$1 type lights from Ebay

[SixM]

Has anyone received their orders from Digitalzone or other sellars on the $1 flashlights?
I'm looking for continued feed back and discussion on these lights, the other thread was locked, let's keep this one open.
My order is on it's way, I'll let you all know how it turns out. 😉

 

[RedForest UK]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I got mine about a week ago. The one marked 'Police 3w' is a lot dimmer than the other one, it pulls 0.38A where the other pulls about 0.65 I think, but maybe thats just a sample issue.

They look alright, and are a bit smaller than I had expected. The build quality, as you would expect, is very poor; thin plastic lense, marks on the reflector, very blue tint etc, but it all holds together, seems water resistant, and lights up, even if not very bright..

 

[Zatoichi]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I ordered a couple which should be here soon, but I have very low expections. Hearing that they're great value for $1 doesn't fill me with confidence. They should be okay for lending out or for the kids though.

 

[SixM]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I got mine about a week ago. The one marked 'Police 3w' is a lot dimmer than the other one, it pulls 0.38A where the other pulls about 0.65 I think, but maybe thats just a sample issue.

They look alright, and are a bit smaller than I had expected. The build quality, as you would expect, is very poor; thin plastic lense, marks on the reflector, very blue tint etc, but it all holds together, seems water resistant, and lights up, even if not very bright..

Is the beam any better than the keychain Fauxtons, brightness-tint?

 

[RedForest UK]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

Is the beam any better than the keychain Fauxtons, brightness-tint?

Well, the beam is very different, much more flashlighty, it has a clear hotspot and then a spill beam. The Police 3w one is probably putting out a bit less than a DX fauxton, but the other one is about twice as bright so is a bit brighter than one. The tints are sort of off white blue tinged colour, compared to the purply yellow colour of my fauxton.

Overall I'd say the beam was preferable over the fauxton, and actually very useful somewhere with no other ambient light, but as any $1 light would, it still leaves a lot to be desired..

 

[SixM]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

Thank you for the information, I am keeping my expectations low, but hoping for the best.
I did order some of the ones that are marked Police too, actually the ones DZ had listed weren't marked Police, maybe I'll get lucky and they'll be a different batch. Either way, I have some little ones that will enjoy them, as long as they work.

 

[moviles]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I have one,avoid this flashlights, bad led

 

[alpg88]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

i bought a dozen of 1aa 1w lights from e bay a while back (have only 3 left), they pulled about 200ma. measured at the tail.
for a buck and change that i paid for them they were great, only 2 were dim, pulled 80ma.
pretty decent lights. not total junk at all.
took 6 on my trip to Jamaica, gave 1 to, the guy that drove me around, my bartender, security guard, maintenance guy in my hotel...ect. as a souvenirs. they were surprised, usually tourists take souvenirs, not give them away.

 

[Painkiller1009]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I just recived 2 of regular lights not the police version.
One is great works like a champ.
The other works great but the beam is a little off. The led is not centered up well making it bounce off the reflector. But still works just not as pretty.
I tried 14500s in them and they don't like them at all made the led very angry. Super bright for 2 seconds and them dimmed way out.
For $2 I can't complain at all. One light is going in my rail buggy for night time wrenching the other will be a light for the kids to play with.

 

[Tuikku]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I got 10 and 1 was broken.

Ordered 10 more to give-aways.

Good price/quality ratio.

 

[InHisName]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I've just ordered one of these, ( ...50s).

One month ago, I was only a batteryaholic, and now I have three 1xAAA lights and one 1xAA on the way. Hmmmphhh, you guys are mean. :twothumbs

While I wait I just got my 'free' flashlight from Coast. Initially it seemed better than my Fenix E01 depite being longer, but then disconnected it self at lower voltages. I am trying to grab the voltage right after it cuts out, but I keep missing it by too much.

 

[Zatoichi]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

My pair arrived today, both working. I'd say they're about as bright as 5mm led's, and have a little throw due to the reflectors. I think the Fenix-esque appearance would make them more impressive loaners (I'm not sure I'd give them out as gifts) than fauxtons, and running off regular AA's makes them less disposable (depending how long they hold up).

Yes, not bad for a dollar.

 

[jk037]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

Still haven't had a failure! 😀

Several of the 20 I ordered are now in regular use: one in my toolbox at home, one in toolbox at work, one carried around by my girlfriend in her handbag, one as my "throw in overnight bag as a backup for my backups", and have given 5 or 6 away to people at work.

None have given any problems so far, as I mentioned in the other thread they can be fussy about batteries (preferring ones with a more prominent positive pole for best contact) but this means that they're generally happier with cheap cells instead of more expensive Duracells (which have relatively flat positive poles) - bonus! 😀

Incidentally, when I've let my colleagues have a play with one of these lights and asked them how much they think it cost, their replies have ranged from £8 to £30! 😱

 

[stangster]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I'd say they're about as bright as 5mm led's, and have a little throw due to the reflectors.

I'd say they are WAY brighter than a 5mm LED. Upon doing a ceiling bounce test, the $1.47 light is as bright as my SL 4AA 7(5mm) LED. Of course, it throws way better than the SL...which is floody.

But then again, I may have been lucky with the 4 that I got! I ordered a bunch more so we'll see. 🙂

 

[Zatoichi]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I'd say they are WAY brighter than a 5mm LED.

Having compared them with my E01 and a DX fauxton, yes there is a significant difference, maybe 3 times brighter?

 

[stangster]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I'd say they're about as bright as 5mm led's..

Having compared them with my E01 and a DX fauxton, yes there is a significant difference, maybe 3 times brighter?

You now see the light! 🙂

And I definitely agree, not bad at all for a $1.47!

Quick cell phone pics. Ebay vs ARC AAA.

About 2-3ft away. Dirt showing above the concrete in next pic.

About 3-4ft away onto dirt.

About 5ft from a bamboo roll up blind.
Dont know what the 2 blobs (in both beams) and lone light in the middle are....?

Looking downward. The dirt gap is about 16".

 

[SixM]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

If they put out 20-30 lumens of light that would be great, I've carried a Streamlight Microstream around a lot and it's output is good for general, close work. I've put in many years using AA and AAA Mini Mags on the job and look what they put out.
If they are somewhat durable, that would be icing on the cake.

 

[SixM]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

Stangster, those look great great, thanks for the comparisons shots.

 

[RepProdigious]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

I bought 10 of those, arrived in 5 days! I took one apart to see whats on the inside, i lost one :thinking: and i gave 3 to friends.... So i still have a few to give out.

For this kind of money you really cant go wrong! Just the lanyard thing every single light comes with would be more expensive here in the Netherlands than that complete light 😉

 

[vasp1]

Re: $1 AA lights from Ebay

Received my second one today - ordered on 11th May - iit's never going to win a beauty contest; it's surprisingly bright and for this little money I'm not going to complain. I will certainly order a couple more.