Does anyone know a good LED pocket flashlight with decent brightness
t_gib...@yahoo.com
- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)
- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
- Lasts longer than 2 hours
- Reliable switch
- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.
Thanks in advance -
DaveT
Google 'Fenix leds' if they are available in your area. Their 2-AA Cree
LED puts a 4 cell Maglight to shame on full power. For a basic Led have a
look at the single AA Gerber Ultra, still has battery saving electronics
in it (makes batteries last longer).
--
Dave
Please note, many will not see your posts if you are posting from Google.
They are automatically Blocked!
GregS
I was recommending the standard Dorcy LED lamp sold at Sears and Walmart for $20.
The beam is not real tight, but its a great lamp, maybe too fat, but fits
in pocket just fine. They also have a longer slim focusable light. I have not used that one.
The AAA $20 Dorcy lights bright for about 3 hours, but will continue to light for a couple days
getting dimmer. Its also a nice warm white. The switch is good. On the new one I just bought
I fiddled with the end caps to get a good contact. With most of my flashlights I always try lubing the parts,
batteries and contact whenever I can get to them. I like CRC 2-26.
greg
JoeSpareBedroom
news:80ef0006-93de-4714...@b1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
Surefire makes probably the best flashlights you'll ever find, especially
for illuminating things at great distances. I have one of these and despite
its small size, it VERY thoroughly illuminates things 200 feet away.
http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/878/sesent/00
The company also makes a series of LED lights, but I haven't tried them.
http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/max_segment_listing/disp/strfnbr/6/sesent/00
As far as batteries, the company sells boxes of lithium batteries at a great
price. I wouldn't base my decision on how easy it is to find batteries.
Order a bunch when you buy the flashlight. They have a 10 year shelf life.
GregS
it seems impossible to get a view of my flashlight. Its the one with the switch on the rear. It
seems Dorcy has so many versions, but it should be at the store.
greg
HeyBub
I got a couple of these upon recommendation from glenn reynolds at
instapundit.com.
I haven't tried its longevity, but it seems to put out a substantial light.
brads...@prontomail.com
Look up "Fenix L1T" if you want 1AA, or "Fenix E01" if you prefer
1AAA. I use both on a daily basis, and have not had any issues. You
can keep the Fenix L1T on a high mode - very bright - for at least a
couple hours, but you can also switch it at any time to a low mode and
it'll last at least 12 hours. Very tough little performer.
BTW I've also tried Inova and Coast, but I like Fenix best.
brads...@prontomail.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
I haven't seen Fenix sold anywhere in stores... I've always had to
order them online - there are multiple sources, the most popular site
being the Felix Store. I have the Gerber Ultra also.
GregS
I have had two similar priced units of different colors. They are junk, and will flicker
after a while driving you nuts, until you throw it away.
greg
GregS
I was looking at some reviews of Dorcy's. The old one I had I thought had a power
supply built in, but one review of that model says its direct drive. My new Dorcy
is definately different. The top gets warm unlike the first after a few minuites.
Perhaps better heat sinking and perhaps a converter ??!!
greg
jakdedert
The little Dorcy I carry on my keychain is plenty bright (uses a DC/DC
converter to keep the voltage up) and uses one AAA which I last replaced
sometime last October. Stated runtime is six hours. I don't use it
much; but it would be fine for the OP's stated purpose, and cost only
about $7. It's aluminum and quite sturdy. For pocket use, one might
select a unit that is a bit more streamlined....
Dorcy has an extensive line for a company I never heard of five years ago.
The one I have:
<http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx?p=414224>
Their entire line:
<http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx>
jak
GregS
I have heard about them for ages. They had many cheap
flashlights over the years. I have some Dorcy batteries.
greg
brads...@prontomail.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
Dorcy has been around 35 yrs:
http://www.rickenbacker.org/realestate/success.asp
Dorcy Shines at Rickenbacker
"The leader in quality flashlight products," Dorcy International is
the nation's fastest growing flashlight company. For 35 years, the
company has been manufacturing and distributing a wide-range of
lighting products, including lanterns, spotlights, head lamp lanterns
and a multitude of flashlights, from aluminum to rubber, and all-
purpose to waterproof.
Over the past seven years, Dorcy has continually increased its sales
and market share in the United States, while expanding its staff and
warehousing and assembly/manufacturing space at Rickenbacker
International Airport. The company imports much of its materials and
merchandise, and benefits greatly by being located in Foreign-Trade
Zone (FTZ) No.138 at Rickenbacker.
In fact, Dorcy attributes much of its success to its location in FTZ
138. Like many other companies at Rickenbacker, Dorcy is able to
defer, reduce and at times even eliminate duties on overseas cargo,
efforts which have enabled the company to enjoy double-digit sales
growth over the past several years.
