The Miner Helmet lamp: a hands-free head torch from a light bulb and a battery

On ZA-Z the Miner Helmet can carry a working lamp. A Light Bulb and a Screwdriver make a Helmet Lamp, the lamp clips into the helmet, and with a Battery in it you tap F to light the way. It shines as far and as bright as a Flashlight - Heavy Duty, uses its battery at the same rate, points wherever you face or aim, and leaves both hands free for a weapon, a tool or a second light. It comes with ZA-Z's Essentials, so there is nothing to install.

#What do I need?

The bulb and the screwdriver can be anywhere in your inventory, including a bag you carry. Light bulbs turn up in houses, garages and hardware stores, and the Miner Helmet is a normal find.

#How do I fit a light bulb to the Miner Helmet?

The quickest way is from the helmet itself.

1. Carry a Light Bulb and a Screwdriver.
2. Right-click the Miner Helmet in your inventory. It can be on your head or in a bag.
3. Pick Fit Light Bulb.

What happens next, in order: if the helmet is in a bag you put it on, your character works the bulb into a lamp with the screwdriver (a few seconds), and the new Helmet Lamp clips into the helmet by itself. While you wear the helmet a Helmet Lamp slot, showing the helmet's picture, sits on your hotbar, and the lamp goes in it.

The lamp starts with no battery, so it stays dark until you add one (next section).

#The other way: the crafting menu

You can also make the lamp first and fit it later, handy if you want a spare.

1. Open the crafting menu and find Make Helmet Lamp under Electrical (Light Bulb + Screwdriver, no skill needed).
2. Put the Miner Helmet on.
3. Fit the lamp in any one of these ways:
   • right-click the helmet and pick Fit Helmet Lamp;
   • drag the lamp onto the Helmet Lamp slot on your hotbar;
   • right-click the lamp and attach it to the Helmet Lamp slot.

#How do I put a battery in?

Right-click the Helmet Lamp and pick Insert Battery, exactly as with a flashlight. You need a Battery that still has charge.

• Insert Battery only shows while the lamp is empty. To swap a flat battery, pick Remove Battery first (you get the old battery back), then Insert Battery with a fresh one.
• Hover over the lamp in your inventory to see how much charge is left.
• If the battery options do not show while the lamp is on the helmet, take the lamp off (see below), change the battery, and fit it again.

#How do I switch it on and off?

Tap F. The F key switches the first light it finds: a light in your hands comes first, then the Helmet Lamp.

• Holding a weapon, a tool or nothing: F switches the Helmet Lamp.
• Holding a flashlight, a lighter or another light: F switches that one instead. Put it away, then tap F.
• Driving: F works the car's headlights, as always. Switch the lamp before you get in, or after you get out.
• Holding F down (instead of tapping it) opens the light menu, which only lists lights for your hands.

You hear the usual flashlight click, and other survivors see your beam the same as one held in a hand.

#How long does the battery last?

The same as a Flashlight - Heavy Duty on the same battery, and it only drains while the lamp is lit. Switch it off in daylight or in a lit room and one battery goes a long way. At zero the lamp goes dark but stays fitted; swap the battery as above.

#What happens if I take the helmet off, drop it or die?

• Taking the helmet off removes its hotbar slot. The lamp drops into your inventory, switches itself off and keeps its battery charge. Put the helmet back on, right-click it and pick Fit Helmet Lamp.
• Dropping the helmet takes it off first, so the lamp stays in your inventory, not on the floor.
• Dropping or storing the lamp switches it off. The lamp only shines on the helmet or in your hands.
• Dying: the helmet and the lamp stay with your body like everything else you carried, switched off.

#How do I take the lamp off and get my bulb back?

1. Take the lamp off the helmet: right-click the helmet and pick Remove Helmet Lamp. The lamp goes into your inventory.
2. Get the bulb back: with a Screwdriver, use Take Bulb out of Helmet Lamp (crafting menu, Electrical). You get the Light Bulb back, and if the battery still had charge you get that Battery back too.

#Can I use the hotbar key for the lamp?

Yes. The Helmet Lamp slot has a number on your hotbar like a belt slot. Pressing it takes the lamp into your hand (a light switches on as it comes into your hand); pressing it again puts it back on the helmet, and a lit lamp stays lit. In your hand it looks like a light bulb, which is normal.

#Why won't my helmet lamp work?

#Does it work with other helmets?

No. Only the Miner Helmet has the lamp housing, so only it gets the Helmet Lamp slot. For other hands-free light, a flashlight can hang lit on your belt: see flashlights on the belt, and for the dark itself, getting the power back.