Cheap red light to play with?

[jzmtl]

Can you guys suggest a cheap red light to play with? I never had one so I want to try out the "doesn't hurt night vision" thing. But the two I know of, Inova X5 and 24/7 are both over $50 when factor in shipping, tax etc.

Are there any red led lights that give a decent performance but is cheap enough to serve as a test driver?

 

[Marduke]

Stick a single red 5mm LED in a fauxton with a CR2032. Keep in mind, bright red light will kill night vision just as fast a white light. Red must be dim.

 

[jzmtl]

Where can I find one? Local store only have 5 mcd LED, pretty sure that's not bright enough for illumination.

Found one on DX, only 1000 mcd, and no spec so I don't know if I can direct drive it with 6v. But rather not buy from DX right now because I don't even know where my last package from them is.

 

[RebelXTNC]

I like the Safelight Superbright. You get a red one at no additional cost when you buy a white one from EDC Depot. With the CPF discount that comes out pretty cheap for two very useful lights.
9v batteries aren't everybody's favorite, but at work I build up quite a stock of half-used ones that will run these lights for a very long time.
The red has 3 nicely spaced brightness levels and a very smooth beam compared to many red LED's.
I like their user interface too.

 

[Any Cal.]

There is a red Inova microlight, multiple red Photons. You can also get the RayoVac 1aa headlamp and have diffused red light, which seems to do very well.

 

[ZMZ67]

Nite-Ize has a red 3LED module for the Minimag that usually sells for under $15.
The INOVA microlight or a Photon is the other obvious choice that comes to mind.

 

[Marduke]

Nite-Ize has a red 3LED module for the Minimag that usually sells for under $15.

$5-$8, but I find it too much on the orange side.

 

[Lightingguy321]

How about the 20 to 25 dollar Inova X1 with a red LED. It is key chain sized and runs off of a single AA.

 

[greenlight]

How about the 20 to 25 dollar Inova X1 with a red LED. It is key chain sized and runs off of a single AA.

I don't think they ever made this.

 

[Lightingguy321]

My bad, I forgot that inova made pretty much every color LED (green, blue, white) but red my bad.

 

[gopurple]

Amazon has a Smith & Wesson Galaxy 6 LED (3 Red, 3 White, 2AA) for about $20 with free shipping over $25 or the Gerber Infinity Ultra Red LED 1AA for about $19. I have both, the Ultra has 1 red LED, not as bright as the S&W. The S&W is little too bright for Astronomy use, but good for packing up after. They also have a S&W 3 red LED (no white) for $15.

 

[Brody]

For a red light to preserve night vision, I like the Rigel Skylight Mini. It has a brightness control so you can dial up whatever brightness you need. It is used by quite a few astronomers, where preserving night vision is important.

 

[Dr.K]

If you want cheap, take some red electrical tape and put over the lens of any standard incan.

Thats what I did before getting a Rigel Systems Skylite.

 

[zurg]

Dont use!http://www.botachtactical.com/inx5tacledfl.html

 

[jzmtl]

UPS shipping only, I'm gona pay more fees than the light is worth.

Emailed them asking if usps is possible, I'll see what they say.

 

[mechBgon]

If you have any Fenix lights laying around, what about just picking up their red filter, too.

 

[hank]

Go to a Radio Shack, look in the LED bins for a red LED that can handle 2.4 volts. They have a big one in a blister pack commonly available.

Put it in a Mag AA or AAA, with a couple of NiMH batteries (that have sat around a day or so, not hot off the charger) or old weak alkalines, instead of the standard bipin bulb
If it doesn't work turn it around.

It makes a red spot with a red ring around it, tolerable for walking at night in a dark area.

 

[Marduke]

Go to a Radio Shack, look in the LED bins for a red LED that can handle 2.4 volts. They have a big one in a blister pack commonly available.

Put it in a Mag AA or AAA, with a couple of NiMH batteries (that have sat around a day or so, not hot off the charger) or old weak alkalines, instead of the standard bipin bulb
If it doesn't work turn it around.

It makes a red spot with a red ring around it, tolerable for walking at night in a dark area.

I did that with a 3000mcd 1.7v one in a 2xAAA minimag for around the house at night. Yeah, I know it's being overdriven, and it does get quite warm, but the LED will still far outlast my use/interest for the particular setup.