"Because our product line comes in with high import duty, we chose the
location at Rickenbacker so we could be included in the Foreign-Trade
Zone," said Ted Davis, President of Dorcy. "We have realized the
benefits we thought we would in terms of duty deferral and the
expansion of our export business".
Dorcy has not only increased its sales growth at Rickenbacker, but the
company has also increased its space at the airport. According to
Davis, Dorcy has more than doubled its size since relocating to
Rickenbacker, including expanding its current facility with a
warehouse addition and its usage of an outside storage area in the
zone.
"The three reasons we came to Rickenbacker were tax savings, duty
deferral and export expansion, and we have been able to achieve all
three,” Davis said.
At its Rickenbacker location, Dorcy receives assembled flashlights
that have been shipped from China to the West Coast. In Columbus,
Dorcy packages the flashlights with batteries and ships them to such
customers as Sears, K-Mart and Wal-Mart.
The FTZ location has proven to be quite a money-saving asset for
Dorcy. Prior to its move from Downtown Columbus, Dorcy had to pay 12.5
percent duty on flashlight parts as soon as they arrived from the West
Coast. Now, the company is able to postpone the duty payments until
the flashlights arrive at Rickenbacker and are packaged and shipped.
Therefore, payments are deferred as long as it takes to move the
goods, which can take up to 90 days or longer.
Another business boost that Dorcy has experienced since relocating to
Rickenbacker is the ability to re-export goods from an FTZ, which
means it pays no duty on the merchandise. Dorcy's exports to
Argentina, Canada, and the United Kingdom make up 15 percent of
company sales.
According to Davis, Dorcy's future at Rickenbacker will include a
focus on continued growth of sales and market share in the United
States. The company also anticipates further development of its export
business.
"Rickenbacker has been a very fruitful location for our business. We
have achieved everything we had hoped to achieve by moving here,"
Davis said. "We also have virtually no personnel turnover at this
location, and that is in part because Dorcy associates find our
facility at Rickenbacker to be a very convenient and pleasant place to
work. We are looking forward to a continued expansion of our business
and success here at Rickenbacker.”
KLS
wrote:
Just like Glenn Reynolds, but no one has thrown him away yet.
N8N
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=175576
the Lowe's 3W 2C cell flashlight is the best I've ever owned, period.
And it's about $30. Kicks butt over my old 3D cell LED Mag-Lite.
Painfully bright - do not look into it!
nate
y_p_w
I use a Petzl Tikka in my hand. I occasionally use it on my head.
It's rated for up to 130 hours on AAA alkalines, but the manufacturer
says that rechargeable AAAs are acceptable. It's not going to be
terribly bright with maybe 1/3 of runtime left, but with rechargeables
you can charge it up before you need it. The brightness is
considerably higher with freshly charged batteries. It's not
ridiculously bright, but perfectly fine for getting around the house
without turning every light on or making myself noticeable on a late
night walk.
Another option would be an LED bicycle headlamp. Cateye pretty much
sets the standard for quality, although there might be other brands
that could serve you well. Some of the less bright ones are under
$30, and sometimes you can find ones for $12-20 on sale. Most of the
ones I see advertise anywhere from 30 to 240 hour runtimes depending
on settings. Some come with velcro straps which you could slip a
finger or two through.
JoeSpareBedroom
news:531d699f-66c0-4cc6...@x1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
He said "bright enough to read house numbers", which I suspect means from
maybe the street. Will those Petzl lights do that?
HeyBub
The on-off switch is a push-button. Are you sure you're not trying to turn
it?
SMS
Fenix L2DCE is your best choice, but it's very hard to get, and it's
expensive. See
"http://www.eliteled.com/products/flashlights/fenix-l2d-ce.html"
RayOVac SELUX2AA3W-B Sportsman Xtreme 2AA 3 Watt Luxeon LED Flashlight
$25 at Wal-Mart.
Stormin Mormon
with the Nite Ize conversion. Might not be good for house numbers, but you
can always keep a 3D or 4D Mag Light in the car with you.
My mini mag, I got the Opalec conversion when they first came out. 3 LED,
and not very bright. Later got the Teralux conversion. Turns out the new
Nite Ize ($4.97 Walmart) is about as bright as my $30 Teralux. I think the
run time is six hours, on alkaline AA cells.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
<t_gib...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:80ef0006-93de-4714...@b1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
Barney
<t_gib...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:80ef0006-93de-4714...@b1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
(PeteCresswell)
>the Lowe's 3W 2C cell flashlight is the best I've ever owned, period.
>And it's about $30. Kicks butt
I bought one for use on my bike.
Couple weeks later, I bought a half-dozen more tb used as gifts.
That's one *Brave* little light.
--
PeteCresswell
Don Klipstein
t_gib...@yahoo.com wrote:
The Mag 3-AA LED light satisfies all of these requirements except for
its length.
