This Small Radio Has Its Day in the Sun

Dynamo solar AM/FM radio is so compact and versatile that it would come in handy on camping, hiking or fishing trips or in your car or home in case you’re suddenly without electric power. It’s a great device to keep in your emergency or earthquake preparedness kit.

The Dynamo, which measures 6 inches long, 3 1/4 inches high and 1 inch thick, weighs only 10 ounces and has three power sources.

In case you can’t charge it with sun or an ordinary light bulb, you can use two AA batteries or manually wind it with a small crank on the side. Both reception and sound are fine, regardless of the means you use to charge the radio.

For solar charging, expose the solar panel on the radio’s top to the light source for two to three hours. Fully charged with light, the radio will play up to eight hours. If you are using the hand crank, you can get 10 minutes of radio time for every minute you crank. If you want to use batteries, they fit into a small space in the back of the unit.

For a fourth power source, there is a DC adapter plug (for an additional $5.95) that fits into a 3V jack, also in the back of the radio.

The Dynamo ($31.95, including shipping and handling) is available from Berk International, P.O. Box 5294, Garden Grove 92645; (714) 898-8648.

Upgrade for Water Purification System

Brita Water Filter System pitchers, do-it-yourself water systems, aren’t new--they’ve been available for almost two years. But the company has just come out with a new high-tech model called Ultra II, which has beveled edges and is square in design to fit more easily in the refrigerator. It is made of lightweight plastic that won’t shatter or break.

Brita is a two-tiered pitcher system developed in what was West Germany. When you pour tap water in the top reservoir, it is filtered to the bottom through a special filter in the middle. The filter is composed of activated carbon, small beads of ion-exchange resin and a trace of silver to inhibit bacterial growth.

Brita representatives say their system costs under 23 cents a gallon. A Brita replacement filter costs $7 to $8. The filter needs replacing after processing 35 gallons of water, so an average family of four should replace it about once a month.

Brita’s Ultra II (about $25 retail) makes half a gallon of water at a time and is dishwasher safe. It is available nationwide in selected department stores. In Southern California, you can find it at Bullock’s, May Company and Robinson’s. If you can’t find it in your area, call Brita’s toll-free number, (800) 44-BRITA.

Recycle Plastic Bags in Your Own Home

Wasting drawer space in your kitchen cupboards storing recyclable plastic bags? You might want to try DispensaBag, a compact holder that not only stores bags, but dispenses them one by one.

Made of recycled plastic, DispensaBag comes with two screws and can be easily mounted to the inside of cupboard, closet or wall. It holds about 20 bags. You simply stuff them in the top, then pull them out from the bottom one at a time.

DispensaBag ($5.99, plus $3 shipping and handling) is available from IdeaWorks, 74-940 Highway 111, Suite 121, Indian Wells, Calif. 92210.