Budget AA Flashlight

[Superorb]

I'm looking for two budget lights, one that takes 1xAA and one that takes 2xAA. I've got a ton of Duraloops that I'd like to use in whatever I get.

It looks like DX has a TON of lights, so I don't know what to choose. Some have P4 emitters and some have Qx emitters. I'm not looking for most Lumens here, but I'd like something that has a decent runtime. Will a Q5 emitter be brighter AND run longer than a P4 emitter with same batteries? I'd like to keep it around $30 for both lights.

 

[Gunner12]

Longer runtime depends on how much current is going to the LED and how hard the batteries are pushed. Presume the are around the same output and runtime. A light with the Cree XR-E Q5 LED has the potential to have more output and runtime(not much more of both though) then a lower bin Cree XR-E P4.

I'd say go for the Romisen RC-N3 but it looks like the added in a multimode driver and I wouldn't recommend it as much anymore. The RC-P3 might work. 1AA, I'm not sure which would be best for you.

Would you like single mode lights?

 

[McAllan]

Regarding emitter. No, P4 vs Q5 etc. has nothing to do with run time or brightness. But it has everything to do with efficiency.
The Cree XR-E can take 3 watt - the Q5 being brighter than P4.

But which one to have the longest run time and brightness also to do with the driver - how efficient is it? An how much is it supplying to the LED? One light can choose to drive a Q5 with 1 w for long run time while another pumps 3 full w into a P4 - the P4 then being the brightest by far.

The one that got me really hooked on LED flashlights is the MTE C3-1 - sku.16543 from DX. I'm very excited by such a cheap flashlight. A small but powerful performer. Where I live it costs the same as a mini mag (they're expensive in Europe) but outperformes it by by in just about any way. But to run on full brightness you should use NiMH or Lithium if you fancy those (I fancy Eneloops).
An I really like the fact that it's stainless steel. Feels like solid tool built to last.
It is a budget light and as such there's small but neglible quirks. The head assembly probably needs to be tigthned when you get it. The end has two o-rings and the none nearest the switch interferres with the thread. Just remove it, one o-ring is more than enough. Other than that I'm very pleased with it.

I also have a SmallSun - sku.16606. But that's a bit special - not really a general purpose flashlight as those with reflector. Great throw but almost no spill. Don't really recommend it to a newbie since you need to be aware of a few things cause it's direct drive. I modded mine with a proper driver and multiple modes :rock:

Also have two Fenix'es, LD20 and PD20, waiting in the post office but because of opening hours I can't get them before saturday. So can't tell anything about them. But guess they're not fitting the category Budget Lights. Yes know they're identical except power source

 

[Superorb]

Longer runtime depends on how much current is going to the LED and how hard the batteries are pushed. Presume the are around the same output and runtime. A light with the Cree XR-E Q5 LED has the potential to have more output and runtime(not much more of both though) then a lower bin Cree XR-E P4.

I'd say go for the Romisen RC-N3 but it looks like the added in a multimode driver and I wouldn't recommend it as much anymore. The RC-P3 might work. 1AA, I'm not sure which would be best for you.

Would you like single mode lights?

Thanks for the reply. The 1xAA one I'd like to be single mode while the 2xAA I'd like to be either single or multi-mode as long as it's within budget.

 

[Marduke]

Have you check the stickies at the top of the forum??

 

[sol-leks]

Shiningbeam.com:
I like the romisen rc-n3 q5

For 1xaa I like this lil guy:
http://www.goldengadgets.com/p1781/CJ-1-Watt-Pocket-LED-Flashlight/product_info.html

 

[Superorb]

Have you check the stickies at the top of the forum??

Nope, I'll do that

Shiningbeam.com:
I like the romisen rc-n3 q5

For 1xaa I like this lil guy:
http://www.goldengadgets.com/p1781/CJ-1-Watt-Pocket-LED-Flashlight/product_info.html

Do you know what emitter that little 1xAA uses? I was looking at that RC-N3 Q5 from shining beam, but at $27 shipped I won't be able to snag a 1xAA as well.

 

[Gunner12]

I think the 1AA light uses a generic "1w" LED. Probably a bit blue and not that bright compared to the Cree XR-E and such. If you consider the price it's probably a decent light though.

 

[Superorb]

What do you guys think of the 606a with the Q5 emitter?

 

[Chrontius]

I'd be tempted to say - unless you need both at once - you may want to consider getting just an Icon Rogue 1, pending US release price. Paul Kim of Surefire is finally doing an alkaline light, and I can't see how he could possibly screw it up.

 

[Superorb]

I'd be tempted to say - unless you need both at once - you may want to consider getting just an Icon Rogue 1, pending US release price. Paul Kim of Surefire is finally doing an alkaline light, and I can't see how he could possibly screw it up.

Price is $38 from a few places already. I like to have a bunch of flashlights all over the house, but I'm starting my collection with the DX units.

 

[sol-leks]

I think the 1AA light uses a generic "1w" LED. Probably a bit blue and not that bright compared to the Cree XR-E and such. If you consider the price it's probably a decent light though.

I think it is a generic 1watt LED too. However, the tint on the one I received was definitely a very nice white color and definitely around 50 lumens. For 5 bucks, it has a very solid build too. I think it is one of the great bargains I have found recently. However, to be fair I should probably buy more than one to make sure I didn't just get lucky.

As far as the rc-n3, if you really want to keep it under 30, you can get the p4 version from DX that is only 16 bucks I think. However, it really is worth it getting it from shiningbeam, since it will be brighter for the same runtime and you have a better quality guarantee. Also, you can use the coupon "CPFuser" to get 6% on everything at shiningbeam. I have a p4 rc-n3 though from DX that is fine though, but I have heard some ppl haven't been as lucky as me, its up to you.

 

[Superorb]

I just ordered an RC-N3 Q5 from Shiningbeam with the CPF discount. Between this light and the other two I ordered yesterday I should be good for another month :lol:

 

[Superorb]

delete me.

 

[sol-leks]

what other two lights did u get? I think youll enjoy the rc-n3.

 

[Superorb]

what other two lights did u get? I think youll enjoy the rc-n3.

I got this one from GoldenGadgets:
http://www.goldengadgets.com/p1781/CJ-1-Watt-Pocket-LED-Flashlight/product_info.html

And this one from DX:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1993

I ordered some GITD caps for them both.

 

[sol-leks]

cool

 

[pipsqueakspace]

I got this one from GoldenGadgets:
http://www.goldengadgets.com/p1781/CJ-1-Watt-Pocket-LED-Flashlight/product_info.html

How much was the shipping from goldengadgets, if you dont mind me asking....thanks

And what do people think about that light? Seems like a pretty good one to me, and especially at that price...

 

[sol-leks]

I have the light from goldengadgets. The shipping was like $1.60 I think. The light has a nice tint and nice beam pattern and the lumens rating seems fairly accurate. I believe it is direct driven because after a few hours of use it has gotten dimmer. I have had mine since november and use it for a few minutes every day and am still on the original battery, a normal alkaline. I think the build quality is quite nice especially for something this cheap. Overall I think it is a great budget light. Hopefully it is just how the light is and I didn't just get lucky. I'm probably going to buy another one or two of these just for backup or if I need to lend one out.

 

[pipsqueakspace]

awesome, thanks for the quick reply

i'm about to hit the order button for two of them, seem great to have around