The 2-AA Mag LEDis shorter but still over 4 inches long, and noticeably
dimmer than the 3-AA one.
One place to look: http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/ledleft.htm, and
search in that huge table of contents for "trophy case". Most of the
items there are LED flashlights, and all of the "Trophy Case" flashlights
perform well and are mostly waterproof. A few of those will cost a lot
less than an arm and a leg.
- Don Klipstein (d...@misty.com)
Nate Nagel
yeah, I think you might have actually contributed to the thread that
turned me on to it. I wouldn't have found it by myself as I don't have
a Lowe's real handy, but it was worth the trip. I also got the
replacement collimator from dealextreme to try to make it more suitable
for bike use, but haven't had a chance to ride after dark since it
showed up since every day I've had a free evening it's either been
raining torrentially, over 90 degrees, or both. I did ride a little
after dark with it as it was "out of the box" and it flat out rocks.
nate
--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel
PatOConnell
> I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:
>
> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
>
> - Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)
>
> - Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
>
> - Lasts longer than 2 hours
>
> - Reliable switch
>
> - Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
It might be a little larger than you want, but a MiniMag with a NiteIze
LED conversion kit (WalMart has them) works fine for me.
y_p_w
The closest Lowe's to home is a good 30 miles away from where I live.
Ticks me off too. We've got tons of Home Depot stores, but Lowe's
happens to carry the best 13W compact fluorescents (Sylvania brand)
I've ever seen. The fire up in less than half a second at near 100%
warmed up brightness immediately. And they were only $2 for a 2/pack
with a little incentive from our local power company (not a rebate
BTW). I'm just a little bit peeved that I only bought two boxes.
Nate Nagel
I'm in the exact same situation; there's at least two HD's between me
and any Lowe's. And HD pretty much sucks.
(PeteCresswell)
>I'm in the exact same situation; there's at least two HD's between me
>and any Lowe's. And HD pretty much sucks.
Anybody know what happened to Home Depot?
Few years back I thought they were pretty good and the sales
people were knowledgeable and helpful.
Last few times I went to Home Depot, the sales people would sort
of look down or scurry in the other direction as soon as they
perceived that you might be looking for help.... and the
inventory (at least little nuts-and-bolts stuff) seems to have
gone downhill.
Too much competition? Bean counters running the show?
--
PeteCresswell
jakdedert
wouldn't hack it; but possibly some of the Luxeon-equipped models in
their lineup would. They have several with 45 lumens up to 140 lumens
output.
This one; 2 AA's, 80 lumen rating, listed as being able to project 100'
would probably fit the bill. No word on runtime....
>http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx?p=414216>
jak
strabo
> I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:
>
> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
>
> - Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)
>
> - Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
>
> - Lasts longer than 2 hours
>
> - Reliable switch
>
> - Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
>
> The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
> bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.
>
> Thanks in advance -
>
Walgreens has the ideal LED light.
- Machined aluminum
- Cylindrical
- 3 1/2" length
- 3 "AAA" batteries in tandem
- 9 white LEDs
- ON/OFF push switch
- Weather proof
- About $5.00
I got a bunch of them.
----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
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jakdedert
> I don't know of any such. The closest I can find, is a Mini Mag 2 AA light,
> with the Nite Ize conversion. Might not be good for house numbers, but you
> can always keep a 3D or 4D Mag Light in the car with you.
>
> My mini mag, I got the Opalec conversion when they first came out. 3 LED,
> and not very bright. Later got the Teralux conversion. Turns out the new
> Nite Ize ($4.97 Walmart) is about as bright as my $30 Teralux. I think the
> run time is six hours, on alkaline AA cells.
>
that similar conversions are selling for upwards of $20. I'd like to
get a Luxeon for it, but I think I'll buy the led and build my own.
jak
Bob M.
>
> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
Check out
http://www.galls.com/category2.html?assort=general_catalog&cat=2830 for
police flashlights.
Greg Wormald
There is more good info there than anywhere else.
Greg
William Sommerwerck
> Few years back I thought they were pretty good and the sales
> people were knowledgeable and helpful.
> Last few times I went to Home Depot, the sales people would sort
> of look down or scurry in the other direction as soon as they
> perceived that you might be looking for help.... and the
> inventory (at least little nuts-and-bolts stuff) seems to have
> gone downhill.
> Too much competition? Bean counters running the show?
I haven't noticed any major changes at HD, but they did what Circuit City
did -- fire their semi-well-paid employees and replace them with lower-paid
employees. Circuit City service used to be mediocre, with spots of
brilliance (when I bought an Olympus E-500 in 2006, I got a woman who
actually knew what she was talking about), but CC is now downright lousy.
