AA Battery Flashlight...opinions and/or recommendations pls....

[**DONOTDELETE**]

My wife will be serving a 2-month community service starting this October as part of her graduation requirement. The Philippine National Red Cross as recommended by her school will assign her with her graduating batch of nurses to a remote province to do medical work....hopefully not to the war stricken province of Mindanao.

They will stay in a village, integrate with local families and do their work for 2 months. My concern, aside from my bigger concern for her safety, is to provide her and her group with flashlights that will hopefully lessen the danger of unseen threats to their safety at night due to darkness.

Flashlight using 4 AA-type batteries was chosen because it will go along with LED flashlights using same type of battery. Another factor for considering AA-type battery was the availability of that type of battery at the place or town center close to the place it will be used and they are easier to carry. Flashlight has to be lightweight, easy to carry or place in a bag, and durable for rugged use.

Comparing brightness, quality of beam (even, tight, wide, long-throw), and durability which one will you choose.

I made a list of flashlights I think will be usefull to them.

Requirements:
1. Bright, small, and light, LED and Xenon bulb flashlights for moving around.
2. Small backup flashlight that can fit in a purse, jeans pocket, or use with a neck lanyard.
3. Light for whole night room or tent lighting.
4. AA type batteries only.

2 types of light for moving around, .. LED bulb and Xenon bulb;
1. Pelican Stealthlite or Underwater Kinetics UK4AA ? Other brands ?
2. C.Crane TREK-3 or Lightwave 2000 ?

For room or tent light;
1. CMG Bonfire or KRILL
Bonfire gives out brighter light than KRILL but construction of Bonfire is so poor that it may not stand up to rugged use. KRILL seems sturdy but its light is 1/3 of Bonfire's.
Recommendations please!!

Backup pocket light;
1. INFINITY - I think this will be perfect, 1-AA battery, small enough, waterproof, built like a tank. Other suggestions?
2. UK2AAA Mini-Pocket was originally in the list, any recommendation for a similar flashlight using AA batteries?

Brock and I have talked about this through email 2 months ago and as I learn more about flashlights, had changed some of the choices from the first list.

Advance thanks for helping me out with opinions or recommendations.

2d_edge

 

[Brock]

I like the idea of keeping all the lights AA compatible. That makes since, and a lot easier to manage.

I like the Krill extreme green. It is waterproof and as you mentioned the Bonfire tent has had its share of problems. Maybe they have fixed them now, but I don't know for sure.

For small light the infinity is the best (only) single AA LED light that I know of. I would recommend it.

For general walking around light you mentioned the PLW-3 or the Lightwave 2000. pros and cons to both. The PLW-3 seems to be a sturdier light and waterproof, it lights up a larger area. The lightwave has a tighter beam and is only waterproof to 2 feet. I have dropped both more than once and haven't had a problem with either. I would say it is whether you want a wide light or a normal size beam of light.

For room or tent light I like the Krill extreme 180, although maybe the infinity, or a second one hung up aiming down???

Now for a bright light. The stealth has a very narrow beam, great for projecting long distances, but not real good for walking at night. The UKE 4 AA is bright and the beam is wider more useable in a walking situation.

I am bad at suggesting lights as you can see, I think every light is good at something, you just have to know what you want to use it for the most.

So to sum it up I would recommend

Infinity, for both area lighting and small backup, maybe 2 of them?
Lightwave 2000 for general use light.
UKE 4AA for for bright spot lighting.

Hey, I just thought of those 4 AA fluorescent lights, they are pretty bright. I don't know who has them, but they would be a great option. I have one with a blacklight in it.

Brock

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

..all excellent choices..But
if they are out at night and planning on doing anything more than just walking around, I say get them Princeton Tec Matrix LED HEADLAMPS (use 2 AA batteries also) and free up their hands!

 

[Brock]

Good point Ted. Since I don't have that light I keep forgeting about it.

Brock

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Brock...thanks again for helping me out with this. What's the runtime with 4 AA fluorescent lights?

Ted....I immediately went to brightguy.com website to see the "Princeton Tec Matrix LED HEADLAMPS". I missed that one too. That type of light will be great for working at night which require both hands free. How is the quality of light comparing it to Lightwave 2000 or TREK-3 ?

2d_edge

 

[DavidW]

The flourescent lights can be found at Lowes or Home Depot. I bought two for about $7.95. They're thrown away now. Very flimsy. Short burn time. I estimate 45-55 minutes continuous w/energizers. And if you leave it on while the batteries die completely it shortens the life of the bulb. Kills the bulb completely sometimes when you do that. There's a 8AA version now.

