Powerful, plugged-in, emergency light for homeowner?

[ToddWebb]

It's great to find this site! First-time poster, looking for advice on what to buy. I was gonna just grab a big, 4D Maglite, but wondered if there were other brands I should consider. I just want a powerful light that is always plugged in (in an outlet by the front door, or maybe truck), and ready to go when I need.

Realistically this light will be plugged in, by the front door, untouched for months or years at a time. If I like it, I may buy a 2nd identical light for my truck (either using car-charger, or just swapping out the battery packs from home-to-truck). If I ever do grab this flashlight, I'm probably scaring away a wild animal, chasing a vandal, or searching for something at night in a HUGE field.

From the sticky post for noobs Q&A:

1) Purchase: online preferred.

2) Budget: <= $100

3) Format: flashlight

4) Size: not overly important.

5) Light source: dunno. But distance, beam, brightness is most important to me. If I'm grabbing this light, it's an emergency, and I probably want to see FAR.

6) Manufacturer: Definitely out-of-the-box ready to go.

7) Battery type: rechargeable, always ready to go. I imagine the manufacturer, custom battery-pack is easier to use than multiple no-name rechargeable D-cells. I don't want to have to load the batteries. I want it plugged in, ready to go.

8) OTF light: If I'm using this light, I'm looking for my dog, or chasing a vandal, or looking for something lost in a field at night.

9) Throw/Floor: I want to see FAR.

10) Runtime: short, immediate and brief use.

11) Durability: slightly important. Use as a defensive weapon is a definite bonus.

12) Switch type: Not sure, but fast-to-locate and click, and always on (no boy scout signaling here). Maglite switches suit me fine. But I could get used to a tail-mounted, if it's equally easy (never seen one).

13) Interface: I only need one output level. Again, this is for rare, brief emergencies.

14) Coating: don't care.

15) Extras: don't think I care.

Thanks!
Todd

 

[ToddWebb]

Really? Not one single reply?

Okay then. Maglite it is. Here I thought I'd found the perfect forum for my question :(

 

[scsmith]

Sometimes many new folks post threads at the same time, or for whatever other a reason a thread doesn't stay near the top. Hopefully you haven't purchased the mag lite yet, and we still have time to help you.

For your intended use, an always plugged in rechargeable is not a good idea. Rechargeables of any type, whether stand alone cells or manufacturer supplied battery packs all require at least moderate maintenance. On the other hand, primary lithium batteries have a 10 year shelf life, and require no maintenance. The most popular of these types are the CR123A lithium, and the Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA. If you go with lithium primaries change them every leap year unless you use the light more than planned.

The only exception to this rule is the Sanyo Eneloop low self discharge (LSD) NiMH AA/AAA battery. You can also find Duracell "Stay Charged" AA NiMH batteries that are made in Japan or China. Check the packaging, because the made in Japan Duracells are rebranded Eneloops, and are white at the very top surrounding the positive terminal. These have become known as "Dura-Loops" or simply "white tops" around here as short hand. These will hold basically a full charge for at least a year with no maintenance. Throw them on a charger once a year on the 4th of July, Christmas, your birthday; whatever helps you remember.

Whatever you do, don't use alkaline batteries. They're known to leak and they don't hold a charge for any amount of time once put into a device.

CPF doesn't discuss flashlights as weapons, so I'll stay away from that.

Now, some light suggestions that are all under $100 if you shop around online:

1. Mag's longest throwing flashlight, the standard 2 D cell LED model is ANSI FL1 rated for 388 meters of throw, which isn't bad. If you just want a big flashlight with lots of throw, it'll work. Sanyo makes a D size shell that you can snap a AA battery into for use in D Cell lights. The D cell and AA cell have the same voltage, but you just get a little less capacity out of a AA, which isn't a problem since you aren't concerned with run time. Get a couple of those shells and run Energizer lithiums or Sanyo Eneloops in the light for low maintenance.

2. Armytek Predator or Predator Pro. These lights use a pair of CR123 lithium batteries, and are a fair bit smaller than a C or D cell Mag Lite. These are rated at 400 meters of throw.

3. Olight M3X Triton. Runs on 3 or 3 CR123A batteries, and is ANSI FL1 rated for 475 meters of throw. $130 will get you the updated M3X XM-L2 which is ANSI FL1 rated for 580 meters throw.

Hopefully some other folks will be along shortly to recommend more under $100 throwers.

 

[ToddWebb]

scsmith, thank you very much for that reply - I appreciate your help.

 

[ToddWebb]

Hey scsmith, I did exactly as you suggested and bought a couple Armyteks, and I could not be happier! Thank you very much. I'm almost eager, now, to lose something in the field at night so I have a good excuse to use this sucker :)

 

[scsmith]

I'm glad my reply was helpful, and I'm glad you like the lights. If you find yourself burning through CR123 primary batteries playing with your new toy just remember that those ArmyTeks will run on a single 18650 rechargeable as well. :thumbsup:

 

[Cereal_Killer]

Just an FYI if you happen to also be new to CR123 batteries.

First dont EVER mix and match new/old or different brands, VERY BAD THINGS happen when using 2 cells of different voltage.
Second and equally as important, don't ever buy them in 2 packs at the corner drugstore or big box stores. You'll pay about 10 bucks for a pair that way. Batteries plus (or interstate or whatever local battery store you have in your region) sells them for around $20 per 12 pack, you can find similar prices online. They have a 10 year shelf life so a lot of us will purchase in larger quantities for bulk discounts even better than the ~$2/ each you'll pay for a 12 pack.

You might think it'll take forever to go threw 12 batteries, but you'll start to use your new lights more and more and you'll buy more lights and pretty soon you'll neew 12 batteries just to run the "few" lights you need laying around the house/truck, trust me... Lol

 

[wedlpine]

3. Olight M3X Triton. Runs on 3 or 3 CR123A batteries, and is ANSI FL1 rated for 475 meters of throw. $130 will get you the updated M3X XM-L2 which is ANSI FL1 rated for 580 meters throw.

I picked up the Olight M3X XM-L2 off of eBay for $80.00 brand new and delivered. I just checked and the same seller has more than 10 to sell yet with 36 already sold.