How about a AA version of the Fenix E01 ?

[flashlife]

I was a machinist for many years and my father was a machinist and no way could you compete price wise with the Chinese!
They mass produce things very efficiently, albeit with lower quality.
You basically need tubing then knurl it. It's not that difficult but you'd have to be set up for big production to keep costs down. Aluminum tubes, depends on the grade of aluminum. Threading same as knurling easy to do on a big production line. Once you're set up for it, it's very fast to do these on CNC lathes. But the Chinese probably have a more automated set up?
The whole light retails for $15 so they make it for around $4 at most, not more than that.

Thanks, Tiff ! That's kinda what I figured. Soooo, if the E01 costs ~$4 to make, and sells for $15, I think a production run of AA body tubes for the E01 (threaded, knurled, anodized, assembled) could cost $2-$3 and sell for $10. ???

Come-on Fenix...let's see a prototype, at least. 🙂

 

[LightHearted]

Yes! That is exactly what I want too. A AA version of the EO1 (twisty, 1 mode, inexpensive) only I want it to put out 15-20 lumens at 15-20 hours runtime with flat regulation. I'm pretty sure it can be done. If they could make the beam as smooth as my original Infinity Ultra, I would be first in line!

COME ON FENIX!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sgt. LED]

I'd like to have a AA E01 but at the same time I'd like them to take a step or 3 back to the snow LED or something that is more pleasing to the eye, perhaps the Cree 5mm!
3-5 lumens for a really long time would be great for my intended use.

To keep it just as solid as the AAA E01 make it have just 1 opening.

 

[Tiff]

Thanks, Tiff ! That's kinda what I figured. Soooo, if the E01 costs ~$4 to make, and sells for $15, I think a production run of AA body tubes for the E01 (threaded, knurled, anodized, assembled) could cost $2-$3 and sell for $10. ???

Come-on Fenix...let's see a prototype, at least. 🙂

You can probably find a small local machine shop to make a single tube for you. These things are pretty simple as long as you can find someone with a short end of tubing. I'd hate to have to buy a minimum order of tubing! But for your own use it's easy enough to have them cut an aluminum tube, then thread and knurl it. The big thing would be size, your dimensions would have to be spot on internal and OD.
My Husky 2D 4 watt, the batteries rattle like old bones, so I guess they just used whatever size they had lying around.

 

[Southernlight]

I'd like to have a AA E01 but at the same time I'd like them to take a step or 3 back to the snow LED or something that is more pleasing to the eye, perhaps the Cree 5mm!
3-5 lumens for a really long time would be great for my intended use.

Yeah, be in on this as well. 3-5 lumens with a real long runtime would be great for power outages.

 

[jzmtl]

Once you're set up for it, it's very fast to do these on CNC lathes. But the Chinese probably have a more automated set up?
The whole light retails for $15 so they make it for around $4 at most, not more than that.

I think on fenix site they have some photos of the facility, there are a few CNC machines around.

 

[Photon Joe]

I gave $16 each for my GIU 's and they are just a bit brighter than my EO1 's or at least as bright.
Also have a bigger hotspot and bigger brighter spill area and a tad more throw, but I would love to have the EO1 body style too.

If the gerbers can be sold for nearly the same price as the EO1, I bet Fenix could do a better job for close to the same price as the GIU.

 

[defloyd77]

Is there a way of knowing which GIUs have the newer/brighter led? Any guesses on what LED the GIU uses?

 

[carrot]

They used to use the Nichia BS, then CS. They are probably using DS or GS LEDs now.

 

[Photon Joe]

Is there a way of knowing which GIUs have the newer/brighter led? Any guesses on what LED the GIU uses?

For the GIU if the # is 80012 or above it has the newest version LED.
If it is the GIU-M model it should have 22-80027 or above for the newest LED.
This info is from rocky national.com and is the numbers on the boxes mine came in.

 

[Black Rose]

They used to use the Nichia BS, then CS. They are probably using DS or GS LEDs now.

Here's what Gerber told me in early November:

Hi xxxx,
Thank you for contacting Gerber Blades. The Infinity Ultra uses Nichia
CS bulbs.

Sincerely,
XXXX XXXXXX
Consumer Affairs

I got a chuckle out of "CS bulbs".

 

[defloyd77]

For the GIU if the # is 80012 or above it has the newest version LED.
If it is the GIU-M model it should have 22-80027 or above for the newest LED.
This info is from rocky national.com and is the numbers on the boxes mine came in.

Thanks, I just might have to get myself one. Would you be able to do some comparison shots between the E01 and the IU?

 

[Mr Floppy]

I'd like to see an AA version of the E01 whether it be tube or brand new torch.

I would also like to see a lens on it. This was my effort in terms of adding a cheap plastic lens to my E01.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=211549

Not the best of efforts but you haven't seen my attempt at this

Heck, using this method, they could even make a "C-Cell E01", or a D-Cell version that'd run for years...if anybody was interested. 🙂

I used a PVC tubes for a start, and then some razor sharp strips of copper. It worked but as soon as you bump the head, it would lose the contacts and it took ages to realign it back together again.

So please Fenix, I will buy 10 of theses if you make them.

 

[KDOG3]

A lens would be a bad idea either, but I think a reflector would be better. Just my opinion...

 

[Photon Joe]

Thanks, I just might have to get myself one. Would you be able to do some comparison shots between the E01 and the IU?

Sorry but I have no digital camera yet.

 

[Evil Homer]

I apologize in advance if someone already mentioned this, but what you're looking for in a flashlight here, an AA version of the E01, does exist...and it's made in the United States, and you can have it in HAIII alum, brass, or stainless. It has a very nice tint white led, they call "snow white" (or red, cyan, green, blue, pink, UV, or RGB). You can specify a body with a removable key-chain lug, or a compact, flat-bottom body. You can specify standard power, or high power, and you can call-up the manufacturer and speak with them directly...and get this...someone answers the phone, and will talk with you about the flashlight you're interested in! All this for $35.00. Peak LED! The website isn't what you'd call elegant, or easy to navigate, but it works. They're nice people, I prefer to call anyway. Check it out. It's called the Kilimanjaro. Hemingway would have approved, not to mention The Seven Dwarfs!

 

[MWClint]

+1 for Peak

all versions here -> http://www.peakledsolutions.net/Products/Kilmanjaro.html
but it's best to call.

you still have to pick, HA, brass, SS and the style of the body,
pocket(short+tailstands, no lanyard ability)
or keychain..it has a removable lanyard plug.

power is HP (high power)or UP (ultra power)...
hp is good for long runtime, UP packs a little extra punch.
a single 5mm on a AA lasts a looooong time anyway. i have all my peak 5mm's at UP.
the 7 led mckinley blows the inova x5 away. i'd wager the 7 led kilimanjaro would do the same.
the snow white tint on peaks are warmer with no purple hues.

🙂

 

[paulr]

The Peak is a real nice light, a class above the E01 and quite a bit more expensive. My big gripe with it is the removable keychain stud (adds too much length to the light and is ugly in my opinion) or the lack of a lanyard hole in the pocket body variation.

If you just want a cheap 1aa light with multiple 5mm led's, the xnova style work pretty well (example). I've seen them for as little as 3 bucks from street vendors. I had one for a while but recently gave it away. Main annoyance was squeaky threads, which a little lube would have fixed right away if I'd gotten around to it.

 

[cree_buyer]

graph from: this_is_nascar

Fenix should come out with a 'Natural' HAIII finish for both AAA & AA +plus have options for snow/red/green/blue/uv/yellow/cyan 5mm LEDs! That would be sweet

 

[cree_buyer]

We need to petition Fenix!