Looking for long-lasting single AA/AAA light

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jb-lite

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Aug 26, 2013
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I'm looking for the longest lasting light that runs on a single AA or AAA battery.

I currently carry an L3 Illumination L10. This has a moon mode of 0.09-lumen that is estimated to run 147 hours. I consider 0.09 to be pretty bright with fully adjusted eyes, so I know I would consider lower to still be usable, but I don’t know how much lower since I don’t have other comparisons. Although I did not intend for the L10 to be my “long-lasting” light, it is currently the standard I am trying to beat.

The specs on Pak-Lite series impress me, but I don’t want to deal with 9v.

Other requirements:
- Turns on directly in the long-lasting mode every time (does not require any cycling, adjusting, or special turn-on trick to get there. If there are other modes, it will default back to long-lasting mode next time turned on)
- must accept alkaline or rechargeable

Thank you
 
Check out Zebralight SC52 (cool or neutral). Runtime of 3 months at 0.01 lumens (at specs), satisfy your other 2 criteria.
 
Once again, I really like the specs, but I already looked at the Zebralight SC52 and rejected it. According to the description (all I know is what I’ve read):
- short click turns the light on high long click turns the light on low (I don't want to be fully dark adjusted and accidentally short click when I meant to long click and get 280 lumens of blindness)
- it will remember the levels when turned off (If I was to use a second mode, it would probably be the higher “low” setting which would be remembered)

Both of the features violate my first "other criteria" (in fact, the Zebra SC52 is specifically why I wrote that criteria although I would guess it applies to other lights as well).
 
I guess it's all in how you look at it. From my perspective, the SC52 can indeed turn on in your low mode every time, once you have spent a couple of minutes practicing with it. First you program the low mode to that ultra low level you like. Then you would simply hold your button press a bit longer than the quick stab you use with most switches. You press the switch for about a half second, simple as that, and your light will come on in that low mode every single time. Only if you forget and do the quick stab will it come on in high. I have the SC51w and getting low mode is like second nature to me, my hand knows what to do without me hardly thinking about it.
 
i doubt you are going to accidentally turn the sc52 on in high output. I use mine every night. much lower output that L10 on moonlight. I have the cool white.

& ditto to the post above -- 2nd nature.
 
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Check out the preon p0. Tiny keychain sized aaa light with long lasting moon mode (for a aaa). Superwide, even flood beam with no hotspot.
 
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mcnair55 said:
A good search of the net will work wonders in your quest.
Click to expand...

A good search of the net didn’t give me any answers I liked. That’s why I thought I’d ask for some expert help and I’m certain the flashlight expertise on this forum exceeds my own. If you want to prove your expertise in running a “good search” exceeds mine as well, I would gladly accept being humbled for a good answer to my question.

Step 1: Provide a good answer to the question. I will be grateful.
Step 2: Show the net search used to get the answer. I will be humbled and grateful.
 
Rexlion said:
I guess it's all in how you look at it. From my perspective, the SC52 can indeed turn on in your low mode every time, once you have spent a couple of minutes practicing with it. First you program the low mode to that ultra low level you like. Then you would simply hold your button press a bit longer than the quick stab you use with most switches. You press the switch for about a half second, simple as that, and your light will come on in that low mode every single time. Only if you forget and do the quick stab will it come on in high. I have the SC51w and getting low mode is like second nature to me, my hand knows what to do without me hardly thinking about it.
Click to expand...

I agree. And even if you miss and hold it too long it's medium mode, so not blinded by the full 280 lumens.
 
BarryG said:
Here might be a good source of info for you...
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?287386-Epic-AAA-Run-time-test-(low-level-only!)



Barry
Click to expand...

Thanks. Actually, I have looked at that. My current EDC is rated for 147 hours on low which blows away everything in that test (I know, reality and rating can vary, but I doubt it would be by enough to cover the difference. One of these days, I'll test its actual performance).

Based on that post, I really didn’t think a AAA light would be in the competition but I included it in my requirements anyway since I would be happy with it.

The bottom line is that I expect a lot of AA lights could beat the lights in the test and 3 years of improvements might make a big difference even in the AAA light category.
 
