Looking for a rechargeable flashlight

[memory1]

I am looking into getting a rechargeable flashlight for my dad as a gift. He is currently using a Energizer Hardcase light, and it seems like he goes through a lot of batteries(uses 4 D batteries). He needs something that is bright and can shine a good distance, maybe 60 feet or so and still be just as bright. He uses it on a dairy farm so it needs to be able to take the abuse. This light will also get used in the cold weather if that makes a difference.

I have looked on ebay a little and found some lights called the Cree XML T6 and they have a lumen output of 1800. How are they so high when most flashlights like maglites are only around 120 or so? Am I going to have to buy a rechargeable light online? Every store I have been to does not carry rechargeable lights.

The most I would want to spend is $30.

 

[Gunner12]

Cree XM-L is a LED from, well Cree. T6 is a bin (think rating) of that model of LED. The 1600 lumen thing is way overstated, realistically you'll get 400-500 lumen out the front. The Maglites are probably truthful in their ratings, and will run much longer due to the larger capacity batteries.

Also, lumen is overall output. As I've posted before: Laser = low lumen, high lux, Floodlight = high lumen, low lux. So if you want throw, don't just look at lumen.

60 Ft isn't very far though, so most lights will be fine. $30 is probably the minimum I'd spend for a decent set of 18650 batteries and charger, and if you include that price in your budget, you'll have no room for a light. How much runtime would you like?

Which Energizer Hardcase does your friend have? There are also some decent LED lights available at Home depot and so on, so you could look into those:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?348448-Defiant-flashlights-from-Home-Depot
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...life-gear-1000-lumen-6-c-cell-from-Costco-100
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?327586-Rayovac-Indestructable

Shiningbeam has some nice lights at lower price.

You could also get rechargeable D cells and a charger.

:welcome:

 

[TEEJ]

If you get him a $30 rechargeable light it will be very low quality.

If you get him a $30 LED flashlight that can handle the power of rechargeable cells, and one of you is willing to ALSO buy the cell(s) and a charger...you can have something more decent.

There are inexpensive LED lights that are well made in that price range, the Xtar Meteor for example (< $30) is built like a tank, pumps out 500 lumens on max, with lower out puts if you throttle it down to medium or low...takes a single RCR123, and does every thing his other one did, only better. Its only a about 2" long to boot...and has a magnetic base to act as a task light, as well as chain and clip..very handy.

The RCR123's are not that expensive...maybe ~ $5 or less each. I use IMR123's myself with 750 mah, and they work great in that light too. A charger for them is also required of course.

 

[Badbeams3]

I would ask this question in the budget light section. I would also consider a 18650 batt powered light in colder climates. Perhaps Amazon or E-bay might be in order...

 

[hiuintahs]

I agree with Teej that getting rechargeable batteries is the better way to go. And I'd recommend the AA Eneloops though. I've been telling friends and family to get into these and quit using alkaline batteries..........they're that good! Costco has a sale on the batteries and charger right now.

I'll tell you a good light to get for working out in the dairy or farm...............a Jetbeam PA40. Takes 4AA cells, is pretty simple, no flashy modes, uses Cree XM-L LED, has 3 modes with memory, very well spaced and puts out 2/50/220/468 lumens low/med/med-high/max. I've tested the output and these lumens are almost right on the money. And if your dad has been using 4 D cell lights this will kick the pants off them and be a smaller light that still you could put in the back pocket or belt holster that it came with. I've bought and sold a lot of LED lights and this one is one of my favorites. I'd stay away from the Jetbeam PA10 or PA20 though. I've owned them and don't like some quirky aspects of those 2.

You'll have to come up with more than $30 for this light but its worth it. An Ebay seller was selling them for $40 back in Sept but they are gone. Still look for a deal and you won't be unhappy with this light in my opinion.

By the way I agree with Gunner, some of these lumen declarations are total bunk.

 

[chnzwh]

I was about to recommend the R1 Lawman until I saw your budget :(

 

[memory1]

Cree XM-L is a LED from, well Cree. T6 is a bin (think rating) of that model of LED. The 1600 lumen thing is way overstated, realistically you'll get 400-500 lumen out the front. The Maglites are probably truthful in their ratings, and will run much longer due to the larger capacity batteries.

Also, lumen is overall output. As I've posted before: Laser = low lumen, high lux, Floodlight = high lumen, low lux. So if you want throw, don't just look at lumen.

60 Ft isn't very far though, so most lights will be fine. $30 is probably the minimum I'd spend for a decent set of 18650 batteries and charger, and if you include that price in your budget, you'll have no room for a light. How much runtime would you like?

