HELP - Which Flashlight for Car ?

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Hi all,

I am new here but have bee reading through some of the posts. There is a lot to take in !

I am hoping you can help me with my purchasing dilemma.

I am looking for a flashlight to keep in the car. My key criteria are :

- Compact size i.e. around 6 inches
- Decent lumens output
- Safe i.e. it won't blow up when kept in the car or melt with use !

I have narrowed it down to two, slightly different lights:

- Mini Maglite Pro Plus

- Solarforce L2P

I am leaning towards the L2P due to its higher lumen output and excellent reviews here. The one I am looking at comes with the 3-mode XM-L T6 8.4V LED and I am considering running it off 2x CR123A cells.

Is the above L2P cofig of LED/Cells safe for storing in a car or should I forego lumens output and go with the Maglite ?

Thanks for your help.

2

Both nice lights, I’d probably opt for the Mini Mag myself. Slimmer and will take up less room.

3

I’d look for one with a strong magnet built into the tail. If you have to be messing around with your engine, its great. Just stick it anywhere.

4

Solid, reliable, good performer, good runtime, good throw, candle mode, easy to use, slim.

5

I am not necessarily looking for a 2x AA torch. My criteria are as listed in my OP

The Maglite just happens to be 2x AA. I suggested 2 CR123a cells for the Solarforce because I understood they have a long life when not in use, as opposed to a rechargeable like the 18650, and therefore ideal for keeping in the car.

Are the CR123a cells known to be dangerous ?

6

I think this is slightly up for debate.

In the simplest answer - yes.

But if they were “that” dangerous they simply wouldn’t be allowed to be sold and used as are.

Also do you ever keep a volatile flammable liquid in your car, one that is most certainly dangerous? If so, would the risk of danger really be any greater or different by a CR123a powered light?

7

What about one 18650 rechargeable cell ?

How long can they hold their charge when not in use ?

8

I have been doing a bit more research and if the general concensus is that for a toroch stored mainly in a car, an alkaline powered torch is safer (eg AA, AAA) then which one of these would be people recommend I buy. They are all approx. the same price:

- Maglite Mini Pro Plus (2 modes / 245 Lumens (5600cd) / 2x AA)

- Fenix E21 (2 modes / 170 Lumens (5200cd XP-E R2) / 2x AA)

- Fenix E25 (3 modes / 187 Lumens (6112cd XP-E R4) / 2x AA)

- Lenser T7 (3 modes / 200 Lumens / 4x AAA)

Any other recommendation ?

9

I wouldn’t want to leave an alkaline battery in the car, it’ll only leak and likely not work when you want it. Not too mention offer poor performance even if fresh.

The Energizer lithium primary AA’s (1.5v) should be perfectly fine, won’t mind the cold and should be good for 10 years waiting to be used.

Remember petrol (aka “gas”) is extremely dangerous, yet most people happily leave it sitting in their cars.

10

I assume therefore there is no issue with using AA lithoium cells instead of alkaline cells in any of those torches ?

11

Two CR123 lithium primaries will be quite fine. Very safe. You can even let them freeze. They can sit in your car for years and not lose their charge.

12

Now I am getting confused. Previously, I was being told that 2x CR123a cells are deemed less stable than 1x CR123a ?

13

CRC123 (16340) rechargeable unprotected, in pairs, maybe. Two protected in pairs shouldn’t give you any problems.
The CR123s are non rechargeable, lithium primary cells, and are perfectly safe to use.

14

This is my car setup, Olight S20 Baton in a waterproof Naithawk box. For a car flashlight, magnetic tailcap is a big plus.

15

Got a mini Mag LED from Target earlier in the year on clearance; just $6.19. For 77 lumens, I think it’s fine for glovebox/car duty. I keep Eneloops in it for now. Maybe I’ll get some Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAs for it later. Either way, I don’t want to worry about alkalines and their possible leakage issues…

16

Perfect choice. I was going to suggest it myself. Not too long ago, I dropped my radiator cap into an inaccessible spot. I was searching for twigs to make chop sticks out of, when I remembered my S20 in my pocket. I held the bezel in two fingers, lowered the S20 down into the crevasse…click…the powerful magnet grabbed the cap…saved!

17

OK, my original intention was to use branded non-rechargeable CR123a cells like Energizer or Duracell.

It sounds like 2 of these in a torch kept in a car 'could' be 'less safe' than one CR123a

AA batteries (ideally lithium) are safer but do not carry enough power for a high lumen torch. Usually limited to around 160-200 lumen

Have I got that right ?

18

Two primary lithium CR123 are perfectly safe. It’s the rechargeable Li-Ion cells that you need to be more careful with.

19

you basically have the jist of it.

1aa cell (1.7v at best for a lithium aa) has to boost up to the voltage required for the led (requires current ) and provide current to drive the led. As the cell can only provide so much current, there isn’t much left to make the led bright.

2aa could start at 3.4v, around the voltage required to run a more upto date efficient led and the drive current is shared between the two cells.

1 x cr123 is 3v, closer to the voltage to run the led but it still needs to boost for most of the discharge time, also cr123 cells are not as available around England, which for me at least, makes cr123 lights a bit of a turn off.

18650 cells work from 4.2v to 3v (ok, maybe a smidge lower but 3v is a good cut off point) good 18650 cells don’t discharge much over time and for us in England, heat is hardly a consideration, extreme cold is not so much of an issue either. They also have a lot of capacity and are capable of giving out all the current you will likely need. You do need to make yourself lithium savvy, for safeties sake, and I’d recommend checking on it once a month, but other than theft, do you worry about leaving your laptop or mobile phone in the car?

I personally keep a light that can use 1 x 26650, 1 x 18650 (with adapter sleeve), 4 x aaa in a holder or 2 x cr123 (18650 sleeve again). I keep low self discharge nimh cells taped in the holder and the sleeve in the glove box and check the 26650 regularly. ? My edc lights both use 18650 cells so I have back ups in a long drawn out emergency but I’d say that all this is overkill tbh.

Common sense says get a decent quality 2 or 3 aa/aaa light, treat yourself to a set of suitable eneloops and a charger and you should be good.

The flashaholic in me says, bone up on lithium ion safety, get the charger, good quality cells and something like a convoy s2 or s3, m1 or m2 or something nice. I would also add a niteize head strap from machine mart, I use one at work (I work on refrigerated vehicles) the magnet can be over come with high power magnets available from a few places and a roll of insulation tape or heat shrink.

Welcome to the forum and have fun here.

20

Thanks.

I tell you, there is a lot to learn. I do know something about batteries from RC cars. Usually using NiMh and LiPo cells.

I have to admit, I thought Lithium were fairly safe batteries given they are sold in AA and AAA sizes by Duracell and Energizer. At least I would imagine they are safer than LiPo batteries that can blow up if not balanced and charged correctly.

So, it sounds like if I stick to CR123a primaries I should be OK, even if the torch takes two of them.

In terms of availability, they seem to be plentiful online ;)