casebomber
Newly Enlightened
It seems a fair amount of people don't like 3 aaa lights. Why is this?
problem with 3aaa?
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VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
i know why for me
the AAA batteries are not as robust as AA
often the 3x AAA light items are direct drive or resistered drive, which is good somewhat, but makes it more difficult to use many chemestries. many of the 3xaaa will overdrive strongly with lithium cells. often work good with Alkalines :sick2:
The size per power ratio is lower, a single AA or 123 has more power than 3 of them. Weight not a problem.
not a big problem, just when having choices routing around them to some other battery is helpfull.
the AAA batteries are not as robust as AA
often the 3x AAA light items are direct drive or resistered drive, which is good somewhat, but makes it more difficult to use many chemestries. many of the 3xaaa will overdrive strongly with lithium cells. often work good with Alkalines :sick2:
The size per power ratio is lower, a single AA or 123 has more power than 3 of them. Weight not a problem.
not a big problem, just when having choices routing around them to some other battery is helpfull.
Robin24k
Flashlight Enthusiast
I don't particularily like it that much, as it is multi-cell, but it's something that I can look over. I don't want to spend the money on CR123, and the 1" diameter is a nice size. 3AAA will usually perform better than 1AA because of the higher voltage (less energy is lost through the driver).
There is nothing wrong with a quality 3AAA like the Maglite XL50/XL100. The problem is that the majority of 3AAA lights aren't well regulated.
There is nothing wrong with a quality 3AAA like the Maglite XL50/XL100. The problem is that the majority of 3AAA lights aren't well regulated.
alpg88
Flashlight Enthusiast
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ppl don't like many things, i wouldn't think much about it.
i see nothing wrong with 3aaa if used right.
45/70
Flashlight Enthusiast
This was particularly true in the 5mm "showerhead" days. Not only lithium L92's would burn out LED's, but I burnt a good many out using AAA NiMH cells. The direct drive lights just couldn't handle the higher voltage maintained by 3x NiMH cells, as opposed to the predictable voltage drop of 3x alkaline cells.
And yes, AAA cells are much more fragile than AA cells. Their diminutive size requires much more compromise in their construction. They just don't hold up as well, or last as long.
The only two 3xAAA lights I still have, run on single 18500 cells, anymore. Simpler, and more dependable, IMO. I do run quite a few single AAA lights though.
Dave
AnAppleSnail
Flashlight Enthusiast
3xAAA is perfect for simple electronic design. Direct drive or with a resistor. This can be built VERY cheaply. Or if you use decent parts, very reliably. Guess which is more common? 
AAA batteries have less energy per mass and degrade more each charge cycle. Once you have 3 of 'em, you've got a D-cell sized battery compartment with 800 mAh x 4.5v - it's almost as good as 1.5 AA batteries.
AAA batteries have less energy per mass and degrade more each charge cycle. Once you have 3 of 'em, you've got a D-cell sized battery compartment with 800 mAh x 4.5v - it's almost as good as 1.5 AA batteries.
Moonshadow
Enlightened
Exactly. AAAs and AAs are usually priced the same, but 3xAAA batteries contain the same amount of energy as one AA. So you are paying three times as much for your electricity. 
Then there is the carrier: two contact points for each battery, plus two for the holder itself means that you have eight contact points instead of just two for a single-AA light. More contact resistance, more to go wrong, less reliability.
Then there is the carrier: two contact points for each battery, plus two for the holder itself means that you have eight contact points instead of just two for a single-AA light. More contact resistance, more to go wrong, less reliability.
Notsure Fire
Enlightened
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A lot of people don't like 3xaaa lights. That's true. They're simply bad lights. They have poor personalities. That's all.
45/70
Flashlight Enthusiast
fyrstormer
Banned
When you look at the cost of 6 AAA batteries, the cost of 2 CR123s is pretty comparable. There's no reason to cheap-out when CR123s exist and are much higher quality.
Robin24k
Flashlight Enthusiast
Not if you consider that NiMH Eneloops can be used. NiMH rechargeable is why 3AAA makes sense to me. I don't want to be forced to use lithium primary or have the troubles of Li-Ion rechargeable (compatibility, dangers, chargers, etc.).
Another reason to not like 3AAA lights is almost all of them you have to fumble with popping batteries in/out of carriers. I end up having to use a *tool* like a penny or knife blade to get the first one out then I can pry out the others from inside. As others have mentioned you need about 2.5 of them to equal the power of a single AA cell, however you would need a boost circuit to use a single AA LED light. Another annoyance is having to manage 3 batteries vs 1 or 2 or 4. Some chargers work in pairs and also batteries are often sold in 4 packs. I find myself liking AA lights because you spend less time swapping cells in use and battery swaps are a lot quicker and easier.
LetThereBeLite
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Exactly. AAAs and AAs are usually priced the same, but 3xAAA batteries contain the same amount of energy as one AA. So you are paying three times as much for your electricity.
This has been said repeatedly in this thread, but 1AA is 1.2v-1.5v and 3AAA is 3.6v-4.5v, no? Isn't the light output much brighter with 3AAA as compared to 1AA?
Robin24k
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yup, 3AAA actually has a little more power than 1AA, and because the voltage is higher, the regulation circuitry is more efficient.
From a performance standpoint, 3AAA has no problem, but for convenience and economics...it can be debated.
From a performance standpoint, 3AAA has no problem, but for convenience and economics...it can be debated.
alpg88
Flashlight Enthusiast
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not really, voltage alone doesn'tmean much,
you do know there is such concept as capasity for cells, that mesures in mAh, or Ah.
1 aaa 1,5v and 800mah, 1 aa 1,5v 2500mah. (average cell numbers, capacity also depends on draw\load, at high draw rater capacity drops)
so 3aaa 4,5v =3,6watts hour
1aa 1,5v =3,75 watts hour
so 1 aa has as much energy (don't mix with voltage) as 3aaa.
thou numbers vary, some cells are 1,2v and some almost 1.7v ,even more for nizn cells
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LetThereBeLite
Newly Enlightened
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Yes, I get the mah. 2500mah AA is about the same as 3 x 850mah AAA cells in terms of total watts hours. But I'm not understanding why the 3.6-4.5 volts don't translate into much brighter light output. Does the 3AAA cell light not use the full 3.6-4.5 volts?
T45
Enlightened
Hi CaseBomber! Welcome to Candle Power Forums! Shortly I joined here, I noticed the same thing: Everyone seems to have a poor opinion of the 3AAA format for a power cell in a flashlight. I see LED lights in Walmart, The Auto parts store, Target, and even Westlake Ace Hardware that all have that 3AAA format. The science has made it clear that the AA format is just better; but with all the creative, talented people here, what I am wondering is: does/can any make a C cell adapter that would work in these lights?
Robin24k
Flashlight Enthusiast
It could, because of increased efficiency due to higher voltage. It's easier to reduce voltage than increase it (hence why buck drivers are more efficient than boost). However, there aren't many lights that come in two variants, 3AAA or 1AA, so it's only theoretical.
