Light with 8+ hour runtime (Coast Triplex 2xAA)?

Hi there,

I have been looking around for a decent AA light for outage usage. I spotted the Coast Triplex Plus 3-LED (TT7547CP) 2xAA flashlight @ Fry's for $10 the other day.

It claims to give 24 lumens and 20 hours of runtime.

Anyone has tried this? This light has been around for a while. This is a 2xAA version.

What attracts me is the 20 hours runtime @ 24 lumens. But the rated output power is 0.79W. Runtime based on this wattage would be only about 6 hours for 2x NimH 2000mAH Eneloop's (am I correct?).

If in real practice this won't happen with the Coast Triplex 2xAA (20+lumens/>= 8 hours),

I wonder if anyone knows any 2xAA flashlight that would give >= 8 hours runtime w/ 20+ lumens (and similar price range <$15)?

Thx... .

On another note,

I noticed the Solarforce L2r 2xAA version claims to give 15 hrs on 10% output. This is priced a bit higher. Just based on 320 lumens rated output, 10% would be 32 lumens--and 15 hrs? Any one can confirm that?

http://www.solarforce-sales.com/product_detail.php?id=114&s=31&t=LF

Don't know if this ebay store carries the R5 version, otherwise a decent deal and not completely breaking my budget:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Solarforce-L2r-BLACK-AA-Battery-flashlight-Body-/280428612537?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item414ad90bb9#ht_2660wt_882

The Jetbeam BA20 is the most efficient 2x AA light out there with XP-G (so decent beam profile, not too floody) it does 25 lumens for over 40 hours on low (loosened head) The first half hour is spent dropping slowly from 60 lumens to the regulated 25.

High mode is 250 lumens for 1 hour 30.

EDIT: Sorry, only just saw the price range. Unfortunately 'budget' manufacturers tend to use PWM for dimming so low modes are often less efficient than in well-known brands, the circuits overall are also generally less efficent as cheaper boost components are used. I would look for a single mode 2xAA light using XP-G if possible but there isn't that much available really. The shiningbeam modded RC-N3 XP-G's are around $20-25 and have decent runtime, with neutral options too, but are really only around 4 hours. Imho the Jetbeam BA20 is the very best value light out there for AA usage.

Last I looked at TrustFire F20 (1xAA):

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/662

Lightake Review: http://www.jayki.com/11366

If the review from Lightake is realistic then it gives 10 hrs (0.19A) on about 19 lumens on Low. Good enough for me.

I ordered one F20 once from Lightake but it came DOA. Lightake never refunded nor sent me a replacement. I'm still quite upset about it(!) Never got a chance to verify the runtime on Low.

I guess the real-life performance on the TrustFire F20 (1xAA) and the SolarForce L2R (2xAA) on Low aren't really close to the claimed Spec's then?

If anyone has the runtime/lumens on Low on SolarForce L2R (2xAA) I'd really like to know... .

FYI-- the ebay store link is L2R body-only (that explains the lower price).


I ordered an F20 from Tmart was supposed to be a 5 mode I got a one mode sent it back they sent me another one mode sent it back and they said sorry we don't have the 5 mode only the one mode. I would love to get one to try out someday if someone knows a reliable dealer that actually has the 5 mode light.

FWIW, I've got the XR-E version of that drop-in and started to do a run time test on low using freshly charged 2100mAh Imedions last night.

Checked the light just now and I am getting a low battey signal out of it. That is after 13 hours of it being continually on.

pay a little more and get the Jetbeam BA20/ Klarus P2A. constant current > PWM for low mode efficiency. plus if you get the L2r, it might be hard finding a decent budget dropin that doesn't have PWM flicker on the low modes.

It's budgetlight forum that's why I'm asking for a budget light.

Now the L2r product ($22) on the Solarforce site already comes with the XPG-R5 emitter, or is that just the body??

http://www.solarforce-sales.com/product_detail.php?id=114&s=31&t=LF

It is WITH the dropin. Bare L2r host is 10$.

i totally get that. it's just that low mode efficiency is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest weakness of budget lights. it still amazes me that 700 lumen hand cannons are $20, but it's almost impossible to find something that will do 30 lumens for 8+ hours and not have horrible PWM in that price range.

your best bet for low lumens/long runtime/low price combo might be a Nichia GS based light like the Princeton Tec Attitude. those things are distinctly unglamorous, but they run forever.

20+ lumens is probably good enough for me. I read somewhere XPG is up to 35% (claimed) more efficient than XRE.

So if XRE can get us 13 hours on low (let's say 10 hours), XPG wouldn't be less?

Sounds like that L2r XPG-R5 can 'possibly' give out 20 lumens for 10 hours on Low, if not better?

If eventually someone can confirm this, and tell us if the L2r would flicker or runs ok on Low... . Perhaps, my search would be settled.

Thx for the info on JetBeam BA20 anyway (unfortunately it's just out of my price range).

Perhaps a question for Rod911 -

did you notice any flickering with the XRE in your overnight Low-mode test?

No flickering during the low output run. Output was noticeably lower for the last half hour though.

25-30 lumens for 30 hours (I measured estimated 40hours on my sample at 0.05a) hours on 2x AA ni-mh from the BA20 (more on lithium primary or alkaline) is really as good as it gets. You will not come close with anything else (other than Klarus P2a which uses same circuit + emitter) even near that price range, the L2r really isn't a very good host.. Imho the worst solarforce ever made, very bad ergonomics and tail-clickie. Any boost/low-voltage drop-in is likely to be very inefficient from a budget or even mid-range (under $40).

