24/7/365 Waterproof Neck Carry Light

[applevision]

You might also check with CPF member neoseikan. He built the Spartanian and is now offering CNC machine work for $20/hour. Great price for CNC but the drawback is he's in China so it could take some shipping time and so on. He's got an ad around here for this. I do think this concept has potential for sales if a custom maker picks up on this concept.

Thanks matrixshaman. This is good advice. If the guy I'm working with now doesn't run with the project, this could be the way to go. I'm very excited about who is considering the project--there could be some serious kit, as they say, in our near future!😎

 

[ev13wt]

A photon 2 almost works, the only real problem is saltwater, it's fine in fresh/tapwater.

Sweat is basically salt water.

I'm hoping that the custom light that we/they come up with is easily biteable though it will likely be raw Ti. One thing I like, however, about just turning on the light and letting it dangle from my neck is that it gives a nice area light around you.

I love your idea!

I am thinking Ti is a great choice. Platinum would be the ultimate, if it is hard enough.
A crazy idea: A capacitor driven light with 2 contact points, and a portable charger with 2 d cells (example cells) or a 4aa base station "charger"? Or a 2aa tube, etc.

And a tritium vial, of course.

A flattened or oval type form factor would be easier to wear because it has more even pressure distribution on the skin than a round form factor.

Please add me to the list!

 

[applevision]

I love your idea!

I am thinking Ti is a great choice. Platinum would be the ultimate, if it is hard enough.
A crazy idea: A capacitor driven light with 2 contact points, and a portable charger with 2 d cells (example cells) or a 4aa base station "charger"? Or a 2aa tube, etc.

And a tritium vial, of course.

A flattened or oval type form factor would be easier to wear because it has more even pressure distribution on the skin than a round form factor.

Please add me to the list!

Done!

I have submitted two rough designs... the first is a tubular shape... the second is flatter... I think you are on to something with the flattened form factor as well...

 

[ypsifly]

I forgot to check the pockets on a pair of pants before doing laundry last week. About halfway through the dry cycle something was banging around with the clothes so I emptied the dryer and found one of my Task Force led keychain lights: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=225282-50584-FT-ST-01&lpage=none

It survived, stayed dry inside and works just fine. Last year a Solitaire went through a similar unscheduled "Maytag Test" and had to be taken apart and left to dry out for a couple days.

 

[applevision]

I forgot to check the pockets on a pair of pants before doing laundry last week. About halfway through the dry cycle something was banging around with the clothes so I emptied the dryer and found one of my Task Force led keychain lights: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=225282-50584-FT-ST-01&lpage=none

It survived, stayed dry inside and works just fine. Last year a Solitaire went through a similar unscheduled "Maytag Test" and had to be taken apart and left to dry out for a couple days.

Wow, ypsifly, that's a pretty ringing endorsement! Making it through even part of a wash cycle is a big deal--it's submerged and agitated... so that is impressive. Can you measure this one's length and diameter for us? I couldn't find it on the site. Thanks!

 

[balou]

I'd be interested too in a Firefli-style light.

But applevision, are you planning to use air-zinc batteries like in the firefli, or another battery chemistry? Yes, you'd have to have an closable airhole for it to work, but the advantages of air zinc are enormous imho.
-indefinite storage time when sealed off from air
-extremely high energy density (much larger than any lithium, alkaline or nimh chemistry)
-they can't leak
Besides, what alternatives are there? Are there any 6mm diam lithium batteries? silver oxide coin batteries would be another option... housing could be air/watertight, but energy density and thus runtime would be less.

Oh, and I'd be interested in a SS or Al version. Ti's just too expensive for me 😉

ev13wt:
problem is, capacitors normally can't store energy for a long enough time. and they have a rather low energy density. carbon aerogel caps might be the best choice, but they aren't available in such small form factors, if at all.

