Help - E01 is too bright

[spaceconvoy]

I was looking for a maglite solitaire replacement and decided on the Fenix E01 based on advice from this forum. I wanted a dim light so it wouldn't ruin my night-vision, and I thought the E01 would be perfect. But it's too bright! Just used it this morning to try and find my keys, and it took my eyes a while to adjust back to the dark. Are there any dimmer options with the same form factor? I'd prefer AAA, but could be something else as long as the thickness is less than 15mm.

 

[paulr]

Get a Peak Matterhorn with a red led, http://peakledsolutions.com . Of course you can always temporarily dim your E01 by partway covering the bezel with your finger.

 

[N/Apower]

I was looking for a maglite solitaire replacement and decided on the Fenix E01 based on advice from this forum. I wanted a dim light so it wouldn't ruin my night-vision, and I thought the E01 would be perfect. But it's too bright! Just used it this morning to try and find my keys, and it took my eyes a while to adjust back to the dark. Are there any dimmer options with the same form factor? I'd prefer AAA, but could be something else as long as the thickness is less than 15mm.

Wierdo

J/K!

Maybe I am just a simpleton, but I would roll a mini-mag style maglite. Reliable, cheap, available. You want a light to find small items up close in the dark it seems. Not something to mount on a weapon or use in the arctic or signal UFO's. Lets not make this more difficult than it has to be.

 

[spaceconvoy]

Peak looks like a good idea - thanks for the heads up.

I have a Solitaire, but was looking for something with longer runtime, so I don't have to change the battery ever 30 minutes :shakehead

 

[glockboy]

You can ued scotch tape and tape the head to make it less bright.

 

[TONY M]

I just block the light with my finger as it only takes one hand, works well enough to tempt me not to go back to the Solitaire.:laughing:

 

[Armed_Forces]

OP, don't listen to these addicts, always suggesting buying another light. They'll just keep you in the poor house!

My suggestion would be to use your E01 but only with "dead" batteries.
The E01 has a "moon mode" that reduces the brightness when the batteries are nearly depleted. If you can find some from your own gadgets give it a try, if you don't have any old AAAs ask a friend or neighbor that uses that size to save them for you to "recycle". Once you source a supply, you might never need to ever buy another AAA battery!



P.S. In the mean time just leave you light on while you sleep and check the brightness when you awake.

 

[csshih]

get a pack of color swatches, cut a red filter out. stick on.

 

[cree_buyer]

Gerber Infinity Ultra M

PAL Safe Light

 

[JBorneu]

Using a dead battery in your E01 will be the cheapest option. Flashlights with a very low low usually are quite expensive. My Liteflux LF2X has a very low low and I really like it, but it probably costs a lot more than you want to spend.

 

[kaichu dento]

If you'll tell us how much you're willing to spend then we could be of more help. The above mentioned LF2X is an excellent choice and, by CPF standards, not too expensive.

Just now I was walking home in the moonlight and compared the lowest output of a couple of my lights (D10, Drake) to the moonlight. The Drake is just barely bright enough to pick out it's light where the moonlight is, but the D10 is way too bright. (Both on low)

For people like us that need a real low setting in a single cell tiny light, the best choices are going to be probably the LF2X, Drake or one of the MJP lights.

If a super low is all you care about and you have no budget then the dead battery in your E01 may be good, but if you want to actually use the light for other things as well, spend a little time and check out the lights I've listed here.

I should also say, the Surefire Titan has the lowest output in a standard bodied flashlight with a white emitter available.

 

[FRANKVZ]

You could put a small drop of paint on the tip of the led on the E01 to block some of the light.

 

[darklord]

The E01 has a "moon mode" that reduces the brightness when the batteries are nearly depleted.

Can someone explain just how this "moon mode" works?...and for how long?

Similarly, is the "sun mode" regulated, before dropping into moon? And what runtime on sun?

 

[Zatoichi]

Can someone explain just how this "moon mode" works?...and for how long?

Similarly, is the "sun mode" regulated, before dropping into moon? And what runtime on sun?

Without looking at runtime charts, it's around 8+ hours regulated before dropping to moon mode, where it runs for another 8+ hours very dim. That's the gist of it anyway.

 

[Badbeams3]

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Fenix_E0_Dart.php Here is an older Fenix Dart...these are about half as bright...looks like they still have a few left in black.

 

[metlarules]

Using scotch tape is going to be your easiest way of reducing the light output.

 

[darklord]

Without looking at runtime charts, it's around 8+ hours regulated before dropping to moon mode, where it runs for another 8+ hours very dim. That's the gist of it anyway.

Thanks for that. Eventually found some information which suggests the new E01 does 11hrs sun and 10hrs moon.

11hrs regulated 10 lumens output on 1xAAA...sounds rather impressive for a tiny chappie like the E01! Too much light for the OP, I expect, but I'm interested!

 

[ecallahan]

The liteflux LF2 (SSC) can be had for $45, and it has a very low low - it is programmable. It is slightly bigger than the EO1 though. You can find these over on the Dealers Corner. I have 2, and love them.

 

[:)>]

I was looking for a maglite solitaire replacement and decided on the Fenix E01 based on advice from this forum. I wanted a dim light so it wouldn't ruin my night-vision, and I thought the E01 would be perfect. But it's too bright! Just used it this morning to try and find my keys, and it took my eyes a while to adjust back to the dark. Are there any dimmer options with the same form factor? I'd prefer AAA, but could be something else as long as the thickness is less than 15mm.

No doubt. If you can shell out the $100 the Mako is your light. 25 hour runtime on high 60 hour runtime on low and the best tint of any 5 mm LED that I have ever seen.

If you can get your hands on one, I believe that you will be completely satisfied.

 

[Zatoichi]

Thanks for that. Eventually found some information which suggests the new E01 does 11hrs sun and 10hrs moon.

11hrs regulated 10 lumens output on 1xAAA...sounds rather impressive for a tiny chappie like the E01! Too much light for the OP, I expect, but I'm interested!

I think the 11 hours regulated is Fenix's number. In tests IIRC it was more like 8 - 9 hours regulated on Alkalines, but still very impressive. The size, runtime, build quality and brightness of the E01 are more than enough to justify buying 1 (or 3).