My toddler dropped Fenix E05 into heater

joelbnyc

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Not sure where to post this, seems a bit too ridiculous for the general flashllight discussion and not quite right for the battery section.

My 2 y/o loves my lights and dropped a Fenix E05 SS, turned on, into this wall-steam radiator. Luckily it's summer, but is this a safety issue?

I can't retrieve it without calling an HVAC person, as it would require taking the unit apart. I removed the grill and no luck.

I take it the eneloop 1xAAA NiMH will drain until the light shuts off, but if I leave it in there and the heat goes on next winter, is this a fire/explosion hazard?
6d907140a2e731e9277a2d23ccad86b3.jpg
 

joelbnyc

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Telescoping magnet [emoji106]
Thanks hadnt thought of that, ;) I'll order one.

I'm not sure a straight rod will reach, because the vent hole arcs into the wall.

I'll try to gerrry-rig it on a string.

First world problems I guess.
 
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orbital

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+

Unless you get a special magnet, from like Chernobyl, I doubt it'll pick Aluminum.

MacGyver something w/ super sticky double sided tape maybe, needle nose pliers & a stick of gum*





* kidding on the gum:huh:
 

Tejasandre

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If the magnet is strong enough it should grab the battery through the aluminum. Magnet on a string to get it in front of the grate. Needle nose plier to fish it out.
 

Crazyeddiethefirst

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There are flexible "claw" devices sold at most auto parts stores for less than $10. The flexible shaft gets close to the light, open claw, advance, close claw.pull the light out. You can buy a flexible camera to guid you if needed(less than $20 from China, Harbor Freight sells them too, more expensive though). Or, call and ask an HVAC tech-if they say it is not a hazard, buy a new Fenix....perhaps with a chain on it....[emoji3]
 

joelbnyc

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Its the Stainless Steel Fenix E05, so a magnet should pick it up. I ordered this from Amazon, it picks up my Thrunite Ti SS just fine, but its too big (and straight) to fit down the arching vent: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RB3XBA/

On the upside, its a nice tool for $5, and my toddler is currently enjoying using it to pick up screws.

Thinking I'll just look for a similar strong magnet that I can tie a string or fishing line, something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DKLK62/?tag=cpf0b6-20
 
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noboneshotdog

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I'm a plumbing hvac tech and I don't see any way that I would be able to fix it beside the aforementioned suggestions.
 

vadimax

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I am sorry, but why don't you use a sucking power of a vacuum cleaner? Take off the nozzle, run it full power. If the heater channel is narrow enough you will find your light in the garbage of the vacuum cleaner :)
 

Lynx_Arc

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You could try using a piece of house wire tied to a magnet that way you can bend it to navigate around obstacles. A vacuum cleaner may work if you used a smaller diameter flexible hose attached to it. Beware you may need to leave a small hole where the smaller hose attaches so as to not put a huge strain on the motor if left running a long time.
 

joelbnyc

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Hehe @ magnet heater.

Yeah so I took the magnet off the telescoping magnet thing, drilled a hole through the piece of alum rod left, and put some line through, but yes, the magnet just stuck to the heater, couldn't drop it down the vent.

Tried a broken off clothes hanger wire, just got stuck.

I definitely used some other flashlights to try to remove the lost flashlight. No luck tho. I'll try a vacuum but the thing isn't reallyt airtight, I can see part of the missing light through the seems.
 

Lynx_Arc

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Hehe @ magnet heater.

Yeah so I took the magnet off the telescoping magnet thing, drilled a hole through the piece of alum rod left, and put some line through, but yes, the magnet just stuck to the heater, couldn't drop it down the vent.

Tried a broken off clothes hanger wire, just got stuck.

I definitely used some other flashlights to try to remove the lost flashlight. No luck tho. I'll try a vacuum but the thing isn't reallyt airtight, I can see part of the missing light through the seems.
If it isn't airtight you may need to find a hose a little larger than the light itself and hopefully suck the light into it with a vacuum enough to get it out of there. One other alternative which could possibly work is stick a magnet inside a hose with a string on it so you can lower it to the light and use the hose to keep it from sticking to the radiator.
 
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If it isn't airtight you may need to find a hose a little larger than the light itself and hopefully suck the light into it with a vacuum enough to get it out of there. One other alternative which could possibly work is stick a magnet inside a hose with a string on it so you can lower it to the light and use the hose to keep it from sticking to the radiator.
That is a brilliant idea! :twothumbs

Man! I wish I'd have thought of it. Forget the string, though. Just use a long enough piece of hose to reach the light. It should be easier to maneuver.

~ Chance
 
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