Suggestions for a primary-lithium based LED light for an emergency kit

[storiform]

So I know that the question of "what flashlight to buy for an earthquake/bug-out kit" has been asked numerous times already. So I figure I'll put a bit of a spin on it with peculiar criteria. I'm looking for this for a friend of mine, and in particular he wants something that he could slap some batteries in, and then use a year or two later with as little capacity loss as possible.

That being said, lights that use primary lithium batteries are probably the way to go. Of course that doesn't narrow things down too much so here are some other features he's looking for:

1) Multiple power output levels, with at least one level in the 100+ lumens range, one level in the 40-100 range, and one level in the sub-40 range (more or less, exact numbers don't matter)

2) A larger flashlight that can a) be easily found in a pinch and b) takes multiple batteries is preferred

3) As long a runtime as possible given 1) and 2), which pretty much excludes everything except the current generation of LED-based lights given their high output lumen to input watt ratios

That's probably all he needs for now. I actually ordered the olight M20 over the weekend for myself, and I suggested it might work for him: R2 emitter with good runtimes, decent size, and capable of taking 2 CR123's. I thought the TK 10/11 might also work for him.

He didn't specify a price range but let's go with under $150 for now. Obviously if it's something decently priced he could get more than one to put in strategic places.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? If charge loss weren't an issue I'd just tell him to mod a 6D maglite or something for absurd runtimes, but it would probably be dead by the time he had to use it. Are there any bigger lights that take 2, 4, or more primary lithium batteries and use one of the newer LED architectures?

Thanks!

 

[storiform]

Alternatively, he also said that he wouldn't mind a light he could keep plugged into the wall until an earthquake/fire hit, and then pluck it out and be set for a few days. I didn't think that was a good idea because it would limit where he could store the light. Plus rechargeable lithiums kept plugged into walls are a recipe for disaster.

Also, I don't know of any good current-generation LED-based flashlights with a drop-in or plug-in type charger that have the specs I mentioned on the previous post. But then I'm sure if one exists, somebody here knows about it!

 

[superflytnt]

There are tons of lights that fit these specs but my "emergency" light (and one of my EDC's) is a Nitecore D10. For daily use I use it with either 14500 LiIon cells or with basic NiMH rechargeable's. For emergency use, however, I always have a 4-pack of lithium primary cells available. On it's lowest setting it gets over 140 hours on a single lithium and over 100 hours on a single AA alkaline. http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=206178

If needed it has a bright high level and gets well over an hour with either rechargeable or lithium primary. If you keep it to the lower levels (and low is my D10's most used level) you'll get weeks of emergency use out of a single cell and low is plenty bright for most personal tasks once you're dark adapted. I've even taken a shower with my D10, on low, pointed at the ceiling and it was enough light to do the job.

As I said, there are many lights out there that will do this job but the D10 is a really good one. Small enough to keep it with you, bright enough for just about any emergency, it uses a really common cell (and can use nearly ANY AA sized battery) and has that all-important low-low level for really long runtimes.

Good luck and I hope you find what you're looking for!

 

[metlarules]

I have an Olight t-10 with a spare t-15 battery tube. it would fit all of the criteria that you mentioned and then some.Ability to take cr123,rcr123,aa alkaline,aa lithium,aa nimh batteries. It has multiple levels of light which is useful for different circumstances.For under $100 you could buy the light,a charging combo(Charger&batteries),and a boat load of primary batteries.

 

[Gator762]

+1 on an AA light. You have the most flexibility - Energizer Lithiums, NiMH, Alkaline, and (LiIon or LiPO4) in the most common format. With a few you can get an additional 2AA tube to run with 2AAs for higher output and runtime.

CR123 batteries are already scarce enough in local stores when there isn't an emergency!!!


I'll throw in a vote for a Fenix L1D Q5. I just received some LiPO4 14500 batteries. Runtime is good enough for EDC, and I get the 180 lumen output like a L2D/P2D.

