$20 AA light

[DHart]

Camping, long backpacking trips.... hmmmmm, you're going to need a light which will give you good throw, wide spill, high output and really low, low output, and long runtimes on low. A light with multiple output levels and versatile powering options. A light you can buy other battery size tubes and tailcap switch types for later.

Much as you don't want to spend more than $20. If you can possibly find your way to spend $60 and get a Quark AA, you will have a light with vastly greater utility and powering versatility than anything you can find for $20. Is the extra $40 a possibility? If it is, even as a bit of a stretch, I would say skip all the budget stuff and go directly to a Quark AA. You may not realize the wisdom of this now, but in time, it will be painfully obvious that a bit more investment in a really versatile, high quality light like the Quark which runs on 14500 li-ion, AA NiMH, AA lithium, AA alkaline... has a low of .2 lumens!, a very hot turbo output, five levels of brightness, a signal mode, SOS mode, and a super clean beam, excellent throw, wide spill, white tint.... all of these factors add up to far more value than the extra $40 you would spend. What else can you give up that really isn't that important to enable you to get a superb flashlight, rather than one that just gets you by?

You definitely need to consider this before closing the book on your decision.

 

[joshconsulting]

I understand your concern, but honestly my Minimag has worked great thusfar, and I just need something to tide me over until I buy a quality light in a year or so.

 

[DHart]

I understand your concern, but honestly my Minimag has worked great thusfar, and I just need something to tide me over until I buy a quality light in a year or so.

SO be it. That is that. Case closed.

 

[kramer5150]

Hey Kramer, do you think its time for a new one....lol.

yeah I'd like to get a new shiny one, but for all the praise I have given it, I feel like I owe it to CPF to keep using it till' it dies.

Actually this light had dropped down to #3 on my depth chart. Then my daughter lost my L1T-V2:thumbsdow... and I have been having troubles with my Zebralight H501. So this Romisen is back at the top of the order. I used it a lot yesterday inspecting some telco racks at work, and its on my belt pack as I type this during my lunch break.

I had forgotten how great of an EDC it is.... .single mode / RCR123... max brightness in one click. I use it 2AA and 1xPrimary-CR123 all the time too, it runs longer and cooler than with RCR123.

 

[vali]

If you never tried a modern powerled before, you will be amazed with the amount of light they can output nowadays.

If you want a "very bright" light and dont mind the size of a 2xAA, go for the Romisen. The runtime is almost 3 hours in high and 10+ in medium, but keep in mind that there is not real low mode.

If you want a pocketable light with decent output, get the Akoray K-106. Even in low the K-106 will beat a 2xAA mag after the batteries are used a bit. In high the K-106 using NiMH is not that bright compared to 2xAA or lithium powered ones, but will beat most 2xD incandescent flashlights ppl are used to. Runtime in high is about an hour, but in low is in the range of 35+ hours. The decent low is great for indoors.

 

[slipe]

I wouldn’t have anything in my lights but Li-on batteries. But I always check and compare with NiMH and alkaline looking for lights that would be appropriate for friends and family. Most can’t carry on a long phone conversation because they forgot to charge the phone batteries. Even if I gave them a charger and Li-ons the lights would be dim most of the time.

The light I’ve found with the best brightness using AA or NiMH is the older model UltraFire C3 P4 single mode. I don’t think you will find a brighter light using a single AA. I don’t have a RC N3 Q5, but I would suspect it is slightly brighter with two AAs and has a longer run time. But I wouldn’t have something that large in my pocket when I needed it most of the time. And the C3 plus a spare NiMH would be a lot easier to carry IMO.

I’ll confirm what others have said that the Akoray K-106 approaches being pitiful with AAs. Light output seems directly proportional to voltage. 14500 output is fine and seems to be about three times brighter than NiMH. The little C3 isn’t that way at all. It is a little brighter with 14500 but not a lot. With Li-on in both the K-106 and C3, the C3 seems a tad brighter. With NiMH or alkaline in both the comparison is drastic.

