1AA for EDC only?

[roymail]

Is the primary advantage to using a 1AA light like the L1D, L1T, D10, etc for EDC... and ease of carry?

But, since I don't EDC a flashlight, I'm thinking an L2D, L2T, TK20, etc would be better for me.

I plan to use it with LSD NiMh batts like eneloops.

So here's my question... is there any reason for me to consider a 1AA light over these 2AA's mentioned above? (although I really like the D10)

 

[ozner1991]

they are smaller but 2cell lights give give you a longer runtime

 

[Gatsby]

I can't think of any compelling reason to carry a 1xAA light if size is not a factor - the 2xAA form factor will give you more runtime and more output. In fact I'm not sure there is a good reason for a 1xCR123 light other than size compared to a 2xAA format.

To me, at least, the advantage of a 1xAA/14500 form factor is the slim profile which is more pocketable than most CR123 based lights, but has much more capacity than a 1xAAA light. It's about the perfect EDC profile (and ironically I carry a 1xCR123 light as my primary EDC mostly because I love the light so much I'm willing to sacrifice the size as a tradeoff).

Oh yeah, I did forget to add, however that for some reason Fenix decided to make the 2xAA lights a lot uglier than their 1xAA brothers!

 

[RGB_LED]

The answer may depend on what you use it for and how you will carry your light. If you don't edc, I'm assuming that you plan on using it for other purposes such as camping, nightstand light, emergency car kit, black-outs, etc. Please give an indication on what you will be using the light for...

Personally, I EDC a NiteCore D10 (alternate with EX10) and I also have a zebralight H50 in my courier bag so I like the small size as it's easily packable and unobtrusive when I do need it. I currently have a 2AA C3 sitting on my bedside table next to a couple of other lights but I don't plan on using the 2AA other than around the house so I don't mind the longer form factor in that application.

If you don't mind having the longer form factor or having it sit at the bottom of a rucksack, then I think you're fine with the 2AA.

EDC for me is small, packable, easily accessible AA's with the occasional addition of a 1xRCR123 light.

 

[roymail]

The answer may depend on what you use it for and how you will carry your light. If you don't edc, I'm assuming that you plan on using it for other purposes such as camping, nightstand light, emergency car kit, black-outs, etc. Please give an indication on what you will be using the light for...

That's a good point which I should have included in my OP.

I will be using it mostly as a general purpose task light around the house. It may see limited use outside, but I have another light for that.

Having several light levels is very appealing. And, I find the AA format really practical now that emitters are more efficient.

Thanks to everyone!

 

[drmaxx]

1AA are more flexible. It is always possible to carry one or two extra AA. With a 2AA you can't get rid of one and you always have to carry 2 spares.
On the other hand: 2AA usually have a better output and a better runtime (more efficient battery use).

But I agree: If you don't plan to EDC one then go for the 2AA.

 

[Henk_Lu]

I don't really understand your question, considering your status as flashaholic...

For me, only 1 CR123A is a real EDC light, I'm looking forward to get a Clicky for that purpose.

The L1D is nice and very bright, the L2D is also nice but quite long and even brighter. Unsuitable for EDC, because that means in my pocket. Even though I have a big belly, I'm not tall, so the L2D is my WC (weekend carry) in my packbag on tour.

My advice : Buy a 2AA first, then try an 1AA, and then a 1CR123A, so you'll see for yourself!

Henk

 

[superflytnt]

Of course size is a factor, there aren't many other benefits of smaller batteries.

What do you need a light for? If size isn't a consideration then what is? High output? Long runtime? The ability to use it as a club/hammer? For some of these you'll want a larger light that can hold more stored energy. The good news is that with emitters/drivers being as efficient as they are these days most people will find that a single cell AA or cr123 light will fill the vast majority of their personal lighting needs and are small enough to have with you all the time.................hence their appeal.

If you don't need the small size then, of course, you should carry whatever sized light would suit your needs.

 

[TONY M]

I also think that if the light will not be EDC'd then there is no real reason for choosing 1xAA over a 2xAA light. At least as far as I can see.

 

[kramer5150]

Ditto what others have said, the only advantage 1AA offers is reduced size.

There is a remote possibility that using a brighter 2AA light will be too bright. But that depends more on your application and how sensitive your eyes are to bright objects at night. So, in that scenario a 1AA might be a better choice... but then again with multi-mode AAs that would be the BEST scenario.

 

[liquidsix]

I don't EDC anymore, but pocketability is still important for those times when I will be using the light, like say for camping, or if I need to hide the fact that I bought this small new light from my girlfriend. But pocketability isn't limited to 1xAA and 1xCR123 lights so 2xAA and such are still good.

