulb that is mounted inside it and shines outward. Some of the newer headlights use a “convex” lens that transmits light through it. It is fashioned from a solid material such as glass or plastic that focuses the light from a light-bulb outward as well.

Refractive Solar Fire Method

In each case we reverse the process of light reflection and refraction to gather light from the sun into a single focal point in order to create an ember from tinder that we strategically place where the light-bulb was originally mounted. Simply point the reflector or lens toward the sun and minimizing the “hot spot” onto the tinder.
In both cases it’s good to know that automobile headlights can be used to start a fire in an emergency situation when you have sunlight by using either the reflective or refractive nature of it’s parts. Next time you pass a roadside, keep a look-out for these usable part and try it out for yourself!

]]> https://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=3546 0 Emergency Battery Boost https://survivaltek.com/?p=1626 https://survivaltek.com/?p=1626#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:10:08 +0000 https://survivaltek.com/?p=1626 Almost every driver has experienced getting into their car to take off, and when they turn the key to start the ignition… nothing!… a dead battery. Sometimes, this is just inconvenient, and the situation can wait until the motor club can come and get you started, or, you can hook up a battery charger and wait until it has a sufficient charge. But other times, circumstances demand immediate action for departure.

Yesterday, I watched as a truck pulled up in front of a car that had a raised hood. Two men set about attaching booster/jumper cables to the batteries of each vehicle. One person sat in the truck and reved up the engine while the other person sat in the car, waiting briefly to let the car battery charge up a little before attempting to start the car. However, there was only a clicking sound, but no action. I had stepped up to the scene at this point and examined the corroded contacts. I mentioned that about 80% (or more) of battery problems stem from dirty contacts. As time was urgent, and there were no convenient tools, I suggested another approach. Because I had heard clicking, I knew that starting the car wasn’t too far from happening. At first I suggested that the clamps be placed right on the battery terminal instead of just the clamp around it. Having done that, there was no difference in results. Then I suggested that we get a second set of cables to increase the amount of electricity transferred from the truck. If both sets of cables don’t fit on the terminals, you can attach the first clamp on the terminal and the second clamp upon the first clamp. That was the trick. The car started and the driver was on his way, able to get professional attention to his battery situation.

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