Can't decide on coin cell vs aaa light

[Marduke]

ampdude ... the runtime of an AAA is of course far superior, but the brightness is not.

Except when comparing 10lm coin cell vs 80/200 lumens from 1xAAA light with a Cree (running NiMH/10440 respectively)

Don't get me wrong, I love a coincell keychain light, but it's only real advantage is size and weight. Brightness, runtime, and availability of cell replacement all go to 1xAAA.

But for all of the reasons here is exactly why I carry both :D

I put a new 2032 into one of my dead Lighthound freebies from about a year ago. I assume it's running a CS.

The output is VERY unimpressive.

Which coin cell lights use the GS now? Photons?

Fauxtons uses a generic 5mm or a Snow. Real Photon's use a GS now.

 

[Kiessling]

Of course I am talking 5mm LED :D

Does the GS have an advantage over the DS when looking at a single CR2032 battery?

bernie?

 

[Hondo]

The GS and DS are rated at the same forward voltage, and the GS is rated about 10% higher output at spec current (20mA). So yes, there is a slight advantage to the GS on paper. But the DS does not have the oval hotspot, and in my experience tends to be less purple or violet, a tendancy the GS's seem to have. The DS is also rated for 10X the service life (30,000 vs 3,000 hours), but that will only come into play when the LED is being overdriven significantly, which is most lights other than the single 2032 coin cell light.

I put a new 2032 into one of my dead Lighthound freebies from about a year ago. I assume it's running a CS.

The output is VERY unimpressive.

Which coin cell lights use the GS now? Photons?

Yes, Photon started using DS's late last year, and earlier this year switched to GS's. The cheap LED's from the Fauxtons, after having been beat down by a pair of 2016's, would be likely to give poor performance on a 2032. Also, the new Lighthound givaways have a click-on circuit in them, which won't hold the light on at really low currents. No problem with this in the Photon Freedom, or any mechanical light.

 

[flashlife]

That is not correct, a coin cell light will match an AAA light with a 5 mm led, but not something like Fenix LD01 or LiteFlux LF2X that uses power leds.

Like I said before...check again after running a coin cell light and an E01 continuously for an hour.:thinking:

 

[Kevo]

I would never go back to a coin cell light after using the LF2X. I've been in several situations where the coin cell would have been pretty much useless.

We stopped at one of those tourist cavern places on our way home from vacation and the LF2X was much more useful for viewing formations on the walls and ceilings than the 3D Mag the tour guide had. Of course if I had known we were going to stop there I could have brought something else, but it turns out the LF2X was more than enough for the job.

In fact right now the LF2X is about the best light I have unless I need throw, and then I have an old browning submersible xenon that will do a better job. I keep thinking about getting a bigger light like a focusable LED Lenser, but I just can't decide yet. I'm trying to avoid the thousand dollar collection of lights that is sure to happen if I'm not careful. :grin2:

 

[BigD64]

How about the Photon Rex? Good output, good UI, about the size of a car remote and recharges with anything up to 3 volts. I'd say a good compromise between coin cell lights and aaa lights, but it's really not, it's an awesome alternative.

+1 on the Rex. I love mine and it holds a charge a long time. I hadn't charged mine since I put my winter jacket away (April or May, forgot it was on the zipper) and it fired right up and worked for about an hour before charge ran down.

 

[Bonky]

I would never go back to a coin cell light after using the LF2X. I've been in several situations where the coin cell would have been pretty much useless.

We stopped at one of those tourist cavern places on our way home from vacation and the LF2X was much more useful for viewing formations on the walls and ceilings than the 3D Mag the tour guide had. Of course if I had known we were going to stop there I could have brought something else, but it turns out the LF2X was more than enough for the job.

In fact right now the LF2X is about the best light I have unless I need throw, and then I have an old browning submersible xenon that will do a better job. I keep thinking about getting a bigger light like a focusable LED Lenser, but I just can't decide yet. I'm trying to avoid the thousand dollar collection of lights that is sure to happen if I'm not careful. :grin2:

do you use alkies, nimhs, liths or lions with yours? :sssh:

 

[wingnutLP]

my L0d has been hardly noticable on my keychain and has been more than enough for all but the most demanding of tasks. It is certainly plenty for an EDC unless you plan to use your EDC ED!

 

[kts]

Of course I am talking 5mm LED :D

Oh..I thought we were in 2008, I was talking Cree Q4...:rolleyes:


A L0D Q4 will light up 50 yards in front of you, how far does the Photon throw?...:crackup:

How many lumens is the brightest Photon?...

 

[Bonky]

yeah that confused me too.. I don't really know of a AA/AAA light that uses 5mm leds these days.

 

[Kevo]

do you use alkies, nimhs, liths or lions with yours? :sssh:

Started with NiMHs, and switched to LiIons from AW. I just top them off every month or so. I keep a couple of low self discharge NiMHs around as spares.

