Double Barrel Enloop?

[diriel]

Hey all,

Total newb here, first post and all. Hello!

I have been attempting to wrap my head around just exactly what I want / need, and what is available. My biggest problem is I *NEED* run time, but I also some times need relatively high light output / throw.

I do HVACR work, some days I get a call out at night. First thing I need to do is diagnose the problem. It may be rooftop, attic, under floor, or closet. Who knows some days? The point is at times I need about 100' of real deal throw, and preferably good spill. I also *MUST* have long long long run times. A job can last from a quick 30 minutes to over 3 hours or more. Running out of light before I finish just sucks.

I currently have a 2d maglite with a EverLed and 2 duracel's. I used to have 2 lithium primaries, but my 5 year old daughter took care of those for me here recently :candle: From what I gather it has about 50 lumens constant on the duracels. It is slightly overkill for close up fine work, but not quite up to par for when I really need that 100' of real deal throw. It comes reasonably close to that level of throw, but falls just a hair short.

I am thinking that about 30-40 lumen's for up close fine work, and some where about 150 ish lumen's for the out far look see stuff.

Would something custom but similar to the old eveready double barrel in about 6 x AA give a good combination of run time and light output? Of course I would really like to get something less bulky than my D cell mag. Those new 1500 recharge cycle AA Enloops seem real nice. The longer the run time, the better within the stated parameters.

I am, of course, open to ideas.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tandem]

Since you seem amenable to AA cells (cheap, easy to find in a pinch, Eneloops are great rechargables) your choices for extended runtimes include not just flashlights but carrying spare cells. Or, you can search for a light with more than 2 AA cells.

4xAA flashlights in the class of lights that gets talked about here are surprisingly uncommon but a few exist. One I think will be a big winner as it fills a price and performance hole out there is going to be shipping in the last week of this month -- the new Fenix LD40. It's a 4xAA light with impressive runtimes, something they are known for, and what I think is a decent spread of output levels.

A thread here provides some specs, photos, and links to beamshots. Resellers are taking pre-orders; I've seen one price listed ~ 73 USD.

27 hours claimed on medium output of 43 lumens. 9+ hours on high (110) and 3+ hours on Turbo (248 lumens). Looks like it would be half decent to hold, too. The new shape is something of a departure for Fenix but I like it. It screams "utility" to me. Certainly it will be miles lighter and less bulky than your existing light.

 

[diriel]

Thank you for that Tandem! That is just exactly what I am looking for. I will keep my eyes open for a review or two for sure.

Gary

 

[computernut]

4xAA flashlights in the class of lights that gets talked about here are surprisingly uncommon but a few exist. One I think will be a big winner as it fills a price and performance hole out there is going to be shipping in the last week of this month -- the new Fenix LD40. It's a 4xAA light with impressive runtimes, something they are known for, and what I think is a decent spread of output levels.

I was just thinking the other day that a 4XAA light would be nice but I hadn't gotten around to searching for one yet. The Fenix LD40 looks pretty nice!

 

[alpg88]

2d mag+tle 300ex+FMholder+6 eneloops.
3 modes, long runtime, high output, all in one.

i work with hvac too, commercial units, carriers, liberts, split units..ect.
most of the time i use headlamp, cuz i only got 2 hands, cheap husky lamp, for long range i use leatherman s3 ,my edc, or duracell 6v lantern, which i upgraded with 7,2v nicd cell, and 5 cell magnumstar bulb, due to huge (like 6 in) reflector it throws really far, i usually use it when i have to trace pipes.

edit ,just noticed you want something smaller than 2d mag, that uses AA cells,
+1 for fenix ld40

 

[tcr03]

quark aa. sounds perfect for you. great output on high and great runtime on the other modes. and when your hankering for more output you could use the litium 14500 batteries.

 

[Jash]

quark aa. sounds perfect for you. great output on high and great runtime on the other modes. and when your hankering for more output you could use the litium 14500 batteries.

You can only run a 14500 in the single AA body unless you have the 2xCR123 head, otherwise you will cook it.

I'd look at the Quark AA2 Tactical or even the AA2 Turbo (throws really well). You can program in two modes and have your choice of output vs. runtime. On max (206 lumens) it will run for over an hour and on med (85 lumens) it will run for about 5 hours. Runtimes get even better the lower you go. Moonlight mode will go into the hundreds of hours, though not very useful unless you live in a cave.

If you can get hold of the older XP-E version it throws almost as far as the XP-G Turbo but with a smoother hotspot and you still get that nice compact design. The XP-G Tactical is quite floody (but so smooooth) and might not have the throw you're looking at. Still, if it's only to about 100 feet, I don't see it being a problem.

 

[hotlight]

quick suggestion: get a headlamp for the up close work.

seperate light for "throw".(too many lights/not enough experience to recommend)

 

[diriel]

As for the head lamp, yeah I have had those before. Back then however, I bought cheap K-Mart / Walmart types. Those were more of a pain in the butt than they were worth, but it Has been a few years.
I have mostly been using my 2d maglite. As stated, a fellah only has so many hands. The mag does get cumbersome. I will look around for a GOOD head lamp set-up.
It would be nice to have a really good head lamp for close up work. Then have a good ( non cumbersome ) flashlight for tracing things like line sets, ducting, and wire runs. One of the biggest pains is when you get called out to a modular home that has a control wiring problem and you have to crawl under and go looking for the 2/4/6 wire control wiring. Looks about like a telephone type "wire" only the strands are 16 to 18 gage depending. It really takes a good light to be able to trace those.

Have a good one,
Gary

Edit: Anyone have any experience with the Fenix HP20 Head Lamp? I do not want to repeat past mistakes where a head lamp is concerned. Buy once, use for years! Lesson Learned

 

[tandem]

I will keep my eyes open for a review or two for sure.

I'm hoping that Selfbuilt here has his mitts on a LD40 already and is going to treat us with one of his excellent reviews soon. Failing that I am sorely tempted to take a leap of faith and just buy the thing although my software background always has me more cautious of "release 1.0" of anything. I probably will throw caution to the wind and become an early adopter as it's a very functional looking light with attractive output capabilities.

 

[hotlight]

As for the head lamp, yeah I have had those before. Back then however, I bought cheap K-Mart / Walmart types. Those were more of a pain in the butt than they were worth, but it Has been a few years.

Edit: Anyone have any experience with the Fenix HP20 Head Lamp? I do not want to repeat past mistakes where a head lamp is concerned. Buy once, use for years! Lesson Learned

No experience with the HP20... you want a headlamp that big with external battery for work? check out the zebralight H501 or H501w, also zebralight is coming out with a "H51" or H51F soon.(Im not up to date with Zebralight)

the HP20 looks good, but for work I'd use something a lot more compact and easy to operate.(never seen or used one in real life tho)

the HP20 looks very appealing for it's intended purpose/s.......

 

[diriel]

Good point on the size of the HP20. Nice and compact, but with really good run time is what I really want from a head lamp. Really 50 real lumens or less, and floody, should be more than sufficient for up close work.

Thanks