Commercial Fake Candles and Flame Tips

Artificial candles provide the look and mood of real candles but since they use no actual flame, they are safer (can't burn children; pets can't start a fire knocking them over) and cannot be blown out by the wind.

There is both art and science behind making flickering lights. This page lists some commercial fake candles and flame tips to make faux candles.

Please read our disclaimers as to the timeliness and origin of this information.

Candle Lite Unlimited
SRK Consulting
NorexBuyDirect.Com
Lighting Technology (lighting-tech.com)
Tony Bechtel (flickertip@juno.com)
Nightmare Factory
Copy Candle
bettyschristmashouse.com
Ghost Ride Productions
The Electric Candle Company
Plow And Hearth
Frontgate
Department 56
Velleman
vizear.com

Candle Lite Unlimited

Candle Lite Unlimited sells an artificial candle designed by David Johnson. It has three lamps in a clear plastic "flame", driven by digital logic: the bottom one flashing slowly; the middle one faster; and the top one fastest.

I don't know of a web site for Candle Lite Unlimited itself, but their products can be had from "http://www.citytheatrical.com/ga_1_info.htm". Price is $40-$69, depending on options.

SRK Consulting

SRK Consulting sells complete electronic candles for $30. $25 for a "flame" and circuit, or $12 for just the "flame". The "flame" is made up of three bright incandescent lamps embedded in a flame-shaped blob of silicone rubber, tinted yellow/orange. [The pictures on his web site look a bit too orange for my taste.] A newer version uses high-intensity LEDs. The whole thing runs on a 9-Volt battery.

Web site: "http://www.srkconsulting.com/candles.html".

NorexBuyDirect.Com

This outfit sells two different kinds of electronic candles. They all seem to use LEDs for the light source.

Votive lights (SmartLiteTM) run on internal NiCd batteries. They run 30 hours per charge. Their smallest kit is $31, which includes one candle and charger. They are geared up to sell larger sets with lots of electronic votives, presumably to churches.

Tall taper candles (CandlitesTM) burn for 30 hours on 2 AAA batteries. They cost $18-$38, depending on length. The candle bodies come in colors, too.

Web site: "http://www.norexbuydirect.com".

Lighting Technology (lighting-tech.com)

The data sheet on this web site depicts numerous interesting electronic candles, installed in various holders. They even show an old-fashioned kerosene lantern.

I couldn't find any pricing information.

Web site: "http://www.lighting-tech.com/datashee/Candles.pdf".

Tony Bechtel (flickertip@juno.com)

Tony Bechtel makes artificial candle flames with hand-molded light tips. He describes the circuitry as a "simple 555 chip design." They come in three different flicker rates, so that when used in groups, you won't see the patterns echoing each other or strobing together.

The basic unit is a simple flame tip with circuitry. It runs on 9-14VDC, and will run for 2 hours on a single 9V battery. Cost is $25.

A complete artificial candle runs $39.

Nightmare Factory

http://www.nightmarefactory.com/effects.html #IA119 - $60
Electric flicker candle. Realistic non-flame candles, complete with dripped wax.
http://www.nightmarefactory.com/effects.html #IA122 - $9
Described as:
```
BATTERY OPERATED CANDLES
Set of 2, white 9" high candles.
Uses AA size batteries (not included)
```
Doesn't seem to promise flicker.

Copy Candle

I saw some of these in a store (either Wal-Mart or Target) in autumn 2003. They looked like large "pillar" candles, some plain and others decorated with printed designs.

This advertisement is from the box of another product, made by the same folks.

bettyschristmashouse.com

http://www.bettyschristmashouse.com has a number of decorative Christmas candle lights. In July of 2004, I noticed that they carry flickering fake candles.

[photo] The web site describes them as follows:

White, Red, and Green
Battery Operated Candles
LED Flicker bulb
6 inches high and 3 inches wide
Uses two AA batteries
List Price $9.95, Your Price $7.95

Ghost Ride Productions

Ghost Ride Productions...

Ghost Ride Productions offers real wax candles with a battery-powered flickering flame.
Runs on two 'AA' batteries for 10 to 14 hours. The incandescent flicker bulb is "replaceable". Two settings control flicker effect brightness and speed. Several pillar candle sizes are offered. $25 [August 2004]

Also available are candles with 6" wire leads to allow use of a constant power source. Candles require 3VDC 160 milliamp power. $25 [August 2004]
Ghost Ride also offers an adaptor (3VDC 2A) that can power up to 16 candles.
FLICKERING CANDLE Battery or transformer flickering candle effect with "wind effect" control.
- Product Code: FC
- They claim "Very realistic."
- $25.75 [4/2005]
SKULL CANDLE Custom flickering candle. Highly detailed with durable rigid foam and mounting block included.
- Product Code: SC
- low voltage or 110vac available
- $45 [4/2005]

The Electric Candle Company

The Electric Candle Company (http://www.electric-candle.com) offers an electric "flame" that moves. They call it "Feeling's Flame®" electric candle.