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There's a user testimonial of an XPG Quark running 470 hrs on a AA alkaline, and I've personally tested one at 100hrs on a AAAA (from a 9V) which triangulates to the same (ie, 600 hrs for a full 9V divided by 1.3 since a 9V has ~ 30% more watt-hrs energy than a AA Alk). Now this at what I measure to be 0.17 lumens, which might be too bright for you.

I personally prefer the "brightest" moonlight mode of the Quark XML's true 0.3 lms (not to be confused with "0.34" Zebra-lumens) which will run half that time (~200hrs), but strikes a better balance of usability/runtime for me.

Late model ZLs are much dimmer, unusable for me, but you might like them and they are equally efficient in my tests.
 
reppans said:
There's a user testimonial of an XPG Quark running 470 hrs on a AA alkaline, and I've personally tested one at 100hrs on a AAAA (from a 9V) which triangulates to the same (ie, 600 hrs for a full 9V divided by 1.3 since a 9V has ~ 30% more watt-hrs energy than a AA Alk). Now this at what I measure to be 0.17 lumens, which might be too bright for you.

I personally prefer the "brightest" moonlight mode of the Quark XML's true 0.3 lms (not to be confused with "0.34" Zebra-lumens) which will run half that time (~200hrs), but strikes a better balance of usability/runtime for me.

Late model ZLs are much dimmer, unusable for me, but you might like them and they are equally efficient in my tests.
Click to expand...


I’m not too worried about it being too bright in the sub-lumen modes, just that it seems like an unnecessary waste of energy. On the other hand, I would be happier if it didn’t even have modes beyond 10 lumens (or at least is set up so I know accidentally hitting them won’t ever happen).

I like the Quark QTA. At a rated 240 hours, it beats my L10 by ~60% and with the “programmability”, I could set it to always come on in the moon mode (bypassing the possibility that my forgetfulness and/or lack of coordination might make it come on brighter). It is now the top candidate for my “long-lasting” flashlight. Thank you.


The polls are still open. 240 is now the rating to beat.
 
I was just surprised.

I was going to post that both Thrunite, and Supbeam have 0.09 lm lights. When I looked at the

Thrunite Archer I found this:
LED: CREE XP-G2 LED with a lifespan of 20+ years of run time.
- Max 178lumen output using 1 1.5v AA battery.
- Firefly:0.2lm.249hours; Low:24lm.6hours;Mid80lm.1.5hours;Max Output:178lm.58minutes;Strobe:178lm.2.5hours.
- Working voltage:0.9v to 4.2v.
- Removable steel pocket clip.
- Max run time:249hours(Firefly mode)

NOTE: perhaps the firefly for the archer is a misprint and should be 0.02 ?

Saber 1A Specification:
- LED: Cree XP-G2 LED with a lifespan of 20+ years of run time.
- Three modes of output: High (169 lumen, 1.5 hours), Low (9 lumen, 39 hours), Firefly (0.09 lumen, 147 hours).
 
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jb-lite said:
The polls are still open. 240 is now the rating to beat.
Click to expand...

I'll warn you to take manufacturer specs with a big grain of salt, esp. with moonlight modes. I too am a low-/sub-lumen, AA, 14500, runtime junkie and test my lights with a light meter and stopwatch and find moonlights to be the least accurate for many manufacturers. Foursevens has been the most accurate/conservative from what I've seen and tested (and why I love them).

- 47s lumen specs are accurate and 250 hrs is on 2000 mah Eneloops, 350 on Lithium L91s, 450 on alkalines (yes Alks are runtime champs with low draws) CLICKY
- HERE'S a runtime test of ThruNite's 0.09/147 mode (I believe it shares the same ML circuit as the L10).
- And lastly, here's how far off I found certain manufacturer lumen specs on moonlight (spec vs my measurement) CLICKY
 
Thanks for the data. I always take marketing claims with a big dose of skepticism (and cynicism). However, when I can’t test it myself, I just go with a more general assumption that each random promoter is lying by an average amount :). (I also often make reference to the specification claims because I don’t necessarily believe them and don’t want someone to come back later and accuse me of providing incorrect information).

I’m not really interested in the small differences between lights (250 hours vs 147 hours is definitely an improvement, but not a game changer). I was hoping to find a breakthrough difference. The light that will be measured in days and weeks rather than hours. (I know, ZebraLight claims they have that light with their SC52, but I don’t want to deal with their interface. I also don’t want to pay the price to subsidize their high-power technology; 280lm.)
 
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