When Circuit City announced about a year ago what they were going to do
(they were "different" only in publicly announcing what other companies had
done in private), there was a great outcry, and I promised myself I'd never
shop there again. But once in a while they have something I want I can't get
elsewhere, or costs a lot more elsewhere. I just bought a terrific GE phone
system, and when I had problems with a battery -- that Thomson refused to do
anything about unless I returned the entire product -- the assistant manager
helped me.
jf...@my-deja.com
> Walgreens has the ideal LED light.
>
> - Machined aluminum
> - Cylindrical
> - 3 1/2" length
> - 3 "AAA" batteries in tandem
> - 9 white LEDs
> - ON/OFF push switch
> - Weather proof
> - About $5.00
>
> I got a bunch of them.
Market in Beijing. The nominal asking price was 10 RMB each,
batteries included, but when I got a bunch, I was able to get it down
to 8 RMB (about US$1.10) without too much haggling. I have seen them
on sale at Kragens Auto Parts and at Harbor Freight for about $3.00.
brads...@prontomail.com
How reliable are they? I'd worry about the switch and the LEDs
crapping out. Good LEDs and machined aluminum are not cheap even in
China... I'd buy a tie for 10RMB in China, but not an LED flashlight.
Jack
Card promotion. It is flat 3/4 inch thick, 6 1/2 inches long and 1
1/2 inches wide.. Has 11 LED lites. Triple switch, 3, 7 and 11 lite.
Throws a brite beam and uses 3 AA Batts. Very long lasting. I used one
daily for 16 months before having to replace Batteries. The problem is
that It in getting it as a promotion thing it has no name or mfg
ident. It just says "Made in China".. Has anyone else got one of
these? The last price I gave was $12.97. Believe me it is a great
light and handy, you can put in shirt pocket and when you lay it down
it doesn't roll around. Get one if you see it. You'll be glad you did.
Jack
JoeSpareBedroom
news:603988e0-af31-4d9c...@k37g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
Will it do a serious job of illuminating something from 100 feet away, maybe
on a rainy night?
Mark Lloyd
wrote:
[snip]
>
>Walgreens has the ideal LED light.
>
>- Machined aluminum
>- Cylindrical
>- 3 1/2" length
>- 3 "AAA" batteries in tandem
>- 9 white LEDs
>- ON/OFF push switch
>- Weather proof
>- About $5.00
>
>I got a bunch of them.
>
I have a couple of lights like that. They're very bright. One of them
is often what I reach for when I need a good flashlight.
[spam snipped]
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com
"How could you ask me to believe in God when there's
absolutely no evidence that I can see?" -- Jodie Foster
y_p_w
Who knows. The best help I ever got at Home Depot was at their store
in Santa Clara, California. When I asked the guy who helped me how he
knew so much, he indicated that he was moonlighting from his job at
Underwriters Labs, whose West Coast offices were in the same city.
Had an engineering degree, has a thorough understanding of the safety
of the electrical items he was selling, and only had the job because
he was paying for kids going to college. Of course that's not
typical, but I have noticed a steady drop in the quality of the help
from Home Depot employees.
jf...@my-deja.com
> How reliable are they? I'd worry about the switch and the LEDs
> crapping out. Good LEDs and machined aluminum are not cheap even in
> China... I'd buy a tie for 10RMB in China, but not an LED flashlight.
stuffers) have failed yet. Not very long, but no obvious infant
mortality. The illumination is uniform. With fresh batteries, the
light is very bright. As far as I know, they are all made in China
and imported. The only advantage I know of getting it at a place like
REI is that they will give you a replacement if yours breaks, but for
the price difference, I can afford to be self-insured. I have an
older brand-name LED flashlight (Coast), and it is not as bright and
some LEDs have failed. And for 10 RMB, I would be and was willing to
take a chance.
brads...@prontomail.com
> I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:
>
> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
>
>
> - Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
>
> - Lasts longer than 2 hours
>
> - Reliable switch
>
> - Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
>
> The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
> bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.
>
> Thanks in advance -
Suggestions - these are newer, long lasting, well-reviewed products
that produce a good throw on 1 AA battery
Fenix L1T - various stores online - click switch for one hand
operation
Coast LL7736 V2 Tactical Power Chip - Fry's - click switch
Gerber Firecracker - REI - twist switch
I assume you need something in your pocket when walking/hiking at
night. If you're trying to read a house number from your car, just get
a 2D Maglite from Target/Wal-Mart.
jf...@my-deja.com
> Will it do a serious job of illuminating something from 100 feet away, maybe
> on a rainy night?
focussed beam. I have seen some with a single-LED rated at 1-watt
(common) or 3-watts (rare), and you can kind of focus those.
Jeff McCann
> On Jun 11, 9:13 am, t_gibso...@yahoo.com wrote:
>> I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:
>>
>> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
>>
>> - Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)
>>
>> - Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
>>
>> - Lasts longer than 2 hours
>>
>> - Reliable switch
>>
>> - Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
>>
>> The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
>> bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.
