A Feature I Like.....

[357]

.....that happens to be on an el cheapo flashlight is the battery tester lights on my Rayovac Industrial D cell flashlight. When the batteries are good, a green light is on, yellow light means so so, red light means change soon.

To me, its a good feature that saves me from checking the batteries by hand. I'd like to see higher end flashlights have something like this on them. I realize it will raise price, but being able to instantly see how the batteries are is useful for an EDC, I think.

What do you all think? What features would you like to see on new flashlight designs?

 

[Nitnos]

I like the idea as well. I wonder how this concept could be applied to smaller flashlight? Maybe if there was a meter you could use as an option, rather than a light that would reduce battery power? Great idea though and I'd like to see more lights with it in the future.

 

[357]

[ QUOTE ]
Nitnos said:
I like the idea as well. I wonder how this concept could be applied to smaller flashlight? Maybe if there was a meter you could use as an option, rather than a light that would reduce battery power? Great idea though and I'd like to see more lights with it in the future.

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps a metre like some electric razors use. One of my razors gives you the percentage of power left (in increments of 20%).

 

[Big_Ed]

It would seem only fitting that expensive flashlights have a feature that tells you how much power is left in the batteries. Especially in regulated lights. I use my Arc LS, and each day, I'm wondering if it will suddenly drop into moon mode right when I really need it. (It does have moon mode, right?) Even something like the little red LED on the Opalec Newbeam would be better than nothing. Heck, when I really think about it, it's almost like buying a Cadillac without a gas guage. If some cheap lights have a battery indicator, there's NO reason one can't be in virtually EVERY flashlight.

 

[Harrkev]

Well, there is always the fact that these things take up space -- slightly larger lights. And if you want to see the LEDs for the meter, you have to provide another opening into the case. This means another way for water to get in, and more expensive machining.

It would be nice, but I can understand why it is not done...

 

[Bravo25]

Perhaps if a 123A manufacturer were to put the test meters on the side of batteries like eveready, and duracell used to do. But even they don't do that any more. I wonder why?

 

[CalgaryGuy]

Well, maybe an advance flashlight like Arc4 can be programmed after certain key stroke, it'll flashes once for 10%, twice for 20%, three times for 30%, etc...

 

[RebelRAM]

I'm guessing why the test meters on the sides of batteries aren't used any more is because they weren't very accurate.

--Jason

 

[jayflash]

A Teckna-Lite, 2AA, Mini M*g sized light was available in the 1980's that had a green, yellow, and red LED to indicate battery life. It was "micro-chip controlled" for the indicator and claimed 2000cp, five hours continuous use, consumed 300mA, and three oz. weight. It was no bigger than lights without that feature and was O-ring sealed and claimed to be water proof. I used it so much that I lost it.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello .357,

I believe that would work fine with alkaline cells.

The whole thing changes when you go to rechargeable cells. I am not sure how they do it on razors, but the voltage discharge curve for rechargeable and Li-Ion cells is quite flat.

I use NiMh cells in my GPS which has a battery indicator. With cells fresh off the charger, the meter reads about 3/4 full. That quickly drops to 1/4 full and then it stays there until the end. I get a very brief period of 1/8 full, then it dies. It works fine on alkaline cells.

I think the average person would be put off by this kind of indication. Perhaps it could be done with current monitoring, but the circuit in the regulated flashlights may interfere with that.

Tom

 

[CalgaryGuy]

I just checked Sears, they made a few flashlight which has a build-in battery checker. The status are green for 100% to 50%, yellow for 50% to 20%, red for less than 20%.