I get that the BA20 is a little more than you wanted to spend but it is worth so much more than that. I couldn't believe the efficiency it is for the price.. I would recommend getting a single mode 5mm light like the Fenix E01 and settling on that for an efficient back-up, or saving a little longer and getting the BA20, but really anything in between is not going to suit you for a long runtime efficient light.

The main thing for low-mode is for camping, power outages, and emergency.

Just a month ago we had a power outage. It lasted for 8 hours. I thought I had all the batteries, well they all went low at that time. Trying to fumble along to locate some new batteries while everyone is waiting for something that works 'now' get you just a bit anxious.

The longer runtime covers the case better when the battery might not be fully charged--and less chance of the hassle to try to find another battery in the dark -- when the light is already pretty dim -- or when you're not close to where you can pick up the new batteries.

Camping and emergency when you're out there in the wild are other times when you'd need more than just a 2-3 hours -- particularly when you just realize you left the spare batteries at home. You'll really appreciate longer runtimes when you need that and you're out in the wild... .

Even at home I would spend 5+ hours doing home projects -- and uses the light during the day (in tight spots) + night. You won't want to switch batteries too often when you have the light in one hand and the tool in another.

So while I sure like the fiery bright light of some LED's, unless the flashlight can last for at least a good couple of hours (at least from a multi-mode option) for me personally I'll pass... .

The lower price point means I can get one for each family member and won't need to be that upset when they lose theirs in the dark. :-)

The performance of BA20 is quite impressive though--I forget how to interpret the light output -- what's the equivalence of the output to lumens on the chart?

I never paid attention but looks like the MiniMag LED w/ AA's -- might just fit the bill for family members (I can get one each for everyone in the house). MagLite used to be popular years ago -- I'm glad they do have LED lights now as I thought they were lost in the recent years since all the LED lights came out. I'm going to check that out--and yes Thanksgiving is not too far away from now -- that's the good time to load up some... .

(and can return defective items -- instead of stuck w/ some DOA's from some online stores... )

If you can budge on the AA requirement you can get the low voltage P-60 drop in from Solarforce and if you buy cr123s in bulk you can get them for $1 dollar a piece. You would easily get 8 hours of run time on low out of this drop in with a fresh decent quality cr123.

http://www.lighthound.com/Solar-Force-LC-XPG-Cree-XPG-Drop-In-Three-Mode-08V-42V_p_3920.html

You can get these 501As cheap from Manafont.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-wf501a-flashlight-tube-cr123-mini-p60-host-no-led-emitter-p-4294

Batteries

http://www.amazon.com/Tenergy-40-pack-Lithium-Battery-Protected/dp/B001W9Y4PK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318183673&amp;sr=8-1

those Mag runtimes are measured on alkalines with declining output down to 10%. in actual use, you won't get more than 2.5 hours of useful light on high, maybe 8 hours on low. the low mode output is more like 10-15 lumens and the PWM flicker is awful.

Hi Bob

I'm inclined to agree - but some folks have wildly unreliable power and a tiny amount of light is better than no light.

A holiday place i have access to is like that in winter - power might, or might not, happen. If it doesn't happen it could be a week or two till they fix it. Problem is that when that happens, the water goes with the power - and the well pump often dies too. When it is dark 17 hours a day and pretty dim the rest of the time, any light is better than no light.

The New Assistant and I are due for a break up there soon. There may, or may not, be power. I can still work a Tilley (Coleman in the US) lamp though and there are plenty of them there. The kilowatt or so of heat they produce is a very welcome side-effect. And I love the gentle hiss they make. No flashlight can do that!

But they take a while to heat up and light - flashlights are instant. For getting to the bathroom in the middle of the night less than a lumen is perfectly adequate. And for a nightlight a lumen or so is too much.

But most of the time a thousand lumens is meh...

PWM flicker doesn't bother me at all.

This seems to be a problem for the folks whose AC is at 60Hz rather than 50 like the civilised world does it :P

All my life has been spent in 50Hz places. Apart from two weeks in August this year where my main complaint was that the switches were the wrong way round. Down is ON, not OFF!

The US is just wrong on this!

You kept switching on all the lights when you left the room ..

I'm with old bob on this one ..lights are plenty long runtime these days .

i don't want a cheap light that only does 25 lumens on high .

for 15$ I can have 200 lumens 30 lumens and maybe even 1 lumen .. just use medium .

I've heard people trying to do it for under 10$. or do it on a AAA. my advice is get a 3AA light bang some eneloops in it and run it on med or low ..

This summer I was trying to play long runtime games too and was glad i had 4 18650's with me..I was planning on using only AA'sand for the most part I did ...Having a druacell charger for the duraloops that charged off of DC just made life really simple ..There are 1000 ways to skin a cat ..trick is to have a good knife :P

http://www.discoverybargain.com/product/HT00552S/NAVY_Stainless_Steel_440C_Folding_Knife_K508_(Silver)_40135.html

charger http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=CEF23DX2&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-ContextMenu&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7RNWN_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=12117010668455269051&sa=X&ei=lkuSTpmHGIW3sQKaze2DAQ&ved=0CDgQ8wIwAQ#