>>
>> Thanks in advance -
>
> Suggestions - these are newer, long lasting, well-reviewed products
> that produce a good throw on 1 AA battery
>
> Fenix L1T - various stores online - click switch for one hand
> operation
Agree on the Fenix. They are the absolute best flashlights I have ever
owned, period. They beat Surefires all to heck. I have sworn off both
rechargeable battery and CR123 battery based lights forever. AA or AAA
is the way to go for cost and convenience, if you use your light heavily.
I'm a firefighter, paramedic, and federal disaster responder, as well as
an avid backpacker, and I've tried A LOT of flashlights in my day, from
incredibly expensive to rather inexpensive. My life may depend on my light.
I bought a Fenix L1D - with the high end Cree LED. It is an amazingly
bright flashlight! 1xAA, six light levels, a fast strobe mode, a rather
lame (too slow) self operating SOS flash mode. I also bought the
diffuser wand, which makes it both a good area/reading light and a
traffic wand.
I also bought the L2D 2xAA body tube and holster only, since it uses the
exact same head and tail assemblies as the L1D.
Lastly, I bought the LOD same features as the L1D, but in 1xAAA size. I
got it the "natural" finish, which I find very pleasing.
Both will accept Lithium batteries, for long term storage purposes.
Jeff
Gunner
wrote:
Not ENOUGH competition. Hence their lowering of standards to comply
with the edicts of the bean counters.
I spend probably $3k a month in Home Despot when Im not working near a
Lowe's
Gunner
Gunner
wrote:
Home Despot used to make it a point of hiring such people, or retired
electricians, plumbers, carpenters etc. They actually used to brag
about it in their early ads.
Then they started having problems hiring such people because of
internal politics, labor law issues and so forth.
Frankly...anyone with a strong background in the trades would not
allow themselves to be treated the way HD treated these people...so
they found themselves unable to hire these people. ACE Hardware and
so forth started picking up the cream of the crop in many areas.
Much the same way small manufactures in the US will no longer, for the
most part, have anything to do with Walmart.
Once the word got around that once you got into bed with Walmart..you
would at best be fucked in the ass regularly, or lose your business to
them, or the bankers, most folks will NOT do direct business with them
anylonger
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html
Just one of hundreds of such links
brads...@prontomail.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
You've picked the best tools for the job. Fenix lights are definitely
the best values I've seen anywhere - surprising to see such good
products designed and manufactured in China. I completely concur with
your warning to stick with AA/AAA batteries. The problem with 123As is
not just availability & cost, but quality & safety. BTW there is a
very informative post on Chinese flashlights vs. Chinese batteries:
http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=42
brads...@prontomail.com
You realize there is a huge gray market in China for LEDs which are
marginal or test rejects that reputable companies stay away from...
It's the same market dynamics for microprocessors, and for
semiconductors in general. Nothing is really thrown away in the trash,
except absolutely dead parts - if it wiggles, somebody will sell it.
What you're doing is basically doing the 100% burn-in screen on these
lower or downgrade binouts. Also, infant mortality is only a very
small part of the so-called reliability bathtub curve - you've seen
only a few beginning data points and you really don't know where the
"knee" of the plateau of this curve is (the LED manufacturer does -
they know exactly what their failure rate curve is based on an
extended, accelerated life test and they also know exactly what kind
of burn-in duration is required to prove out a sample size whereas you
don't...). It's really you get what you pay for, even in China.
Kenneth
<gun...@NOSPAM.lightspeed.net> wrote:
Howdy,
>On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:00:06 -0700 (PDT), y_p_w <y_...@hotmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>Then they started having problems hiring such people because of
>internal politics, labor law issues and so forth.
>Frankly...anyone with a strong background in the trades would not
>allow themselves to be treated the way HD treated these people...so
>they found themselves unable to hire these people. ACE Hardware and
>so forth started picking up the cream of the crop in many areas.
This may be a geographical thing...
Here in S.E. New Hampshire, the HD staff folks are vastly
superior to the folks at ACE.
There are two ACE stores (were three until about a month
ago) within three miles of my home.
I am extremely fond of the people who own the stores, but
really dread doing business in either of the stores.
Each has perhaps a dozen staff folks only one of whom has a
clue about anything even remotely related to the products
they sell.
Sadly, around here, it's HD for me...
All the best,
--
Kenneth
If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
jf...@my-deja.com
> You realize there is a huge gray market in China for LEDs which are
> marginal or test rejects that reputable companies stay away from...
> It's the same market dynamics for microprocessors, and for
> semiconductors in general. Nothing is really thrown away in the trash,
> except absolutely dead parts - if it wiggles, somebody will sell it.
