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While the flashlight is of a very straightforward design, it is a comparatively new device. It came into use after the incandescent light bulb and the dry cell was invented.

The name 'flashlight' has a amusing story. In the days of the first dry cells, the power of a battery was particularly limited. To keep the dry cell from discharging swiftly, the flashlight was operated quickly and just enough to check out the environments, consequently the name 'flashlight'.

There are many types of flashlight offered in the market today. Like dry cell flashlights, rechargeable acid flashlights, rechargeable dry cell, LED (Light Emitting Diode), solar charging, electromagnet, head lamp, underwater, rifle or gun light and so on.

The dry cell flashlight is the simplest devise and in use in most households and consists of dry cells to power the electric bulb. As the batteries discharge the light dims in these flashlights.

Instead of purchasing a flashlight with batteries that need to be replaced often, it's a good idea is to use rechargeable batteries, which can be lead acid type or dry cell type. Some have solar panels for recharging during daytime. Electromagnet type use a clockwork arrangement or a knob. In the clockwork arrangement a spring mechanism is used to charge the flashlight and needs to be wound often. The knob type arrangement has a coil or magnet, which moves when the knob is pressed and charges a capacitor, which supplies power to the bulb.

LED type flashlights are of a modern design. While LED's have been in use for decades, the LED flashlight was not offered till late 90s since the LED's couldn't be used constantly and their brightness was meager. Today's LED flashlights use very little power compared to the usual electric bulb, as LED's do not generate as much heat as electric bulb. LED flashlights usually have a metal body to disperse heat as LED's do not dissipate heat through the light beam like electric bulbs.

A headlamp has a flashlight on a helmet or strap that fits over the head so that the hands are available. Underwater type is a special flashlight, which is used for illuminating underwater objects and is waterproof. Rifle or gun lights are special flashlights designed to illuminate a target.

Flashlights range from quite cheap to quite costly and are offered in plenty of designs. The price ranges from a few dollars to a couple of hundred dollars.

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