(You can get the L2D tube too).

 

[1dash1]

Storiform:

I think the M20 is a great light for those who need a tactical, throwy multi-mode light. Last night, I walked by a police office writing a ticket. He was using a 4D MagLite (maybe an incandescent!). I thought he could really use my M20.

However, it would not be my "go to" light for household emergencies. I need a medium to floody beam for in-house use. The best I did have for this purpose was the ESE AF2 that I gave away as a parting gift to a friend this week. The next best is the EX10 GD+. Otherwise, what I have is a variety of lights, each one satisfying a different need - but not one good general purpose light to cover emergency situations.

I'd like to see what others have to suggest. :shrug:

 

[Dead_Nuts]

You guys ever try buying batteries even a day into an emergency? They are not to be found! Stockpiling your own for SHTF, TEOTWAWKI or COMWEC is the only prudent plan. That being the case, type of battery may not be as critical.

 

[metlarules]

You guys ever try buying batteries even a day into an emergency? They are not to be found! Stockpiling your own for SHTF, TEOTWAWKI or COMWEC is the only prudent plan. That being the case, type of battery may not be as critical.

Thats why I have rechargables also. I buy primaries to store for emergencies and use the rechargeables for daily use.

 

[Black Rose]

Stockpiling your own for SHTF, TEOTWAWKI or COMWEC is the only prudent plan.

:thumbsup:

Had to Google for those last two acronyms

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

So I know that the question of "what flashlight to buy for an earthquake/bug-out kit" has been asked numerous times already. So I figure I'll put a bit of a spin on it with peculiar criteria. I'm looking for this for a friend of mine, and in particular he wants something that he could slap some batteries in, and then use a year or two later with as little capacity loss as possible.

That being said, lights that use primary lithium batteries are probably the way to go. Of course that doesn't narrow things down too much so here are some other features he's looking for:

1) Multiple power output levels, with at least one level in the 100+ lumens range, one level in the 40-100 range, and one level in the sub-40 range (more or less, exact numbers don't matter)

2) A larger flashlight that can a) be easily found in a pinch and b) takes multiple batteries is preferred

3) As long a runtime as possible given 1) and 2), which pretty much excludes everything except the current generation of LED-based lights given their high output lumen to input watt ratios

That's probably all he needs for now. I actually ordered the olight M20 over the weekend for myself, and I suggested it might work for him: R2 emitter with good runtimes, decent size, and capable of taking 2 CR123's. I thought the TK 10/11 might also work for him.

He didn't specify a price range but let's go with under $150 for now. Obviously if it's something decently priced he could get more than one to put in strategic places.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? If charge loss weren't an issue I'd just tell him to mod a 6D maglite or something for absurd runtimes, but it would probably be dead by the time he had to use it. Are there any bigger lights that take 2, 4, or more primary lithium batteries and use one of the newer LED architectures?

Thanks!

Get the SureFire Saint!! :thumbsup:

http://www.batteryjunction.com/surefire-saint.html

 

[HoopleHead]

whats in my BOB:

Fenix TK10
Lithium Glo-Toob (white)
Zebralight H50-Q5
Super Pak-Lite (GITD)

covers all the bases for me. a bright, durable light. a long lasting waterproof and shockproof light/locator beacon/signal. a good headlamp. and a long, long lasting backup.

not to mention my regular stuff nearby.

 

[jag-engr]

I'll throw in a vote for a Fenix L1D Q5...

(You can get the L2D tube too).

Definitely get both tubes. In an emergency, you may not be able to find two matched batteries, and you don't want to be running two mismatched batteries. :sick2: But if you can find two matched batteries, your runtimes will be better and you'll get a lot better efficiency from the batteries.

