1 mode simple flashlight

ZoomieFan · 2019-04-01T14:23:24.000Z

An insider!

Currently she has a 3xAAA which I put a 18650 in.
The light is starting to give issues.
She doesn’t replace any battery, regardless of the type.
The tailcap takes way to much force to unscrew.

The reason one of the demands is long runtime is exactly for that reason.
It has to last until my next visit. The light is on for a few minutes a time.
The type of battery is not a big issue because whatever it may be, I’ll make sure she won’t run out.
She has plenty of visitors who are able to swap batteries if needed.

You could be right about the 100-180 lumen vs 350 lumen.
http://www.lumintop.com/toolaa.html
I have that one and use Ni-MH and it’s 140 lumen isn’t bad at all for indoor use.
Runtime may be a little on the low side. The main reason I’m not considering that light is because it use half-press to cycle trough mode. And a quick twist mode change. That may prove a challange due to her artroses.

Macka17 · 2019-04-01T14:44:58.000Z

If you do go the rechargable way.
Get a torch that is rechargable. With a SMALLer/LIGHTer
than 18650 Cell in it.
Mount the charger beside bed. in lounge. In Kitchen on bench.
and make sure she gets in habit of plugging it in every morning.
and keeps it on a cord round her neck at night till she goes to bed.
Twisty over a push button is preferred by the old arthritic mates I have.
and MID sized torch over S2 or Astrolux AO1 sized.

The old school torch is fine. Twisty and 2 cells (IN LED).
Just wrap some doctors paper tape, or Band aids round the grip part for no slippage and to give a larger dia.

If you were near here I’d give you a couple to try, but I can’t throw ’em that far.

Wrathbringer27 · 2019-04-01T14:34:37.000Z

There is a lot of single mode p60 drop ins. There’s the long tube solarforce tube for 3 18650s. Should last long enough.

ZoomieFan · 2019-04-01T14:34:59.000Z

@Pete7874

2.5 hours is nice. She usually uses the light for a few minutes. So the cell can recover a bit.
Even better runtime.

I’ll give my mom a few spare 18650’s so running out of power never will be an issue.
Don’t get me wrong, I do see the advantage of AA (got a truckload Eneloops) but I’m trying to find the best balance between things. I just happen to think the extented runtime of the 18650 fits her needs quite ok.

ZoomieFan · 2019-04-01T14:37:29.000Z

@Macka17

ONLY about size (and weight)

Which cell size holds best? AA, 18650, 21700, etc?
My mom can still write so she can close her fingers quite well; I’m asking because you warned about slipping.

Macka17 · 2019-04-01T14:58:11.000Z

That ALL depends on output of whatever light it’s in.
Of those 3 the 2100 series by a little bit.
Get a stepped. Well Knurled torch. Or Taped body for grip.
the skin sensitivity comes into it at our age and it’s easy to let them slip. (I know)
There’s a zillion on market at present.
Any Convoy .Astrolux, JetBeam. O-Light, etc will give the quality you need without paying a lot.

MascaratumB · 2019-04-01T15:24:00.000Z

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/ON-THE-ROAD-M900-Mini-flashlight-rechargeable-compact-CREE-LED-flashlight-for-camping-Professional-waterproof-torch/3081046_32847475895.html?spm=a2g1y.12024536.productList_3357410.pic_1

This light (OTR M900) seems to be configurable into 3 options, one of each is a single mode (100). However, it will probably produce more light and more heat than a Convoy with 4*7135 chips w/ biscotti configured on mode 12 (1 mode - 100).

The small OTR M3 (2018 version), side switch, 16340 battery, USB-C built-in charging, can also be configured for just 1 mode operation (+ Turbo, Strobe, SOS with double clicks).

