Can anyone step up for an AA/2AA only BLF budget flashlight?

All the best in the expansions TL. Sounds interesting.

As far as I know there’s never been a BLF SE zoomie so that may be an idea. It wouldn’t be my first choice personally though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271826474761?\_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

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.

hum I like AA and 14500 but I am a bit confused.

  1. Manker T01
  2. BLF X5
  3. Spark SX5
  4. any S7

Off the bat these are all great AA/14500 lights that are availible now. What is it “we” are looking for? and (heresy) why?

for extras and modding try
Brand: SAIK
Model: SA-305

These are not all AA lights and some of the models are costly and not gifters/loaners etc….

I'd be interested in some AA happiness. I was just looking for some potential AA lights to lay claim to this evening.

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).

I’d be up for one of those, but with an upgraded emitter and driver, to push more lumens. Nice looking light, though.

Nichia 219C might be a good emitter for this flashlight.

Seems to me, you know exactly why it hadn’t been mentioned in this thread. :wink:

Yupz.

Its nice and efficient with a low VF, and a good tint.

Or maybe an XP-L HI - I like the XP-L HI V3 2B I have stuck in my Convoy S6…

I have a Hugsby XP-12 and its a decent light, dated but decent. Heck, if Hugsby would update it then my problem would be solved.

+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)

What the whole world truly needs is a programmable AA driver built by one of the resident smarty pants people. Then every AA light could be a super light.

I would not be at all interested in a 14500 only light. We can already do that with any light. A 15mm FET driver, done deal.


I think it would be worth while if we all chipped in to pay some BLF member with the ability to make a good single or 2 AA driver. That way they could be getting something for the time and we could all reap the benefit.

I would personally donate $20 toward development of said driver.

I realize that is not much toward such a massive undertaking, but if we all chip in a little the person spending all the time doing it will not have to carry such a load.

There are a lot of good AA lights about. The first one that comes to mind is the olight s15r, AA, 2XAA or 14500 from moonlight all the way to 350/400 lumens. All you really need. Then there’s the Hugsby lights xp11 springs to mind for $5/6. So would I want a potentially expensive custom AA? not really. I’m not sure it would give me want isn’t already available.

S15R is definitely my top light at the moment, however, its medium mode is slightly too birght, would love to see it more dimmer.

So, yeah, theres something to improve in AA powered space and Im all in ;)!

In fact, if we can keep it at 20$ shipped, would love to see USA made light with original design and good driver!

Apparently, you are not in the target audience. I would love to see someone develop an awesome programmable boost driver for AA and/or 2xAA, with a UI like TK’s BLF-A6 FW. And, I’d like to see it capable of taking high current input, like parallel AA or 18650 - sized NiMH cell, and give good output to a XP-L HI or XM-L2. If you know where we can get one of those drivers, please enlighten us, as there are obviously several of us that would love to have one.