AA lithium performance rocks flashlight world

[Badbeams3]

A run time test by the highly respected Arc company yesterday showed the high brightness run time of the lithium bunny AA was worse than a lowly alkiline in an Arc 5. The news sent ripples through out the flashlight world. "We`ve been paying high prices for these, I feel ripped off" said one light lover.

An angry crowed gathered at the gates of the candle power forum chanting/singing "kill the rabbit, kill the rabbit". A pregnant looking bunny wearing a yellow rain coat with sunglasses and claiming to only be a janitor was dragged away screaming "BUT IT DID RUN LONGER...IT DID"

A fellow dressed in black pants with a copper top and branishing a shotgun commented "That statement just goes to show you how twisted and sick he is, I`ve said all along you can`t trust a bunny with sunglasses...damm wabbit"

A United Press spokesman said no pictures will be released "it`s just to ugly"

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Fry the rabbit with lightbeams and oyster sauce.

 

[StuU]

How about dwopping a bomb on the wabbit?

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by StuU:
How about dwopping a bomb on the wabbit?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think your "R" key is busted... :0

I got some top secret pictures that show just how much better Duracell Alkalines are than Energizer Lithiums:

Graph showing the power distribution curve.

Photo of a rabbit getting a Duracell shoved up its bunghole.

Finally, a photo showing a scientist measuring the power distribution curve of both kinds of batteries, and gasping in surprise at how much better one performs over the other.

 

[X-CalBR8]

LOL, this reminds me of that Robin William's song where he crossed Ozzy & Elmer.

Ozzy Fudd and the Wabbit Slayers

In the dead of night. A shimmering light. When the axe falls down; a chewing sound. Steel hits the head; another wabbit's dead. I'm a wabbit slayer; a guitar player; with a nasty habbit: Kill the wabbit!!! Be wary wary quiet, I'm hunting wabbits. I'm a mean mistreater, a wabbit feaster, and I predict a bloody Easter. A scurrying shadow; and the shadow must stab it; and the night air echoes: Kill the wabbit!!! Kill the wabbit!!! Kill the wabbit!!! Ahh Hahahah!!!

Couldn't help but throw in that bit of comic relief.

 

[Brock]

I hate to say it but it doesn't supprise me. I know a lot of people are saying the infinity runs longer on lithiums, but I bet it doesn't. Lithiums are good under heavy loads, but on a smaller load, like the Arc5 or infinity, an alkaline can keep up. Now granted in an Infinity the light will dim as the voltage drops, while the Arc keeps stepping it up so it isn't an issue that the voltage drops on a alkaline. Also remember a Alkaline AA is rated at 2850mA and a lithium AA is rated at 2900mA.

Another great thing about the Arc is the voltage step up. This really elimates the need for a higher voltage battery (lithium). Basically the step up converter makes an alkaline act like a lithium.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

i have been skeptical of claims that lithiums can "double" the runtimes of most led lights but felt that they were a bit expensive to do a real burntime test. looks like their only advantges may be shelf life and the ability to make some flashlights float?

 

[Brock]

I should also say lithium's hold a higher voltage longer. Alkaline's discharge curve looks like a slope down to the bottom, while lithiums have a slope at the begining, then flatten off for most of their life, then fall off quickly. So a lithium will make most flashlights look brighter much longer. Again since the Arc uses a constant step up, it self adjusts for the alkaline's voltage drop.

Basically that is my favorite part about lithium batteries, that they hold thier voltage. Great for unregulated light, not at all nessary for the Arc.

You can really see this if you test a UKE 4AA alakline vs a UKE 4AA lithium. The light output looks just like the slopes. After 1 hour I would replace the alkaline, even though they aren't even 1/2 dead yet, but very yellow and way dimmer then the lithiums. The lithiums will shine for 2 more hours just as bright as the alkalines did at the begining, then drop off in 2 minutes time to nothing. So again the alaklines would actually last longer, but not be as useful.

 

[Gransee]

You guys crack me up...

The results are not what I expected either. I think the 2009 lithium I had was not entirely fresh. I bought some new ones and am running the tests over.

So far, it appears that the Lithiums and alkalines are simliar in brightness (the alkaline are slightly brighter but it is very close). Where the lithiums provide an extra bit is in the run times. At least another couple of hours in both modes.

For the best value, buy alkaline. For the longest run time (plus other benefits), buy lithium. It's your choice!

I am guessing that the Arc-5 will be at it's brightest with 2 Duracell Ultras (etc)- but only slightly. I won't know until I test them. The current test is a redo of the single AA lithium and I expect that to run until tomorrow.

Each time I run a test, I update the Arc-5 runtime figures in the manufacturer's forum.

As always... these tests are on prototypes and are to help us come up with conservative, "manufacturers run times". Rely on your favorite LED flashlight reviewer for real-world results.

Peter Gransee

 

[RonM]

I put the Energizer lithiums in my PLW3 and it's a whole new animal. The light is significantly brighter.

I think this is the type of light that will benefit from Li. It uses 3 AA's, so it gets a nice voltage boost. Plus, it has 3 LED's so it draws more amps. Like others have said, Li only comes into its own in devices that draw more current. No use putting them in the Arc or Brinkman. Probably great for the Eternalite.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RonM:
I put the Energizer lithiums in my PLW3 and it's a whole new animal. The light is significantly brighter. :eek<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I put them in an eternaLight Rave'n, and noticed the same significant improvement.
I also put them in a Trek 4 (3 "AA", 4 LEDs) and it too runs brighter. Not sure how good this will be for the LEDs in the long run, but if you need a brigher flashlight, these lithiums might be worth a try.