You've just been FEMA-megaphoned to prepare to evacuate your..................

LED Flashlights – General Info
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residence due to a rapidly oncoming natural disaster. They hand you a sheet of paper with certain particulars outlined on what to expect. It’s in the dead of night and because of more important priorities such as treasured family and pets you only have enough time to grab but one flashlight along with one extra-set of batteries, one battery charger, and one accessory of your choosing.

You’ve been told that you will not be able to return for an indefinite period and that you will be relocated with many others to a remote location that will be set up with tents, some trailers, and which will have at best intermittent electrical power. You are also told that you may be required to relocate from that position as required, that there will be limited supplies other than bare essentials, and that it may be relocated by foot. This event occurs in the middle of summer.

(Yes, you must evacuate the mother-in-law before you grab the Nitecore TM11 so no substitution shenanigans allowed.)

Which flashlight would it be and why?

Here’s what I would grab if it happened tonight………

Flashlight: Maglite, LED in 3-cell D

One set of Batteries*: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/gp-rechargeable-9000mah-1-2v-nimh-d-battery-white-green-2-piece-pack-147069?item=4

(Or any other Ni-MH battery that beats this. I gotta get new ones from somewhere.)

One flashlight Accessory*: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/soshine-2xaa-to-d-size-cell-battery-converter-case-2-pack-7031

One Battery Charger: http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-household-battery-solar-charger-68690.html

Since the HF description is sorely lacking here’s a U-tube…….

Btw, the U-tube doesn’t show that there’s a cover for the back that snaps in place over the batteries being charged. It’s a very compact and IMO pretty well put together unit for what it costs.

*Web site quantity packs of 2 (x) 2 in order to fill 3-Cell flashlight.

Now as to the ‘Why’: 3-Cell LED D Maglite. Very common. Can run on 1.2v NiMH, fairly common in D. But also runs on alkalines or even zinc heavy-duty in a pinch. NiMh-rechargeable. 3-Cell D Maglite is stoutly built, and is long and heavy enough for defensive use. Decent run time. Focusable flood to spot. Tough as nails and yet inexpensive.

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If I was smart, I’d probably grab my Gerger omnivore, as it’s able to run on AA,aaa or cr123 batteries.
I’d bring a Sysmax V2 intellicharger so that I could charge my Eneloops or any other rechargeables I scavenge
I’d bring my black label xxx Eneloops

What I’d actually grab would be my HDS170 legacy or hds120 hi cri
The Sysmax intellicharger As mentioned above and
Two protected Aw16340’s

With any luck I’m aloud my house keys which has a Preon PO on them.

Flashlights for me are like Pringles, I can’t stop at just one. :smiley:

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What:
JETBeam BA20
4 Eneloop in total (2 in light, 2 extra set)
Sysmax V2 intellicharger
Dummy AA-battery

Why:
KISS-light with good levels and runtime
LSD rechargeable batteries
All-around good charger
Dummy AA to be able to use the light with single AA, and single 14500

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Middle of summer? Oh crap. I’m like 25 stories up in a complex that houses like 60000 people in about a 1 km^2. in 38 degree heat and 100% humidity.

You’re evil.

Well, to start, I’d have to ditch all my Lithium batteries (new charger on order, long story) and lights.

Damn your evil timing.

I’d just toss my r5-a3, eneloop charger and a pack of XX eneloops in my day bag and run. My SRM 763 knife if I can find it.

So yeah. Nothing spectacular, nothing custom.

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SC51 + Pocketfull of `Loops.

If time, MAHA C9000 with Car adaptor.

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instead. With as many Li-ions as I’m accumulating that’s why I’m inquiring here about modifying the above solar charger to handle them. I guess the best of both worlds would be to bring two sets of chemistries, NiMhs in the light and Li-ions as a back-up. Li-ions for sheer oomph, and NiMhs for sheer ability to recharge with myriads of chargers out there in case mine broke.

I’m trying to put together a Ready-to-Go on a moments notice lightweight flashlight bag. This bag has to have everything I would need to be self-sufficient for extended periods without any other power source other than what’s in that bag. The flashlight itself has to have a wide range of versatility built-in. Sounds easy. It ain’t because there are so many viable options.

I can see the rationale behind all your choices which now has me scratching my head again. lol

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Hmmmm, the only “normal cell” light I’m prepared to admit owning here is a 3d polished maglight incan. Yep, back to the dark ages for me. I’ll cheat though, my rucksac lives under the desk that holds all my lights, and my chargers and all my lights have cells in them, the desk drawer with the chargers has any spare cells apart from two 18650’s in the van, so I have time to grab everything other than the Maglite (under the stairs). Plus, I live in Britain, we don’t do evacuations, the last one was Dunkirk I think……

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I have a Guide 10 solar kit that I can use to recharge all of my batteries. I have both a USB nimh and lion charger so I can charge all of my batteries.

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CottonPickers’s makes a solar charger, for small lithium batteries. He has a thread on CPF marketplace as wel as the edcForum I think. Good for the BugOutBag

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I would grab one of my three EagleTac D25A Clicky lights, my LaCrosse BC-500 charger and my battery case full of eneloops (I guess that covers the extra batteries and the accessory).

Other than that, my iPhone and Google Nexus 7 would be loaded into the car with my emergency bag that has clothes and toiletries in it. I am starting to wonder if I should keep my tent and other camping supplies in my car for emergencies now.

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I didn’t know what a Gerber Omnivore was until I searched it based on your post.

http://www.rei.com/product/769769/gerber-omnivore-flashlight

Then I see Langcj’s comment in the below thread link about having a solar charger than could do all his Li-ions at once and that’s exactly what I’m driving at in this thread. Now in my case, I’m looking for foremost as lightweight as possible but with the Maglite I had in mind that goes out the window. Defensive-wise hell yes the Maglite fits the bill and to me being able to swing that sucker if necessary against the upcoming ubiquitous Zombies, well let’s just say it does have merit. So I’m trying to save weight but hey the Maglite is an elephant weight-wise no matter what I craft-up with a Li-ion capable solar charger. Looks like Scaru has the charger part nailed. Gotta research that unit out.

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The best thing about it was I got it at a Attic Sale for 20 dollars. The person returned it because one of the loops tore. :P

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Dont use your only source of light as a club, get a Framing hammer. Newer ones have a lightweight design, 15 ounces that hits like a 28 ounce. Stanley/Dewalt, Vaughn and Stilleto all make them. Some are titanium :wink:

Love your light and just use it for light. Have something with an ultra low mode so the zombies don’t take notice. :wink:

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PALight has a glow mode that lasts a year on a lil 9volt battery :smiley:
I use these to check on my baby boy when he sleeps

https://www.safe-light.com/store/safe-light-survival-led-flashlight.html

There are different models, with a few UI options

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I would bring my TR-J12 cuz it’s the strong light I have and would be good at starting fires with scraps of paper in the camps to cook rats! Also good SOS signal to the Aliens and awe the non-flashlightholics.

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……

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built in the handle end too? Hey wait a second that’s not such a bad idea. I can see it now, The Zombie Lite Hammer, with 2000 Lumens. lol

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Yep, something similar to what I was thinking when I did this :wink: The flashbang 2.0 prototype

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In a SHTF situation, the only batteries I would even consider would be AAs or AAAs.

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that’s one of those Lumen Master Costco specials ain’t it? Basically a brain crackin’ disposable! Just zip-tie on a new one and you’re ready for the next Zomb. Genius.