 

[storiform]

I hadn't even considered telling the guy to stockpile lithium AAs instead of CR123s. That's actually a brilliant idea. A box of energizer ultimate lithium batteries would probably last enough years and fit into most of the lights you mentioned. And actually the nitecore seems good as far as not causing explosions in gas-filled environments when it's switched on. Does anyone know if the D10 will take a primary lithium AA? If so, then an energizer ultimate lithium 2500+ mah AA should last significantly longer on the D10 than a top-capacity CR123a on the Ex10 model. Feel free to skewer this reasoning if I missed something obvious.

As far as the surefire saint...holy crap, I didn't realize that thing was out. That one I'll get for myself

 

[storiform]

And of course right after posting that question about the D10 taking lithium AAs I actually checked the graphs in the link that superflytnt posted. *smacks self in face*.

Although I have to admit I'm still confused as to why the smaller CR123a cell seems to last longer at a slightly higher output than the larger lithium AA cell.

 

[carbine15]

all my emergency kits have some of these.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1100

 

[superflytnt]

I hadn't even considered telling the guy to stockpile lithium AAs instead of CR123s. That's actually a brilliant idea. A box of energizer ultimate lithium batteries would probably last enough years and fit into most of the lights you mentioned. And actually the nitecore seems good as far as not causing explosions in gas-filled environments when it's switched on. Does anyone know if the D10 will take a primary lithium AA? If so, then an energizer ultimate lithium 2500+ mah AA should last significantly longer on the D10 than a top-capacity CR123a on the Ex10 model. Feel free to skewer this reasoning if I missed something obvious.

As far as the surefire saint...holy crap, I didn't realize that thing was out. That one I'll get for myself

Please click on, and read, the link on post #3

 

[loanshark]

At least one E01 is a good addition to any emergency kit... Even in the worst case scenarios you can scavenge AAAs from tv remotes n such

The D10 is a good light but it's not as efficient as offerings from Fenix. The simplicity and runtime of my L1T are growing on me. 16 lumens for 15 hours on one AA is just awesome. 16 lumens is plenty for most tasks. Too much sometimes. The low on the D10 is very useful, the most used setting on mine... lol. Guess he's gonna need three lights for that kit..

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

And of course right after posting that question about the D10 taking lithium AAs I actually checked the graphs in the link that superflytnt posted. *smacks self in face*.

Although I have to admit I'm still confused as to why the smaller CR123a cell seems to last longer at a slightly higher output than the larger lithium AA cell.

Because capacity is not only measured using raw mAh numbers, voltage also matters. CR123's voltage is twice as high as AA Lithium's. CR123 is clearly the better performer hands down.
:thumbsup:

 

[superflytnt]

Because capacity is not only measured using raw mAh numbers, voltage also matters. CR123's voltage is twice as high as AA Lithium's. CR123 is clearly the better performer hands down.
:thumbsup:

Can't deny that one. Still, though, for me an emergency light should be able to take a standard sized cell. I guess if you buy 123's in bulk and have a hundred of them in your closet it's not such a big deal but I can envision many scenarios where it would be handy to have a light that used AA's instead. On the lower levels (emergency use) the AA lithium is pretty close to the 123 and even an alkaline goes over 100 hours on low.

That's just me, though. I like to have choices and you can't get much more versatile than the 1-AA format..................

 

[storiform]

Can't deny that one. Still, though, for me an emergency light should be able to take a standard sized cell. I guess if you buy 123's in bulk and have a hundred of them in your closet it's not such a big deal but I can envision many scenarios where it would be handy to have a light that used AA's instead. On the lower levels (emergency use) the AA lithium is pretty close to the 123 and even an alkaline goes over 100 hours on low.

That's just me, though. I like to have choices and you can't get much more versatile than the 1-AA format..................

Well one way or another I was going to tell the guy to stockpile a bunch of lithium batteries. The question now is finding the architecture that has the lowest self-discharge and longest shelf life. Anyone care to weigh in on whether any of the 123s can last as long as the ultimate lithium AAs?