Hi there,
I am interested in a 1xAA multimode Cree R2 flashlight. The only two I can find are the Ultrafire S10 (two options) and the Trustfire F22. The S10 looks like it could have some quality problems, and I don't like the crenelations. The F22 does look nice, but it's a tiny bit big, and it's a bit pricey. Any other options out there that you know of?
Thanks a lot!
All the S10 problems appear to be with the 6 mode - the single mode is just fine, or at least mine has been. Runtimes will be about the same as the Ultrafire C3 SS on high. It throws better than the Ultrafire if only by 10%. The six mode seems to be grief from the few reports I've read on it. The single mode is probably not optimal for your purposes as it is pulling around 2.1A on high with an NiMH so anticipated runtime is under an hour. The R2 bin is not hugely more efficient than the Q5 - less than 10% difference normally which is only visible to a light meter.
The Trustfire is big and heavy and not all that cheap but I like it more.
R3 XR-E lights should start appearing soon if Cree are serious about continuing the XR-E/XP-E dies but I suspect they plan to move over to the XP-G dies in the near future. These need different reflectors but are much brighter especially when driven hard in a well heatsinked design. This probably excludes AA sized lights as the only place for the heat to go is into your hand. However, at lower drive currents you get a lot more efficiency so more light for longer. LEDs are usually most efficient at the lower end of their current range - say 2-400mA to the LED. They are normally specified at 350mA though the XR-E and XP-G ranges can be driven at up to 1.5A with adequate (read, large lumps of metal, preferably copper) heatsinking.
Obviously driver efficiency also has an effect. Most white LEDs won't light up till about 3.5V so you need a circuit to bump up the voltage from an AA and the efficiency of some of these boost drivers is pretty low - wasting charge as heat. In high current designs the driver needs to be well heatsinked as well as the LED.
The new Luminus SST range may just render incandescent flashlights obsolete, but the quad-die SST-360 needs over 30 amps. 9 good D NiMH could supply that for an hour but the downside is carrying a 9D light. Even I might balk at that. Lithium cells with that sort of heat source don't bear thinking about. I like my limbs attached to the rest of my body.
Even the SST-90 single die jobs need over 9 amps to get 2000 lumens. 3 or 4 D NiMH ought to be able to provide that for the best part of an hour but the LED will cost more than we're talking about for several complete lights. I expect a large light to give me light for at least an hour as otherwise why bother bringing it.
OK, thanks Don! I think I'll wait and see if DX comes out with any new R-x 1xAA models in the future.
And it is optimised for up to 2V.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26929
Temporarily sold out though. And not all that cheap. Looks quite similar to the S10 though. I think I'd go for the F22 for a dollar or so more.
Hmm, "temporarily sold out" means "gone forever".
And it was a rather expensive single mode - just realised I'd forgotten to check the modes.
DX just came out with a bunch of new, affordable, stainless 18650 R2 lights a few weeks back, (I imagine you have a few on order Don?) maybe the AA versions are to follow.
Ordered the CR2 and 16340 ones. Not yet shipped though it has said "ready" since the next day. Ready for what, one wonders? Not shipping to me anyway...
Still says ready on both lights, but the order says, "Processing - awaiting stock"
They'll probably be along in due course. I hope. Still waiting for a refund on the Trustfire 1200 I ordered.
Goodluckbuy refunded my money with no comment at all. Just discovered my paypal had been credited. I begin to wonder if any of those budget SST-50 lights actually exist.
Yup, I had the same concurrent "Ready" and "Temporary Stock Shortage" status on my C3 SS order for about three weeks, so I finally re-ordered it with a few other things and it promptly shipped out. I think they simply forget about orders sometimes when there's any sort of delay or hiccup in the process.
Why dont you get a Nitecore D10 R2......it will be one of the smallest AA lights in your arsenal....lol. I checked DX and didnt see any light that i could recommend.
Now that is a fine instrument right there.... But I prefer something I can afford to lose. Being the admin of BLF and all I just can't allow myself to spend $55.00 for a flashlight. I'll keep waiting for DX to come out with more R2 models.