Low level, long runtime?

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scubasteve1942

scubasteve1942

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 4, 2006
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Location
Florida
With all the super high power cree and incan lights I bought, I just relized that it would be nice to have a very low level and really long runtime light. Something that would be usefull when doing really close up work, going to the bathroom at night, and having a super long runtime for power outages when hurricane season gets here. Right now I have a 2AA minimag and I was thinking about getting the Nite-Ize 1w led and IQ switch combo from target. Is this a good choice? Will the low mode on the Nite-Ize setup be lower than the 12 lumen low on my P1D CE? Thanks.:grin2:
 
"Low level, long run time" would match the Gerber IU. It's great for night-adapted eyes and navigating around the house at night.
 
Hello scubasteve1942 :)

I don't know what you want to spend, but I moded my Barbolight with a Flupic and a SSC, driven by one 18650 cell and it's an amazing light.
On the lowest brightness level it runs more than 200 hours, excellent for close up work or navigating in the darkness. If necessary, the ermitter will see nearly 1,2 Amps, incredible brightness with throw up to nearly 100meters.

Take a search for a custom light with a Flupic board and one 18650 cell, you will not regret it:)

Best regards

____
Tom
 
The L2D on low(lower than low on P1D CE, but not really superlow) is hard to beat.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=155819

The lumapower M3 is also rumoured to have really long run on low, but I dont think anyone has done a runtime on that one yet.
But you might want a dedicated light for low, the CMG Infinite Ultra seems to be the light for you otherwise. I think it's the same as the Gerber Uncle Bob mentioned, so +1 on that.

EDIT: The Liteflux LF2 might be a great choice. The PWM is high so yoú dont notice the flicker. Only thing I'm not sure is about the UI, if it will let you set the lowest setting first. The UI is quite advanced, so it's not impossible.
 
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I too am starting to appreciate the low mode long runtime aspects of some lights as well. This is where LEDs have the advantage over incans. My SF E1E is still too bright for most close up tasks.

When you get low light levels, the multi-stage lights are the best solution I've found thus far. I try to avoid the angry blue look of a lot of LEDs and also the PWM flicker factor When the light is low and eyes are adapted, the PWM really annoys me. The regulated low without the angry blue is the way to go. Better color rendition in a LUX LED over the 5mm angry blue looking ones.

With that said, I find the SF L2 or U2 to be some of the best contendors. If the LOD SE used regulation for its dimming, then it would be up there, but the PWM kills it for me.
 
Hi scubasteve,

Is the nite ize upgrade the one with the three leds? I've got one of those on my 2AA mag. It came with its reflector and you get a very whitish/bluish beam that is pure flood. Very good for close quarters works. As for runtime, I used tesco's blue coloured alkalines and they go for a very loooong time.....its a good buy IMHO.
 
The Nite Ize 3 LED upgrade for the minimag is a great long runtime solution, for longest runtime go for the red upgrade, red LEDs are the most power efficient color

other good choices for long runtime;

Inexpensive;
Fenix E0/E1
Gerber Infinity Ultra
MJLED PR bulb in a 2 cell host flashlight

Mid-priced;
Inova X5

Expensive
SureFire L1 Lumamax (non-Cree) (1.1 lumen low for 90 hours)
SureFire A2 Aviator (3 lumen low for 20 hours on LEDs)
 
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jumpstat said:
Hi scubasteve,

Is the nite ize upgrade the one with the three leds? I've got one of those on my 2AA mag. It came with its reflector and you get a very whitish/bluish beam that is pure flood. Very good for close quarters works. As for runtime, I used tesco's blue coloured alkalines and they go for a very loooong time.....its a good buy IMHO.
Click to expand...

Nope. Its this one http://www.niteize.com/productdetail.php?category_id=28&product_id=146

MacTech: I already have an A2. Im really looking for something that uses alkalines. Your other suggestions look very good though.
 
