Emergency flashlight for cars AA or AAA

Hi, I’m looking for an emergency flashlight for my cars.
I have some Convoy S2+ SST40 and I thought about this one first, but I read here in the forum it is not recommended to have flashlights with 18650 battery in the car because of the heat and the cold. Now I am looking for something with AA or AAA batteries. More precisely, I would like to use Panasonic Eneloops.
If these go bad, the exchange is less problematic.
Prerequisites are:

  • Not too big, size like the Convoy S2+
  • Type: Flooder
  • Different modes: Less bright/very bright/SOS
  • Should light up for a long time at low level.
  • Price: 10-20$
    Thanks for your tips.

To get the maximum life out of your car battery it is not recommended to let it be exposed to extreme cold and heat also. I’ve not read where anybody had any “real problems” storing lithium ion battery flashlights in vehicles.

How about a Lumintop tool AA 2.0 ?

Unless you live somewhere where your car gets really cold, an S2+ is fine. –5C is not a problem. Below –20C might be too cold.

High temperatures are an issue. Storage at 60C (140F) will degrade a 30Q. —> https://eu.nkon.nl/sk/k/30q.pdf

Charging a hot LiIon battery is really bad for it. Charging a sub zero battery isn’t great either. But you aren’t going to charge it in the car are you?

The maximum “recommended” storage temperature for an alkaline battery is 50°c. So a lithium ion battery has a higher “recommended” maximum storage temperature. The goal is to have a relatively reliable and capable flashlight in the vehicle. If you’re happy with the performance and capabilities of the S2+ then it should make an excellent car flashlight.

UltraTac A1 with a lithium AA battery.

I use this one :
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32893117331.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.2f983ea0KITGOL&algo_pvid=ff39bc73-eac6-436b-a682-b73f66ee4a49&algo_expid=ff39bc73-eac6-436b-a682-b73f66ee4a49-2&btsid=0887aa47-9bd7-4abe-a7e0-5a8213fe2171&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_6,searchweb201603_55

Some cons:
plastic lens,
I have not found how to disassemble,
visible PWM,
LED I guess samsung.

Apart of the above it is good flashlight

Seconding the Tool AA 2.0. And might I add, if it’s purely an emergency light, you’re much better off feeding it a lithium primary battery, those have a shelf life of basically forever.

Choose a headlamp or have a band that will hold the flashlight hands free.

Choose AA and carry AAA to AA adapter(s)

Store the light (and any other small electronics you keep in the car) in a soft sided flat lunch cooler under the seat, which is the coolest area.

The car light is rarely to never used so it is easier to hold a headlamp in the hand for a couple of minutes than it is to hold a flashlight in your teeth for a half hour or more while working with your hands.

When it comes to temperature Eneloops are not much different than an 18650-30Q.

The data sheet I found specifies a 90 day storage temp range of –20C to +40C. The consumer sheet says the minimum operating temp is –20C but at reduced capacity.

http://www.produktinfo.conrad.com/datenblaetter/1200000-1299999/001221220-da-01-en-PANASONIC_MIGNON_AKKU_ENELOOP_PRO\_\_4ER.PDF

Absolute best is to just carry a light (or two) on you at all times. That’s your emergency light. Unless you’re at a campground and have to run nekkid to your car to escape some banjo-playing hillbillies, you’ll always have a light that’s close to topped off, always known to be working, never in an unknown state as far as light or battery.

Next-best would be to have a small light that can plug into the lighter socket for juice. Back in the day, I had a pigtail socket for a headlight and lighter-plug with about 15’ of wire, that in a pinch I could just take a spare headlight bulb (4564 or whatever the number was, for 4×6 discrete headlights), plug that into one end, the other end into the lighter-socket, and there ya go.

If you had to have a discrete “car-light”, make it something like a big honkin’ Maglite that you could use for clubbin’ as well. But either drop in some NiMH D-cells, or get AA-to-D adapters and load ’em up with eneloops.

You’ll likely misplace a small light, but not a bat-sized light.

Eneloops (generation 2 and above) will work at colder than that, down to at least –30C from my own usage in year-round outdoor equipment. The generation 1 Eneloops died at around –27C. However, that’s at low discharge, and they probably wouldn’t last long at higher drains, regardless of the generation.

Lithium-ion will also work down to –30C. Samsung 30Q’s will still power a Zebralight at full 1400 lumen output (it uses a boost driver for regulated output). Lower drain 18650 cells would only operate at 500 lumens or less. I don’t know for how long. And yes, I did store both flashlight and cells outside for several hours before testing.

Basically, I think you can use almost any rechargeable battery for cold outdoor use. I wouldn’t trust alkalines, though. Lithium primaries are an option, but probably overkill unless you live in a really cold climate. Where I’m from, they cost more than Eneloops, so I’m not going to waste money on them.

Nitecore MT22A

Bright yellow, 2xAA side by side, 3 levels and a strobe, belt/sunshade clip.
With Energizer lithium primaries.
It’s an annoying little cool white light, but for longterm sitting waiting on need, seems good to me.

Lumintop tool AA 2.0

If the modes you want can be a little different, I would recommend the Convoy T2 flashlight (3 modes + strobe through double click).
There is also the MantaRay S1, similar host, but only with one mode.

You can also try the Jaxman E3 (3 modes only).

These are good hosts, sturdy and that can take a beat, being reliable.

I prefer those of 2 or more AA.

In 2AA: Sofirn SF13, Lumintop Tool25, Nitecore MT22A.
4AA: Sofirn SF11, Nitecore EA41 and, if it could be found, the one I use in my car (my favorite) Jetbeam PR40.

With 2AA flashlights not only get the AAA to AA adapters but carry a AA dummy cell.

Personally, I would go with a single cell cr123 led light & a slimline storeacell. In the light, I would cut out a small disc of plastic & put it in front of a fresh battery. CR123 have a nice long shelf life.

It is a good option but …
It depends on the availability of the CR123.
In my country they are difficult to obtain, only in specialized stores, and they are expensive.