Which Energizer Hardcase does your friend have? There are also some decent LED lights available at Home depot and so on, so you could look into those:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?348448-Defiant-flashlights-from-Home-Depot
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...life-gear-1000-lumen-6-c-cell-from-Costco-100
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?327586-Rayovac-Indestructable

Shiningbeam has some nice lights at lower price.

You could also get rechargeable D cells and a charger.

:welcome:

Thanks for the welcome. The Energizer light he is using is linked in the first post.

We do have rechargeable D batteries and to me, it seems like they do not last very long. That is why I was thinking of going a different route.

I agree with Teej that getting rechargeable batteries is the better way to go. And I'd recommend the AA Eneloops though. I've been telling friends and family to get into these and quit using alkaline batteries..........they're that good! Costco has a sale on the batteries and charger right now.

I'll tell you a good light to get for working out in the dairy or farm...............a Jetbeam PA40. Takes 4AA cells, is pretty simple, no flashy modes, uses Cree XM-L LED, has 3 modes with memory, very well spaced and puts out 2/50/220/468 lumens low/med/med-high/max. I've tested the output and these lumens are almost right on the money. And if your dad has been using 4 D cell lights this will kick the pants off them and be a smaller light that still you could put in the back pocket or belt holster that it came with. I've bought and sold a lot of LED lights and this one is one of my favorites. I'd stay away from the Jetbeam PA10 or PA20 though. I've owned them and don't like some quirky aspects of those 2.

You'll have to come up with more than $30 for this light but its worth it. An Ebay seller was selling them for $40 back in Sept but they are gone. Still look for a deal and you won't be unhappy with this light in my opinion.

By the way I agree with Gunner, some of these lumen declarations are total bunk.

I have heard good things about Eneloops. What it the main difference between them and regular batteries? I thought the main difference was they hold their charge for longer but the useable time is still the same. Am I wrong?

Why would a AA cell flashlight kick the pants off a D cell light?

One thing I just found out is he does not like LED lights, oops. He said it is something about the whiteness of the led light. How long will it be before you can not get incandescent lights?

Is there any stores where you can try out the lights? Or if I want a quality one, will I have to buy one online?

 

[hiuintahs]

..........I have heard good things about Eneloops. What it the main difference between them and regular batteries? I thought the main difference was they hold their charge for longer but the useable time is still the same. Am I wrong?

Why would a AA cell flashlight kick the pants off a D cell light?

One thing I just found out is he does not like LED lights, oops. He said it is something about the whiteness of the led light. How long will it be before you can not get incandescent lights?

Is there any stores where you can try out the lights? Or if I want a quality one, will I have to buy one online?

The only advantage that a D cell has over an AA cell is capacity. Both have the same voltage. The Eneloops are a low self discharge NiMh technology pioneered by Sanyo which basically is the leader in this area. They can discharge higher rates of current without as much voltage sag as an alkaline, thus an LED flashlight that is current regulated can maintain a constant output better than an alkaline battery which has higher internal resistance. You mostly notice it under heavy current discharge which the brightest modes are going to demand.

I just assumed if your dad was using D batteries that they would be alkaline's........thus a flashlight like the Jetbeam PA40 with 4 AA Eneloops would outperform any 4 D cell that I know of. Most manufacturers of LED flashlights will not focus R&D on a D cell flashlight thus there just isn't many options for good well regulated LED flashlights that use D batteries. Any time anyone says they are using a D cell light I just automatically assume something like a MagLite but I could be wrong as I have not used them other than the 2 or 3 D cell MagLites from years ago.

If your dad is insisting on incadescent tint, then that elliminates many LED options and limits you to warm white or neutral white which are harder to find. And for the most part will probably have to be ordered over the internet. It might just be that he has to accept the fact that this LED technology is what he's going to have to do if he's to get a lot more lumens, regulated output, and long run times.

 

[TEEJ]

The only advantage that a D cell has over an AA cell is capacity. Both have the same voltage. The Eneloops are a low self discharge NiMh technology pioneered by Sanyo which basically is the leader in this area. They can discharge higher rates of current without as much voltage sag as an alkaline, thus an LED flashlight that is current regulated can maintain a constant output better than an alkaline battery which has higher internal resistance. You mostly notice it under heavy current discharge which the brightest modes are going to demand.

I just assumed if your dad was using D batteries that they would be alkaline's........thus a flashlight like the Jetbeam PA40 with 4 AA Eneloops would outperform any 4 D cell that I know of. Most manufacturers of LED flashlights will not focus R&D on a D cell flashlight thus there just isn't many options for good well regulated LED flashlights that use D batteries. Any time anyone says they are using a D cell light I just automatically assume something like a MagLite but I could be wrong as I have not used them other than the 2 or 3 D cell MagLites from years ago.

