Recommended $5 flashlights for gifting in 2019

lightboks · March 4, 2019, 9:27pm

…grabs popcorn…

Lightbringer · March 4, 2019, 9:46pm

Yeah, the muggle won’t know any better if the light’s Angry Blue or Hateful Purple, so who cares? :laughing:

I already got the 4C XM-L[2?] and 1.4A driver lined up, just gotta shave the driver about 2mm smaller to fit the pill, and hope I don’t file through any necessary vias and break something. “Dumb” driver, just 7135s and a diode.

Through an aspheric, the tint should be that beautiful warm-sunlight color as through a TIR. Oh, it’ll probably cook itself if left on too long, so I’m going to have to backfill the gaps with… something.

jerm03 · March 4, 2019, 10:02pm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-New-R3-LED-1000-Lumens-Lamp-Clip-Mini-Penlight-Flashlight-Torch-AAA/192016420853?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&\_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

I like The AAA lights. I carry one or 2 to gift. I have given a bunch and only 2 have failed.
Those shown as “EnjoyDeal have been good.

skinny_tie · March 4, 2019, 11:03pm

ActiveAl:

I paid $16.72 for two TG06S flashlight last Nov from seller autocaredepot (now doing business as trac8894)), and they turned out to be poor quality fakes:

They had the modes: High, Medium, Low, Strobe and SOS - INLINE. Whereas, the modes in a real TG06S have the modes High, Med, Low, MoonLight; and double tap to access Strobe.

There should have been NO memory versus next-mode memory found with these.

These flashlights were not even close to 500 lumens in High as with a real TG06S, and they have a cool white emitter (with a greenish tint) versus warm white, as they should.

Grinding occurred while screwing head to body.

But appearance wise, they were similar to the real thing.

Got refunded for one while keeping both, and they are now in my give-away-to-a-stranger collection.

I paid around 5 AUD for a “TG06” on eBay recently and while it looked very convincing (including the packaging) it had the terrible five-mode driver with inline strobes and next mode memory. For the price the build quality is nice, but I wouldn’t give a light with next mode memory to my worst enemy.

ActiveAl · March 5, 2019, 3:50pm

Lightbringer:

ActiveAl:

I have learned to respect any recommendation you make, but details seem lacking about this light in the description. Can you confirm that it uses a single AA battery? What are the modes? Is the side switch pretty durable? What does the beam look like if you shine it against a white wall?. And, what does “bobofett” mean? Thanks!

One mode, just on/off. Beam’s surprisingly clean for a reflector, think it’s a SMO reflector but has a beam similar to OP, as it’s a nice blur from hotspot to spill. Rather blue, but not angrily so. Yeah, single AA (alkaleak only, never tried LFP or Li-ion), typische boost circuit like for solar walkway lights. The switch lasted a reeeeeeeeeally long time, but then got finicky after the knurling was already worn away at the points to make it look gray instead of black. It’s a rubberised side-clicky, nice firm click and lots of travel. But in my case it’s what went out first, and even that was after… yeesh, years of use. The issue as far as replacing the switch is that there’s extra length in the tube between positive contact and head, where the switch sits, alone, like on a C/D Maglite. No idea how to nondestructively remove it for repair/replacement, but for 3bux, I went on to bobofett 2. This is bobofett’s helmet, all beat to Hell, and kinda how my light looked after being “stone-washed” in my pockets with keys and loose change for ages.

I just pulled the trigger and purchased three of the INLAND 1W R22 LED flashlights based on this information. Even though shipping was a bit high, I am anxious to check them out. Off topic, but I remember that your recommendation of the NiteFox UW360 (in a previous thread) was pure gold. A little expensive also from Amazon, but well worth the cost. Thanks!

Edit: Are the "LFP" batteries you mention above lithium primaries? Thanks!

Lightbringer · March 5, 2019, 4:24pm

Nah.

LFP = LiFePO₄.

3.2V rechargeables. Flat voltage curve over most of its SOC, like NiCd, used quite often nowadays in solar walkway lights (directly powers the dinky little LED vs needing a separate boost converter from a NiMH cell).

ActiveAl · March 5, 2019, 4:47pm

Wow, I learned something new. Here they are on Amazon. Thank you.

Lightbringer · March 5, 2019, 6:11pm

No worries, go crazy…

And those’re the ones I got (and I think reviewed, too).

