Since we’re just spitballing ideas here, I’d love to see something in the same form factor as the Eagletac D25a - small tube style, reverse clicky, screwed on clip, gentle knurling for sparing pocket.
But I’d love it in copper, with a nw high-cri emitter, driven hard, with a better UI than eagletac’s convoluted setups. TKs style from the A6 would be great, or even a tail-mounted e-switch with something Zebralight’ey. Whatever works, but its gotta have easy access to moonlight and turbo from off. I’d buy that today.
Why not a 14500 only light? I get the want to use both AA and 14500, but the drivers for both are not as efficient as for 14500 only. AA until it is 3X loses a lot in the boost driver, most of us already have LiIon lights, and therefore the chargers for 14500….
If anyone’s hunting up someone who could build such a thing, I’d recommend the SK58 (not 68) shape.
No sharp edges, tolerable zoom (improved by paring off a few mm from the slidey part so the lens goes closer to the emitter)
Takes the 15mm BLF sk68 driver
I don’t see why the Hugsby XP-12 2xAA doesn’t get much love. Tomtop has had all genuine so far. I’ve seen a few fakes from other sellers. But coated glass lense, good machining and near type 3 anodizing for $6. These are my new favorite gift lights next to the old sk68.
I think what we want here is our own custom user interface, an existing light can not give that. Further, 14500 only will not do it for me, what makes an AA light strand out is the use of alkalines and safe NiMh batteries, it makes this light suitable for gifting and lending out. The main problem is the boost driver, it must be efficient, programmable (Attiny based?) and probably 15mm diameter. There have been some attempts, one still in progress, once that has been sorted out this project can take off.
My first thought would be a chinese manufacturer to make it cheap and in BLF spirit, but if Texas Lumens is able to make it stand out in design and quality, I'm very tempted too :love:
Instead of 14500 only, I would go the other direction. I would like to see a budget light that has all the good features of the Zebralight SC5Fd.
1xAA: NiMH, lithium primary, or alkaline; no 14500
Reasonably high output, but not necessarily 500 lumens
Efficient, constant-current, boost driver; no PWM
Perfectly flat output, with forced step-downs as voltage wanes
At least 5 constant modes, 6 might be better, e.g., 0.5, 3, 30, 90, 220, 450 lumens
Quality UI (perhaps ToyKeeper's!)
Medium- or high-CRI (at least 85, if not 90+)
Choice of emitters: NW plus anything else (all I want is NW)
Floody, perhaps even using a frosted lens.
I like the unfocused beam of most zoomies. Although I might prefer a reflector and frosted lens more, I have wondered whether a fixed optic of some sort might not give the beam of a zoomie set to flood.
This would make a great indoor flashlight (and a whole lot more).
I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Dereelight Javelin in this thread. Not exactly budget and now a bit long in the tooth but this was/is a nice 2AA light. The "lego" nature of their products was a big selling point a few years ago. Same head but with 2AA, 3(or more)AA via extension tube(s), CR123 or single AA bodies. P60 head.
Perhaps something similar in concept would suit the needs of many. A single AA host with extension tubes for 2 or 3 AA if required. Swap pills according to your preference. That should satisfy both the Eneloop and 14500 camps.
The P60 format is surely still viable for the currents drawn by most AA/14500 options. This could be a modder's dream.
Still have the main issue of good boost driver availability to contend with though.
I like all of what you listed, bar the frosted lens… Modes you listed are good… As long we have the ability to enable or disable the “moonlight” 0.5 lumen mode (soldering a star or via clicky UI, I am not bothered which).
+1 to both statements for me.
My first LED flashlight was the INOVA X1. Had that as my main light for years until I came across this forum…. and the rest is history (my order history, that is)