 

[ev13wt]

balou, thanks for the cap info. 🙁

Would this work?
Varta range of very flat and high energy types with a voltage of 3.7 V and capacities from 340 mAh up to 1320 mAh

Eval kit: http://www.cdiweb.com/varta
Sizes, specs: http://www.cdiweb.com/FeaturedProducts.aspx?type=392&manf=359&cate=2

Info: "Varta PLF263441 with a nominal voltage of 3.7V and a capacity of 340mAh. This very compact battery is just 4.1 x 3.4 x 2.6mm and weighs just 8g"



Applevision thank you for the add. That battery or 2 above each other (the top smaller) could work awesome in a flattened design light.

 

[Per Arne]

Hi,

Mayby I can recommend this one:
- Aunoc AAAA http://www.aunoc.com/home.asp

I think the beam is better than ARC AAA...

PA

 

[balou]

ev13wt and Per Arne: Yes, both options are quite small. Unfortunately, not ultra small 😉

ev13wt: the battery is actually 41x34x2.6mm, seems like a decimal point got missing. so it's not that small. seems like they are just normal li-poly batteries in a consumer-friendly hull. but yeah, for a flattened design, a li-poly in the size of 20x30xN mm could be suitable.

Per Arne: size of the AAAA alone is longer than a matchstick. applevision stated in this thread over at the marketplace the size in the order of 7-10x40mm. plus you need a dc-dc converter and can no longer use the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) direct drive mode.
oh and please don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to bash the light or you, it's just that it's a notch above "smallest possible" (people seem to misunderstand me lately, so I thought I'll mention that)


oh, and comparing the AAAA battery to air-zinc... in the same space you could fit quite some air zinc batteries.

AAAA: 8.3x42.5mm, ~600mAh, 1.5V
#13 zinc air: 7.9x5.3mm, ~300mAh, 1.4V
8x #13 would be 7.9x42.4mm, 300mAh, 11.2V.
Or 5.6V and 600mAh. Or 1.4V and 2400mAh. Four times the energy density per volume 😱oo:


Btw, I also thought about a credit-card sized flashlight. But I think I'll open a new thread for that.

 

[applevision]

I'd be interested too in a Firefli-style light.

Added! 😀

But applevision, are you planning to use air-zinc batteries like in the firefli, or another battery chemistry? Yes, you'd have to have an closable airhole for it to work, but the advantages of air zinc are enormous imho.

I'm not sure. I think this is good stuff and I am going to point the person I'm talking with to this thread. I'm just a regular guy and not a maker... but the person who might make this is pretty awesome!

Oh, and I'd be interested in a SS or Al version. Ti's just too expensive for me 😉

We shall see! But I hear you and if things were easier/cheaper, then I totally agree that SS or Al would be fine by me.

Also, I will point out the battery info you guys have discussed here as well.

Hi,

Mayby I can recommend this one:
- Aunoc AAAA http://www.aunoc.com/home.asp

I think the beam is better than ARC AAA...

PA

ev13wt and Per Arne: Yes, both options are quite small. Unfortunately, not ultra small 😉

Per Arne: size of the AAAA alone is longer than a matchstick. applevision stated in this thread over at the marketplace the size in the order of 7-10x40mm. plus you need a dc-dc converter and can no longer use the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) direct drive mode.
oh and please don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to bash the light or you, it's just that it's a notch above "smallest possible" (people seem to misunderstand me lately, so I thought I'll mention that)

100% agree! Per Arne, thank you so much for pointing out this light!

It is gorgeous! Alas, let's pop it into the chart and see where things sit:

...............Length..........Diameter........... ........Volume:
Firefli........38mm............7mm................ ......1462mm^3
Eddie........50mm............10mm................. ....3926mm^3
Wee..........34mm............15mm................. ....6007mm^3
Nano.........37mm............13mm................. ....4910mm^3
LaPetit.......23.25mm.......14.25mm............... ..3681mm^3
Mako.........68mm............13mm................. .....9024mm^3
KD............42mm.............10mm............... ......3299mm^3
AUNOC.....67mm............9.5mm....................4751mm^3

Not bad! What's cool is that it is so thin--significantly thinner than the Mako but about the same length. Still, I agree with balou that--for this purpose--it is a bit too big for my liking.

The other thing is that looking at the review here: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/aunoc_aaaa.htm they give it a poor/fair. Here's what they say:

A beautifully designed light, with great output for its size and small enough to go with you everywhere. Unfortunately the unreliable positive contact in the head of the light really hurts the rating.

