lisa, the runtime rating of the light is good for a specific cell, usually listed in the specs. It might not be capable of 80 hours from a 2000mAH Eneloop, but it might get that with a different cell, like maybe a lithium primary AA. Even a plain alkaline may do better than the Eneloop. Testing has shown that decent alkalines are actually very hard to beat at super light loads.
Try this comparator from HKJ to see how different cells behave at various loads.
Have you considered upgrading to Energizer lithium AA ?
http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Energizer%20Ultimate%20Lithium%20AA%20UK.html
They would be a better choice for that application… 30+ hours at .1A draw. I am not sure what that light draws in its lowest candle mode, but if its lower than .1A, you should see longer run times than 28 hours.
Yes…I agree…I did not expect a full 80 hours from a fully charged 2000 mah , eneloop…but I surely was expecting at least 50 hours runtime in moonlight mode. Eneloop is considered 1 of the best rechargeables around and they generally perform solidly in these LED lights. This is why I think the factory run time specs on this LED light, are way over rated, and maybe why these sell for $7.50 shipped. With eneloops, this light is only achieving around 35% rated runtime at 3 lumens . Wouldnt you say that is unusal and a sign that factory ratings are inflated ?
I looked at some of the other recommended name brand LED lights on this thread, and the factory only rates them to run around 30 hours on a 3 lumen moonlight mode with AA battery. This leads me to think that the XTAR rating of 80 hours, is mostly fluff.
Yeah, 0.1A is 100mA, which is actually quite a lot actually. Any moonlight mode will use only a few mA of current, max. In fact, doing the math, that 2000mAH cell still should have been plenty for over 80 hours of moonlight mode.
IM not sure it is a battery issue…I think it is a over rated factory spec issue.
For example.
Here is a LED that was suggested on this thread.
http://www.sbflashlights.com/L3-Illumination/L3-Illumination-L10-Colors-Nichia-219-p284.html
It also runs on 1 AA battery , but it cost almost 4x as much as the XTAR……its factory specs on 3 lumens runtime is 30 hours……XTAR claims 80 hours. …but I only got 28 hours out of it. In other words, it is improbable that a $7.50 light will get 80 hours runtime at 3 lumens , when a $28 light will only get 30 hours runtime on 3 lumens. …when both use 1 AA battery.
I think the XTAR specs are highly inflated, and its not a problem with my eneloop.
XTAR factory is rating moonlight mode to be 3 lumens on its flashlight and run 80 hours on AA battery….3 lumens may actually be more of a low setting, then a moonlight setting , so once again it may be that the factory specs arent accurate. 3 lumens is the lowest setting on the XTAR and other name brand expesnive LED lights, rate their 3 lumens mode as being low mode, and runtime to be max 30 hours …not 80 hours.
The XTARS USED TO SELL FOR AROUND $15…but they were marked down to $7.50 …I think due to its over rated runtime factor. Other then this issue, I like the light alot…but I only bought it because of the 80 hr rating in moonlight mode .
lisa, you may be right. Have you tried a higher voltage cell, such as an alkaline or a lithium primary AA cell? Perhaps buy a pack of Energizers and see if runtime changes significantly.
My eneloops perform properly in my other LED lights and I use a pro charger to charge them…often at a low charge rate to ensure max charge capacity . I am confident this issue is one of factory over rated specs . A no name $7.50 light isnt gonna give 80 hours runtime on 3 lumens, when a name brand $28 light is rated to give 30 hours at 3 lumens. I think this is a issue of XTAR over rating specs, and the name brand properly rating their specs.
So this brings me back to my original inquiry :disguised_face:
Still need a single AA or AAA light, around $10 or less , that can run on moonlight mode for around 3 days or more , using a eneloop 2000 mah battery . Im assuming this cant be achieved if the moonlight mode rating is 3 lumens or more….moonlight mode would have to be around 1.5 lumens or less , to get 80 hours on a single AA battery/eneloop.