Lightbringer · March 5, 2019, 6:12pm

Yep, looked, and I did. Gave ’em a solid “meh…”.

wle · March 6, 2019, 2:23am

==yeah i like those lights for some reason
wle

mortuus · March 6, 2019, 12:32pm

these are crap even for the price, ihave one with different name, has the worst tint ever, probably a cheap 2 cent emitter in there…

1000 lumens lol… not even 20 or so…

jerm03 · March 6, 2019, 6:30pm

I disagree. I have given away a bunch, and they work, and are bright.
Try one marked EnjoyDeal.
Few care about tint. I have not noticed. Most people dont use flashlights for flashlights sake, but when needed want one that turns on/off and is reliable. I have found these fit the billl.I am not dure of the output but estimate 80 lmn and maybe more.

The OP asked for a light priced around $5. As usual a lot of folks here don’t do as requested, but recommend one that is 3 times that amount. That is OK, but why not also find one at the requested price?

The only problem I have notices with most of those light is that the threads are too few and shallow.
Jerry

ChibiM · March 6, 2019, 6:46pm

I will report back when I receive both Thorfires

sochi111 · March 7, 2019, 4:31pm

I had good luck with 1xAAA Uking- got them for less than a buck, regularly at 2.42
https://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_788796.html

I always wanted to try these 1xAA SK68 Zoomie clones -regularly at 1.99 but I think they have been at 0.99 at some point.

gottobegeek · March 7, 2019, 5:00pm

Had many cheap earlier crappy LED’s but this one (smaller version) I would recommend

Just received yesterday, picked it up on a late night buying spree on ebay for $1.85 With the same thought that it can be gifted without much remorse.

XPE-R3 LED 1000 Lumens Pocket LED Flashlight Zoomable LED Torch Penlight

Trust me, its nowhere near 1000 lumens but its pretty darn bright, I would say about 250+ lumen, and a bit on the throwier side rather than floody.

Its aluminum but very thin gauge and weighs nothing

The circut board came half way sticking out on an angle and really wedged in there…, but nothing a few hammer taps did not fix.

gottobegeek · March 7, 2019, 6:54pm

I think you will be fine with these, very bright and throwy with a 14500, the only issue I had with mine (supposedly ‘Titanium’ version) of this same light, is the UI tail switch being very spongy.
Its weird by the button requires a deeper press than my thumb can manage.

gottobegeek · March 7, 2019, 7:09pm

Shallow indeed, but pretty impressive light considering what you are getting for $2 today. It may not survive long but time will tell. I compared the brightness and beam to several other AAA’s I own and estimate it to be at least 120 lumens which is brighter than almost any flashlight people might have had 10 short years ago.

Boaz · March 8, 2019, 4:56am

This conversation about LiFePO₄ and a entire thread from a total trollish noob talking about building a light based on LiFePO_{4 after joining the forum a day earlier is all because of silly paranoia about lithium ion .}

_{The information he quoted was old /odd and BLF members were just being nice when they probably should have just shut him down .}

_{Like lightbringer said the LiFePO₄ is commonly used in junk solar walkway lights .}

_{The high discharge chemistry LMR cells used to have high discharge but not large capacity.But in the past few years the new cells have both capacity and ability to deliver a bunch of amperage too..}..So do you want dollar store landscape solar light cells or ...Name brand high end cordless drill batteries.

The fact every charging manufacturer absolutely ignores the fact they even exist ought to tell you something .

friends don't let friends buy lifepo4

Lightbringer · March 8, 2019, 5:27am

Actually, LFP is quite nice. Like I said, it’s got an almost flat voltage curve from just out of the charger to mostly spent. That’s why they’re used in (better) solar lights. Cheapies still use NiMH and boost drivers.

And LFP batteries are used in RVs, etc., where you want nice safe easy to use (including charging) batteries for offline power.

HgO is (was) used in cameras to power built-in lightmeters. Lousy capacity, pricey as Hell, but held a rock-solid flat voltage curve which could be used as a voltage-reference without having to use a voltage reference.

Use the right cell for the job, is all.

Look, if you ain’t looking for a scorcher of a light, you could create a “regulated” light that keeps a pretty much constant brightness, again from charger to charger, without any 7135s or anything, just a simple stoopit resistor, vs needing to regulate the current to the LED via an actual active circuit. Might be useful for medical use, jewelry, anything where a constant brightness is more highly regarded than absolute brightness.

Yeah, given that 7135s can be had for pennies, it ain’t much of a savings, but in theory…

ChibiM · March 20, 2019, 12:23pm

Received my Thorfire TG06S

Paid $3.60, now is a little cheaper

Link to product here

Measured:

High: 37 lumens
Med: 18 lumens
Low: 9 lumens

Next mode memory.

Bare threads are sharp and squeeky.

Spring came loose, so tightening the light resulted in the light turning off...

Clip is kind of useless. It comes off rather easily.

Conclusiong: For $ 3.60 an okay light to give away.. people will be able to see things in the dark..... period ;)
Not for gifting as a birthday present, although that could be okay if you are really low on funds.

Now waiting for the next light to arrive.