1xAA flashlight around $20?

[msoloviev]

Hi guys,

thank you for great forum and all your contributions. Before I found it I never realized how many people are into it :)

I'm looking for budget flashlight to carry it in my bag and ocasionally use it for night airsoft games.

My question is, what would be smart choice here?

I know, some people would say that it's better to buy fenix or surefire and while I agree with it, it's not an option for me right now.

Thank you.

 

[FlashKat]

How much runtime do you need?
Do you want single mode or multiple modes?

 

[SuperLightMan]

Yup, gotta give us more criteria other than a single AA flashlight for around $20. Gotta give us output desired, run time, on/ off switch type, length, etc... The more detailed, the better for suggestions.

 

[glockboy]

UltraFire C3 Stainless Steel Flashlight @ shiningbeam.com for $18.75+sh.

 

[sol-leks]

yeah check out the AA lights at shiningbeam.

 

[Coaster]

UltraFire C3 Stainless Steel Flashlight @ shiningbeam.com for $18.75+sh.

I just grabbed one of these the other day. It's a pretty neat little light, fairly good output for a $20 light. If I could live with only having a single mode I'd be tempted to put it in EDC rotation.

 

[Marduke]

Have you checked the budget reviews?

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=209354

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=171621

 

[msoloviev]

Guys,
thank you very much for your answers.

I would love to have strobe light (dont care about other modes), but I suspect that for $20 it may be too much to ask.

Runtime - about 1:30 - 2 hours on single AA battery would be enough.

Would be also good if I could half press tailcap -- light will turn on, but when I'll release it - it will go off.

Oh, and forgot - flashlight should be splash resistant cause sometimes we play at night when it's raining (completely different experience btw :).


The thing is my Rominsen RC-G2 died couple days ago (I bought it about 9 months ago) so now I'm in search for something else.

I did take a look at BessieBenny's Budget Flashlight review, that's how I got RC-G2 in the first place.

And thank you for the link to second topic with reviews -- I'll read it today.

 

[Scott_T]

Might be a good time to upgrade the rc-g2 with a q5 and a new circuit.

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2657346

 

[msoloviev]

I'm not good with soldering stuff and disassembling things so unfortunately doing mod is not an option for me... :-/ Thank you for suggestion though!

 

[optodoofus]

You can get a Q5 version of the RC-G2 at www.shiningbeam.com. The driver is not too efficient and you could do better with a home-made Q5 version. But still it is a nice package at a good price. Plus, it has a forward clickie for tactical use. Hard to beat for the price.

By the way, what happened to your first RC-G2? Maybe it is only mostly dead and can be repaired. One common issue with this switch is that people over-tighten the head and short out the LED leads. Some of the RC-G2s lack a plastic spacer on the top to prevent this (all of mine came with the plastic piece to avoid this.) If you post info on you problem, someone here might be able to halp you figure it out and fix it. I doubt that the LED itself is dead. It could happen, but the lifetime on this component is pretty high

optodoofus

 

[rockz4532]

the river rock 1w at target

 

[lebox97]

your probably not going to get much longevity out of a $20 light... I learned long ago that cheaper ends up being expensive when you have to replace it every few months...
why not save up $$ for a month or two and a get qreat quality light long lasting light that you can rely on? (nitecore GD as an example)

 

[msoloviev]

One common issue with this switch is that people over-tighten the head and short out the LED leads. Some of the RC-G2s lack a plastic spacer on the top to prevent this (all of mine came with the plastic piece to avoid this.) If you post info on you problem, someone here might be able to halp you figure it out and fix it. I doubt that the LED itself is dead. It could happen, but the lifetime on this component is pretty high

I think you are right. I started playing with it, slo-o-owly rotating tail cap and at one point it lit up. However if I continue to tight it, it will shut off. So now my question is if there is easy way to repair it besides not tightening it all the time?

 

[msoloviev]

why not save up $$ for a month or two and a get qreat quality light long lasting light that you can rely on? (nitecore GD as an example)

Well, I could save money and buy surefire or fenix.. however I want to use flashlight for night airsoft games in the woods and I will not feel good if I'll loose it somewhere there...

 

[hyperloop]

Would go get a 4 mode Ultrafire C3 from DX, make sure you get the one that runs on AAs and not 14500s, there is a difference. If i am not wrong, it comes with a 2 x AA extension tube. USD$18.98 or maybe JUST above USD$20

I have the single mode Ultrafire C3, runs for 1hr 45 minutes (+/-) on a 14500 so it should run about there if not longer on an AA and even longer with 2 x AA.

PM me for the link if you want to consider this light.

 

[Gunner12]

If the head(not that talicap) is overtightened and shorting out the LED, first make sure the driver is not burnt out by removing the head and seeing if the light turns on(the LED should be fine).

If the light turns on, then take a sheet of paper or plastic, cut out a circle, use a hole punch to make a hole in the center, and place it so the LED comes through the circle. The paper or plastic should prevent any further shorting.

You might want to go for a RC-G2 Q5 from shiningbeam. First make sure that the reflector won't short out the LED, then use it till it breaks.

:welcome:

 

[DaveG]

2nd,vote for River Rock at Target.

 

[rockz4532]

2nd,vote for River Rock at Target.

Yeah thats what im talking about!
very good quality, bright enough for shooting airsoft, but its 25 dollars...
or you could get the energizer 1w, also at target, pretty much the same, exept with forward clicky. 18$

 

[metlarules]

Well, I could save money and buy surefire or fenix.. however I want to use flashlight for night airsoft games in the woods and I will not feel good if I'll loose it somewhere there...

In the woods smaller items should be lanyard to you or other larger gear.
Why? Because if it can get loss it will get loss.