Why is it no one will make this AAA light?

[paulr]

the L0D is an amazing little light.
It is my favorite fenix actually.
A fantastic drop in replacment for the ARC AAA any day....
It would be nice if ARC would replace their emitter with one which produces a decent color of light.
Yaesumofo

Arc does offer an AAA configuration with a snow led: http://arcflashlight.com/accessories.shtml

I have one of them and the color is quite neutral though the beam is a bit ringier than the Nichia version. Brightness is about like the Nichia CS, not at the level of the DS.

The L0D is a more powerful and flexible light but it's like comparing a swiss army knife to a well-made single-purpose screwdriver. There are usage patterns for which the single purpose tool is simply better. I haven't used my L0D since acquiring a modded L0P which is a nominal "downgrade".

 

[easilyled]

I've also been looking for a small rugged keychain AAA-light but with
the additional criterion that it needs to be bare metal.

Al/Brass/Ti are all ok as long as they are not coated.

Since the light is constantly banging on keys it will end up scratched
with an HAIII coating, no matter how hard/durable it is purported to be.

Bare metal being scratched doesn't really show much and can easily
be restored by polishing.

The only AAA-sized keychain light that I know of that is offered in bare metal
is a Titanium Draco, although its more common for this to have
coatings such as TiN, TiCN etc.

However I would like to see this option more in mass-produced lights
such as Fenix, Lumapower, O-light and available in bare Al. which
is ideal since its light in weight and very conductive both thermally
and electrically.

Oh, BTW I just remembered that Peak produce bare-metal keychain lights
too but they are only one-level and I would much prefer 2 levels.

 

[paulr]

I've also been looking for a small rugged keychain AAA-light but with
the additional criterion that it needs to be bare metal.

Al/Brass/Ti are all ok as long as they are not coated.
\Oh, BTW I just remembered that Peak produce bare-metal keychain lights
too but they are only one-level and I would much prefer 2 levels.

I was about to mention Peak but there is also the titanium fenix l0p se. Or maybe you can get Eric Miller to put his multi-level mod into a stainless steel Peak. That's probably as rugged as they come.

 

[EugeneJohn]

I also recommend the LF-2. I use the lowest low setting more than anything else. Its my get around the house at night without disturbing anyone else/reading in bed light. I had an LOD-CEQ2(I love the light and can't say enough good about it), but the really low, low of the LF-2 won out and a friend of mine got the LOD for christmas this year.

The LF-2 has low voltage warning so you can use a 10440 without worry of over discharging it.

I got the hang of the UI in a day or two but now that I have it set to my liking, I haven't messed with the settings in several months. Now its just a fabulous two stage light that I can further customize if my needs change.

 

[easilyled]

I was about to mention Peak but there is also the titanium fenix l0p se. Or maybe you can get Eric Miller to put his multi-level mod into a stainless steel Peak. That's probably as rugged as they come.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Regarding the Ti Fenix l0p se, I would prefer the led to be the
current generation.

If Fenix were to bring out a Ti L0D/L0P SE with R2-Cree or Rebel-100,
I would jump on it.

 

[Anarchocap]

Well, my reading is that he asked for a light with two modes. The L0D has five modes, i.e. the L0D only does what he is asking if 5 and 2 are the same number, which they aren't. At any rate, I have an L0D and I still want what he wants. The L0D does not fulfill the desire, at least for me.

Exactly Paul. I have an LOP-SE. I bought it when they first came out. It is bigger than the ARC-AAA, which length is what I prefer.

The LOD is NOT what I am looking for. 1st, its low is NOT low enough. The one thing Fenix did NOT do is adjust their circuitry once brighter LEDs were put into their package. Their low has remained a fixed % of output and output has only gone up. That makes lows getting brighter, which is obviously not what I want. 2nd, they keep making the LOD series LONGER instead of shorter.

The LF2 looks like a nice light for the price, but its still too long for me. And it has a relatively complicated UI. I may end up with one some day, who knows?

No guys, no one has made the light I am looking for yet.

 

[ankhbr]

The LOD is NOT what I am looking for. 1st, its low is NOT low enough. The one thing Fenix did NOT do is adjust their circuitry once brighter LEDs were put into their package. Their low has remained a fixed % of output and output has only gone up. That makes lows getting brighter, which is obviously not what I want. 2nd, they keep making the LOD series LONGER instead of shorter.

A few weeks ago I sent an e-mail to fenix-store with that same opinion. Their current AAA lights (L0D-CE, L0D-RBxx) are way too bright on their lowest setting. The current low is on par with my L0P-SE medium setting. And that's too bright to use when I wake up at night and don't want to disturb anyone or blind myself!
Trevor, the guy who returned my e-mail, said he agreed, and would pass it up to Fenix. With the ammount of people who've already complained about this and the lots of extra modes, like SOS, I hope they - or another company - come up with something.

So, I just wait.

 

[Thujone]

+1 for the LF2 SSC, clean beam, tailor the levels to suit your needs. How can you possibly beat that with a stick?

 

[HoopleHead]

The L0D is a more powerful and flexible light but it's like comparing a swiss army knife to a well-made single-purpose screwdriver.

best succinct analogy ive heard yet comparing the 2

 

[awberke]

Orb Wee or Orb Raw are great bare metal lights that have 2 modes and are a perfect size for a key chain

 

[Khaytsus]

A few weeks ago I sent an e-mail to fenix-store with that same opinion. Their current AAA lights (L0D-CE, L0D-RBxx) are way too bright on their lowest setting. The current low is on par with my L0P-SE medium setting. And that's too bright to use when I wake up at night and don't want to disturb anyone or blind myself!
Trevor, the guy who returned my e-mail, said he agreed, and would pass it up to Fenix. With the ammount of people who've already complained about this and the lots of extra modes, like SOS, I hope they - or another company - come up with something.

