I'm looking for a light for my two year old son to serve as a nightlight. I would prefer a 1 mode, aa cell, low lumen (circa 2) light wih an easy operation switch. I would be open to a slightly higher output if it had a wand attachment available, but I don't want him to be able to kick it into a higher mode and blind himself. I have been unable to turn anything up using the search engine here, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Light for young child
- Thread starter Micahm
- Start date
You might consider The Sandwich Shoppe's "Tank Light". The tank is basically a nigthlight, with daylight sensor, that is designed to use up depleted AA or 123A cells. No highpower possible and makes use of something I certainly have a bunch of hanging around. According to the site page, goes for several months on full charged batteries and a couple of weeks on almost depleted batteries. With the almost depleted cells that I have, the kid would be in college by the time I ran out of almost depleted AAs'
Poppy
Flashaholic
idk why you want a battery operated nite light, but perhaps a 9voltlight paklite would work for you.
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gravelmonkey
Enlightened
Thanks for the suggestions. My son loves playing with my torches, this was the impetus behind looking for a nightlight/ flashlight for him, I don't think the tank light will quite fit the bill and I am not sure about putting a 9 bolt in there with him, a mag light with a filter might be the best option out there. I am just a little surprised no one seems to make a long running single mode low lumen light . To much of a nitch market I guess.
If you're okay with piecing a few parts together here's what I'd do:
1. Get a 3xCR123 P60 host and run in with 2xAA batteries (you can make or buy a spacer if you don't want them to rattle).
Examples: Low price - Solarforce L2 with L2-E18 extender. Higher price: Surefire G3 host from Oveready.
2. Get a low voltage P60 drop in.
Examples: Low $ - Solarforce low voltage drop-ins. Med $ - Nailbender / customlites.com P60/D26 XP-G2 low voltage. High $ - Malkoff M31LL; this is also lower out put, and longer run time.
3. Get a diffuser or lantern kit. There are many low cost options.
Examples: My favorite is the Xeno safety wand. The Solarforce L2-DW is a package that comes with both white and orange wands, so it might not be a bad idea either. The Solarforce LT-1 lantern kit is worth looking at as well. It might be a little bright without wrapping in come colored plastic or diffusion film to further attenuate the light, but it will provide the most light bulb like light pattern. The included stand also gives the light a very stable base.
There are several advantages to going with a P60 host. First, it's the de facto standard for flashlight modding, so there are plenty of accessories to customize it and get it just how you want it. Another advantage is that as your child gets older and more responsible the light can grow with him by simply changing out the P60 drop-in to a brighter one and/or removing the diffuser. Finally, if there is a houeshold emergency even his night light will be a quality light that can quickly be pressed into service.
If you want to go with a factory light I'd get a FourSevens Quark Tactical single AA (model QTA) and just program both modes to low (4 lumen) or one mode to low, and the other to moonlight (0.2 lumen). If you're still worried about it being too bright I found this thread over in CPFM indicating that the Fenix traffic wands and light diffusers will either work on the standard FourSevens bezels as is, or will work with a little sanding on the inside of the wands / diffusers. The ability to program to the FourSevens light to various output levels, plus the fact that they sell just the heads to screw onto existing bodies makes this another light that will be extremely versatile in terms of immediate and future use.
I hope that helps.
1. Get a 3xCR123 P60 host and run in with 2xAA batteries (you can make or buy a spacer if you don't want them to rattle).
Examples: Low price - Solarforce L2 with L2-E18 extender. Higher price: Surefire G3 host from Oveready.
2. Get a low voltage P60 drop in.
Examples: Low $ - Solarforce low voltage drop-ins. Med $ - Nailbender / customlites.com P60/D26 XP-G2 low voltage. High $ - Malkoff M31LL; this is also lower out put, and longer run time.
