So, a few questions: The minimum voltage requirement is quite strange. How can it be 2.0V minimum and still work with AA? Do you still have that light? If so you could you please let me know if it performs with a regular alkaline AA, my preferred configuration? And if it does, how long does it run with a single AA on the lowest setting? I see there is also the single-mode version that costs less than $12 and received a 6-star rating by Jayki. So I also wonder if the single-mode is also dim and therefore a long runner?
Could we get some comments in this thread about other extremely long runtime budget lights (especially with a single AA) that you guys know of? Thanks!
Are you looking for a long running light on high brightness or a multimode light. Reading through the thread i take it that your looking for a light with a low.
Well, I don't really care too much about about brightness one way or the other. If it happens to be bright that is fine, but usually that is an opposing factor to runtime. I wouldn't mind a dim single-mode either, it's just that most single-modes on DX seem to be be real scorchers that overdrive the battery to its limits.
You might want to check out this light......uses Nichia leds that provide long runtimes, they might not be as bright as the luxeons or crees but they make up for it though in runtime. And as for the price how low did you want to go.
It won't work with one AA, but with two it will - it is basically a (much) better made Ultrafire C3 so I used extensions from those. The current on the five mode with two alkalines is:
Medium 8mA
Low 4mA
High 20mA. Assuming 3,000mAh at such loads with a decent alkaline gives you 150 hours runtime. On low that's 750 hours.
My single mode one appears not to want to work just now. Will fiddle later.
Thanks for checking Don. Pity that the multi-mode doesn't work with a regular AA. In fact I'm surprised it's such a dim light if it requires such high voltage. Thanks for the tip on that, I might have bought it only to be disappointed.
I got a cheap bag of assorted LEDs from Maplin. They were carefully selected to be the world's dimmest LEDs. I also had a Streamlight TwinTask that I'd just found out the hard way couldn't use RCR123s and was awaiting a new bulb from Lighthound. So the hole seemed to be around the right size for the leads on a 3mm LED from this bag of the World's Dimmest LEDs. So here's the pic.
Not the power LED on the old Compaq which served as my living room box (It was almost completely silent). It was actually brighter! Runtime on a dead CR123 was till I got bored and tossed the cell and the LED