So I think that guy is off the list--but otherwise is pretty amazing looking.

Btw, I also thought about a credit-card sized flashlight. But I think I'll open a new thread for that.

Nice! Please point us there! I also have to point out a custom light in that vein (not to get too OT...) which looks phenomenal here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=212213&page=4

You guys are amazing! This is my favorite thread in the history of CPF!! :twothumbs Thank you!! :twothumbs And I will continue to learn and ...

 

[balou]

one other battery option would be a br425. but I think that it's less than ideal.
http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/1220-battery-lithium-25mah-pin-type-br425.html
4.2x26mm, 25-55mAh capacity, depending on which supplier. about $3 a piece. yep, this thing looks weird 😉

I begin to fear that AAAA or Zinc-Air are the only options for a long running light. But as said, AAAA would need a custom-made , ultra-small dc-dc converter. and diam would have to be at least 9mm.
there is the energizer 377/376 silver oxide battery, 6.8x2.6mm, 27mAh. energizer 319, 5.8x2.7mm, 19mAh. both quite low in capacity. #10 zinc air is 97mAh. in real-world, this is probably a 4x increase in capacity (better discharge characteristic, can handle 'high' discharge currents better [SR coin cells are made primarily for watches, which have current draw in the micro- and not milliampere range])

applesauce, I hope you're going to take the firefli apart when you get it. would be interesting which led they used, if they use a resistor, and if there is an on/off switch, or if shutdown is only because of the oxygen depletion when you screw it back together.
some ideas about manufacturing...
this light could be made from commonly available steel piping, with just two threads cut in. end- and frontpiece could probably be milled, without using a cnc like most other projects here 😉
led could be a nichia cs or gs with a resistor. or maybe there are other leds with higher efficiency at very low output levels.
Kaichus idea (over at marketplace) of using a 3mm led is also interesting - additional protection for the led, and you could mill some sort of reflector. nichia cs are available in 3mm, and I don't think that there's much of a difference between the 5 and 3mm version, except the size


the cclight thread is here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2776673#post2776673
(did I just invent a name for the thing?)
currently it's 85x54x1.6mm = 7344mm³
single battery/led version could probably be made in 24x32x1.6mm = 1228mm³

 

[Per Arne]

About the Aunoc AAAA;

"The other thing is that looking at the review here: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/aunoc_aaaa.htm they give it a poor/fair. Here's what they say:

Quote:
A beautifully designed light, with great output for its size and small enough to go with you everywhere. Unfortunately the unreliable positive contact in the head of the light really hurts the rating.

So I think that guy is off the list--but otherwise is pretty amazing looking."

Just to let you know that I have the new and updated one with a "solid" contact :twothumbs

PA

 

[kramer5150]

I think you guys should also consider the older Fenix E0 "Dart". Its been discontinued but it has some strengths, mainly lighter weight than the current E01 and very small profile. Good regulation even with Alkalines, with long running candle mode. Floody Nichia ~6 Lumen output. TypeIII anodize, and its less aggressive knurl makes it very comfortable for neck wear, even while sleeping. It tail stands too. I like it better than the gerber Tempo, its noticeably lighter weight hanging around my neck.



http://www.fenixlight.com/flashlight/fenixe0.htm

 

[applevision]

About the Aunoc AAAA;
Just to let you know that I have the new and updated one with a "solid" contact :twothumbs
PA

Nice! Thanks Per Arne! The Aunoc light could be a competitor with the Mako! It's only a mm shorter but significantly thinner!

Also: I got my FireFli today! It's super cool! Pics and review tomorrow! Off to sleep...

 

[cy]

IMHO... based on EDC'ing neck lanyard lights 7x24 for 4+ years...
neck lanyard light has to be good enough for all standard EDC duties. using easily obtained cells, which now includes CR2 and supports li-ion.

this knocks out all the micro-lights out there.

once you get used to always having a light on your person... you like it and don't want to be without.

don't get so hung up on finding the smallest light. being able to put out 60 lumens, then dialing it down to 1 lumen is why I carry Titan.

titanium is ideal for next to skin duties. I'd highly suggest looking for a Ti firefly (cr2 ion) which was originally designed by Larry. but produced by others.