[photo] The basic unit is a "pendulum flame" in a plastic sleeve that resembles a candle. $25 [August 2004] It runs on 110VAC and has a screw-in lamp base, candelabra-size.

No flashing or electronic flickering is involved. The entire flame lamp stays lit all the time, but it randomly moves. The following specifications are provided:


Length of Pendulum Flame 45 millimeters 
Diameter of Pendulum Flame 13 millimeters 
Length of Included Candle Cover 150 millimeters 
Diameter of Included Candle Cover 21 millimeters 
Storage Temperature -58° to 194° Fahrenheit  
Life Expectancy Of Bulb 2,000 to 3,000 continuous hours 
Energy Used 3 watts 
Light Produced Per Bulb Equivalent to one (1) candle

[photo] They also sell wax sleeves that slip over the basic mechanism and make it look more like a candle. The more fancy wax sleeves feature wax drippings.

Plow And Hearth

Plow & Hearth Halloween Candle #61559 - Price $12.95 [9/2004]
- Artificial "Halloween Candle" illuminated with LEDs.
- Automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
- Three settings: off, flicker, and on.
- Runs on two C cells.
- Comes with fake webbing and spiders.
Plow & Hearth Triple Halloween Candle #61560 - Price $19.95 [9/2004]
- Artificial "Halloween Candles" illuminated with LEDs.
- Automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
- Three settings: off, flicker, and on.
- Runs on three D cells.
- Comes with fake webbing and spiders.

Frontgate

Frontgate Set of Three LED Votive Candles #23051 - Price $29.00 [10/2004]
[photo]

The web site says:
Now you can enjoy the charm of flickering candles, with none of the worry. These LED Votive Candles flicker like real flames, but without the wax, smoke, or heat.

Bulbs don’t generate heat, so they won’t burn or blow out
Innovative charger lets you charge all three candles at once
Each charge provides 40-50 hours of illumination
Can be manually turned on or off with a button on the bottom
Perfect for lighting jack-o-lanterns or windowsills.

Department 56

The following artificial candles are manufactured by http://www.department56.com

Safe-T Lite
- Item #: 56.47212
- Size: 1" - Standard tealight size
- US Retail: $5.00
- CAD Retail: $6.50
- Uses 3 watch batteries (comes with 1 set already installed plus a spare set.)
- Introduced December, 2004
Sources:

Solutions #67953 Safe TeaLight $6.00 [9/2004]

Christmases Past #34698 Battery-Operated Tealight Candle $6.50 [9/2004]
Safe-T Lite Votive Candle
- Item #: 56.47218
- Size: 2"
- US Retail: $9.50
- CAD Retail: $12.00
- Introduced May, 2005
```
 
```
Safe-T Lite Tall Votive Candle
- Item #: 56.47217
- Size: 3.75"
- US Retail: $10.50
- CAD Retail: $13.00
- Introduced May, 2005
```
 
```
Blow Out Safe-T Tealite Candle
- Item #: 56.26586
- Size: 1.5 x 2"
- US Retail: $7.50
- CAD Retail: $9.50
- Introduced May, 2004
```
 
```
Blow Out Safe-T Candle
- Item #: 56.26582
- Size: 1.75 x 3.25"
- US Retail: $8.50
- CAD Retail: $10.50
- Introduced May, 2004
```
 
```
Rechargeable Votive Set (silver-colored 2-position charger, with 2 candles)
- Item #: 56.26596
- Size: 2"
- US Retail: $60.00
- CAD Retail: $75.00
- Introduced December, 2004
```
 
```
Rechargeable Votive Set (gold-colored 4-position charger, with 4 candles)
- Item #: 56.26597
- Size: 2"
- US Retail: $89.00
- CAD Retail: $110.00
- Introduced December, 2004
Rechargeable Votive Candle (silver-colored 2-position charger, with 1 candle)
- Item #: 56.26598
- Size: 2"
- US Retail: $15.00
- CAD Retail: $19.00
- Introduced December, 2004

Velleman

Electronic kit manufacturer Velleman offers a votive-size "minikit" electronic candle
[photo]

Item #: MK167
3 operating modes: realistically flickering flame, steady flame, fade in - fade out
fits standard 38mm votive cup
5h turn-off timer saves batteries
high-intensity yellow LED
power supply: 1x CR2032 3V battery (not incl.)
current consumption: 4mA max
dimensions: 38x25mm

vizear.com

http://www.vizear.com/ offers the SafeFlame electronic candle
[photo]

fully assembled and working device, meant to be built into a prop
circuit board size = 2.5" x 1.0"
powered by 9V battery
supports switch for wild flicker before being blown out
$34.95ea + S/H [4/2005]

Thank you for visiting. Your comments are welcome.
. . . . . .

Solutions	#67953	Safe TeaLight	$6.00 [9/2004]
Christmases Past	#34698	Battery-Operated Tealight Candle	$6.50 [9/2004]