WELL ROUNDED AA/AAA LIGHT NEEDED! PLEASE HELP

LED Flashlights – General Info
18

2 differing suggestions.

AAA+ (2 x AAA…penlight) - for the money, Thorfire PF04, at $20. I’ve got one and really like it for the price. Got a true moonlight…210 lumens at top end. It lights up pretty well at just over 50 ft…but it’s a bit floody (maaaaybe too diffused…but not sure what your need would be) at that distance.

AA - was “going” to recommend the Nitecore EA11. I love the UI, decent balance of flood to throw IMHO. The reason I said “going to” is because I tested it with an Eneloop (standard, not pro) and it really wasn’t any more impressive than the Thorfire PF04 or my SK-68 clone on AA NiMh. I had forgotten this because I always run it 14500’s and that really kicks up the output while still keeping a couple of very usable low modes. So, I might recommend the Manker E11 for the money (I don’t think this has been recommended yet). I don’t have one yet, but based on reviews, seems pretty strong. I think it runs around 400 lumens on AA (may be specific to NiMh though) and double that if you get frisky with a 14500. Can get in NW or CW from Amazon US right now for $29.95.

Random backup light. Nitecore TIP. Just got one recently and I am quite impressed with the output. On turbo, it outdoes my SK-68 clone running on a 14500. USB rechargeable, battery status indicator, simple UI, lightweight. It all flood….not a lot of throw, but it will light up my whole back yard on turbo fairly nicely.

19

An other single AA flashlight is the Thrunite T10 (Aluminum) XP-G2 169 Lumens. It is sold at: http://www.illumn.com/special-deals/thrunite-t10-aluminum-xp-g2-169-lumens-1-x-aa.html
What makes it special is it is both a twisty and a switch controlled flashlight. Modes are low, medium, high with mode memory. It comes with an light cone and attachable pocket clip. It is the most exspensive flashlight that I have recommended thus far at $19.16. I own two.

20

To further complicate the issue consider the Jetbeam JET- µ. It is identical to the Jet-1 MK but uses 1 single AAA battery. Alkaline or Eneloop style battery only. Manufacture link: http://www.jetbeamlight.com/ShowProducts.asp?ID=98

Banggood link: JETbeam JET- μ XP-G2 135LM AAA Mini LED Taschenlampe Sale - Banggood Deutschland sold out-arrival notice-arrival notice
Andrew and Amanda link: Jetbeam JET-Mu (JET- µ) flashlight CREE XP-G2 LED -135 Lumens -uses AAA battery

And yes I own this flashlight and have shopped at both stores. :slight_smile:

21

+1
But remember the e09 is very nice but suffers from slow speed PWM disease. Some people are immune to PWM others are not. I own two of these flashlights. :slight_smile:

22

Lastly I offer these two flashlights I found on sale last week while suffering the web. I do not own either model but I own other AA powered flashlights purchased from Solarforce’s online store. Good company.

http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/products/solarforce-x2-full-stainless-steel-flashlight-1pc-x-aa
http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/products/solarforce-x3-full-stainless-steel-flashlight-1pc-x-aaa

Stainless steel flashlights on sale. Not what you were looking for in regards of output always starting on low. But they are unique and cheap. Maybe if there are any owners of either flashlight out in web world they could comment on these two products.

23

The distance ratings allowed under the ANSI FL 1 standard are optimistic, to say the least. They give the distance at which only 0.25 lux reaches the target. For night-adapted eyes, that may be a sufficient amount of illumination. For most flashlight uses, however, it is not enough.

Most flashlight owners, therefore, find that they need to scale down the published ANSI figures. I typically divide by 4. That gives the distance at which 4 lux reach target. Another effective conversion is to take the ANSI rating in meters, and just pretend it is feet. With this method, we see that a flashlight that is rated for 50 meters under FL 1 will probably meet your needs for 50 feet of throw.

Once you have the distance you want, it is easy to convert that to candela. To get an ANSI FL 1 distance rating of 50 meters requires a beam intensity of 650 candela. That is a modest requirement. There are many good flashlights that can satisfy it.

My own preference in a small flashlight is for high CRI. By high, I mean above 90 (Ra). Since there won't be a ton of lumens anyway, I figure I should demand good color rendition.

The L3 Illumination L11C Nichia 219B flashlight runs on 1xAA, has high-CRI, and meets your throw requirements. Flashlight reviewer selfbuilt tested its predecessor, the L10 Nichia 219B, and found that it produced more than a thousand candela. The 4-mode version of the L11C has great mode spacing. Moonlight, Low, Medium and High, produce, respectively, 0.9, 3, 30, and 140 lumens.

I also have the 1xAAA Astrolux A01. It is a 3-mode flashlight that tops out at around 87 lumens. It is a fine high-CRI twisty, but I doubt it will meet your throw requirements. Running on Eneloop NiMH, BLF member maukka measured throw at only 41 meters. That translates into a usable 41 feet of throw. I rarely try to see that far with mine. Dividing 41 meters by 4 gives 10.25 meters, which is only 33.6 feet. That's about how far I can see using the A01.

