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

[TPA]

Old Man post warning... 🤣 Search around for a handful of Fenix E01's and get a multi pack of lithium Energizer AAA's. The E01's can still be found, and if you search here on CPF for runtime and torture testing, you'll know why I still own a few. Bombproof, simple battery sippers that anyone can operate. They're bright enough, cheap enough, and will outlive roaches in the next apocalypse.

There's still an E01 in my laptop bag and my fiancé still has one on her keychain. Going through my e-mails, it looks like some of these are 15 years old

 

[this_is_nascar]

There's still an E01 in my laptop bag and my fiancé still has one on her keychain. Going through my e-mails, it looks like some of these are 15 years old

I still have several of the Fenix E01s, in both versions they released. I still think i have a couple that are still brand new. It's a great light for what it was in its time.

 

[Monocrom]

Definitely wish I had bought a few more E01s when they weren't discontinued.

 

[Batuche]

Lots of good choices here & while I'm late to the party this may be helpful for someone.

Consider two twisty lights from Lumintop, the EDC01- AAA, and the EDC 15 - AA. You should be able to get some pretty good run times out of the lowest modes, plus there is no standby drain in either model as the twisty mechanism physically disconnects a cell when turned off. I own both & believe they are a bargain. Check out the Lumintop website for more info.

 

[snakebite]

Ty , I have other name brand led lights...was just looking for other low cost budget options.

How about get folks in charge of said shelter to edc lights?
Then it won't deteriorate sitting idle.or get "borrowed"
Same with the batteries
Sucks to need it then find it missing or those duracells have all leaked in the package or worse yet in the light!

 

[vicv]

How about get folks in charge of said shelter to edc lights?
Then it won't deteriorate sitting idle.or get "borrowed"
Same with the batteries
Sucks to need it then find it missing or those duracells have all leaked in the package or worse yet in the light!

Why would anyone store a Duracell in something the want to use in the future?

 

[Scotty321]

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

Not really budget, but the discontinued SL ProtacAAA (single AAA) has a very long running low mode. Also not really budget, but the EagleTac AA Clicky can be has with numerous LEF configurations and lasts pretty long on low

 

[TPA]

I'm still cleaning up hurricane stuff and came across two unopened Nitecore LA10 CRIs. I know these will run for 24 hours on 1x AA on low, 6 hours on medium. Wouldn't be a bad option for this use case.

I'm still partial to the battery-powered Christmas lights for this use-case though. Distributed light along the shelter just feels much more civil and less threatening than a single-source flashlight/lantern. Not to mention they're dirt cheap, so it's easy enough to have spares (possibly one on each side of the shelter space).

 

[desert.snake]

Definitely wish I had bought a few more E01s when they weren't discontinued.

What's worse about the new version 2.0? I just don't know

 

[bykfixer]

What's worse about the new version 2.0? I just don't know

So many people hated the E01 until they came out with the V2 model. Suddenly the original was sorely missed. I used to see the original at Amazon and eBay for $60+ shortly after it was discontinued.

The V2 is a 3 setting number with up to 100(?) lumens on high. Starts on low at 5(?) lumens and has a medium. The beam is floody but throws fairly well on high. The water tight rating means it has a fat o'ring up front that makes it hard to twist one handed. And 😱 it won't tail stand. 👎 so folks were not pleased. Not as grippy and it's really small.

I like the V2 myself. It was $20 at first but I just bought some for $14 at Amazon.

 

[Monocrom]

What's worse about the new version 2.0? I just don't know

I have two of those and was disappointed. The Original was a little tank of a light that could survive anything short of Nuclear Armageddon. And the runtime was insane. The new version beats it on output only.

 

[desert.snake]

Got it, it was a vampire

 

[MidnightDistortions]

How about get folks in charge of said shelter to edc lights?
Then it won't deteriorate sitting idle.or get "borrowed"
Same with the batteries
Sucks to need it then find it missing or those duracells have all leaked in the package or worse yet in the light!

Why would anyone store a Duracell in something the want to use in the future?

Or any alkaline for that matter. Seems we need education on Eneloop batteries. No problem keeping those in my lights.

 

[PaladinNO]

Or any alkaline for that matter. Seems we need education on Eneloop batteries. No problem keeping those in my lights.

#Preach_Eneloops
Only AA / AAA alkalines I have are cells I have forgotten about, and thus not yet replaced with Eneloop / Eneloop Pro's.

Considering the topic creator seems lost in the nethers and not seen since May, suggesting a 2AA is probably a moot point.
Something like a Sofirn SF15, Wurkkos WK05 or to stay with the single cell form factor, a Manker E02H or E03H.

Though I have always sworn by a bigger light (18650) for emergencies, to ensure there is power on the thing when needed.
It must have a simple UI or preferably 2 buttons for on / off and mode switching, no mode memory or parasitic drain, has an Eco / Moonlight-mode and takes multiple types of cells, including alkalines as a last resort.

I wish I had bought more ThruNite Neutron 2C V3's while I could. It didn't care what you fed it with.

 

[MidnightDistortions]

#Preach_Eneloops
Only AA / AAA alkalines I have are cells I have forgotten about, and thus not yet replaced with Eneloop / Eneloop Pro's.

Considering the topic creator seems lost in the nethers and not seen since May, suggesting a 2AA is probably a moot point.
Something like a Sofirn SF15, Wurkkos WK05 or to stay with the single cell form factor, a Manker E02H or E03H.

Though I have always sworn by a bigger light (18650) for emergencies, to ensure there is power on the thing when needed.
It must have a simple UI or preferably 2 buttons for on / off and mode switching, no mode memory or parasitic drain, has an Eco / Moonlight-mode and takes multiple types of cells, including alkalines as a last resort.

I wish I had bought more ThruNite Neutron 2C V3's while I could. It didn't care what you fed it with.

Seeing how well Eneloops hold out compared to other brands they definitely are a good investment. My EBL AAAs are starting to deteriorate so I'm cycling them and tossing them in a bunch of lights that are now getting used as a result. Some have already been recovered. I got a set I use in a weather station remote for outdoors need a bit more cycling before tossing them back out. They don't fare through extreme heat or cold very well so I haven't fully switched to Eneloops yet but I do like to try out the competition ether way.