Since money is tight right now you might consider the C3. DX is selling it for $10.73 (SKU 1993). I’ve bought several and they have all been solid. I guess it is always a crapshoot with Ultrafire, but I have had good luck with all of my UltraFires. A Q5 version of the same light is lounging in DX limbo for me, but I doubt it will be brighter than the P4 with AAs since several other Q5s haven't been as bright.

 

[Marduke]

The C3 isn't that impressive on 1xAA, and MANY other 1xAA lights are far brigher (over twice).

 

[DHart]

The C3 isn't that impressive on 1xAA, and MANY other 1xAA lights are far brigher (over twice).

Marduke... please advise... I just ordered two C3's based on the brightness recommendation on NiMH. What can you recommend that's brighter on AA NiMH?

 

[Marduke]

Any of the quality name brand 1xAA lights are. Anything from Nitecore, 47's, Fenix, Olight, Eagletac. Even some of the budget 1xAA lights are about twice as bright.

The UF C3 was not known for being bright, it was known for a good general use brightness that still gave you good battery life, and it had unusually good regulation for such a cheap light. It was never a scorcher by any means.

 

[Wiggle]

I've got a C3 Stainless here on NiMH. Looks pretty much on par with Fenix L2D high (but turbo outdoes it a good bit).

 

[DHart]

Any of the quality name brand 1xAA lights are. Anything from Nitecore, 47's, Fenix, Olight, Eagletac. Even some of the budget 1xAA lights are about twice as bright.

Marduke... please, I would like your specific recommendation... what budget AA light gives relatively high output on a single AA (NiMH, L91, alkaline)... and is of reasonably good quality? I'd really like to know so I can order a couple for the toolbox, glovebox, etc.

I'd pick the K-106, but from what you're saying, other budget models (let's say, under $30?) are much brighter than the K-106 on a single AA, so what are they?


===================================================
Some comparisons I'm getting with ceiling bounce testing:

LIGHT-------------------14500---------NiMH----------AA alka
_________________________________________________
Jet I Pro v3------------4.9EV-----------3.8EV-----------3.8EV
QAA--------------------4.8EV-----------3.8EV-----------3.9EV
K-106------------------4.8EV-----------3.1EV-----------3.3EV
ConneXion X2---------3.5EV-----------3.3EV-----------3.2EV
Romisen RC-H3 Q5---- n/a -----------2.8EV-----------2.8EV

The Romisen RC-H3 Q5 is a decent performer for $22 or so,
but it's still not as bright on AA alkaline as the programmable
three-mode K-106. :thinking: :shrug:

Interestingly, the ConneXion X2 fares much dimmer than the
14500 competition and just comparable to the K-106 on
AA and NiMH. Not a huge thumbs up from me on the ConneXion.

Of the two $20-ish AA lights I have, the K-106 is by far the winner,
in brightness, powering versatility, and available modes,
but that's just comparing the K-106 to the RC-H3 Q5.

Anyone have any idea how the UF C3 Q5

sku.26122

mentioned earlier compares to these models I just tested?
I'm going to order one of these anyway since it's getting
good reviews.

 

[slipe]

The C3 isn't that impressive on 1xAA, and MANY other 1xAA lights are far brigher (over twice).

Please name them based on joshconsulting’s $20 – that’s what the thread is about.

I’m not arguing. If there is something twice as bright (or even close) on AAs for twenty bucks I’ll get several as presents.

 

[Marduke]

Please name them based on joshconsulting’s $20 – that’s what the thread is about.

I’m not arguing. If there is something twice as bright (or even close) on AAs for twenty bucks I’ll get several as presents.

I was replying to your post, not josh's, so I did not apply $20 as some magic number. If you want a reasonably bright light with good regulation, the C3 single mode is a fine choice for $11. Enjoy it.

However, you'll see what I mean when you move onto other non-budget lights.