 

[ev13wt]

ev13wt and Per Arne: Yes, both options are quite small. Unfortunately, not ultra small 😉

ev13wt: the battery is actually 41x34x2.6mm, seems like a decimal point got missing. so it's not that small. seems like they are just normal li-poly batteries in a consumer-friendly hull. but yeah, for a flattened design, a li-poly in the size of 20x30xN mm could be suitable.

I think the single cell size was that small, then they cram them into that casing to get the 41x34x2.6 form factor. I will call them monday.

I did find this one: 3v 25mAh
0.44 x 22 x 29mm
http://www.de.varta-microbattery.co...a_types.php?output=typedata&segment=PriLiFlat

And these Vartas Rechargable:

http://www.varta-microbattery.com/e...verview/PRODUCT_OVERVIEW_rech_li_cyl_pris.pdf


I am NOT affiliated with Varta btw.

Hope to help,

Ben

 

[todo]

IMHO... based on EDC'ing neck lanyard lights 7x24 for 4+ years...
neck lanyard light has to be good enough for all standard EDC duties. using easily obtained cells, which now includes CR2 and supports li-ion.

this knocks out all the micro-lights out there.

once you get used to always having a light on your person... you like it and don't want to be without.

don't get so hung up on finding the smallest light. being able to put out 60 lumens, then dialing it down to 1 lumen is why I carry Titan.

titanium is ideal for next to skin duties. I'd highly suggest looking for a Ti firefly (cr2 ion) which was originally designed by Larry. but produced by others.

I agree, when I first thought about useing a 24/7 neck light I assumed it would have to be ssuper small. I started with a photon which does suffice MOST of the time. However a light that is used that often, batteries do become an issue, and changing out photon batteries alot can be a bit tedious.

For me the diameter of the light is most critical. 123 cells lights are to FAT. I tried a P1Dce and it was uncomfortable. If I'm dressed up I dont want anything bulging from beneath my shirt, and an LOD is just small enough to not show or feel.

So I guess my point is if you truly want to get hooked on ,wearing a light 24/7 keep it SIMPLE... 1st it must not be a hassle regarding battery life or the ability to find batteries. 2nd it must be comfortable and, 3rd it must have low light and bright light capabilities. For me a black LODce on Energizer lithiums is perfect. I use it all the time and get 3 to 4 weeks on a battery. In the last week of the battery cycle its dimming somewhat but after all a neck light is most used on medium or low.

 

[cy]

Titan would not be recommended for most users wanting to lanyard EDC. it's too big for most and stock lanyard attachment is unreliable.

but for someone already used to having an object hanging from a lanyard all the time. once Titan's lanyard attachment is modded, Titan works out quite well.

now why would anyone want to go backwards from using a Larry light to a stock Surefire?

one of the reasons I quit lanyard EDC my L114430/CR2 is the corrosion factor. body was made made from a turned down Arc AA by Larry. After 2+ years of 7x24 duties, hard anodized body was corroded badly. it was time to retire the Li14430. Luckily original 14430 body was never lanyard EDC and still pristine.

bottom line ... choice of material does matter....size does matter, but doesn't have to be the smallest. Function of your Lanyard EDC (new term?)

IMHO needs to be no different from your primary EDC. which in my case is ti PD. making up my two light EDC combo.

 

[matrixshaman]

I came across one more tiny light you might look into. It's still not quite as small in diameter but it's a better quality than some I mentioned above. And it's a twisty and waterproof. It's made by Sterops which is a higher quality light maker. I'll see if I can find the link but it was on DX. Here it is and only $5 so no big loss if it doesn't work for you - it's 0.77" x 2.2" and looks fairly nice in the pics.

I'd suggest looking into nickel-silver too as an option in getting a custom made if you go forward with the firefli size idea.

 

[ev13wt]

Found a really tiny lamp. Promotional item, not waterproof. Aluminum case. 1 mode momentary. Not for the list, just a form factor idea.

Length: 35mm
Diameter: 12,5mm
+3mm chain holder out back
+ Led 2mm out front