A lot of my friends do not have rechargable batteries so I am looking for a bright AA alkaline torch for gifts. I have read that alkaline batteries are limited in their current output, so would a 2 or 3 AA light produce more light than a single AA by lessening the current demanded by each cell?
Most people expect the 2AA format. And like you say, they will draw less current than a single AA. The Tank007 E07 is worth a look though it'll work better on an NiMH.
Thing is, there aren't many inexpensive good 2AA lights. And I'd not inflict an Ultrafire C3 and extension tube on a civilian. The Ultrafire WF-606 is the only one that comes to mind.
3AA lights are above the Vf of any common white LED. You are likely to get regulation through most of the battery life. I don't know of any such lights though.
Short answer: yes.
In alkaline batteries the voltage sags faster when the current is higher so the total amount of usable energy you can get out of a cell is reduced under higher current. I have two "Nuflare" lights wich are identical apart from the battery configuration, one is 1AA, the other 2AA. Both lights are rated 100 lumen but the 1AA has a claimed runtime of 1.5 h (0.5 regulated) whereas the 2AA runs 8 h (1.5 regulated).
Is yours really bright? Mine was mediocre in output at best. UF C3 (alu/ss) / HUGSBY P31 / P32 / Eastward YJ J09 3-mode are brighter.
Solarforce L2R comes to mind as a 2AA light and the SAiK SA-305 as 3AA light. The L2R is not sooo cheap but reliable and the SAiK is bulky but has the best throw of all my AA lights.
Give 'em a Trustfire Z1. They will love you for it until they have to pay to replace the cr123 battery.
This light is my most-anticipated order, seems like it is taking forever to get here. I just think it is a great conversation piece.
Just 6.7cm tall, about 2.5 inches
No, the Tank isn't the brightest and there are brighter single AA lights but the Tank is about as small as AA lights get and is still way brighter than just about anything anyone who doesn't frequent places like this will have seen. There are loads of good single AA lights, i just happen to particularly like that one. All your other links are also excellent lights (Except the alu C3 - I just like them a lot). I like the Hugsbys - they are probably the best quality of the single AA lights (As long as you get one with a 1.5V driver). This seems to be a P31 thing, the P32s seem not to come with silly drivers in them.
The L2r is just too big for me - and too limited in the choice of dropins that will work at such a low voltage. And you have to either get a new bezel or spend some time Foying it.
The Saik I know nothing about.
However, just about anything will be better than what is available in shops round here.
I admit that the proportions of the L2R are not optimal, but it is a light that is brighter than most sub 30 dollar 2AA and you can get it with 3-modes and flat bezel for $28.50 shipped. The lights I give away as presents/recommendations have to be higher in quality, than the lights that I keep for myself. I thought about modifying the SAik with an XML WW T3. It will be heavily under-driven, but I want to try out an XML WW with AA configuration.
If you go 2aa, how about the Terralux lightstar 220. it is on sale for $21 right now at batteryjunction. Nice quality light wth 2 modes.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/tlf-3c2aaex.html
In a 1aa, how about the rebranded itp c7's being clearanced.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026K2WM6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3IAN4VN1Q26HU
Edit: I should add on the terralux, you need to add code tlsave5 at checkout for an additional 5% off. This takes the price to $20 even. The Terralux comes with pocket clip, holster, and a lifetime warranty. Terralux supposedly has great customer service. Their lumen ratings are at the emitter so actual real otf lumens is about 60 on low and 150-160 on high. This is probably your best bet other than the SF L2R, outside of moving up to the Fenix E21 or ITP Sa2 at $35, if you go 2xaa.
The Tank007 TK-566 is quite high quality and bright, and it works well with an optional 2xAA extension tube. The Romisen RC-I3 is also very high quality, but not terribly bright on 1xAA. I'm not sure how bright it would be with 2xAA, I never tried mine in that configuration. I personally don't like 2xAA at all, too long and unwieldy. Some lights double the output with 2 batteries and maintain the same runtime, whereas others maintain the same brightness and double the runtime.
Actually it more than doubles the runtime because there are less losses in the voltage conversion (since the input voltage is doubled) and also because of less voltage sag as mentioned above (especially with alkalines).
I got the Saik SA-205 which is 2xAA Q3 SMO, the quality of the switch is not so good but mine works OK after some clicking. The beam is ugly beeing Q3 and SMO but it only draws 450 mA with eneloops and is as bright as a normal 1xAA Q5 drawing at least 1500 mA. Not bad for $10.
Thanks for clarifying!
This can be the best option for you http://www.dealextreme.com/p/skyray-s-a1-cree-xpe-q3-5-mode-160-lumen-memory-led-flashlight-1-aa-1-14500-33544?r=43033281
My sample draws 1,55A and produces, lets say 130 real lumens. I am impressed with it
You can read my review if you need more info.
I can also vote for the SkyRay S-A1. I sold one once, couldn't make without it and bought again.
The other, not so budget, not so bright light I love with Alkalines is FenixE10. Just enough light for everything, very very nice tint and longish runtime on single AA.
I haven’t made the jump to rechargeable batteries yet. My favorite budget AA light is UniqueFires G10. I have a 6 mode now that rocks on high mode. The 6 modes are just plain silly. I have a 5 mode and a 1 mode on the slow boat from China now. I expect similar performance. My only gripes about the one I have is that it’s kind of big for a single AA light and that it doesn’t have a pocket clip.
It is plenty bright on an AA. I would think a non flashaholic would be absolutely impressed by it. It will blow away any stock incan light that they may have had in the past for about $15.
This is a fantastic torch! I love mine!
I think either of these would be nice as well although I don't own one...yet
Either of those can be used with one or two AA batteries and the Tank lights are really nice lights.
This TrustFire is also a good flashlight (dont put a 14500 on it!!!) it just pop a regular AA or NiMh. But the memory mode is not good:
And of course, the famous hugsby, a single mode (AA only) flashlight which many people say that it is the brightest flashlight in the AA type:
(the hugsby has dropped the price from 14,99 from the actual price?
Also some people are receiving a 3 mode instead a single mode!)
I had a Fenix LD20, that was pretty bright for a 2xAA led flashlight, but that will be too expensive to give away to all your friends...
I have bought 7 of these http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-c3-stainless-steel-cree-q5-wc-5-mode-190-lumen-memory-led-flashlight-1-aa-1-14500-26122 to give as newyearsgifts (january 2010), and exept for one they are all still working perfect (one fell on the floor, and it stopped working, they did not give it back, so i don't know what's wrong with it). I gave them with a LSD Nimh, and all of these are still being used with that battery (the have recharged it many times). I kept one for myself, and in that one i use a 14500 lithium-ion.
Do not give these away with a lithium-ion battery, unless you explain that they should not leave it on the high mode for too long (and then you would have to give a complete set with a charger). On a Nimh or alkaline there is no danger for the led, it gets pretty warm on high (2A on a Nimh battery), but it will not overheat.
They work fine on an alkaline, but a Nimh works better because it handles the high current draw much better than an alkaline.
I like the tanks as gifts ..I sold 3 this last weekend and of all the lights I had out there they picked them up fastest and first ..a couple of them had the 2 ~ 3 dollar extention tubes on them .I see the 90 lumen rating from DX and think ..That must be old emitter ratings one being a q2 and the other being a p4 ..almost neither emitter being sold these days ..My guess is they are q3 or q4's and do 140 150 lumens easily .Of everything mentioned I like the 566 tank single 3/5 mode best since it's a well made smooth bodied light that people like .
extention tubes are available thru manafont