> What you're doing is basically doing the 100% burn-in screen on these
> lower or downgrade binouts. Also, infant mortality is only a very
> small part of the so-called reliability bathtub curve - you've seen
> only a few beginning data points and you really don't know where the
> "knee" of the plateau of this curve is (the LED manufacturer does -
> they know exactly what their failure rate curve is based on an
> extended, accelerated life test and they also know exactly what kind
> of burn-in duration is required to prove out a sample size whereas you
> don't...). It's really you get what you pay for, even in China.
guarantee that it is not DOA (actually, for tourist qunatities, the
sellers will demonstrate them for you). Given the markups for at
least two additional middlemen, plus transportation costs, I am
reasonably comfortable that the ones I saw are of the same quality as
the ones sold at Walgreens, Kragen, and Harbor Freight. By
inspection, it certainly seems so. I would not make a trip to China
just to buy some LED flashlights, but I see no good reason not to buy
some if I am already there. At about US$1 each, I consider them
disposable, not treasured heirlooms.
y_p_w
The primary problem is going to be the quality of construction. Most
of the better "white" LEDs seem to come from Nichia Corporation of
Japan. Even many of the cheapie ones sold in China. As long as the
connection is solid and the reflector is reasonable, the light should
be OK.
Charles
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
news:eu2354p8rijc8mnr1...@4ax.com...
> This may be a geographical thing...
Of course it is. Just like the weather and restaurants.
tmu...@juno.com
> I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:
>
> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
>
> - Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)
>
> - Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
>
> - Lasts longer than 2 hours
>
> - Reliable switch
>
> - Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
>
> The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
> bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.
>
> Thanks in advance -
The best I have found is one I got at K Mart it is called NEBO It has
about 7 or 8 leds and uses three aaa bateries 1st click turns on the
leds and the second one turns on the red laser spot and the third
click shuts it off. I do home inspections and it is very handy to
work with My first one is over a year old and I can't wear out the
bateries.
JoeSpareBedroom
news:78a66193-a0f9-44b3...@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
=========================
Can it illuminate house numbers from 100 feet away on a rainy night?
y_p_w
> "y_p_w" <y_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:531d699f-66c0-4cc6...@x1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > On Jun 11, 7:13 am, t_gibso...@yahoo.com wrote:
> >> I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:
>
> >> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
>
> >> - Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)
>
> >> - Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
>
> >> - Lasts longer than 2 hours
>
> >> - Reliable switch
>
> >> - Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
>
> >> The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
> >> bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.
>
> >> Thanks in advance -
>
> > It's rated for up to 130 hours on AAA alkalines, but the manufacturer
> > says that rechargeable AAAs are acceptable. It's not going to be
> > terribly bright with maybe 1/3 of runtime left, but with rechargeables
> > you can charge it up before you need it. The brightness is
> > considerably higher with freshly charged batteries. It's not
> > ridiculously bright, but perfectly fine for getting around the house
> > without turning every light on or making myself noticeable on a late
> > night walk.
>
> > Another option would be an LED bicycle headlamp. Cateye pretty much
> > sets the standard for quality, although there might be other brands
> > that could serve you well. Some of the less bright ones are under
> > $30, and sometimes you can find ones for $12-20 on sale. Most of the
> > ones I see advertise anywhere from 30 to 240 hour runtimes depending
> > on settings. Some come with velcro straps which you could slip a
> > finger or two through.
>
> He said "bright enough to read house numbers", which I suspect means from
> maybe the street. Will those Petzl lights do that?
A Petzl could do that. Maybe not a Tikka after it's down to maybe 1/3
of its useful life. I could read house numbers from with maybe 2/3 of
the charge left on NiMH AAAs from 40 feet. Alkalines (higher voltage)
will even be brighter overall through the life of the batteries.
There are considerably brighter LED headlamps with lower run times,
but they tend to be pricey. I guess a premium can be charged when you
cater to hikers and cavers.
I just picked up a bicycle headlamp (Cateye HL-EL210) to use as a
handheld LED flashlight. It was plenty bright with four AA NiMH
batteries - in fact brighter than my Petzl. I didn't notice a whole
lot of difference when I used fresh alkalines, so it's likely
regulated. It's rated for 100 hours continuous and 200 hours blinking
on alkalines, with 5 LEDs in an array; the pattern looks like one
diffused light source. It's not rated for "water resistance" as with
other Cateye headlamps, and there's some sort of hole in the bottom.
I doubt water would kill it, and it could be dried out. The switch
was a single rubberized button; pressing cycles through flashing/
continous/off. I picked it up for $15, but it was 50% on sale at
Performance Bicycle.
Siskuwihane
I have a 3 watt Luxeon, it's a Ray-O-Vac Sportsman Extreme, cost
around $24. It's actually a re-branded
Nuwai X-3. Available at Wal-Mart, but they sell out extremely fast (at
least around here).
