I've searched through the various Quark threads, and the only Alkaline runtime I've seen for the AA2 is for the "Max" mode. Has anyone done an Alkaline runtime for the AA2 at "High," "Medium," "Low," and "Moonlight?" Thanks in advance for any replies.
Quark AA2 Alkaline Runtimes?
- Thread starter gnlw
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Marduke
Flashaholic
Out of curiosity, why would you want to run a "premium" light on expensive, poorly performing, leak guranteed cells?
LightWalker
Flashlight Enthusiast
If you are traveling alkaline batteries are easy to find. Since when are alkaline expensive? I have had alkaline batteries in lights for several months without leaking though I do not recommend it, but I would not say they are garunteed to leak.
The Quark AA2 is one of several lights I'm considering getting as gifts for some friends and relatives. They are not flashaholics. Even if I were to tell them to use rechargeables or lithiums with the lights, it is likely that they would later fall back to running alkalines. I just want to make sure that the lights I get for them will suit their probable method of usage.
Marduke
Flashaholic
Not expensive? They are over 100 times more expnsive than NiMH cells, and don't perform nearly as well. The odds are against you that they will eventually leak and ruin the device.
Nearly every town in 3rd World countries that I have traveled to have alkalines. It's hard to recharge a battery when you are in the bush for 3 months at a time.
No need to hate alkaline batteries. Just keep an eye on them.
Take a look at the Reviews section of the forums. Chart is here.
No need to hate alkaline batteries. Just keep an eye on them.
Take a look at the Reviews section of the forums. Chart is here.
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I just received my Quark AA2 Tactical and it came with a pair of Duracell Alkalines. I've never had a premium flashlight before, but I've never had experience with alkalines leaking in any device I've used them in. With the level of attention 4sevens puts into their products I would be truly surprised if they would include batteries with their lights that could possibly damage them.
I agree that this battery source really shouldn't be used in modern flashlights, due to their propensity to leak and damage the light. But I'm realistic to know that most non-flashaholics still use them, :sigh: so I like to provide some comparative data.
It's true I don't typically do anything other than Max mode alkaline runs on 2xAA, mainly because it just too time consuming. But I have done a lot of low mode run 1xAA tests over the years, and can provide some general comments as to how 1xalkaline compares to 1xeneloop.
In *very* simplified terms, maximally driven 1xAA lights tend to produce >2X as much light overall on eneloop vs alkaline - and of course regulation is infinitely better on NiMH. As you drop down to lower outputs (e.g. Hi, Med), those differences diminish (i.e. regulation improves on alkaline, and runtimes begin to approach eneloop performance).
Although highly variable, by the time you get down to the typical Lo output settings in good current-controlled lights (e.g. ~10-20 lumens), 1xalkaline and 1xeneloop typically produce roughly equivalent runtime patterns for the same output. Below that, it is possible that 1xalkaline could even outperform.
I have limited data in 2xAA lights, but I would expect the Quark QAA-2 to be roughly equivalent between alkaline and eneloop on its Med setting (rated at 18 lumens) and even lower Lo/Moonlight settings, with potentially even an advantage to alkaline at the Lo/Moonlight modes.
But again, I always advise sticking with rechargeables or L91 lithiums in these lights - you wouldn't want to ruin an expensive flashlight with a cheap alkaline cell (and even Duracell alkalines can leak).
It's true I don't typically do anything other than Max mode alkaline runs on 2xAA, mainly because it just too time consuming. But I have done a lot of low mode run 1xAA tests over the years, and can provide some general comments as to how 1xalkaline compares to 1xeneloop.
In *very* simplified terms, maximally driven 1xAA lights tend to produce >2X as much light overall on eneloop vs alkaline - and of course regulation is infinitely better on NiMH. As you drop down to lower outputs (e.g. Hi, Med), those differences diminish (i.e. regulation improves on alkaline, and runtimes begin to approach eneloop performance).
Although highly variable, by the time you get down to the typical Lo output settings in good current-controlled lights (e.g. ~10-20 lumens), 1xalkaline and 1xeneloop typically produce roughly equivalent runtime patterns for the same output. Below that, it is possible that 1xalkaline could even outperform.
I have limited data in 2xAA lights, but I would expect the Quark QAA-2 to be roughly equivalent between alkaline and eneloop on its Med setting (rated at 18 lumens) and even lower Lo/Moonlight settings, with potentially even an advantage to alkaline at the Lo/Moonlight modes.
But again, I always advise sticking with rechargeables or L91 lithiums in these lights - you wouldn't want to ruin an expensive flashlight with a cheap alkaline cell (and even Duracell alkalines can leak).
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Mercury, selfbuilt just said:
"But again, I always advise sticking with rechargeables or L91 lithiums in these lights - you wouldn't want to ruin an expensive flashlight with a cheap alkaline cell (and even Duracell alkalines can leak)."
L91 lithiums are Energizer L91 AA lithium primaries. They work fine.
Please take a look at selfbuilts flashlight reviews for more info, they are fantastic: http://www.sliderule.ca/flashlight.htm
jonnyfgroove
Enlightened
When he recommends the "L91 lithiums" he is referring to the same battery you mentioned. In other words, you are good to go!
:welcome:
ETA: Too slow, fiorano beat me to it.
The only alkalines I've seen leaking in the last ten years are cheap Kodak brand AAA's that came in a dollar store flashlight. I buy known brands (rayovac is very underrated and panasonic have great batteries too) and never mix them once I pair them. A little trick that also seems to help is to just turn your light on every now and then instead of leaving it in the drawer for 6 months at a time... then rotate the batteries into a light you will use more often, so they don't stay much longer together.
I've mentioned this before, and here I go again:
the main reason a battery will leak (especially alkalines):
battery charge being transfered into a weaker cell (turn your light on now and then to even the charges out). The 3 battery configuration is the worst for this.
I've mentioned this before, and here I go again:
the main reason a battery will leak (especially alkalines):
battery charge being transfered into a weaker cell (turn your light on now and then to even the charges out). The 3 battery configuration is the worst for this.
Marduke
Flashaholic
Brand new batteries still in the package are still prone to leaking also. Brand name has little to do with it, the pink bunny and copper top are both equally adept to spewing their guts all over the insides of your expensive electronics.
It's been said many times before, but bares repeating again:
Don't regularly use alkaline cells in anything that you actually want to keep.
But you can replace parts at the component level
http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_304
I wouldn't run turbo/stobe for any longer than five minutes.
If you go easy on the cells, they might go easy on you.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=155819
Quality of runtime? you should get flat [flat enough that you don't perceive a drop over time] regulation on moon,low,med,high on quality 2x alkalines. (skip the high mode on the 1xAA)
http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_304
I wouldn't run turbo/stobe for any longer than five minutes.
If you go easy on the cells, they might go easy on you.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=155819
Quality of runtime? you should get flat [flat enough that you don't perceive a drop over time] regulation on moon,low,med,high on quality 2x alkalines. (skip the high mode on the 1xAA)