I think Coleman has a rugged version. And Lectro Science.

I suggest the Princeton Tec 4AA. It uses the standard PR Base bulb that should be easier to find. Plus you can order the cones made for the Sport Flare and they'll fit the 4AA. (I'll have to verify this. I'm assuming the lense of the Flare is the same as the 2AA/4AA.) You can also buy a stippled reflector if you don't like the spot.

If you do go with the PT 4AA I suggest you order an extra base and reflector from PT and make spare lamp/reflector assemblies. I did that and it makes changes much faster in the field.

You can order different color cones at www.action-lights.com

Goto Walmart and in the flashlight section there is a 4AA flashlight/lamp about the size of a baseball. The lense moves over the bulb to form a flashlight or lamp. I haven't tried one yet. They're about $4.

------------------
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I don't know, I can't find my Lightwave 2000..(mmm?!!) ... But, I just compared the Princeton Matrix to a PL-3 (is that the name of it? - the label came off - it's the one that uses 3 AAs and has 3 LEDs) and the PL3 is a tighter beam, a little brighter in the center. The Matrix is a much wider field of 'view' - and almost as bright in the center.. I prefer the Matrix wide field lighting, you can see what's going on better in your periphery of vision..
(by the way, when ever I try to use the spellchecker my mac freezes and I have to restart)

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

...found my Lightwave 2000! Surprisingly it has as broad a beam as the Matrix..and is brighter.
(There is a headband that holds tubular flashlights like the Lightwave called a 'jacstrap' available at Inner Mntn. Outfitters)

 

[Brock]

Streamlight also make a light that converts from a regular flashlight to a headlamp and runs on AA's. You can find it at
http://www.action-lights.com/action/streamlight/streamlight24.shtml

That might make it more useful. See, I just keep adding more and more lights to the mix. Oh well.

Brock

 

[K Horn]

I'm glad someone else mentioned flourescents. Eveready has a 4AA sportlight flourescent. They are somewhat hard to find, although you can call eveready and order straight from them. They are yellow completely watertight and very well built. I used to toss them into to the pool so the kids could play with them at night (before I bought a couple of krills). Battery life would go about 10 hours with standard, and about 20 with alkaline. They run less than $20 bucks.

Otherwise why not consider the eternal-light? It can light up a room or you can switch it down to where it would last a month on a single set of batteries.

Also consider taking a photon. If you take the green one and switch out the 2016 batteries with one 2032, it will last a week straight with a pretty decent beam. You could pack enough batteries to take along without taking up much space in your bag.

Are there any solar types out there that would work for the tents? 2 months could add up to alot of batteries....

[This message has been edited by K Horn (edited 08-31-2000).]

[This message has been edited by K Horn (edited 08-31-2000).]

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

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[This message has been edited by Ted (edited 08-31-2000).]

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

The Solaris photovoltaic light is on sale now at Jade Mntn for $148-
...on second thought, seeing the photo of your wife and her friends, maybe you should give them all (large heavy) 6 D-Cell Maglites..!
...good luck!

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

?? OK I reread your original post, 2-edge, and I see that, although I was merely making a joke, you are really concerned about your wife's and her friends safety. So kidding aside, maybe you should go to the Botach site http://www.botachtactical.com/
tonight, the last day of their sale, and consider the Asp light-weight aluminum batons, available in assorted lengths, and the personal defense sprays, etc. No kidding.
Maybe a pair of Motorola transcievers?...
...Sorry for being glib earlier...
(By the way, I used to live in B'klyn - on St. Felix Street, near the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic avenues...)


[This message has been edited by Ted (edited 08-31-2000).]

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Ted, I'm surprised you didn't recommend the 1,000,000 candle power Brinkmann Q-Beam.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

desaix,
I haven't tried it...how is it?
..by the way, IF, for comparison, the LSI rechargeable spotloght IS 1,500,000 cp, as claimed, then the Surefire 12PM must be about a 1,000,000 cp! The SF 12PM is amazingly bright and in such a small, lightweight package! ..and ALMOST as bright as the LSI...!