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/nuwai_x-3.htm
Specs:
• Ultra bright 3 watt Luxeon LED flashlight - up to 50x brighter than
standard LED's
• DC/DC regulated circuitry provides maximum light output throughout
the life of the battery
• Twist bottom for constant beam - press button for momentary light
• Adjustable beam
• Handy clip and wrist strap
• Aircraft grade aluminum
• Runs on 2 AA alkaline batteries (included)
• Water resistant
y_p_w
> On Jun 12, 2:11 pm, "jf...@my-deja.com" <jf...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
> > On Jun 12, 7:44 am, "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborea...@yahoo.com> wrote:> Will it do a serious job of illuminating something from 100 feet away, maybe
> > > on a rainy night?
>
> > As far as I know, none of the multi-LED flashlights will thow a
> > focussed beam. I have seen some with a single-LED rated at 1-watt
> > (common) or 3-watts (rare), and you can kind of focus those.
>
> I have a 3 watt Luxeon, it's a Ray-O-Vac Sportsman Extreme, cost
> around $24. It's actually a re-branded
> Nuwai X-3. Available at Wal-Mart, but they sell out extremely fast (at
> least around here).
>
> http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/nuwai_x-3.htm
Noticed their review states that they had better runtime on NiMH.
Make sense to some degree. Medium-drain devices tend to be very
inefficient at using alkaline capacity. Alkalines tend to last longer
than NiMH when the drain is really low, like with a low-power LED.
Patrick Coghlan
> On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:15:43 -0400, strabo <str...@flashlight.net>
> wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
>> Walgreens has the ideal LED light.
>>
>> - Machined aluminum
>> - Cylindrical
>> - 3 1/2" length
>> - 3 "AAA" batteries in tandem
>> - 9 white LEDs
>> - ON/OFF push switch
>> - Weather proof
>> - About $5.00
>>
>> I got a bunch of them.
>>
>
> I have a couple of lights like that. They're very bright. One of them
> is often what I reach for when I need a good flashlight.
>
For a penlight-type flashlight, I like the Streamlight Stylus (3 AAAA
cells). Great for detail work, medical uses etc.
Cheesy Bob
> I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:
>
> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
>
> - Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)
>
> - Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
>
> - Lasts longer than 2 hours
>
> - Reliable switch
>
> - Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
>
> The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
> bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.
>
> Thanks in advance -
Say Hey!
Try the Cat Eye opti cube model HL-EL 130/135. Uses two (2) AA
batteries. It has three (3) super bright leds. Steady on or flashing
mode. Light is designed for biking.
5555 Yee-Haw !!
EL
jf...@my-deja.com
> Noticed their review states that they had better runtime on NiMH.
> Make sense to some degree. Medium-drain devices tend to be very
> inefficient at using alkaline capacity. Alkalines tend to last longer
> than NiMH when the drain is really low, like with a low-power LED.
alkaline cells were better if you were not constantly charging them.
y_p_w
> On Jun 13, 11:36 am,y_p_w<y_...@hotmail.com> wrote:> Noticed their review states that they had better runtime on NiMH.
True to a degree. There's approximately a 1-2% loss of capacity daily
with typical NiMH batteries; it's actually a logarithmic loss.
However - I find advantages compared to alkaline. There's no
appreciable self-discharge loss if you're maybe taking a light on a
1-2 week camping or backpacking trip. I've left NiMH batteries in my
Petzl headlamp for four months, and the light output was just fine.
You can "top off" NiMH batteries at any time (gets you to a point
where you know that an LED lamp is good for a while), while with
alkalines you might not know exactly how much energy is left (short of
measuring each cell). I've also found alkalines left in too long have
leaked (one got fused in a Mini Mag-Lite I owned). With an LED lamp
with a rated life of 80+ hours on alkalines, I've never had one run
out on NiMH batteries.
I went on a cave tour last year. They had a bunch of Mag-Lites
available. It was someone interesting how they kept on digging for
ones where the batteries hadn't expired or were dim.
There are also the newer "hybrid" NiMH batteries. They trade off a
little bit of theoretical capacity for low self-discharge (about 15%
per year). This is fine for someone who will at least recharge it
every 3-4 months. Even alkalines have a small amount of self-
discharge.
strabo
I initially bought one and tested it for month and then bought nine
more as replacements for those kept in the truck and cars.
I've had several in everyday use for about a year. I've tossed
them around and run the batteries low without mishap. They're solid
enough. They compare favorably to similar styles in the $20-$50
range.
I found one that had a faulty switch due to some material inside that
caused it to be rough and intermittent. I took the opportunity to
remove the switch and replace it with another type. I also improved the
lanyards, modified plastic bottle caps to act as extensions so
the lights can sit upright and added pocket clips.
