Customer Reviews

GE 50995 Fluorescent Closet Light, 12-Inch Battery Operated, Plastic

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This light was awesome and bright . . . for about 15 minutes. Then it got dimmer and dimmer. I checked the charge on my (brand new) batteries and found 3 were needing recharged. After recharging all 8 of them, I put them back in and turned it on--that's when the smoke started coming out. I pulled my (very expensive, rechargeable) batteries out as fast as I could and took it back to Walmart!

(I had planned to leave the light on while I was away from home for a few hours, to see how badly it drained the batteries. Fortunately the problem occurred before I left!!)

I believe there was a short at the switch. It's a shame, because this could have been a useful device. There are very few parts and connections--so it doesn't seem like it would be hard to assemble, unless perhaps they are being put together by children in a factory in China . . .

For those of you who still think you want to buy this item: you have to be very careful when installing the batteries because they are to be installed in two rows of four--the batteries in one row face up and the batteries in the other row face down. There is no separator between the rows and the batteries easily roll around and get in the wrong row when you install them.

The review titled "Don't Last" has an interesting prespective. I agree with what he/she wrote that if left on for extented period. IN MY OPINION, these light are for short term use in a closet just to find something. If used in that manner, the light will last a long time; however, if left on for extended periods, it drains the batteries quickly. I've had one of these lights for many years and I'm VERY happy with the light the way I use it.

I should have paid more attention to the bad reviews on this product--I wrongly figured that the bad reviews were written by crybabies, and that a GE product would be quite acceptable in the right hands. Actually, it's a piece of junk, poorly made, gives very little illumination, takes too many expensive batteries, and worst of all, quit working after two on/off cycles of the cheesy switch. Back she goes to Amazon. I was very happy with their return service, including printable RMA packing slip and prepaid USPS shipping lable!

Purchased this item at walmart not amazon! Same item as others have had issues with. GE brand battery powered fluorescent light.
Mounted mine in the kitchen broom closet with velcro stick tabs several weeks ago! In the middle of the night I heard the sound of an item going to the floor. When I woke this am found the unit broke free from velcro and had turned on also- talk about crash and burn! This unit just about went to flames transformer smells like it is history and part of the plastic shell roasted during my sleep. Think if it were to fall on carpet fire would be sure to start.
This has to be a recall issue for the makers of this product? Others reviews mention the smoke or shorted switch condition. I just hate for anyone to be injured or worse by a malfunction in this item. Stay safe and contact the people who make this item.

The closet in my new apartment doesn't have an overhead light, so I went to Target and bought 2 battery-powered fluorescent lights (not sure what brand/model, but they say Energizer on the side). I stuck them to the wall of my closet, and voila, I could actually see my clothes! They worked so well that I wanted to get another one for the front entryway to my apartment. When I get home after dark, there is no overhead light in the entryway to illuminate the locks on my front door - and I discovered the hard way that it's quite difficult to balance my purse, backpack and lunchbox while simultaneously shining my iPhone at the lock for light and maneuvering the right key into the right lock. Instead of making another trip to Target, I opted for the convenience of Amazon 1-Click and purchased a 12-inch GE 50995 Fluorescent Closet Light, which looked similar to the ones I had already installed in my closet. Huge mistake...

When my new GE Closet Light arrived, I eagerly removed it from the packaging and installed the AA batteries. I hit the power button a couple of times, and it turned on and off. So far, so good. Next, I took it out to the entryway and carefully used the adhesive backs of the Velcro pads to stick it the wall. Then I hit the power button again to make sure that I had positioned it correctly so that the light shined directly on the lock. But the GE 50995 made a couple of small popping noises and the light didn't turn on. Suddenly I noticed a sickly sweet burning smell filling the entryway, and realized that it was coming from the light, which was smoking, so I quickly removed all of the batteries. Later on I tried replacing the batteries, but it was completely broken and never turned again, so I threw it away. Since then I've read several reviews describing the same problem - sounds like one of the parts is defective or poorly manufactured. What an absolute waste of my money!

The batteries will drain if you use for long intervals of course, I just use it to find items quickly in my closet. I bought rechargeable batteries as well which saves alot on cost.

This is exactly what I needed: a battery powered light for my dark closet. I turn it on, find what I'm looking for, then turn it back off. I suppose if you plan on using it as a major light source you're going to need a good supply of batteries, but for me it's been perfect. Nice and bright and easy to use.

...it's a battery eater... Within one week and 8 batteries later..the light sucked all the juice out of the batteries and I only turned it on maybe three times. I put 8 more batteries into the light and at the end of the second week it actually ATE the batteries- they melted. I threw it in the trash.

I purchased one of these at W@l-M@rt several years ago for my kitchen pantry and it burned out the third time I turned it on. I mean, it literally burned out -- smoke and everything! I've had transformers burn out in the past and that's what this smelled like. Unfortunately, I had thrown out the receipt before this happened so I didn't even try to return it. I took a chance a year or so later and bought another one which has been working fine for the last two years.

So, I have a 50% success rate with this light. Great stats for baseball -- not so good for an electrical device. I'm considering replacing it with a battery-operated LED light since I think it would draw less current than the fluorescent light does. I gave this two stars because the second one is still working. If I hadn't tried another one, the first one definitely would have gotten a failing grade.

I bought a couple of these for my closet. I've had them less a month and already have spent well over 20 bucks in batteries. Put in yet another load of fresh batteries this evening, only to find the bulbs are petering out. Blech.