 

[Brock]

I would tell you the diameter of the UKE 4AA at 20 feet if they were the same. Honestly I have from 2 feet to about 8 feet, and those came in the same order. Some had rings with dark spots and some were nice and even. I would say most of the ones I have seen are about 2 to 3 feet, so not to tight, but not to wide either. I got a bunch of them as x-mas gifts last years and checked them all before I gave them away. You could also take sandpaper and sand the lens of the UKE 4AA and it make a really nice flood, about 90 degrees, really wide. Great for walking or working up close. Or you could do it just a little to sort of smooth out the light. They last quite a while too, about 2 hours of good light.

Brock

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Ligtwave Illuminator - I hope this one comes out soon.



or I might settle for "jackstrap"



I'm getting a C.Crane TREK-3 (PLW-3) ASAP to compare beam brightness, width, and throw with my Lightwave 2000. I kinda like the idea of instantly lighting-up a room or immediate surrounding. General overall visibility I think is more usefull than spot lighting an object and UK-4AA can do the job of spot lighting.

Eveready flourescent as suggested by K Horn seems good....If I can only find one fast. URL? Did it pass the floor drop test? My KRILL Extreme 180 green's lights quit (permanently) after a 5-foot floor drop test.

I like the small size of Photon but that's the only thing going for it. Photon lights I think is a city environment kind of light because it uses a type of battery not usually found in remote provincial villages, it's not waterproof, and tedious work to replace the battery.

As much as possible I'd like to use LED bulb flashlights because they are more robust than filament type bulbs and requires little maintenance or care during use. I need a flashlight that can take the roll, bump, and drop of hard use. I want the flashlight that I can handle and use the way I use my boots... not the situation for flashlight baby-sitting. I want the flashlight to take care of me not the other way around.

INFINITY for backup pocket light I think have won its spot in the list.

UK4AA filament type bulb flashlight for moving around and spot lighting. Brock...how wide is its beam at 20 feet? I don't have the UK-4AA yet but I have a UK-SL4 and I'm impressed. Still open for suggestions.

It's still the choice between C.Crane PLW-3 or Lightwave 2000 for moving around LED light.

I'd really like to see K Horn's Eveready Flourescent light for possible room or tent light. Eterna light and C.Crane PLW-3 are also being considered for room or tent light.

Thanks very much Ted for the solar lights suggestion, I would probably install it in my house in Manila. The Solaris is expensive for a single unit and may attract unwanted much attention of thieves or rebels.

Keep in mind guys that the people using the flashlights are not some bunch of "Special Forces" or "SEAL" or "SWAT" that need a special type of flashlight using special type of batteries. They are a group of nurses that needs a small, lightweight, bright, using ordinary AA type battery, long-lasting beam of light, kind of flashlight that can take the grinder.

I just talked to my wife and told her of you guys helping me help their group find the appropriate flashlight for their community service work. She's thankfull. Here's a pic of my wife (sitting extreme right) with some of her classmates.

Thanks much for the suggestions and opinions guys. You're a bunch of cool helpfull lightknuts.

2d_edge


[This message has been edited by 2d_edge (edited 08-31-2000).]

 

[Size15's]

I would agree that the StealthLites have very narrow beams. I've found that while walking, I hold mine at about head height as otherwise, the beam may not hit the ground for some way off if held lower.
I can't fault it on toughness though.

Ted, I seriously doubt the LSI rechargeable spotloght can project a blindingly white flawless beam like the SureFire 12PM. If however, you have both these flashlights and have tested them side-by-side, I'd like to know the results in more detail!

I think that Photon II's should be kept on the person at all times. If walking and requiring a spread of light is needed, assorted Photons can be used instead of 2AAA lights I've found. Also, a certain colour could be used only in an emergency...just a thought...

 

[K Horn]

OK The product line was "Sport Gear" for the eveready florescent (www.energizer.com). I called them yesterday and they no longer make the 4AA florescent model. When I did buy them I had found them at Western Auto, Service Merchandise, and at Sears (in case any are still on the shelves somewhere). They are round, yellow, about 8 inches long, and came with a set of energizers.

Now with that said I ran a couple of quick tests between the eternal-light and the eveready florescent last night in my dark living room prior to the Howard Stern show coming on. Even at a lower power setting, the eternal-light lit up the room better than the florescent and I'm sure it has a much better battery life to boot.

Radio Shack has a cute little 2AA pocket florescent($11.95). I'll run a couple of tests on it this weekend for useable light, battery life and such.

If the red cross is using those military GP type tents (olive-drab), its going to be like trying to light up a "black hole". There is little for the light to reflect off of, so nothing is going to be very adequate.

I hope everybody has a good labor-day weekend.


[This message has been edited by K Horn (edited 09-01-2000).]