Help me choose a good 1xAA/14500 flashlight

Makes sense. Pity I didn't notice the link was to YouTube till I'd stuck it on the spreadsheet. Ah well, off to KD to play hunt-the-link. It will be sorted shortly.

lol, the new spitting image flashlight, look at post #3, there is the needed link to KD.

@old4570

- "If you want to run 14500 with AA for back up . Akoray AK-16 ..."

Akoray AK-16? Do you mean K-106?

As for SS-A1... good light for less than 10 bucks indeed.

@Vectrex

Yeah, don't know why almost all lights have SOS, strobe modes. I think momentary-on switch is much useful.

- "but later I found out it was actually yellow, like with a yellow lens in front, but everybody else seems to love it here, so my model might have been faulty, or a bad exception"

Yes, could be a batch issue. I've seen many lights (C3 for example) that had different tints, depending on when they were purchased/batch.

- "Also don't forget that the S1 is single-mode and you wanted multi-mode."- Well, If the light is only AA, could be an option, but if it's AA/14500... multimode is a must I think, because on 14500 it will be twise as bright.

Interesting results I see... Hm K-106 really sucks on AA... Can't believe it, so loooow lumen Well, on 14500 also. R5-A3 an C3 SS have great output.

@XRAYboy

Yes, C3 SS is a good choice apparently. Will wait review from Don. Looks like he bought U20. Or not?

@sb56636

Haven't found M2 @ DX or LT Where I can found it?

We should make a fundraiser to let Don buy every interesting light that is new... what are a few hundred lights more or less... right Don?

M2 Review / Purchase Link

Thx for the links, Vectrex

sb56637, have you tried your M2 with 14500? Very similar to K106/F20/AA-S1 body.

I have the Akoray AK-16 , 3 mode programmable , AA - 14500 - CR123A [ very nice ]

No, sorry, I actually don't own any 14500 cells. But I'm almost positive that it will work well with 14500, because it appears to be a rebadged Akoray K-106 6-mode, which according to the reviews is bright and reliable on 14500.

Ok, guys, thx to all your posts on this forum, now I know much more things about lights, etc Tongue out So, now I have a bunch good lights to choose from. Also want to buy a relatively good multi charger (should be multi because I plan to buy 18600 in the future). Matt, I think you have tested most chargers available today in the market, hehe Laughing, which would you recommend? Xtar 2 bay that you suggested me before? Or Shekor? Or Ultrafire? In my opinion Xtar will be better choice.

Another thing. The friend of mine want to buy a good 1xAA light with the best/brigtest spill posible. He really need a good spill, less than brightest hotspot. What do you recommend? Of course we are talking about budget lights, about $20. Thanks in advance ;)

Uniquefire AA-S1 - if necessary hit the reflector with some hairspray to farther diffuse the beam.

I totally agree with Don´s suggestion. The AA S1 has a wide beam and a nice ww natural color. 10$ Cheap!

Also easy modable. Just buy the ak-47 and you have a Li-Ion only 5 mode (or the modes you want by bridging the stars)

Also can use another 17mm driver or smaller and make multimode. AA or 14500, as you want!

Will ask my friend if he want a single mode light or multimode. The AA-S1 has the best spill with AA, 14500 or both?

I've been using the Trustfire TR-001 http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12594 for about a month now. I've been very pleased with it. I use it on 10440's, 14500's, and 18650's with no problems. It's a double charger with independent circuits that will cut off at 4.205v ( on all three battery types). It won't charge the 18650's as fast as some of the others, but it also won't ruin the smaller cells with too much current either. I'm going to order another one in the near future just to have a spare.

Just a heads up on the AA-S1. I just received one a few weeks ago and was less than impressed with it. After such rave reviews I can only assume I just got a crappy one (it happens...). On the other hand, the ultrafire C3 (DX sku 04452) has absolutely blown me away....on either 1xAA, 2xAA, or 14500(brightest). It has more throw than my Zebralight H51 and is almost as bright!

-Match

The AA-S1 both with AA or 14500 produces same spill, however, as all lights, with 14500 will be more powerfull (double?)

Perfect light for the money! even with alkalines (which draws less current than NiMh) is good enough!

The c78 from LT has better flood and brightness than the AA-S1. Very even beam with no artifacts and flexibility from wide to zoom. If you don't need modes, it's one of the best aa lights, all for ~$10.

Its a flood to throw light. I have several and none of them are very good at flood. Sounds interresting

that a 1.5 volt AA can provide higher lumens than a 3.7 volt 14500. Could you please inform us with

your measurements(!) of the C78 on 1.5v and the AA S1 on 14500, as the C78 is not found in Don´s

splendid dokument.

In terms of hotspot/throw with AA's, the c78 is about same as the skyray s5, about 1300 arbilux, this compared to 450 for the J4, 300 for the C3 SS, and 100 for the AA-S1.

For flood, measuring at half the radius from center, the c78 is about 40, the s1 about 15, the J4 15, and the C3 SS is 10.

I admit, I dont know what arbilux stand for. But if its the same lux as Dons there is a big difference

between your figures and Dons

The J4 is 1460, the C3 SS is 1391 and the S1 is 1255 Lux. Not a big difference. In lumens they are 262, 250 and 225.

With AA batteries the figures for all these lights are lower. But according to your figures the C78 on 1AA are much

brighter than these on 14500. For me there is something that does not add up. Do you use the same metode as Don

when you measure. Are the figures you gave measured and how?

Hello everybody

speaking over flood to throw .What about the good old Romisen Rc 29 It has Q5 emitter single mode bigger flood than c78 and workmanship is better.

Cons : sharp switch ( can destroy your pocket) but perfect tailstand, a bit bulky, only up to 1,5 v .

All my non flashaholic friends love it.

By the way Thanks for the warm welcome

It is true, build quality of the KD Romisen RC-29 Q5 is much higher (switch+threads) and it is brighter than my 2 C78s. But it is very bulky and needs 3 full turns of twisting, resulting in 5-6 actions to go from flood to throw. If it was push-pull and had the switch of the C6/C8 ... it would be the perfect flood-to-thow light on 1xAA.