Edit: I also rarely run full power. I find 60% or so plenty bright for pretty much anything. I get excellent run time that way since I rarely need such bright light for more than an hour. I usually use low which I have set to around 10%.

 

[Kiessling]

Oh..I thought we were in 2008, I was talking Cree Q4...:rolleyes:


A L0D Q4 will light up 50 yards in front of you, how far does the Photon throw?...:crackup:

How many lumens is the brightest Photon?...

Hey! I am old and resistant to change, so ... :nana:

Seriously though ... it is all about the mission of the light. Carrying a Photon is not about max. Lumens nor it is about throw. It is the smalles possible emergency EDC, and it wins in the size/weight category. Which is its mission.

yeah that confused me too.. I don't really know of a AA/AAA light that uses 5mm leds these days.

Let me be of assistance: Fenix E01, Arc AAA, Proton, Peak lights, ...

:)
bernie

 

[defloyd77]

Oh..I thought we were in 2008, I was talking Cree Q4...:rolleyes:


A L0D Q4 will light up 50 yards in front of you, how far does the Photon throw?...:crackup:

How many lumens is the brightest Photon?...

Actually the Rex held it's own against an LOD, I'm pretty sure on a 10440 none the less. Cree Q4 by the way is soooo yesterday:duh2:

 

[Bonky]

can't wait till they're coming out with new bins each week! Month-old flashlights will be obsolete.

 

[Jedi Knife]

I think your decision should be based on how often and to what extent you use the light that is on your keychain. I know I carried a Photon for quite a while and it served me admirably, until I started using it on a regular basis. I then realized how soon the coin cell charge ran down. If you need a flashlight for regular, daily use, then I suggest something with an AAA cell. If you want something that you can depend on when you need it, but don't normally have to use a flashlight every day, then the Photon will be great for you. Please, use the real thing. Photon is a great company and deserves our support!

 

[kts]

Cree Q4 by the way is soooo yesterday:duh2:

I dont think so...You will not be able to see a difference in output between a Q4 and a Q5...

But if the Q4 is yesterday, 5mm leds must be ancient technology :p

 

[geepondy]

I got sick of the size and weight of an AAA light on the keychain so I too just use my Photon Freedom and EDC an AAA light in my pocket when I need it. It really makes a difference on the keychain.

 

[Dave_5280]

I saw some rechargeable 2032 button cell batteries - anyone using them in their coin cell light?

 

[Hondo]

I put a new 2032 into one of my dead Lighthound freebies from about a year ago. I assume it's running a CS.

The output is VERY unimpressive.

Which coin cell lights use the GS now? Photons?

Sorry, I tried to answer this question on getting poor 2032 performance in a cheap coin cell light a couple of days ago, and it just dawned on me that I totally missed the key answer to the problem.

Nichia DS and GS LED's have a SIGNIFICANTLY lower forward voltage than any of their predecessors, or any cheap 5mm's. The only similar 5mm's with regard to Vf are the MJLED/SMJLED's. This allows them to draw a more significant current in direct drive from one 3V cell. I have measured about 18 mA on a fresh 2032 with a DS, so just below the 20 mA spec current. Two 2016's, by contrast, will initially push the same DS to between 60 and 70 mA, a damaging overdrive were it to be kept up for long. I have not checked a cheap LED on either, but on one 2032 a high Vf LED is likely only able to draw a few mA, so it will be very dim. But on two cells at 6 volts, it will still be similarly overdriven, and since few LED's are as durable as the Nichia's, even the sparse use of a coin cell light can kill them. I had a Fauxton LED die via the strobing symptom, no doubt the result of excessive current.

 

[Gatsby]

I've been debating replacing my LF2 and going back to a Photon II or Freedom. Interestingly I posted a poll on edcforums asking if people carried a light on their key ring and what kind - and while there were some AAA fans the majority carried Photons or Fauxtons or the like - a surprising result given the amount of bits spilled over the perfect key ring light.

I think the edc perspective is that for most people, myself included, the key ring light is a backup in case your primary edc fails, and to get you to another more powerful light. Given that role, and the size/weight factors, it is tough to beat a Photon. I hate a bulky set of keys and already have more on mine than I'd like - car key, two house keys, an REI aluminum whistle, my LF2 and an SAK minichamp. I'm really thinking about moving to an Alox Classic SAK and a Photon to decrease the weight (I just like having all the Minichamp options but realistically use the knife and scissors 90% of the time).

So - as flashaholics we all love a cool light and in all honesty, the LF2 was the first light that had significant enough advantages for me to move from the Photon II I used to carry - and I've tried Arc AAAs, a 3mm drop in Solitaire and a Gerber Tempo. The LF2 programmability, the excellent floody beam and easy operation make it an excellent light with multiple battery options, etc...

But if you're going with 3 or 5mm I can't see a huge reason to do anything but a coin cell light, particularly one as flexible as the Freedom.