any interest in 2*AA flashlight?

Ronin42 · 2018-06-14T22:54:08.000Z

WalkIntoTheLight:

I’m not sure why the demand for built-in charging. Yes, it’s convenient, but often comes with the cost of losing waterproofing. It also adds to the size and weight of the light. Also, there’s the complexity of charging two cells which are in series. Will the circuitry charge them independently, or will it just charge them as a single battery? If it’s just treated as a single battery, that could result in premature wearing of the cells.

I can see why people would like USB charging, but are they also willing to accept the downsides?

I like to have a couple of lights that have built-in charging. It makes is easy for travel. But I wouldn’t want it on most of my lights.

yes skip the USB stuff and give us a more robust lower cost light

Ocelot · 2018-06-14T23:15:07.000Z

I like this idea, 2xAA optimized for long regulated runtime, NiMH or Lithium primary (disposable) cells, as a dirt-reliable blackout and backup light, compact, light, easy to use. Leave the max output lumen craze for the lithium ion crowd, there are already a ton of “pocket rocket” designs out there.

over a decade ago, it was very popular for very inexpensive LED dropin mods for the venerable 2AA Mag, offering muggle operation and LONG run times (and decent output with NiMHs) and bulletproof reliability of lithium primary (disposable) cells as a long term storage / blackout / backup role. I’d like to see a re-emergence of this design concept.

my 2 cents as a dinosaur....

Ocelot · 2018-06-14T23:17:37.000Z

Ronin42:

How about a nice high CRI flooder (so we can actually use the capability)

plus one here, bravo!

Phlogiston · 2018-06-15T02:07:28.000Z

I’m interested in a 2×AA NiMH 800lm light.

I like long lights, so nose-to-tail for me. I’d be very interested in 3×AA nose-to-tail (1000+ lumens? ). Maybe a light that takes 1×AA, with two extension tubes? There was an Olight (I think) that did that, but it wasn’t very efficient on 3×AA, which was the form factor I most wanted, so I didn’t buy it.

If it was side by side, I’d give a 2×AA light a fair hearing, but I’d be a lot more interested in 4×AA (or even 6×AA) as two nose-to-tail sets placed side by side, like the Fenix LD41 or the Nitecore EA45S.

5000K and high CRI are major plus points for me.

I have no interest whatsoever in 14500 Li-Ion cells or lights with plastic body parts, though.

fran82 · 2018-06-15T06:01:21.000Z

How is going the process of the new light, manker?

Any update?

slowtechstef · 2018-06-15T08:53:01.000Z

Personally I really have a weak spot for flashlights with a side-by-side battery compartment.
To me this design pattern looks great. The form factor also allows for multiple LEDs (e.g. white-red, or spot and flood).
Hopefully Manker can add a new similar side-by-side design.

Nitecore MT22A (2xAA)
Sunwayman D20A (2xAA)
Frelux Synergy1 (2xAAA)

Pelican 3415 (3xAA)
Acebeam uc15 (2xAAA)
Streamlight Sidewinder (2xAA)

Edit: Also an iconal design side-by-side cell light is the Cool Fall Spy 007 (2x CR123A).

desmondkun · 2018-06-15T09:36:49.000Z

Hmmm. Side to side aaa light is interesting too.

fran82 · 2018-06-15T15:06:03.000Z

And with usb charging even better!!!

wildstar87 · 2018-06-28T16:44:22.000Z

I’d be interested, would the body be similar to an existing light? Definitely 800lm version, there are plenty at 400lm already on the market with 2AA. No interest in 14500, as again these already exist). Use with NiMH or Alkaline.

nqcken · 2018-06-29T00:21:12.000Z

would love a 2xAA or 14500 but in a side by side configuration. 18650s are too thick to comfortably carry in front pockets (for me) and single AA seem to small and eventually fall out. a side by side AA would be hefty enough to stay put hopefully.

Itsme · 2018-06-29T01:12:27.000Z

nqcken:

would love a 2xAA or 14500 but in a side by side configuration. 18650s are too thick to comfortably carry in front pockets (for me) and single AA seem to small and eventually fall out. a side by side AA would be hefty enough to stay put hopefully.