So, I just wait.

Agreed on the too-high low! I thought my Arc AAA was around 5l and the L0D CE Q4 is supposed to be (measured) around 8l. It's blindingly bright compared to my Arc, so I dunno which is "off", the Arc low or the L0D high.

It's too bright to use on the ole bathroom trip unless you're hitting it on the carpet or such.

 

[naturelle]

Hello,

I would also recommend the Liteflux LF2:


It is the first light I´ve bought which has got a really LOW (on the picture I´ve set it to 15% = original setting on P1), and as others above claimed: the interface is NOT complicated once you´ve programmed the light. And programming is not complicate, too, it´s only a bit difficult to understand the manual.

I would prefer the more floody beam from my LF2-SSC to every other Cree light as I use it as a low-distance light. An AAA-light never could be a good thrower, but with the right reflector and LED it´s a very good keychain-light.

 

[bltkmt]

I owned an LF3 and had to sell it because of the fiddly UI...not at all intuitive to me. I would buy an LF2 right now if someone had preprogammed it to have only two settings of "lowest low" and "blinding high".

 

[gravityz]

why not ask Khoo to set it for you so you won't have to.

I owned an LF3 and had to sell it because of the fiddly UI...not at all intuitive to me. I would buy an LF2 right now if someone had preprogammed it to have only two settings of "lowest low" and "blinding high".

 

[Marduke]

You guys do know that you can put something over the front to dim it down, right? Like a finger, or piece of cloth, etc. This is even the method suggested by Peter for when the 10 lumens of the Arc is "too bright" for some.

 

[easilyled]

Orb Wee or Orb Raw are great bare metal lights that have 2 modes and are a perfect size for a key chain

Thanks, I have a Ti Raw

However its not an AAA light and its this form factor that I'd prefer
for a key-chain light (and in bare metal) because its nice and thin
and hardly noticeable on a key-chain. The Orb Raw although very
small is a little bulkier and also is almost too nice to wear with
my keys anyway.

 

[Anarchocap]

You guys do know that you can put something over the front to dim it down, right? Like a finger, or piece of cloth, etc. This is even the method suggested by Peter for when the 10 lumens of the Arc is "too bright" for some.

Yeah, because in the middle of the night when I wake up, I want to turn on a light and put my finger in front of it.

Really, this is a poor excuse for customer service and a lack of innovation. "Hey, my light will do that, just put some cloth on it!" For $40?!? I think not.

I want two modes. One that puts out decent illumination given the AAA battery and I sacrifice run-time, which like I said should be about 30 lumens for an hour regulated given current technology. The low mode should be about 1/10th that for 10 times the run time.

This isn't rocket science. The LF2 SSC is pretty dang close. But honestly, its more complex and expensive than the solution I am looking for. Kai sells the UJC-B6 for $13.30 delivered, but that's in AA and I bet the quality isn't quite there. Someone will figure it out soon enough.

Until then, I have a Photon Freedom DX on my keychain.

 

[kongfuchicken]

Can a single AAA alkaline power 30lm for an hour nowadays?
That's impressive in its own.

Now that said, a useful low is a pretty subjective amount. Such intangibles are pretty tough dilemma for those actually making the lights and the risk of making something that's perfect for a few and unusable for the rest isn't attractive. It's basic designs, not customer support or lack of innovation. Not to mention, not everyone will agree to your opinion of putting your finger over a light if you find it too bright.

Not that I want to question your outrage that no one has satisfied your needs to the perfection but, as an individual, you don't have to worry about most of the problems that hit manufacturers such as market research, profitability, patents, feasibility, availability, the bills to the machine shop and electronic warehouses... I'm sure I'm missing 99% of it.

But the point is, if you want it, your best bet is to do it yourself and honestly, it doesn't sound like a hard project at all considering the tools that are at our disposal and this amazing community.

 

[awberke]

Can a single AAA alkaline power 30lm for an hour nowadays?
That's impressive in its own.

Now that said, a useful low is a pretty subjective amount. Such intangibles are pretty tough dilemma for those actually making the lights and the risk of making something that's perfect for a few and unusable for the rest isn't attractive. It's basic designs, not customer support or lack of innovation. Not to mention, not everyone will agree to your opinion of putting your finger over a light if you find it too bright.

Not that I want to question your outrage that no one has satisfied your needs to the perfection but, as an individual, you don't have to worry about most of the problems that hit manufacturers such as market research, profitability, patents, feasibility, availability, the bills to the machine shop and electronic warehouses... I'm sure I'm missing 99% of it.

But the point is, if you want it, your best bet is to do it yourself and honestly, it doesn't sound like a hard project at all considering the tools that are at our disposal and this amazing community.

I agree with you 100%. Put yourself in the shoes of a light manufacturer and try to make a light that suits the myriad of needs of enthusiasts.

why hasn't someone made the exact perfect flashlight that appeals to only my needs??

 

[Marduke]

Can a single AAA alkaline power 30lm for an hour nowadays?
That's impressive in its own.

75 lumens for an hour