I'm looking to get a headlamp to leave at a church and wondering what recommendations might be given?
Some Details (that I think* are pertinent. I'm sure there's more details):
Qualifications:
-Light distribution between spotty or floody isn't terribly important- It'd be used mostly by one person (me) for a work light. I'd wear it on my head while up on a ladder trying to see low voltage electrical connections for lighting or power.
-Since it's for close up work, the lumen output probably doesn't need to be high
-Cheap/expendable. The head lamp would be kept at a location accessible to many people. There's a good possibility that it'll walk off or relocate.
-Durable to withstand abuse (since anyone can access it, it'll probably get misused and dropped)
-Able to be quickly used and without notice after being stored for a week or longer. (I'd guess that to meet this need would require the headlamp to run off a battery that's readily available? The church has wireless handheld mics that use AA batteries, so those will likely be on hand.)
-Be a self contained unit (doesn't have an external battery pack)
-Minor preference is for a small size unit so it doesn't take up much space in a storage room
This is a pie in the sky wishlist, I'm sure tradeoffs will have to be made.
Initially I was going to go with a Sofirn HS10 headlamp, but I'm not finding one that can use AAs (You can't use a AA to replace a 14500 battery can you? I think the voltage is different and would cause problems). I debated using a Petzl but it looks like they only come as rechargeable or using AAA batteries. Using Alkalines would be preferred but if the headlamp can be charged up and used rapidly, perhaps a rechargeable is fine. For reference I've used an energizer headlamp and it does most of what's needed aside from using AAAs (which the church doesn't typically have).
If a cheap headlamp ($40 or less) can't be used I could spend a bit more and keep the headlamp with me; taking it to church only when its needed. But often I don't realize I need it until I'm at the church doing something else, so it wouldn't be on hand.
Some Details (that I think* are pertinent. I'm sure there's more details):
Qualifications:
-Light distribution between spotty or floody isn't terribly important- It'd be used mostly by one person (me) for a work light. I'd wear it on my head while up on a ladder trying to see low voltage electrical connections for lighting or power.
-Since it's for close up work, the lumen output probably doesn't need to be high
-Cheap/expendable. The head lamp would be kept at a location accessible to many people. There's a good possibility that it'll walk off or relocate.
-Durable to withstand abuse (since anyone can access it, it'll probably get misused and dropped)
-Able to be quickly used and without notice after being stored for a week or longer. (I'd guess that to meet this need would require the headlamp to run off a battery that's readily available? The church has wireless handheld mics that use AA batteries, so those will likely be on hand.)
-Be a self contained unit (doesn't have an external battery pack)
-Minor preference is for a small size unit so it doesn't take up much space in a storage room
This is a pie in the sky wishlist, I'm sure tradeoffs will have to be made.
Initially I was going to go with a Sofirn HS10 headlamp, but I'm not finding one that can use AAs (You can't use a AA to replace a 14500 battery can you? I think the voltage is different and would cause problems). I debated using a Petzl but it looks like they only come as rechargeable or using AAA batteries. Using Alkalines would be preferred but if the headlamp can be charged up and used rapidly, perhaps a rechargeable is fine. For reference I've used an energizer headlamp and it does most of what's needed aside from using AAAs (which the church doesn't typically have).
If a cheap headlamp ($40 or less) can't be used I could spend a bit more and keep the headlamp with me; taking it to church only when its needed. But often I don't realize I need it until I'm at the church doing something else, so it wouldn't be on hand.