Like this from Nitecore? Starts in high and works down in brightness

Nitecore Store

Nitecore MT22A 260 Lumen EDC LED Flashlight, use 2x AA

The Nitecore MT22A Compact Flashlight is a AA battery powered LED flashlight capable of 260 lumens output across three brightness levels. Featuring a CREE XP-G2 S3 LED, this compact flashlight is perfect for camping trips, emergencies and household...

slowtechstef · 2018-06-29T07:26:59.000Z

Itsme:

Like this from Nitecore? Starts in high and works down in brightness

Some things with the MT22A that could be improved:

- modes: strobe in main order is not good in my view

- LED: cold white light, no high CRI

build quality: aluminum head of the light could fit better to the plastic body, in mine there is a small uneven gap (not a big problem though)

Besides that, the form factor of the MT22A is great :+1:

toddcshoe · 2018-06-29T08:10:56.000Z

nqcken:

would love a 2xAA or 14500 but in a side by side configuration. 18650s are too thick to comfortably carry in front pockets (for me) and single AA seem to small and eventually fall out. a side by side AA would be hefty enough to stay put hopefully.

18650 is too thick but side by side AA is better? A single 18650 light is still slimmer than a side by side AA/14500 light. After adding in the driver, reflector, e-switch or clicky or whatever, tail cap, and lens. A small 18650 is still a better light than a side by side aa/14500. Of course unless you are just looking at it from a easy to get battery when you’re out camping type thing then any aa will be easier to get than a 18650. But your assumption that an 18650 light is too thick to carry in your pocket is just not right. As you can see two 14500’s are wider than an entire 18650 light. Not to mention you go on to say a side by side aa would be hefty enough. So your looking for something not thick but still hefty. I had a wife like that many years ago.

nqcken · 2018-06-29T11:50:42.000Z

hmm, i think we have a difference in interpretation, sure the two side by side are wider but I used the words “too thick” or in the words of merriam webster, “having or being of relatively great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite a thick plank,” “not thin”. i am not so concerned with the width of the light but the thickness of the light to lessen the “bulge” in my flashlight carrying pocket. (no need to for play on words here! ) and the context i used “hefty enough” was “to stay put”, as in not fall out or work its way loose by standing and sitting motion. In short, a flashlight with a “slimmer” profile that would not be, IMO, too bulky to carry in my pocket. nice pic though…

hIKARInoob · 2018-07-25T08:41:31.000Z

nqcken:

hmm, i think we have a difference in interpretation, sure the two side by side are wider but I used the words “too thick” or in the words of merriam webster, “having or being of relatively great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite a thick plank,” “not thin”. i am not so concerned with the width of the light but the thickness of the light to lessen the “bulge” in my flashlight carrying pocket. (no need to for play on words here! ) and the context i used “hefty enough” was “to stay put”, as in not fall out or work its way loose by standing and sitting motion. In short, a flashlight with a “slimmer” profile that would not be, IMO, too bulky to carry in my pocket. nice pic though…

I think this is a great idea. It’s not that I’m a fan of a side by side AA light, but I think Manker can make something really awesome and exceptional looking. Manker’s released several unusual looking lights like the MK34 and MK39, so this might be an interesting challenge for them. :sunglasses:

bikenber73 · 2018-06-29T12:34:34.000Z

Yes definitely interested in a 2*AA light. If the batteries could be arranged side by side then that would be great, but that might make it too expensive due to manufacturing cost.

WalkIntoTheLight · 2018-06-29T13:12:00.000Z

toddcshoe:

A single 18650 light is still slimmer than a side by side AA/14500 light. After adding in the driver, reflector, e-switch or clicky or whatever, tail cap, and lens. A small 18650 is still a better light than a side by side aa/14500.

In almost every respect, a 1x18650 light is better than a multi AA light. But, it’s not better from a safety perspective, nor are 18650’s as easily available (and you have to be sure to get genuine cells).

A bright 2xAA light I can recommend to anyone, even the dumbest of my friends (and I have some really dumb friends). I’d only recommend 18650’s to someone who is careful about battery tech (which is zero of my friends). Though, I suppose a protected cell might help with some of my smarter friends.

djozz · 2018-06-29T14:36:05.000Z

Nice discussion over here but the original poster is not exactly involved. Manker’s last post was a month ago, not responding to anything suggested, just announcing that there will be a design soon, which appears not that soon.

I have the feeling that this thread was not about getting input, just about getting attention.

bikenber73 · 2018-06-29T15:15:40.000Z

^agreed.

AlexGT · 2018-06-29T15:40:43.000Z

This has been dragging on since 2016…

I really don’t think Manker has any intention to make it happen :weary:

Would you buy a Manker QuinLan T01 AA battery extension tube? 1 x AA / 1 x 14500 Flashlights

You can see the archived poll results on the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20221220093741/https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/72722

MANKER ARE YOU LISTENING…???!!!