Why did you settle for the reactor when you could have bought the REACTOR III for almost the same price ($34USD) from shomertec.com.
http://www.shomertec.com/item.cfm?Action=Index&variable=1021
This version of the reactor holds 3 AA batteries. With regular alkalines this should far outperform the 2AA version with lithiums.
2 lithium = 2 X 1.7 = 3.4 volts
3 alkaline = 3 X 1.5 = 4.5
when alkalines wear out they drop to 1.1 volts
3 worn out alkaline = 3 X 1.1 = 3.3 volts
3 worn out alkalines = 2 new lithiums
3.4 volts almost equals 3.3 volts
So unless they changed the guts of the reactor which I doubt for it looks the same with just a slightly longer body then the above analysis shows you can expect far superior results with alkalines and the new reactor 3. Also, you get all this for almost the same price.
I modified the old reactor with an added length of pipe and fed it 3 new duracells and 1 more weak almost dead battery and in this configuration my reactor which before the mod was no brighter than my infinity ultra then became the most powerful flashlight I have seen. It was about 50 percent brighter than my ARC LS hybrid with 2 fresh duracells. So once again if CMG kept everything else the same the new reactor 3 should be a winner for the price.
Also, if you unscrew the tail cap 1/2 turn the light goes out and only occasionally flickers on. Therefore you can loosen the tail cap as well as turning the head off to add extra security against the flashlight turning on when you can't see it like in a backpack.
But be very careful. This flashlight may have no resistor or other protection. If you put lithiums in the reactor 3 you may blow it out; I'm not sure. If the light turns bluer than with alkalines or if you notice the head of the flashlight getting hot really quickly dump the batteries fast before your emitter blows. I've blown one of the older reactors even while it was cold and not hot or blue at all. Also, in the 3 cell version in the reactor has no resistor protecting it don't put rechargeable batteries in it or you'll risk blowing out your luxeon star. Search candlepower forums for electrolumens discussion on his 3 AA brinkman luxeon direct drive and NIMH batteries blowing out his clients' emitters. He claims the 3AA direct drive luxeon needs a resistor to protect the luxeon from excessive current even at lower voltages than alkalines that rechargeables overpower the emitter with.
Anyone interested in a reactor cheap luxeon alternative do yourself a big favor. Buy the new reactor III instead of the old one. Some people claim that the old reactor is great because it runs dimly for a long time like the original infinity. But hey if that is what you want you can still have it in the reactor III. Just buy or make a dummy AA battery or use a dead AA battery in place of one of the 3 AA batteries in the Reactor III and bingo you've got the same long lasting very dim reactor version I. Some of you may say I'm unfair because the reactor I isn't that dim. Well after I cranked my reactor I with 3 new duracells the 2 cell version sure looked dim by comparison; I'll never go back. But if you want to hey you can have both worlds with the reactor III. With the reactor I you only have one dim mode. For just a little more money upgrade.
I know that HDS headlamp (find it at ledmuseum under headlamps) makes dummy D Cells they sell for use with lithium 3 volt D cells. You have to find your own dummy AA cell however.
As a side note if any of you are interested I found the following batteries:
http://www.aspencer1.com/showitem.asp?ItemID=10950.11
http://www.saftbatteries.com/lithium/index.htm
The good is that they will operate in extreme cold as one would find in winter alaska or siberia type environments. The bad is that according to one of the other manufacturers website and I forget which one, when lithium ion batteries drop to 3 volts if they are allowed to discharge further they rapidly overheat and detonate.
Read if you use your flashlight one to many times it wiil blow up in your hand. A safety circuit has to be manufactured to cut off the batteries at 3 volts. Since each battery is 3.7 volts, there is plenty of room in the flashlight for a dummy battery which houses a safety cutoff circuit. (although I don't know if it is possible to make such a thing in this form) Also, each battery is only 4500 mah. But at extreme sub zero temperatures even at these modest capacities they still might outstrip all other batteries except primary non rechargeable lithiums.
