How Does It Work?

‘The Light That Never Goes Out’ is connected to the incoming electricity supply at your fuse board/consumer unit. It uses that supply to maintain a stored electrical charge in case you have a power cut. Simultaneously it also monitors that same incoming electricity supply for a possible failure. When a power blackout occurs, it quickly disconnects your lighting from the failed mains supply and seamlessly connects it to the electricity it had been quietly storing, ensuring that all of your lights will still continue to work, despite your mains blackout.

Is There A Time Delay Between A Mains Blackout and ‘The Light That Never Goes Out’ coming to my rescue?

There is only a delay of less than ten thousandths of a second, which is quicker than the blink of an eye, you might not even know you have had a power cut until you try to switch on some other heavy consumer of electricity, like an electric shower for example. You will not be able to use the electric shower itself, but the lights in the bathroom (and in all other rooms), will still continue to work even though you have a power cut.

How Long Will My Lights Stay On For?

That depends entirely upon how you use your standby energy. A standard system will keep a regular LED type energy saving lamp in a room running for 40 continuous hours. Two rooms for 20 hours, 4 rooms for 10 hours, but the important point is that every single light in your house will continue to work even though you have a power cut. We advise all of our customers who experience a power cut to turn off any lights which are not needed, so as not to waste their stored electricity. And since lights will be turned off while the occupants of a home are sleeping, energy is conserved for use during the following night if necessary.

What Happens When The Mains Power Comes Back?

‘The Light That Never Goes Out’ will sense this and it will reconnect you to the restored mains supply, which it will also use to quickly recharge itself, and then it automatically goes back into standby mode, ready for the next power cut, should another one occur at any time.

I Have A Medical Fridge Which I Need To Keep Running….My Mother Uses A Nebuliser….My Wife Has An Air Mattress…Dad Needs To Use A Stair Lift.

We get many queries like these, and quite simply, if it’s electrical, we can keep it on – let us know your needs and we will put not only your own mind at rest, but also the minds of those for whom you care .

Will This System Keep My Heating Or Radio On? Will I Be Able To Charge My Mobile Phone?

Again, yes, talk to us about further needs than just keeping the lights on. We know that during a storm it is important for everyone to be able to listen to their local radio station for important weather updates and safety information. Similarly, we also know that it is important for people to be able to use their mobile phone to call someone for help if necessary, or just to reassure those who love them that all is okay. We can make this happen.

What Will This Cost Me?

A standard mains voltage installation which will keep all of your lighting circuits working during a power cut, and which is suitable for all homes, is now available at a reduced price of €950 for 2016, and there are no annually recurring charges. This installation allows for a free optional extra such as providing power to a designated power outlet for charging phones, listening to the radio etc. A smaller stand alone system for keeping other electrical loads running such as the circulating pump for a stove or a single piece of low wattage medical equipment for example, costs €450. (For smaller budgets/gift ideas, a portable emergency light with 70 hours standby capacity is just €199.) Contact us with your needs by filling out the query form on the Home Page, or by ringing Ciaran Sherry at Irish Power directly, on 0879 430 460.

 

How Does This New System Compare To Simply Fitting A Standby Generator At My Home?

Firstly, in terms of cost and ease of use, there is no comparable system. Secondly there is no need for any of our customers to be handling potentially dangerous generator engine fuels, and also there is absolutely no necessity to go outside on a stormy night to start a generator. Thirdly, and unlike generator systems, there is neither obtrusive noise nor smoke emissions from our system. And fourthly, ‘The Light That Never Goes Out’ is a truly automatic ‘fit and forget system’ which will never let you down during a power cut. We recommend a service every ten years, – try doing that with a generator!

 

Is There A History Behind The Name ‘The Light That Never Goes Out’, And The Subsequent Development Of The Concept?

Yes there is. Our parent company Irish Power, is headquartered in County Mayo in the West of Ireland, and the folklore there records a story about a Mayo Priest called Fr. Joseph Foy (1841 – 1918), who as legend has recorded it, (see the late, great Jim McGuire’s book of the same name), while walking the journey from Foxford to Ballina, asked his companion for a match to light his pipe, and when none was available, still managed to light it, famously referring to the incident as ‘The Light That Never Goes Out’. The development of the current whole house version of our service was ultimately propelled and inspired by Nuala Lavin from the same town of Foxford, who having bought an automatic portable emergency light from Irish Power in 2013, reported back to us that it “was a bit too heavy to carry around”. Considering that she and her family were caring for a disabled son, we were (happily) shamed into developing this new service, and to whose family we are deeply grateful for their honest feedback to our company.