Car Glovebox Light

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xiton

Newly Enlightened
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Apr 18, 2010
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I'm looking for a budget light that would be good to keep in my car for those just in case moments when something goes wrong. I had an incident a few days ago where my car broke down from a hose coming loose. I managed to fix it, but I could hardly see what I was doing since the fitting was deep down in the engine. I only had a really crappy multi-led light that did absolutely nothing.

I guess ideally this light would be bright enough to use during the day (under the hood), have a decent amount of flood, battery life, and use standard, easily accessible batteries.

Hope I'm not being too picky here!

Thanks guys.
 
In my vehicles I have Sipik sk68 clone AA lights. Also, make sure you use lithium primary batteries as they have a long storage life and can withstand high/low temperatures.
 
In today's vehicles, if you can't fix it by changing a fuse, swapping a relay, or with duct tape, some wire, or a zip tie, other than changing a flat you'll be calling AAA and waiting for a tow. When I was a kid, I learned the importance of setting a road flare 50-100 yards down the road, around the bend, or over the ridge, to warn oncoming traffic.

Today, I carry a number of road flares, and a 28" traffic safety wand. While waiting for help, (AAA) I don't want anyone to get injured - plowing into my car - or any of my passengers.

I'm one of those who stops to help others, (provided I don't have my wife or grand-kids with me). I carry a few of those $2.50 2D cell rayovacs, a couple of headlamps, a 2AA pen lamp, and my brightest is a 3 AAA cree (small led) light. I have so many lights so that I can supply others if they need them. I should probably put a better light in the car, but when I have others park it, I have had things stolen. I have lithium primaries and spares for the AA and 3 AAA lights. The D cells are alkalines.
 
I just placed a Fenix Headband each with a Fenix E11 in both of my vehicles. Along with energizer AA lithium batteries.
 
Don't buy a cheap light.
Buy something decent even though it cost more it may save you.
I also recommend using lithium batteries plus a couple of spares, or keep 2 flashlights in your car.
 
Having more than one light in the car is always a good idea. One of the lights I keep in my car is the Inova 24/7. It runs for a very long time on a single CR123,and has multiple modes. Get it with the accessories, which are a headband, a neck lanyard, a magnetic mount, and a few more mounts that you can attach to what you want, by screw, glue, tape, velcro, or whatever. I pack it all in a small camera case, and toss it in the glove box.
 
I use a Stanley tri-pod light which can run on 3, 6, or 9 AA batteries. Additionally, I have an older BD headlamp in the door storage compartment. The two lights not only compliment each other, but act as back ups to each other. The aforementioned flares are also very handy and I keep three in my car in addition to a small tool roll.

So my point is get one of each, a flashlight and a small headlamp.
 
Isn't the ideal battery for this situation CR123s? I know they are king of shelf life but how about durability? Damn my car is 150 degrees some days after baking in the sun, then there's extreme cold too! Is CR123 best for temperature extremes?
 
Any good lithium battery will work well for storage...AA, CR123, etc.
BeastFlashlight said:
Isn't the ideal battery for this situation CR123s? I know they are king of shelf life but how about durability? Damn my car is 150 degrees some days after baking in the sun, then there's extreme cold too! Is CR123 best for temperature extremes?
Click to expand...
 
BeastFlashlight said:
Isn't the ideal battery for this situation CR123s? I know they are king of shelf life but how about durability? Damn my car is 150 degrees some days after baking in the sun, then there's extreme cold too! Is CR123 best for temperature extremes?
Click to expand...

IMHO a 1xAA light with L91 lithium cell would be a better choice since you can find always find extra batteries in any gas station, and in a real pinch also use AAAs and 9Vs (composed of AAAAs) - the 9V tends to be the only cell left on shelves in major power outages. Also, the lithium iron chemistry of 1.5V L91s should be less volatile (safer) than 3V CR123 lithium manganese cells, in what is essentially a stressful environment for a cell. If you really need the extra lumens from the higher voltage cells, CRAAs/14505s are available online for $1.50 and more broad voltage lights are being offered with 1-2xAA lego-able tubes.
 
Have you considered a flashlight that goes into the lighter socket?

like this one

1ht2li.jpg



That way you dont have to care if the batteries are dead or not, because they are always charged!:)
 
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Get something with a strobe or flashing mode! It can be used as a warning like a flare.
 
Rayovac Indestructible 2AA, at Home Depot for $15. Put two Energizer lithiums in it, and your GTG
 
I keep a couple lights in my car. A Fenix E05 for quick lighting needs stays in the center console and a Fenix PD22 if I need a bit more power is in the glove compartment. I like both lights a lot, I ended up buying two other PD22s to stick in my wife and daughter's cars. Plenty of power if they ever got stranded and the CR123 batteries can store for a long time.
 
xiton said:
I'm looking for a budget light that would be good to keep in my car for those just in case moments when something goes wrong. I had an incident a few days ago where my car broke down from a hose coming loose. I managed to fix it, but I could hardly see what I was doing since the fitting was deep down in the engine. I only had a really crappy multi-led light that did absolutely nothing.

I guess ideally this light would be bright enough to use during the day (under the hood), have a decent amount of flood, battery life, and use standard, easily accessible batteries.

Hope I'm not being too picky here!

Thanks guys.
Click to expand...


I just bought a Fenix E11 and it works perfect for me, small and light, looks durable and just needs 1 AA battery
 
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