Hello.
Can someone recommend a simple single mode small light that uses a single NIMH AA battery or Alkaline?
Amazon has a Ultrafire SK68 but it looks like it requires a 3.7 battery. Maybe a non LED light would be better?
I am using it to read in a dark room so it does not have to be super powerful.
Thanks
Ken
It’s good to have you here, kenmtb!
Hi Ken,
I would recommend a Convoy T3 or T5 with a 519a.
It’s made to work with both AA (Alkaline/NiMH) and Li-Ion 14500 batteries. I would recommend using a NiMH (eneloop or similar) or a Li-Ion battery, alkalines tend to leak and that destroys the flashlight.
It is available from convoylight for pretty cheap.
You can program it to start on the lowest mode (and disable mode memory), that way it is never too bright.
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Much as I want to suggest a D3AA because I love mine, I second a Convoy T3 or T5 with 519a in the colour temp of your preference. If you don’t know what colour temp to go for 4500K is just slightly on the warm side of neutral and is very nice.
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Welcome to the forum!
Second the convoy reccomendation, but wouldn’t reccomend alkaline cells as they invariably leak and cause a mess.
For a curveball suggestion, how about a rechargeable headlamp?
You might like the Sofirn HS10, it’s a very compact light with USB charging, and is often on sale on AliExpress for less than $15 including cell.
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Great suggestions. There are some really sophisticated lights around it seems. I forgot to mention that the light would have to be under $10 as it would be left in a dark room where I work. It looks like an LED light may be more than I need. The light would be used sporadically for several minutes a day to read test instructions for light measuring equipment in a dark room.
After looking at the lights suggested, I would love to have those for personal lights at home but I would hate to leave a good light in one of the lab rooms and have it adopted by someone.
Now I am thinking I could probably use a cheap trouble light from an auto store with NIMH rechargeable batteries? I was hoping a company made a simple cheap (sub $10) light that could plug into a USB for recharging. Brightness and super long battery life are not really important.
Thanks
That is a tough one, especially with the addition of USB recharging.
The problem with most ultra-cheap lights is that their lowest mode is too bright for a darkroom. Are you sure you can’t go just a little higher to $15 or so?
Uh-oh, this small flashlight that you need is where your addiction begins my friend, next you’ll be like the dude who was taking x-rays of flashlights at work 
Assuming it’s only you using it (so a User interface more complicated than on/off is acceptable), and assuming you don’t need to retain dark adapted vision, we will find you a reccomendation, skip the Auto store lights. I’ve not used these myself but they look like what I imagine you need:
Nitecore Tube V2
Wuben G1
One of the BORUiT keychain lights(?)
This is hard when you throw in sub-$10 and wanting something that will be unattractive to steal.
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Perhaps a simple incensescent reading or trouble light would work. Or a pen style light. Something with a single mode push button. After searching the web I can’t believe how convoluted "sophisticated " flashlights have become 
Programmable, multimode, coffee making… Lol . Under $20 would be fine.
I like the Sipik 69 clones, bought a bunch off ebay about $2 or even less from Hong Kong sevetal years ago. Not sure if theyre still available but you might just take a look at ebay and see if you can find anything good
Many of the sipik clones take 14500 in addition to AA I believe. SK 68 larger 18650 though
20 for $20…AAA, though.
This is kind of a great question.
BLF has sort of gotten away from real budget lights for a couple of reasons .
First because all really cheap lights generally suck on multiple levels . But also because the vendors have pretty much dried up .
Back in the day there were numbers of vendors with hundreds of cheap lights to wade thru from $2 to $12 . Dealextreme,dinodirect,fasttech,manafont,Gearbest etc…
It seems like the market has shifted from vendor driven to more manufacture driven . Maybe this was from manufacturers ability to directly compete with vendors for customers via a more active internet marketing. BLF members naturally shifted towards manufacturers listening to what people wanting and why not pay a few dollars more for a light that doesn’t need to be modified or “fixed “ to be at least an acceptable option.
That said I think you need a really basic budget light . One with a decent low mode , one with an easy to find in the dark button, since numbers of different users will be using . I wouldn’t rule out a AAA light or the use of an Alkaline battery since it will be used instead of just sitting in a drawer forever . A AA is obviously a better choice but it limits choices .
I’d also suggest using a long springy leash like people use for ID’s or cards to open doors if the light is generally used in one area . Adding a leash like adding a hubcap to the bathroom key at the gas station may be a gentle mental reminder to people not to accidentally steal your light .
I’d try a place like Banggood and buy the cheapest light that you like the look of . It won’t be perfect but it will give you a better idea of what you really want .
Here’s a few bad options
https://usa-m.banggood.com/1200MAh-EDC-Keychain-Type-C-Fast-Charging-81g-Digital-Power-Display-Rechargeable-Cap-Lights-Clip-On-Hat-Mini-Torch-180-Rotation-Flashlight-Tactical-LED-Searchlight-for-Running,Camping,Cycling-p-2010944.html?trace_id=b61a1724635186048&act_poa=POA10681329&cur_warehouse=CN&rmmds=detail-bottom-alsolike
Maybe something like this . Usb rechargeable , easy to find button . I don’t have one but someone here does .
Attach it to the wall and just make the person stealing it un-clip it .
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Convoy is a great company run by a great guy who engages with the community and offers amazing stuff at killer prices. The T3 is a good AA size flashlight (and it’s hard to go wrong with an Eneloop Pro). You can easily set up the T3 to run in a variety of mode orders, with or without mode memory (remembering to turn on in the last mode you were using or from a default mode). While I prefer some of the other mode groups, it can be set to run as a single-mode light at 100% output or with two modes at 20% and 100%.
I recommend getting it with the Nichia 519A for general use. If you want a nice, rich, cozy tint; the 519A at 2700K is really nice. If you want more light and better day/night color versatility while still being very friendly to the eyes, I’ve really come to appreciate the 519A at 3500K.
The best place to buy them is from Convoy on AliExpress. They come in aluminum bodies for like $20 and titanium bodies for like $40. Just compare product listings to find the specs you want.
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I disagree on that one.
If you want a Convoy flashlight, get it from Simon’s website (if it’s available there.)
Here’s a link to the T series:
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Wow! I’ve been buying Convoy lights for years, both for myself and as gifts. I never knew he had his own site! 
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I think Simon’s only had the site for less than a year now. 
Not everything is available on his site yet, so some items are only on AE.
If you request an item in Simon’s thread, he might put the item on his website.
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Sofirn SP10 pro, with Anduril you will be able to have a very low output.
But it will be more than 10 bucks and no onboard charging.
Search AliExpress for “AA flashlight”, sort by price low to high, there’s plenty of lights but they’re junk, spending a little more gets into convoy/Sofirn territory of solid lights.
The USB charging aspect is where it comes unstuck for the budget, hence why I reccomended those cheap keychain lights with built in charging. AA power source requirement seems like a red herring in this search other than providing a size guide. This light will get lost long before the built in Li-ion cell dies.
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While not a Single AA light, these are pretty decent lights and they meet your price limitations. Eveready LED Flashlight (8-Pack)