 

[hyperloop]

It's really not worth my money to spend more on batteries and charger then the flashlight itself, so I'll be sticking with the AA, but I don't mind waiting - I'm in no great hurry, so let me know when you get it. Brightness is my main concern, and I'm pretty sure that the n3 is better but I'd like to be positive :)

Just to update you, the Akoray is being shipped from HK to Singapore, so i expect to receive it in a few days, i think there may have been some miscommunication about my RC-N3 II Q5, there are no ratings that i know of but i compared the high output of the RC-N3 II with my Jet II and it was about the same as 50% output of the Jet II (which is rated max 225, so half would be 112.5 or so)

I'd strongly recommend a 2 mode RC-N3, the flexibilty is always useful.

 

[pekcle]

I'd strongly recommend a 2 mode RC-N3, the flexibilty is always useful.

hyperloop, how does the mode switching work on the RC-N3? Is it a forward switch?

It would be interesting to have a forward tactical switch that only changes mode in reverse half-press (i.e. mode change with half-press AFTER being fully clicked on). Is that even possible with a mechanical switch? Thanks!

 

[Marduke]

It would be interesting to have a forward tactical switch that only changes mode in reverse half-press (i.e. mode change with half-press AFTER being fully clicked on). Is that even possible with a mechanical switch? Thanks!

No, a forward clicky doesn't have a momentary off like a reverse clicky.

 

[alfreddajero]

Has the op thought about a light that he will have for future use and one that is a bit more well made......about 24 bones more he can get the olight T15 which will take 14500's and will also be bright on an AA as well......just to warn you that it is a bit long for an AA light.

 

[DHart]

Has the op thought about a light that he will have for future use and one that is a bit more well made......about 24 bones more he can get the olight T15 which will take 14500's and will also be bright on an AA as well......just to warn you that it is a bit long for an AA light.

And for another 14 bones beyond that, he can have a Quark! ;)

If we presume that only one flashlight will be owned, I agree to step up to the best grade... but as most of us know, there are really good reasons to have at least a few different flashlights... if you're serious about relying on flashlights, having just one (or even two) isn't really going to be the best way to go. Finding excellent quality/low priced flashlights is a good thing, as there are a number of very good quality flashlights in the sub $30 range. As such, many folks can afford to have at least three or four good quality lights, sometimes two or three for the price of one Surefire. And often offering more powering versatility, multi-output levels, and brighter max output than a lot of Surefires offer. This isn't a put down of Surefires as they make great lights... and I have a number of them, but there are numerous good quality competing lights that offer more for a lot less.

 

[bogeymachine]

+1 on the Romi N3 - I'm on my 2nd (my brother borrowed the 1st), brian/shiningbeam is your best bet

+1 the SS Ultrafire [link removed - DM51] is a major deal (I bought 4) especially if you juice it with a 14550. note: the "SOS" mode on this light is "SO-SO"...as in dot dot dot dash dash dash pause dot dot dot dash dash dash. I think this light is heavily discounted because of defect. It's only takes one AA/14550 (you mentioned 2 AA preferred), stainless is heavier than aluminium (not always a bad thing) but stronger.

If you shop around, gently used Fenix LT2s can be found for about $25. It's discontinued so you can get a deal.

enjoy the research, it's at least half the fun...

bogey out

I have and like all of the lights mentioned so far, but my favorite 2 are the RC-N3 II Q5 with 2 Duraloops and the new Stainless UF C3 that Haz recommends with:
[link removed - DM51] blue Trustfire batteries. These fit, but none of the other Trustfire or Ultrafire batteries do. I would expect AWs to fit also.

 

[joshconsulting]

Yea, so I finally decided on a set of Trustfire 14500s, a Surfire charger, and a K-106 from DealExtreme. Around 30$ total for an upgrade from the 25$ minimag LED. It just got here today. Here's the beamshot vs. my MinimagLED. I also tried one vs. the regular Minimag, but I couldn't see the beam from the Minimag :laughing:

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/4238/beamshot.jpg

[over-size image changed to link - DM51]

'Nuff said, I think?

My only concern is that the head seems to grow quite warm during use. It heats up fast for the first minute or so, then levels off - I'm wondering how warm I can let it get? If I hold the head mostly in my palm, it's not as comfortable of a grip but it keeps temps lower. Will it hurt the Q5 if I set it on a stand for a couple of minutes or hold it by the back of the handle on high?