Please help choose a single AA, Joule Thief, multimode flashlight

First post here, but I was a prolific poster on CPFM as a vendor of GITD key fobs.

Any help would be appreciated, as I don't know if what I'm looking for even exists!

I'm hoping for an EDC, thin/strong, 1xAA (with 14500 if possible), Joule Thief capability, multimode flashlight.

Primary want is the JT, as I have a ton of partially used AA primary cells that I'd like the light to suck dry (I can't throw away batteries that still have some juice left in them ).

I'd like the flashlight/torch to be as small as possible for jeans pocket carry, and to look like a standard flashlight. So, DIY Altoids/TicTac boxes are out due to size and structural weakness.

Would like it to be able to run on 14500 if possible when I'm not draining alkalines, but I'm guessing JT circuitry would preclude this. I assume it would be a verrrrry bad idea to put a 14500 Li Ion in a JT light. Please correct me if I'm mistaken. So, AA is the main use...

I'd like multimodes in regards to brightness...don't need strobes, beacons, SOS, etc...

Does this device exist?

Great to see you here, Andy. Your GITD keyfobs have been very popular gifts to many of my friends over the years.
(I suspect your methods might also be used to make “remote phosphor” lights in interesting ways)

What you’re looking for —- a booster circuit to use 1xAA with a LED — is rare and hard to find.
The cheap ($2 if you look around) SK68 clones or “#3 zoomie” lights use that kind of driver.

https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Abudgetlightforum.com+AA+boost+driver

RMM of MtnElectronics has said he’s been thinking of making a good 1xAA boost driver, but not promising anything anytime soon.

I’ve never seen a light with a built in joule thief, probably because the light would be so dim as to be useless.

Additionally, the more you run alkalines down, the more likely they are to leak crud out, since the electricity is produced partly by corroding the outer can .

Dollar-store batteries (“Sunbeam”) are particularly bad about this, they have tin foil cans to start with.

wle

I know you want a handheld, Andy, but wie is right — alkalines make electricity by reacting the zinc shell, and eventually leak.

I’ve found the best use for half-dead alkalines is in plastic 3x or 4x cell holders set up to power these: site:budgetlightforum.com “piss light” - Google Search

Thank you hank and wle. I guess I'll have to just build myself a JT, and put it in something that resembless a flashlight.

And hank, good to hear from you!!! I'm thinking on resurrecting the old business, but CPFM seems to have disappeared...

i would investigate the dimness issue before going to a lot of trouble

also, most joule thiefs just blink , they don;t even make a steady light

make one first, then think whether it would really work, before trying to make an actual light out of it

wle