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I also recommend the Gerber UI. I have a couple laying around the house. They have good long runtime and the level of light is perfect for around the house. I also have a Fenix EO but I like the AA form factor and longer runtime. If your budget allowed I would recommend taking a look at the upcoming Novatac lights. The levels are programmable and you would have different light levels for different situations. The lowest levels would run for days. They are also very rugged...the kind of light you would want if disaster ever strikes.
 
Oddjob said:
I also recommend the Gerber UI. I have a couple laying around the house. They have good long runtime and the level of light is perfect for around the house. I also have a Fenix EO but I like the AA form factor and longer runtime. If your budget allowed I would recommend taking a look at the upcoming Novatac lights. The levels are programmable and you would have different light levels for different situations. The lowest levels would run for days. They are also very rugged...the kind of light you would want if disaster ever strikes.
Click to expand...

I will definatly be getting one of the new novatac lights when they come out. But for right now I want something in AA. Tomarrow Im going to head over to target and have a look at the gerber lights. Most likley I will get the Nite-Ize upgrade because I love my minimag. Or being a true flashaholic, just get both.:grin2:
 
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While this is by no means my favorite light, the Energizer Hardcase Tactical light is my poweroutage/ run for the hills light. It uses 2 lithium AA's and will give you either 8 hours of main beam output or 70 hours of blue or red output. Its main beam puts out the same amount of light of a MMag led 2aa. I do like that the head swivels and it will stand on a table for hands free use, room lighting. My huntlight XRE will run 20 hours on its lowest setting, but the flicker would drive me insane by then.

Here is a link to some pics and a beamshot of the Hardcase.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=151875&highlight=hardcase
 
How about that crappy NiteIze (sp?) LED module for 2 to 6 cell maglites? Slap that thing in a 4 cell light or one of the "lantern" ones that takes a 6 volt lantern battery and you should get huge run times. Just my theory.
 
Another that comes to mind is the inova X1, reflectored and pure flood version. Its kinda gives out low lumens I think around 12 or less and runs on a single 2AA alkaline. Its reasonably priced and I bought one and gave it to dad, simple to use and cheap to run.
 
scubasteve1942 said:
With all the super high power cree and incan lights I bought, I just relized that it would be nice to have a very low level and really long runtime light....Will the low mode on the Nite-Ize setup be lower than the 12 lumen low on my P1D CE?
Click to expand...

I like the NiteIze 3-LED dropin for the MiniMag 2AA, but I don't have an IQ switch. The IQ is supposed to be 25% power on its lowest setting, which should yield maybe 2 to 3 lumens with fresh cells. So, it should give about a fourth to a sixth of the output of your P1D CE on low setting.

Something I discovered about low output AA LED lights: most of them work great with depleted cells, and will run for many hours with a gradually diminishing tail of output.

AA cells that have been used up by my higher output AA lights still have plenty of juice to run a MiniMag 2AA with NiteIze dropin, or a Streamlight 1AA Tasklight.

In fact, for what I use them for, these lights are even better with depleted cells, because it reduces their output to a half or a quarter of fresh cell output.


.
 
And also if you run them on depleted cells, the LED will last longer - not that that is too much of an issue with LEDs but can be with incans.

I find my depleted AAAs work just fine in my LED headlights when I'm chasing possums out of the fruit trees - I can see the possums by their eyes but the light is sufficiently low as not to upset the neighbours.
 
To get back to your original question, the IQ switch works well with the Nite Ize three LED adapter. But, the IQ switch will, unfortunately, noticably diminish the intensity of the light with a higher draw device like the 1W Lux. MJLED is also a nice long running drop-in for the MM.
 
woodrow said:
[...]is my poweroutage/ run for the hills light. It uses 2 lithium AA's[...]
Click to expand...
The nice thing about lithium batteries in an emergency lamp is that, with their ten-year shelf life, they'll likely be up to the task when finally called upon. :thumbsup:
 
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