Longest runtime for budget single AA or AAA led light on low setting to be used in tornado shelter

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enolaniaga

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Looking for a reliable budget AA- or AAA led light with longest runtime on low setting...doesnt need to have super bright capabilities. Probably 30 lumens or less. 1 or 2 lumens may be a bit to weak to see in the tornado shelter. Ty
 
Olumin said:
If you want tough & reliable then you should spend a little more and get a Malkoff MDC1AA or a Peak El Capitan and run them on Energizer L91s.
Zebralight is known for their efficient drivers, and will provide long runtimes at low levels.
Click to expand...
Need something that uses one - AA or AAA battery.
 
I can't recommend a hand crank flashlight… moving parts, low cost, and reliability aren't a great combination. If the dynamo fails you have no light.

I would also advise against looking at runtime as your primary deciding factor. Truly efficient current-regulated lights are expensive. Many cheap single-AA LED lights don't limit current at all, counting on the limits of the battery to avoid overdriving the LED. Running lithium primaries in them may kill them. Alkalines love turning into a crystalline mess. Neither is what you want to discover in a tornado shelter.

But... if you can find a cheap single-AA light that uses a simple resistor to limit current, you're golden. Buy four and stash them away. They might be inefficient but you can make up for that inefficiency with extra batteries that are proven reliable in adverse conditions and are still at reasonable cost. A 20 pack is ~$37 and you only have to buy it once every 10 years. If you need more than the 40 or so hours that would provide, I would consider a different battery type.

Good luck in your search
 
The shape of the beam can make a difference if you need 3 or 30 in a dark basement post tornadoe or what-have-you. One that throws for example would be good at ceiling bounce provided the ceiling is not some darkened lumber but fresh, lighter color boards, or in good weather you could apply mirrors or alluminum foil in strategic locations.

Something that throws and spreads would be ideal using 10-15 lumens. Another thing is a regulated light will stay the same brightness until the fuel cell dips below a given voltage. Some taper after that. Some go from bright, to dim to off quickly. To me a "bomb shelter" light would be best unregulated for max time of light output,

Another thing to consider is a double a has way more fuel supply than triple a. A triple a is great for getting to said bomb shelter and as a backup if need be. But for most time lit a double a is a better choice. For this request I like the 1aa Fenix E12 v2 since it starts on low with a pretty useable light in pure darkness but allows you to have brighter output if needed. The 1aaa E01 v2 would be a good choice for an even smaller light.

For fuel the Energizer ultimate lithium provide a stable voltage longer than most alkalines, rarely leak and work better down to 20 degrees farnheit.

But there are lots of good choices out there.
Here's hoping you never need them.
 
arrgh my eyes!! said:
I can't recommend a hand crank flashlight… moving parts, low cost, and reliability aren't a great combination. If the dynamo fails you have no light.
Click to expand...

you would think that, but I had a cheapo one dollar hand crank in the back of my car inside the toolbox for years and that sucker survived basically everything :D

also I thought we left the ground of reason when he wanted a cheap but reliable survival light, my bad :D

( for a serious answer, really just get a Malkoff MDC or MD2 and some spare batteries, that thing will outlive your grandchildren )
 
Most AAA keychain lights have low mode options. And in a blackout or similar "near dark" environments, a little lumens go a long way.
* The Fenix E1 v2 is fairly nice at 5 lumens for 25 hours; ~$10.
* If you don't mind the wait, the Sofirn C01S goes for $8 and has pretty solid reviews.
 
Streamlight Compact II - a little spendy for what it is but built to milspec quality. And it will run on AA's, CR123's or even AAA's, in a pinch.
 
some of these led flashlights you guys are suggesting are in the 70- $150 price ranges....is that considered " budget " nowadays ?
 
My Pelican 2350 is supposed to last 21 hours on 1 alkaline AA according to the box in 15 lumen low mode. I haven't had it very long and don't really have many lights to compare it to, but it is at least a light you could look into.
 
Fenix E12 runs on a single AA and the most reliable light I've owned. I have over a dozen of these in my cars, house, backpacks, traveling luggage and etc.
Manker E05 Ti runs on a single AA and single 14500 and the highest single AA throw torch. Also it has a moonlight which would run for like 100+ days.
My ultimate light for when SHTF is the Streamlight Protac 1L which takes single AA, AAA, cr123 and 14500.
 
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