Jack_Kellar · 2019-04-01T16:38:03.000Z

My 2 cents? Convoy S2, 7135x3, whatever tint irritates her eyes the least. Set it to Biscotti mode group 12, and presto. I’ve had an S2 in that config (modded it to 7135x8 Biscotti later, more versatile for my uses) and one of few things I liked about it was how even at full blast it didn’t heat up much at all for a tube light; the beam profile is also nice, but the ring around the switch would make it hard for weak hands to operate it, methinks. In that regard, the S2’s cutouts make pressing it way easier.

manithree · 2019-04-01T17:17:44.000Z

My mom (79 yo) and my M-I-L (89 yo) both have a Convoy BD06. My mom charges hers all by herself, but somebody takes care of charging my MIL’s for her. They both find the switch easy to use, and the size and texture appealing. But they’re both 3-mode with mode memory. I don’t even think they know that, though. They just click it off and on. Maybe Simon could ship it with one mode, since there are options available from his store.

And it looks like he doesn’t sell the BD06 any more, but a BD01 would work just as well.

Lightbringer · 2019-04-01T18:21:41.000Z

I got it.

LuxPro LP601V3.

https://www.amazon.com/Lumen-Tactical-Handheld-Outdoor-Flashlight/dp/B07KCYQ2MY/

Takes 4×AAA in a holder but perfectly fits a 21700 (or 18650 even without a sleeve).

It’s got a rubber sleeve on the battery tube for a good grip.

It’s got an easy-actuating tailswitch which might as well be an e-switch it’s so easy to click.

It’s multimode, but has no memory, so will always start on high (~450lm) after a few seconds.

Click on, click off, no click’n’hold or half-clicks or anything.

Nasty XP-G3 piss-yellow corona, but a swatch of DC-Fix (bug Boaz for some) will clean it up and make it beautifully floody. Think it’s the #7 film I used on all my LuxPros for exactly that reason (to cure the G3 curse).

15bux, well worth it. Mum will write you back into the will if you get her this light.

Lightbringer · 2019-04-01T18:26:16.000Z

Oh, if you go the DC-Fix route (which I strongly suggest you do, if only out of æsthetics), either use one with adhesive to stick on the outside, or if you get a nonsticky one, you’ll have to pop out the reflector and stick the film between reflector and glass. Makes it look nicer to do the latter, but in a pinch, the former will work, too.

Pete7874 · 2019-04-01T19:12:44.000Z

Lightbringer:

Takes 4×AAA in a holder but perfectly fits a 21700 (or 18650 even without a sleeve).

So no issues from a voltage perspective when replacing 4 AAA cells with a single Li-Ion cell?

Lexel · 2019-04-01T19:15:56.000Z

you can always mod any light to simply one mode by removing and bypassing MCU

but to have a voltage monitor and LVP it is recopmmended to programm the firmware to one mode

you can also show her 3 Mode and let her decide which she finds better, often old people do not want too simple things to feel up to date

Lightbringer · 2019-04-01T22:14:23.000Z

Pete7874:

Lightbringer:

Takes 4×AAA in a holder but perfectly fits a 21700 (or 18650 even without a sleeve).

So no issues from a voltage perspective when replacing 4 AAA cells with a single Li-Ion cell?

Gnope. Stuck in a Sofirn cell (4.2V vs nominal 6.0V for the alkaleaks), and it’s bright as Hell. I think I also tried a pre-testing (~3.6V) cell, and it still worked fine. At least that’s what I vaguely recall.

I’m just wondering what I was substituting in that light, lithiumwise.

Right now, I got 2 AAAs at around 1.2V and another 2 at 0.9V, trying to at least kill the latter 2 before they take a dump in the holder. Starts off middlin’ bright and dims rapidly as the ~~crappy~~ crappier cells get hammered on.

—

Actually, hold off on that…

I was thinking of the wrong light. This one needs the holder with the nipple on the end, unless you wanna solder a spring to the pad on the driver. It’s got a pill at the business end of the battery-tube, removable, and a driver with retaining ring holding it in^†. So flattops won’t work, need a pronounced buttontop, or better yet, a spring.

Still, use the holder with alkaleaks, and it should do fine.

3×AAA will fit a 21700, 4×AAA will be loose, and need a spring on the driver’s pad.

Now add to all the confusion the 2×D light where I got 2 3×AA holders inside. :person_facepalming:

I’m going all Frankenstein on these lights, can’t even keep ’em straight.

^† But now I can replace the driver if I want to!

jerm03 · 2019-04-02T01:21:42.000Z

Both my wife and I are 85+. We prefer 1 mode, but the 80-100 Lmns are entirely satisfactory. If you get one that is much over 100 Lmn It is too bright in some situations. Neither of us want to carry a light that is any larger thaan 1 AA, and presently use 1 AAA singe mode lights.
Jerry

The_Last_Katun · 2019-04-02T02:11:49.000Z

When we become old, we sometimes become children again. Find a flashlight designed for children for your mother; there are also well made, suitable for not strong hands. For autonomy, buy more than one, if you find 3 or 4 flashlights of different colors in your home, when one is unloaded, take the other; the ideal one is a torch in every room.
Or (always one in each room or however from 3 to 5) use those for diving use, have a lever switch, large and lightweight, only one mode, are robust, are found using AA or even 18650

Macka17 · 2019-04-02T02:44:55.000Z

We all different.
But out of near 40 (now). My carry all favourite is the little Astrolux AO1
or my Jetbeam Jet 1 Pro.
They BOTH do all I need or want, in house or round house yard.
FOR Walkabout only… Stronger needed for further vision.
C8+ BIG tick.

Different. My Olight E3T Copper.
Heavier but up to 180 lum with 10440 Li-Po cell.

I have a distinct aversion to the S2 Tubes after having both slip out of my hands on occasions when relaxing. C8/+ so much better in all ways.
Solarstorm SC 02 with soft SIDE sw nice. 2 levels. 18650.
U Torch do one with Variable Battery sizes incl AA.

Hmmm Pool Pump Calked. Off to fix?? Maybe. Rewind hopefully.
or $650 for newbie. Wish me luck.

Thak Granny to computer screen and give her an idea of sizes in relation to ones you have first.
We all looking through different eyes.

ZoomieFan · 2019-04-02T08:57:17.000Z

jerm03:

Both my wife and I are 85+. We prefer 1 mode, but the 80-100 Lmns are entirely satisfactory. If you get one that is much over 100 Lmn It is too bright in some situations.

Maybe I should just show her the output of my multimode flashlights.
The lower the output the better because it solves all runtime issues.

If Biscotti firmware would have other single modes besides 100% it would be ideal. If 100lm would be fine then setting a 3x7135 or 4x7135 on a 18650 last forever.

jerm03:

Neither of us want to carry a light that is any larger thaan 1 AA, and presently use 1 AAA singe mode lights.

My mom doesn’t really carry the light. It’s on the table/in a nearby drawer most of the time. It’s mostly an emergency light, a light to find something in dark corner. Not an EDC. For an EDC I can understand you want a AA. While I’m a 18650 and up fan I must admit I like my Lumintop Tool 2.0 AA and AAA

ZoomieFan · 2019-04-02T09:09:23.000Z

Lightbringer:

3 times;AAA will fit a 21700, 4×AAA will be loose, and need a spring on the driver’s pad.

The light my mom currently uses is 3xAAA. It now has a 18650 in it. The diameter is no problem, the length barely fits.
I guess only lights with big spring would hold a 21700.
I have a brand new Samsung 20700 cell I bought for, well don’t even know because I have any 20700 lights :person_facepalming:
It would add about 30% extra runtime

Pete7874 · 2019-04-02T14:59:22.000Z

Might want to take a look at the older Anker LC40 as well:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N6IHQZO

It’s a 3xAAA light that fits an 18650 cell with no issues. A 20700 or 21700 might fit as well, but I haven’t tried.
UI is fairly simple: high/low/strobe, but it does have mode memory if you keep it off for 10 seconds. On low, it draws 0.6A and delivers roughly 200 lm, so an 18650 cell should last about 5-6 hours.