The ZebraLight SC5Fd is another flashlight that is worth considering. CRI is only around 85 (Ra), but given the many positive reviews of the ZebraLight, I am willing to overlook that. As yet, I do not own the SC5Fd.

To get the most out of any AA or AAA flashlight, you cannot use alkaline batteries. They just don't have enough oomph to maintain high output. Here is a comparison against NiMH:

This runtime chart by Trevilux was originally published here.

I recommend Eneloop, Eneloop Pro, or the equivalent.

24

You might want to get in on the Lumintop ED25 group buy since it really is a very decent price to ignore.

GB here:

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I just read your initial post. I thought you were looking for a high quality single battery inexpensive flashlight. Just wanted to give you a good selection to choose from. Since you need a higher performing light for work makes my suggestions inappropriate. Good luck finding the right light for you.

26

This AA-powered light is fairly round…

…
Sorry…
…Couldn’t resist…
:disappointed:

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. :smiley: :smiley:

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The Olight S1A Baton has an auto-off. The FourSevens Smart Quark QS2A-X has an off timer but you need the app. Neither one is what I would consider a “budget” light.

29

Why not a zoomie like an SK68 (AA) or SK98 (18650)?

If you’re dead-set on AAs, the ’68 would seem to fit the bill: floody when retracted, batsignal hotspot with zero spill when zoomed. Multi-modes, too.

No auto-off, though.

30

Most SK68’s now have the crappy LB emitters but a few may still have a real Cree, have’t seen any news on that since I bought my UniqueFire a couple years back (it had a real Cree then but a single mode). It’s a very thick light for that cell size so not as ‘pocketable’ as most AA format lights. They’re available rather cheaply though so it may be worth a try. Runtime on H would be a couple hours before dimming substantially.

Phil

31

I’m less concerned with the LB emitter as I am the crappy driver. I’m getting sick of CW, so that’s the only reason I’d bother replacing the LB chip.

No ’68s, just a pair of ’98s… was perfectly pockettable for me, but the clip stretched out and from then on would hang loosely on the inside of my pocket. Came out too easily, so stopped EDCing it.

It’s taken apart now, not doing anything with it ’til I mod it to make it usable. 20mm 1.4A 1-mode driver, XM-L2 NW chip, but need to fill in the cheap hollow pill before I do any of that.

32

The Olight S1A Baton does not have an auto-off. It has a timer.

It works great, but you have to be the one who turns on the timer. What the OP asked for, however, is different. He is worried that his flashlight might be accidentally turned on in his pocket or pack. He wants auto-off so that the flashlight will turn itself off in such cases. When the S1A accidentally turns on in your pocket, the timer does not activate. This means the S1A will stay on until you turn it off (or its battery goes dead).

Here is what the OP wrote:

"BATTERY SAVING AUTO-OFF (INCASE ITS ACCIDENTALLY TURNED ON)"

33

How would the flashlight know it is turned on accidentally instead of on purpose?
I don´t think this is possible.

34

It’s probably better to get a light that is designed so it doesn’t accidentally get turned on. You could go with a light with a recessed switch, such as a Zebralight, which mechanically makes it difficult to turn on accidently. Or, go with a user-interface that requires a long-press to turn it on, like some Manker lights. Or, get a light with a lock-out feature, that prevents it from being turned on. Either a physical lock-out, like slightly loosening the tail cap (many lights have this), or an electronic lock-out, by pressing two buttons simultaneously (like some Sunwayman lights and others).

Doing it by an auto-off timer just seems like a wrong way to do it. I’d hate to be using my light and have it shut off every 5 minutes or whatever.

35

Agreed. As the responses here have shown, there are not very many flashlights that have the kind of auto-off feature the OP requested. I have heard of flashlights for young children that have it, but those are typically designed with very low output levels. You know, 'cause kids like to stare into the business end from time to time.

If a flashlight like the Olight S1 Baton had an optional timer mode that could be made the default, the OP would have exactly what he was looking for. You and I could run without the timer, and the OP could activate the timer, and make it the default.

36

The auto shut off is also downright dangerous … you’re using a torch for cycling … the torch doesn’t know you’re just peddling hard … but shuts off just as you’re approching a great big pothole that sends you across the road into an oncoming car.

You’re on a mountain rescue and just as you throw the line that’ll save someones life and they need to be able to see it …… ahh great he’s got a torch with an auto shut off and I missed it … or climbing down a ladder or on a cliff top walk in the dark … the list is endless.

Personally it’d be the worst possible feature in the world … you have a torch because you need light and it decides it doesn’t want to play anymore just when you need it
most :disappointed:

37

forget about your need for auto off. What you really need is a light whose switch design does not cause it to turn on accidentally. I dont think you will have a problem with the following options turning on accidentally. These are all AA (I think that makes more sense for a work light, longer battery life, higher high than AAA):

1. Zebralight SC52fw this is possibly the best of the bunch for a work light.

2. Olight S1A, but it is only offered in Cool White.

3. I like the L11c with Nichia LED, but it is not dropproof so probably a bad idea for a work light, even though it has the best color rendering