If your dad is insisting on incadescent tint, then that elliminates many LED options and limits you to warm white or neutral white which are harder to find. And for the most part will probably have to be ordered over the internet. It might just be that he has to accept the fact that this LED technology is what he's going to have to do if he's to get a lot more lumens, regulated output, and long run times.

I don't see where tint, or incans, are mentioned by the OP though?

This means there was no limitation on using LEDS. :D

BTW - my MAIN problem with alkalines, aside from the poor performance, etc, is that they tend to leak, and ruin whatever they are in. That's happened too many times to me before I finally had my "NEVER AGAIN!" moment, and vowed to ban them from anything I own.

:D

The advantage to the rechargeable lithium ion cells of course is that for any given light's form factor, it can be brighter/run longer if its powered by Li-ions, as opposed to Nimh or alkalines, etc.

Example:

TK70 with Rechargeable Li-ions:

TK70 with Nimh batteries:

:D

 

[Gunner12]

No links to stores in this section of the forums, so I'm not sure which light your dad has. What's the mode of the light?

Some of the rechargeable D cells (especially the cheap ones) are just rechargeable AA batteries with a large outer casing, and that could be why it isn't lasting as long. Most true D rechargeable have 8+ Ah (or 8000 mAh) of capacity.

If he doesn't like the cool white of most LEDs, there are neutral and warm white LEDs, but you could be hard pressed to find something at a lower price. Some of the nice budget lights do have a neutral white option, the Shiningbeam Spark is a bit above your price range and it comes in neutral white. The Balder SE-1 also has a neutral white option and you can get an AA extension tube for it for 2 AA use. These lights aren't amazingly bright and not throwy lights, but they should be OK at 60'. There should be a few more neutral white budget LED lights, but I don't remember them at the moment.

The Blackshadow Queen is above you price range, but you dad might prefer the thicker body, and the larger reflector has more throw, and it comes in neutral white. There could be some parasitic drain though, so the light will discharge the batteries even without use, not sure how long that will take though.

 

[TEEJ]

Ah so. (Missed the part about LED objections)

He might not be familiar with the color of the LEDs now available. Unfortunately, the cheaper lights tend to have the worst tint colors...and the lights with incan bulbs have terrible performance for their size, etc.

Hmmm, the tint on the Xtar Meteor I mentioned is actually pretty nice....maybe that's still the way to go.

 

[memory1]

The model of the Energizer light is TUF4DP. These lights are hard to find any more.

 

[Gunner12]

That Energizer light has been around a bit, I think the LED it uses has been discontinued. It does have a fairly large reflector, giving a good amount of throw.

I don't think any of the LED lights in stores are available in neutral or warm white, and most budget lights with those LEDs aren't built for throw. Maybe you could try one of the neutral white budget lights and see if he likes it or not? Of not, you could always keep it for personal use.

 

[TEEJ]

LOL - He only needs ~ 60' of throw...~ 20 yards. My AAA key chain light beats that.

:D

 

[Gunner12]

I know, mine can reach that far too, but since the current light being used has a tight beam, something with less lux might not be suitable. That's why I was suggesting a good all around light to try, so it can still be used for general use if it doesn't work out.

 

[memory1]

He really likes the Energizer light but it just seems to eat the batteries. I just looked at the rechargeable D batteries that we are using and they only have 2500 mAh. It doesn't matter what battery type, standard or rechargeable, they just don't seem to last. Maybe they don't last because it is used in the cold weather.

I would like a light that is just as bright 60' away as it is up close, and the further it shines the better.

 

[Gunner12]

Yeah, those are AA batteries in a D sized shell.

So he wants something that's more of a laser then a flashlight, so something with a large reflector would be best. The problem is that you said he didn't like the cool white LEDs, and all the throwy/narrow beam LED lights are above your budget, and usually use Lithium or Li-ion batteries.

 

[hiuintahs]

Yeah, those are AA batteries in a D sized shell............

I didn't think there were real "D" size rechargeable batteries. So there's no real point of having that big of a flashlight if the performance is no better than a small one. 60' isn't much distance for these modern LED flashlights to reach so that won't be a problem. If he wants to use the light for longer distances and also up close, you need to have a multi-mode light......low-med-high. He's just going to have to get use to having a pure white LED light rather than the warm incandescent types of the past. That's just the way it is...........that is if he's to enjoy the performance benefits. I still think the Jetbeam PA40 and use 4 Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries in it is the way to go. I'm sure there are lots more choices that would work too. I'm just trying to think of something that is fairly simply yet offer the capability of what an XM-L light can offer with great run times and no flashy modes.