Lithium batteries in place of akaline?

[TAH]

First post here. Last night, I purchased a River Rock 0.5W 2AAA at Target. This is a great light for $9.50. Anyway, I would like to run Energizer Lithium AAA batteries in it instead of AAA akaline. I'm using the light for backpacking so I want Lithium because they are lighter weight and more temperature resistant.

I called River Rock in Texas and the person who answered the phone said that there is no problem using Lithium in that flashlight.

Thought I would get a collective opinion from the experts. Do you all agree? Last thing I want to do is blow out the bulb in the backcountry.

Thanks! :twothumbs

 

[crazyk4952]

Lithium AAA batteries have the same voltage as alkaline batteries, so I don't think you would be in danger of damaging the light.

However, I would have a hard time trusting a light that costs less than $10 to function as my primary light when I was in the woods. You may want to consider carrying a backup light in case this one fails!

 

[Marduke]

Lithium primaries are fine in that light.

BTW, there is no "bulb" in a LED light.

 

[Benson]

However, I would have a hard time trusting a light that costs less than $10 to function as my primary light when I was in the woods. You may want to consider carrying a backup light in case this one fails!

I would have a hard time trusting any light to function when I need it; having paid a lot of money doesn't guarantee it won't fail on its own, but at best buys you a reduced probability of failure, and says nothing about failures due to abuse (e.g. dropping it in mud while changing batteries, and being unable to clean it immediately.).

If a $10 light fails 1 time out of a thousand, then 2 of them (that's $20) will only both fail 1 time in a million, and three of them gets you one in a billion. To get that sort of reliability from one light would almost certainly cost more than three times as much -- and this way, you also improve your situation against loss and abuse. I wouldn't recommend using a light with really poor build quality, and keeping 10 in my pockets, but there's a lot of cheap lights with decent enough build quality, and without handling one, I won't presume this isn't one.

Remember, even if some light could magically be completely guaranteed not to fail, and you can be assured you won't lose it, you still ought to have at least one backup, for finding the head/tailcap of the first light when you drop it changing batteries in the dark... :tinfoil:

 

[StarHalo]

The Energizer Lithium is actually better than the alkaline for your light; it will provide better runtime, more brightness over the runtime, and better extreme temperature handling.

The mass-produced AAA light that most "experts" favor is the Fenix LD01, seen here: https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_49&products_id=639

 

[Backpacker Light]

First post here. Last night, I purchased a River Rock 0.5W 2AAA at Target. This is a great light for $9.50.

Hey TAH :welcome:

You are right, that is a good light for $10. Dependable and lightweight.

Of course, take a backup light. I highly recommend a headlight, it makes camp setup and cooking alot easier while having two hands free.

There are also some other inexpensive choices you may want to investigate. Your River Rock 2-aaa is actually a rebranded "Nuwai". The 1-aaa sister of this light is even smaller (and lighter), and still quite bright for camp chores. It's only about $6-$7 with shipping. Get one.
http://store.advancedmart.com/nu5waposiled.html

I also have, and recommend, an even better light for backpacking, a EO1. It is only $15, less the FenixStore 8% discount for members (CPF8). It pretty indestructible, very lightweight, and almost as bright as your RR 2-aaa.
https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_49&products_id=444

I normally use a LSD rechargeable at home, and then change to a lighter weight lithium battery for backpacking.

 

[drmaxx]

The place to be careful about using other then alkaline are cheap 3xAAA LED lights. Often manufactures rely on the strong performance and voltage drop of alkaline and 'regulate' the voltage to the LED with a simple resistor. In these cases it is very questionable to use anything different then alkalines.

 

[Kestrel]

It would be optimum if you went for a backup that used the same battery size, making the logistics easier. You could go for a Petzl Zipka headlamp, very very compact and 2 or 3 AAA. A Streamlight Microstream or Stylus pro, 1xAAA / 2xAAA. And I think the Fenix E01 would do a great job of getting every last electron out of 'depleted' AAA cells from the other light(s), if I'm not mistaken (I don't have that last one).
My two lumens,
K

 

[jeffosborne]

Hey TAH - welcome to the forum! I have carried the River Rock 0.5W 2AAA from Target in my belt pack for the past 2.5 years, and used it often. It is a solid performer, and I do prefer the lithiums in it, as it brightens up a bit, and I get the best runtimes. Not the brightest light, but very dependable, and the forward momentary switch on the rear cap is a plus! Do be sure to clean the threads and o-ring, and lubricate them for best results. My wife also carries one of these, with the silver finish, in her purse... Cheers, Jeff O.

 

[mdocod]

Lithium AAA batteries have the same voltage as alkaline batteries.......

Important to note here, is that, while the voltage is similar between alkaline and lithium primary cells in AA/AAA size, it is not the same.

Most 2 cell LED lights must have either a buck or boost circuit [(depending on the cells called for), in this case, a boost circuit, ] will be tolerant of some voltage variation from the power source as the LED is not being driven "directly" by that power source (either with or without a simple resistor). So you are perfectly fine using lithium primary AAA cells in that light.

As was pointed out drmax, there are many flashlights out there, that WOULD suffer from the minor voltage differences between alkaline and lithium AA/AAA cells, especially if run for long periods of time. Lithium primary cells hold a higher voltage under a load, and have a slightly higher open circuit voltage than alkaline cells.


---

All that said, for backpacking/camping. Handhelds aren't very fun trying to set up tents while in the dark while it's raining/snowing.

Get a headlamp.

Get a good headlamp.

Spend more than $10. (reliable flashlights can come cheap, I have not seen a "good" headlamp under ~$25)

For backpacking, maximum output is not super important, major battery life, which is associated with a very LOW LOW mode is important. You might set it on high for an hour to set up the tent, but after that, you can get by with about 1 lumen or less for most other tasks like cooking or reading or whatever, having that low mode that you know can run all night with power left on the table is important.

-Eric

 

[TAH]

Thank you all for your feedback. I should have clarified that I do own a Princeton Tec Quad headlamp as my primary light source. Princeton Tec clearly states that the Quad can run on AAA alkaline or lithium batteries and this is why I was wondering about the River Rock.

Thanks again for all your help! :thumbsup: