How muggles use flashlights

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Backpacker Light I assume you backpack a lot by the name, so I am surprised that mental prep of other people surprise you. How many times have you been on a trail and seen the crap people bring?

It constantly surprises me what crap people have on their boats that they think will save their lives. People don't think good gear is needed until it is and its usually to late. What kills me more is what the "pros" like me, like when I am with certain other crew members bring crap. I come decked out with extra lights batteries, GPS, etc. Some people just don't get it and rely on other people.

13) Muggles don't get that you have a tool before you need it, otherwise when you need it you are screwed.

14) Muggles think you (the prepared) will always be there for them when stuff happens. Therefore they need not be prepared.
Oh and LUMOS!
 
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Sorry, I guess I should have explained myself. Most general people will think my DBS is brighter with the R2 pill than the MC-E pill because it can lights things up at greater distance. This of course, is not the case. I have noticed a lot of people think this way...:shakehead
But that is the case, too, because "brightness" has multiple meanings, and context doesn't make it clear. That's why some flashaholics try to avoid using it where it's ambiguous.

Beam-center intensity (the determining factor in throw) is a valid meaning of "brightness", and the sentence "This one's brighter, even though it outputs less light, because it can be focused tighter." is valid. But so is "Even though that one's brighter, this one throws farther because it can be focused tighter."; maybe the point you were getting at is that they don't understand, by whatever name, that the concepts of total output and intensity are distinct?
 
I understand why nonflashaholics use nonregulated headlights with alkaline batteries in caves. I would too. In pitch black caves, runtime is way more important than brightness. Your eyes can eventually adjust to using less than 1 lumen. Alkalines give the longest overall runtimes of all battery chemistries. Lithiums maintain a higher brightness longer but overall runtime is usually shorter. Rechargeables, for the most part, don't work well in cold temperatures and caves tend to be constantly cool. Rechargeables also don't last as long as alkalines in this application and can be damaged if drained too far. Lithiums also have the threat of venting and exploding with flame. The last thing you want is to be deep underground, when your exploding flashlight seals you into the cave, leaving you with poisonous gas to breathe in, and without a light to see. Sometimes, caves drip water and can get everything wet, so you'll want a waterproof light with a long enough runtime so you don't have to change the batteries until you're out of the cave.

I agree that leaving spare batteries behind in the car, not checking to make sure the light works first, and not carrying backup lights show poor judgement. However, instead of insulting the unenlightened, we should be giving them advice (especially family and friends) or helping light their way out of the cave. If someone's lights all stop working in the cave, let them use one of your lights or at least light their way. They don't need an I told you so. What they will need is someone willing to help them out of trouble. These are the times that will convince someone that they need to bring more lights, better lights, or more batteries. Even if they don't learn, know that you helped someone in need. Their family will be grateful (and maybe you can convince them that the person needs to be more prepared next time). Someday, you or someone you love may be in a similar situation and you'll want someone kind enough to come along and help you or a loved one out of trouble. If I'm ever in trouble, I'll take the guy with the helping hand over a guy with a flashlight that won't lift a finger to help me out any day.
 
where i come from, we just call them "idiots"

i'm thank you for their existence, they tend to keep my peers and I employed
 
Backpacker Light I assume you backpack a lot by the name, so I am surprised that mental prep of other people surprise you. How many times have you been on a trail and seen the crap people bring?

On the trail, I most often run into people that forgot to fill up their bottle of white gas or butane canister for their cooking stove. I always bring along extra white gas for cooking and also it's just faster to start a fire with a little bit of white gas rather than build it up from tinder and twigs. Actually, I can't remember having been asked too many times for batteries for flashlights.

The worst case of unpreparedness that I've come across was once gave a guy some water on a trail in Arches. This was in August in the middle of the desert in Utah, 115F and no shade. His choice of hydration system? A can of Coke. :shakehead Obviously, he should have chosen Mountain Dew.
 
It's the same thing with people that have a job that requires them to frequently inspect/work on/maintain things located in dark places, yet they don't carry a light with them.

I work building maintenance on a large campus, and it never ceases to amaze me how many of my coworkers don't carry a light! I can't see how they are able to do their jobs without one, yet most of them either refuse to be "bothered" with having a light on their belt, or in their pocket, or they don't seem to even see a need for one.
 
I understand why nonflashaholics use nonregulated headlights with alkaline batteries in caves. I would too. In pitch black caves, runtime is way more important than brightness. Your eyes can eventually adjust to using less than 1 lumen. Alkalines give the longest overall runtimes of all battery chemistries. Lithiums maintain a higher brightness longer but overall runtime is usually shorter. Rechargeables, for the most part, don't work well in cold temperatures and caves tend to be constantly cool. Rechargeables also don't last as long as alkalines in this application and can be damaged if drained too far. Lithiums also have the threat of venting and exploding with flame. The last thing you want is to be deep underground, when your exploding flashlight seals you into the cave, leaving you with poisonous gas to breathe in, and without a light to see. Sometimes, caves drip water and can get everything wet, so you'll want a waterproof light with a long enough runtime so you don't have to change the batteries until you're out of the cave.

Your statements regarding the greatness of alkalines are only partially true for an unregulated light and not true for a regulated one.

A good multilevel regulated light can give you the brightness you want/need for a very long time. This way only the Wh in the batteries count and lithiums are then better, especially in the cold. Lithiums are also lighter so you can bring more spares..

The threat of venting lithiums is blown way out of proportion :shakehead and I'd take lithium and Li-ions over alkalines every day of the week.

Alkalines suck intensely in the cold and leak way too often. I've had a number of good lights damaged by leaking alkalines (new ones) over the years, but never had issues with NiMH, Li-ions or lithium primaries.

Nothing personal ;)
 
This thread reminds of two people I know. Both smart but not knowlegeable about anything electric. One guy put alkalines in a charger and almost started a fire. Luckily, he is a fireman!
Another one stored his new LSD HiMh's in his charger and almost killed them totally. Then when I started to explain about automatic chargers he refused to leave something on overnight. He said " a few hours should be enough" .....!!!
 
It is a pity that despite a good and interesting opening post, members were unable to stay on topic, despite the OP's subsequent plea in post #13 for them do so.

There were some unattractive posts by members sneering at non-flashoholics, almost competing to see who could make the most dismissive and disparaging comments about them. That was not the OP's intention for the thread, as he made clear.

I am closing the thread at the OP's request.
 
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