----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
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DaveT
Use the (newish) NiMH batteries that come ready charged. I use Uniross
Hybrio, they do not self discharge like the normal ones, hold a charge a
heck of lot longer. They are also a bit cheaper ;) If you do get some do
not bother to recharge any backup batteries when have to do a swap wait a
while that also helps.
--
Dave
Please note, many will not see your posts if you are posting from Google.
They are automatically Blocked!
y_p_w
> On Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:38:39 -0700, jf...@my-deja.com wrote:
> > On Jun 13, 11:36 am,y_p_w<y_...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> Noticed their review states that they had better runtime on NiMH. Make
> >> sense to some degree. Medium-drain devices tend to be very inefficient
> >> at using alkaline capacity. Alkalines tend to last longer than NiMH
> >> when the drain is really low, like with a low-power LED.
> > I was told that NiMH cells had a higher self-discharge rate and that
> > alkaline cells were better if you were not constantly charging them.
>
> Use the (newish) NiMH batteries that come ready charged. I use Uniross
> Hybrio, they do not self discharge like the normal ones, hold a charge a
> heck of lot longer. They are also a bit cheaper ;) If you do get some do
> not bother to recharge any backup batteries when have to do a swap wait a
> while that also helps.
I mentioned Sanyo Eneloop, although they resell their low self-
discharge batteries to other companies to re-brand.
Self-discharge is also heavily dependent on temperature, even with
alkalines. I've also had bad results with alkalines stored in hot
conditions. If they don't lose a good chunk of their capacity from
self-discharge, then they'll leak like crazy. The 85% claim is
probably at about 70 deg F. If you keep them warmer (imagine taking
your camera on summer camping trip), I think you'll find that self-
discharge is considerably faster.
Unknown
<cayoung61**spamblock##@hotmail.com> wrote:
>I don't know of any such. The closest I can find, is a Mini Mag 2 AA light,
>with the Nite Ize conversion. Might not be good for house numbers, but you
I picked up one of the AA Mini Maglites with a 3 Watt LED... It's as
bright as the big boys (e.g. D-cell models with the 3W conversion).
Obviously the batteries won't last as long...
>My mini mag, I got the Opalec conversion when they first came out. 3 LED,
>and not very bright. Later got the Teralux conversion. Turns out the new
Haven't seen a conversion for my Mini Mags... I bought one with the
3W LED installed.
Retief
Stormin Mormon
As to conversions, google "Nite Ize" or "teralux" for more information. the
Nite Ize module is $4.92 at Walmart, and is essentially as bright as the
Teralux.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
<Retief> wrote in message news:4ntg549jrcd746b19...@4ax.com...
Unknown
<cayoung61**spamblock##@hotmail.com> wrote:
>The Mag provided aa cell lights are too long to fit in my pants pocket.
BTW, the 3W LED is only a tiny bit longer...
>As to conversions, google "Nite Ize" or "teralux" for more information. the
>Nite Ize module is $4.92 at Walmart, and is essentially as bright as the
>Teralux.
Thanks for the pointer, Stormin'... The Teralux looks very
interesting... ;)
Retief
deniz...@yahoo.com
> for illuminating things at great distances. I have one of these and despite
> its small size, it VERY thoroughly illuminates things 200 feet away.
I agree. That ends the discussion right there.
Yes, they're expensive, but anything worthwhile is.
Stormin Mormon
doesn't fit in my pants pocket.
The teralux conversion is really great stuff. Pricey. But I paid $28 for an
Opalec when they came out. The Teralux really outshines (sorry) the Opalec.
The new Nite Ize also really screams.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
<Retief> wrote in message news:e4dj541vgm9265if3...@4ax.com...
Dave
> I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:
>
> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
>
> - Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)
>
> - Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
>
> - Lasts longer than 2 hours
>
> - Reliable switch
>
> - Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
>
> The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
> bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.
>
> Thanks in advance -
Here is one I really like. It has a 25 year guarantee. 9voltlight.com
Bruce W.1
> On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:13:58 -0700, t_gibson48 wrote:
>
>> I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:
>>
>> - Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)
>>
>> - Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)
>>
>> - Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)
>>
>> - Lasts longer than 2 hours
>>
>> - Reliable switch
>>
>> - Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash
>>
>> The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
>> bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.
>>
>> Thanks in advance -
>
> LED puts a 4 cell Maglight to shame on full power. For a basic Led have a
> look at the single AA Gerber Ultra, still has battery saving electronics
> in it (makes batteries last longer).
>
===================================================
I'll second that. The Fenix L2D can't be beat:
https://www.fenix-store.com/
You might enjoy the Candlepower Forums, where they take flashlights
seriously:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/
Stormin Mormon
as can be with it. The light is a bit blue color, but that's livable.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
<Retief> wrote in message news:e4dj541vgm9265if3...@4ax.com...