please suggest a light to give as a gift

[nitebrite]

i am looking for a one cell rechargeable led light with very good spill and medium throw for a gift. haIII and glass lens. mass produced.

i know the p1d-ce can take a rechargeable cell. i don't know if doing that is ok for someone that knows nothing about this stuff. what is involved with getting a rechargeable cell into it?

thank you

 

[Kilovolt]

If you want a good spill more than a high throw I suggest you go for a flashlight with an SSC P4 LED and an orange peel reflector.

Like for instance a Lumapower LM31 that uses one AA battery:

http://www.batteryjunction.com/lumapower-lm301.html

Or, if you prefer, a Lumapower LM33 using one CR123 battery:

http://www.batteryjunction.com/lumapower-lm303.html

Thier prices are really competitive.

 

[MikeSalt]

To give a rechargable Li-ion setup to someone unfamiliar with their use is probably a bad idea. Kilovolt suggests the Lumapower LM31, which could be powered by a rechargeable Sanyo Enelooop AA cell, which would be much safer.

Also, you could choose a Fenix in the single AA arena.

 

[nitebrite]

thanks guys.

i think i'll give them an aa fenix with an aa rechargeable and charger. i like fenix.

that was my question though. if giving a li-ion to someone that knows nothing about it was a bad idea. you answered that. i figured that was the answer too.

nitebrite

 

[selfbuilt]

i think i'll give them an aa fenix with an aa rechargeable and charger. i like fenix.

Good choice - both the Fenix and sticking with AA for non-flashaholics.

FYI, I've compared the various 1AA options (including Fenix) here:
Multi-stage 1AA Review - Part III: Runtimes, beamshots & more!

 

[Bullzeyebill]

If giving an LED light only give one that has polarity protection of some sort to a non flashaholic, and keep the UI simple, like one level only. I let one of my daughters "borrow" my Fenix L1P with strict instruction to not put the battery in backwards, and I am holding my breath.

Bill

 

[Wattnot]

Before I started receiving my education here, I thought the Smith & Wesson Galaxy 9X was a pretty good light. I bought a few and gave them as gifts. The folks liked them a lot until the batteries died. Now they just sit (it takes CR123's). I might have well just given them a big, red Christmas sweater that they would only begrudgingly put on for me once a year.

I would recommend staying away from giving CR123 lights to most folks. Did you ever price the batteries in a place like Walgreens? Even in Walmart they're very high compared to what WE pay online. I think next time I get a gift from either of those folks it's going to be a gift certificate for the air machine in a gas station!

Find a good AA or AAA light and give them that. You can set them up with a nimh charger and batteries from a Sam's Club. There are a LOT more people familiar with nimhs and inexpensive chargers thanks to the digital camera age.

The Fenix line is a great place to start as those lights impress and perform and are a good value.

:twothumbs

 

[LightWalker]

The Stainless Steel Ultrafire C3: http://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=4140

 

[RecycledElectron]

http://www.botachtactical.com/rarl3liba10.html

20 RayOVac CR123's for $20, plus about 8 bucks S&H. Made in the USA. If they run out they ship Energizer's or Duracells. Don't get the Ultralast, the last batch I got had almost 20% dead or defective cells, checked with a ZTS tester.

If I'm going to give someone a CR123 light, I try to give them a half dozen batteries with it. And give them the web locations of a couple of places to get reasonably priced replacements.

I've given away a couple of JetBeam CL-E's. One to a friend and one to a relative, with a Eneloop in it. That way they know what battery and charger to look for at WalMart. The DX 1995's that I give away I just stick an alkaline battery in.

 

[Gunner12]

Something simple an AA would make a good present.

Maybe a Fenix L1T V2.0? Or the Lumapower LM31.(don't forget the coupons)

 

[nitebrite]

i didn't realise that the l1d is not polarity protected? that kind of kills that idea. the person i am giving it to is sure to put it in backwards at some point

any aa lights that are polarity protected?

thanks,
nitebrite

 

[Bullzeyebill]

i didn't realise that the l1d is not polarity protected? that kind of kills that idea. the person i am giving it to is sure to put it in backwards at some point

any aa lights that are polarity protected?

thanks,
nitebrite

If you can find a commercially made AA light made by or for one of the bigger companies like Energizer, Rayovac, etc they will probably have polarity protection. It is not in the best interests of a company to sell LED lights that are not polarity protected due to return issues, and PR issues, at least. I am surprised, or am I, that Fenix does not set their lights up with some sort of polarity protection, mechanical, or electrical. I know that CPF'ers mostly don't care about polarity issues because we know and understand that adding a protection circuit can sacrifice some efficiency.

Bill

Bill

 

[Bullzeyebill]

deleted.