3. Get a diffuser or lantern kit. There are many low cost options.
Examples: My favorite is the Xeno safety wand. The Solarforce L2-DW is a package that comes with both white and orange wands, so it might not be a bad idea either. The Solarforce LT-1 lantern kit is worth looking at as well. It might be a little bright without wrapping in come colored plastic or diffusion film to further attenuate the light, but it will provide the most light bulb like light pattern. The included stand also gives the light a very stable base.
There are several advantages to going with a P60 host. First, it's the de facto standard for flashlight modding, so there are plenty of accessories to customize it and get it just how you want it. Another advantage is that as your child gets older and more responsible the light can grow with him by simply changing out the P60 drop-in to a brighter one and/or removing the diffuser. Finally, if there is a houeshold emergency even his night light will be a quality light that can quickly be pressed into service.
If you want to go with a factory light I'd get a FourSevens Quark Tactical single AA (model QTA) and just program both modes to low (4 lumen) or one mode to low, and the other to moonlight (0.2 lumen). If you're still worried about it being too bright I found this thread over in CPFM indicating that the Fenix traffic wands and light diffusers will either work on the standard FourSevens bezels as is, or will work with a little sanding on the inside of the wands / diffusers. The ability to program to the FourSevens light to various output levels, plus the fact that they sell just the heads to screw onto existing bodies makes this another light that will be extremely versatile in terms of immediate and future use.
I hope that helps.
Poppy
Flashaholic
Does that dropin also turn the light OFF after 15 minutes (like another Nitize does)? If so... that is a great feature for a child's light.
gravelmonkey
Enlightened
I don't think it does, I've been looking at getting one to use as a battery vampire for the half dead AA's I have from my GPS, 15min time-out would be a real deal-killer.
For an alternative suggestion using 1*AA, how about the Gerber Recon?
Gregozedobe
Enlightened
How about a PAlight (Safe-light) with a white diffuser film over the lens ? The 9v battery is safely enclosed in a rubber casing which a 2 year old will not be able to open. IIRC There is even a version with an auto-off function after 25 minutes (the Star model). It has an always on glow-mode which is like a low level night light. You can run them on used 9v batteries from your smoke detectors (you do remember to change them every year, don't you ?)
How simple is the "twisty on and off"?
I also have a small one (19 mo) wanting to play with flashlights, but not understanding how blinding they can be when pointed in the eyes.
I also have a small one (19 mo) wanting to play with flashlights, but not understanding how blinding they can be when pointed in the eyes.
bjt3833
Newly Enlightened
The thing about twisty lights for little kids is that they can keep twisting and have the head and battery come all the way off and depending in the light and child it might mean a choking hazard. I'd say a button switch is the way to go.
A Safelight/pal light would probably be a good choice. They're simple single button one or two mode lights that use a 9V battery. As has been said, most of the models are a rubberized coated sealed,ought that the kid couldn't possibly open.
As for solarforce, they made a 2 AA body at one point in time. I forget the model name tho so they may not even make it anymore. I bought one for my mother since I knew she wouldn't like the cr123 bodies. With a drop in you can pretty much find anything and I'm sure you could even replace the lens with a frosted version to cut down on the output and focus.
Very good point, I might also add nothing that will get hot, even after being left on for extended periods. Another point... perhaps most important is no 123 based lights, most certain multi celled 123 lights, just think if they were removed and 1 put in incorrect . I have been into these lights about 4 years now and with 4 kids 6 to 16 thats my thinking.
Poppy
Flashaholic
When our kids were little, we got them a llittle kids light. I don't recall, perhaps "Playschool" or "Little Tykes" but it was a 6V lantern size incandescent with three selectable colored lens filters. It turned off after a few minutes to save the batteries.
Those are great first lights, a few c cells and your set. I still have a few of those around.
My three year old daughter loves lights. I've bought her barbie lights and other various kids lights. Won't touch them. She walks right to the night stand and gets moms orange hi cri HDS. It's programmed to come on in low mode but she knows to hold the button down for hi. My little flashaholic.