 

[superflytnt]

I don't EDC anymore, but pocketability is still important for those times when I will be using the light, like say for camping, or if I need to hide the fact that I bought this small new light from my girlfriend. But pocketability isn't limited to 1xAA and 1xCR123 lights so 2xAA and such are still good.

does.............not.................compute....................................

 

[Braddah_Bill]

Is the primary advantage to using a 1AA light like the L1D, L1T, D10, etc for EDC... and ease of carry?

But, since I don't EDC a flashlight, I'm thinking an L2D, L2T, TK20, etc would be better for me.

I plan to use it with LSD NiMh batts like eneloops.

So here's my question... is there any reason for me to consider a 1AA light over these 2AA's mentioned above? (although I really like the D10)

I will be using it mostly as a general purpose task light around the house. It may see limited use outside, but I have another light for that.

It seems you pretty much answered your own question, at least to me.

Using a light around the house for small tasks I would go for *ease of carry* like you mentioned. For me, at home means throwing on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt if any (warm weather in Hawaii) so a 1AA size light is perfect light, at the moment the D10 is my at home, throw in the pocket light. Like you, I have many many (too much ) other lights for outside or longer runtime, if needed, just a short walk to the bedroom.

So dude, get that D10 :thumbsup: and let it disappear in the pocket of your most comfortable, stay at home, kickback and relax pants/shorts pocket.


Bill

 

[Marduke]

Well, if you like the D10 but want 2xAA, how about getting the D20? It's a 2xAA version of the D10.

 

[Buck91]

I have two reasons my go-to lights feature a single AA battery (except the trusty magled 3D).

1) Ease of carry and use. Takes up less space, and weighs less.
2) "Its a bad day" - Strike that, "Its a bad YEAR." I need a flashlight to make life easier in bad times and batts are hard to find. Gonna be a LOT harder finding two decent batts than one. Further, how often do those 2AA lights offer a full 2x the runtime of a 1AA?

I conceed, the second is a very likely scenario, but it is a consideration... That said, my EDC lights are a fauxton and a streamlight Key-Mate running off LR44 cells. Good long run time (albeit heavily diminishing) and grossly brighter than it has any right to be on fresh batts.

 

[LED-holic]

There is one very important reason for going 1AA versus 2AA.

That is if you're using rechargeable batteries, and you don't meticulously maintain and track your batteries. One of the batteries if lower in charge than the other one, could reverse charge from the other battery, and cause battery damage.

For this reason some people prefer to use 1AA because it will not be as important to match up rechargeable batteries to avoid this possible scenario.

Reverge charging a nimh battery is not good and could permanently kill the nimh battery... So you must always ensure both batteries are properly charged and have roughly similar capacity.

NiMH cells do not handle over-discharging very well. A complete discharge of a cell until it goes into polarity reversal can cause permanent damage to the cell. This situation can occur in the common arrangement of four AA cells in series in a digital camera, where one will be completely discharged before the others due to small differences in capacity among the cells. When this happens, the "good" cells will start to "drive" the discharged cell in reverse, which can cause permanent damage to that cell. Some cameras, GPS receivers and PDAs detect the safe end-of-discharge voltage of the series cells and shut themselves down, but devices like flashlights and some toys do not. A single cell driving a load won't suffer from polarity reversal, because there are no other cells to reverse-charge it when it becomes discharged.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_metal_hydride_battery

 

[LED_Thrift]

No reason other than size for a one AA. That said, try carrying any good single AA light [there are 38 models that fit that description] in your pocket and discover all the times you'll get good use out of it:
to look for things on the lower shelf of the fridge
to look for somthing that fell under a table or desk
to go into a dark room just for a few seconds to get something without turning an electric lightbulb on & off
to get someones attention
finding stuff in: a closet, the back seat of a car, a garage
reading words/letters on the back of an appliance
etc, etc, etc, edc

Try it, a thousand flashaholics can't be wrong.

 

[LED-holic]

Please, everyone, pay attention - there is one VALID and IMPORTANT reason for choosing a 1AA over a 2AA light - avoiding reverse charging and killing a nimh cell.

This is a very valid and good reason.

I run very closely matched Eneloops in my L2D to ensure this scenario does not happen. But it takes additional effor to ensure I always match them.

 

[LED_Thrift]

When the cells in my L2D, L2T, or Streamlight ProPoly 4AA get low, I charge them at the same time and put them back in. How could they get out of balance? It would be more likely with a light that uses three cells, since my charger(s) can do two or four cells at a time only.