> Hmm, that is interesting. Will pass that on to my biking colleague
> who is into making LED torches and bike lamps

The latest "Rat It Before You Chuck It" article in Silicon Chip
shows how to make a wind-up LED torch from a microwave
platter motor and an old plug-pack

You turn the motor to get HV AC out, which is passed through
the primary of the plug-pack, and comes out as LV DC, stored
in a couple of big caps to keep the LED going after you stop
turning. The LED has a series trimpot to reduce V across it


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