Any cyber monday deal going on ?
lisa, the Olight S1A Baton claims a 5lm low with runtime of 80 hours using a Lithium Primary AA cell or 75 hours from an Alkaline cell. So, I don’t think your Xtar rating of 3lm for 80 hours is unreasonable. Try a different cell, please, and let us know.
Im fully stocked up on eneloop cells…Ive tried other brands and came back to eneloops . I really did not want to spend extra money on new batteries and my other LED lights perform as rated, on my eneloops. I understand I may get more runtime on the XTAR, with expensive lithium AA battery …but I would be shocked for it to go from 28 hours runtime on AA eneloop to 80 hours on lithium AA .
Once again, there must be a reason why XTAR is selling for $7.50 , and I think over rated run times is the reason. Furthermore, XTAR corp does not state that to get 80 hours runtime on moonlight mode, you must use a expensive lithium AA battery….
That light costs $40…compared to the XTAR that is $7.50
Also, the OLIGHT says 75 hours from normal alkalaine and 80 hours from Lithium….so you only get a 5 hr gain for lithium…
I do not see how the XTAR would go from 28 hours on a eneloop to 80 hours on a lithium…the math does not make sense.
IMHO…a XTAR $7.50 light , will not get near 80 hours runtime on 3 lumen setting. A 2000 mah, fully charged eneloop got 28 hours.
Okay, well, if you’re determined to stick with your Eneloops, then you’re right that you’ll have to get a lower lumen rated moonlight mode. I don’t know of any cheap lights that have a true moonlight mode. I hope you find one and let us know when you do.
Edit: The math does make sense, when you figure the difference in both voltage and current capacity. A decent alkaline cell will beat an Eneloop at low draw. Did you look at the comparator I linked to earlier? It shows real test results from real cells, and you can choose any two to compare to each other. Alkalines almost universally beat Eneloops at low draw. Eneloops are best for medium to high draw applications. But, even there, Lithium primaries will still beat them.
I would be interested to see if anyone here, has tried a lithium in this light, at 3 lumens, to see how long runtime is.
Id be shocked if they got 80 hours, when a eneloop only gives 28 hours. I would expect a lithium may give 35 or maybe 40 hours max , which is till only 50% of factory rated specs….which I feel is unacceptable.
I haven’t tested that light, but I’ve seen alkalines beat even Lithium Ion rechargeables with over 4x runtime in some lights! I’ve seen Lithium primary AA beat Eneloop Pro Black 2450mAH cells by almost double run-time. The difference is real.
Those lithium cells are rated at 3000 Mah…
my eneloops are rated at 2000 Mahs and I only got 28 hours run time. I do not think another 1000 mahs { 50% more capacity then eneloop} would result in going from 28 hour run time, to 80 hour run time . Is my math wrong ?
If you look at the comparator, you’ll see that the voltage of the Energizer Ultimate stays higher than the Eneloop all the way through the test(s). In a LED light, these cells would have to be boosted to a higher voltage to even turn on the LED. So, the higher the cell voltage is, the less strain there is on the cell, and as well, the boost driver will be more efficient. You also have to take into account the cut-off voltage of the boost driver. The Eneloop will reach that point sooner, since it is lower voltage already. So, you get more difference between the cells inside the light than just the rated mAH capacity on the wrapper.
So you believe the lithium AA cell will give 80 hours runtime with the XTAR on 3 lumens?
wouldnt it be less expensive, to just find a LED light that runs on single AA or AAA eneloop , at 3 lumens or less for 3 days or more ?
I own 40 AA/AAA eneloops….so I did not want to change out to lithium energizers, since my eneloops always performed properly in my other LED lights.
Yes, since you already own so many Eneloops, it would be better to find a light that will do what you want. But, then again, you already own several of those lights now too. If you’re not interested in keeping them, you could sell them here in the WTS area, and recoup some of your money.
Lisa, you keep repeating yourself. Others have suggested that you try an alkaline cell to see what happens, pointing out that the low amp performance of alkalines can be far better than Eneloops. Why don’t you give a decent alkaline a try in order to verify this?
Honestly, the price of a flashlight has little relationship to it’s performance, or we’d all own Surefires and BLF would not exist.