Three 9 LED flashlight for $5 at Home Depot

[JohnR66]

Saw these in sale flyer.
Would these make good gifts? brightness? runtime? battery type?
I don't expect top notch, but hope these are not junk either.:duck:

 

[superjoe83]

they will be ok for up close stuff, but dont expect much distance from them

 

[Illum]

Saw these in sale flyer.
Would these make good gifts? brightness? runtime? battery type?
I don't expect top notch, but hope these are not junk either.:duck:

gifts for non-flashaholics/kids? yes,
brightness? likely flood, no throw, uneven blotches of light [no definite hotspot or corona] , and overdriven LEDs casting slightly blue color

battery type? most likely 3AAA [no circuit, resistor driven]

probably going to perform something close to this http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/amart_ll.htm

 

[NA8]

I had something similar from Walgreens. I liked the 9 LED output for a low level light with a large hot spot and good spill. Unfortunately, it was intermittent just about everywhere: the switch, and the soldered in LED's. The Husky's might be a bit more robust, but I suspect they're all pretty much the same at that price.

I'd go for the 20$ bench grinder on page 2. Even comes with a work light

 

[Turbo DV8]

The 9 LED lights which are dirt cheap just don't last. I bought about ten of them at $3 each for stocking stuffers last Christmas. Stuffed my own sock with about four of them at that. People have told me theirs gets flakey. My four are all in a landfill in less than a year. Problems lie in the switch, positive tip of the battery carrier shorting out onto adjacent negative terminal of center LED (crack-head design), positive contact springs are cold-soldered then breaks free if dropped from a height of three centimeters, some have no positive contact spring and just use the positive lead of the center LED as the contact. Same problem... you drop the light from an insignificant height and the lead crushes/bends and you lose contact. Don't even bother with the plethora of cheap 9 LED lights out there. Hindsight being 20/20, I wouldn't even give them again as casual "it's the thought that counts" Christmas gifts. No matter how cheap one is, it's always more satisfying to give and receive gifts that at least work. I would rather just receive a 4 pack of AAA alkalines as a gift than one of these cheap lights. They are cheap because they are crap, and three can be had for even less money now because now they are old, outdated crap.

 

[Fallingwater]

I got these and they turned out to be pretty decent. I've yet to see LEDs burn out and I've been using one casually for a few months.

 

[NA8]

I got these and they turned out to be pretty decent.

Does that model have the spring soldered to the circuit board for the positive battery connnection ?

 

[Turbo DV8]

Does that model have the spring soldered to the circuit board for the positive battery connnection ?

I don't know if the DX 9 LED lights have the positive spring or not. But I have purchased several with the spring, which I thought was a really good idea, but they are all cold-soldered in place, and eventually will pop right off if the light is dropped even mildly.

 

[TorchBoy]

I don't know if the DX 9 LED lights have the positive spring or not.

They do. I modded one with a Cree, reusing the positive spring, and it's quite a handy light.

 

[Fallingwater]

Does that model have the spring soldered to the circuit board for the positive battery connnection ?

Yup - but I've dropped both lights many, many times, and the springs have yet to come loose.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

I don't know how much they want for them but Tractor Supply has a 3 pack of 9LED 3AAA lights that look a LOT like the lights I got for a buck at a dollar store.

Granted I haven't blown a LED in one of those lights yet, but I do have a 3AAA 14LED light that has lost 5 or so.

I notice the Plastic Garrity 3AAA 9LED isn't as bright as those other lights, but has a WAY more pleasing tint and should last a looooong time.

 

[Fallingwater]

You should probably do something about the 14LED light if you want to keep using it. LEDs that fail due to a relatively gentle overload (as opposed to, say, giving them 30 volts at five amps...) usually fail by going short circuit. The other LEDs will have the deceased LED's driving current added to their own, more will die, the current will increase further and pretty soon they'll all be dead.

 

[Illum]

with all the 0.5 watt nichias/jupiters/sapphires and cloned 1 watt/3watt LEDs, I wonder why are there still this cluster LED flashlights around here
its worth reading up why rockets have fewer engines usually succeed over the many engined brothers [say the N1 compared to the Saturn V first stage, thats 30 to 5...did it succeed? nope, blew holes on the pad]

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

I figure I won't be out much when the 14 LED light dies altogether.

I have several of the 1 dollar 9 LED lights still in the package should something happen to them.

I plan to get a few (or several) more of the Garrity lights because I understand they at least have a resistor to keep the current down.

And if y'all don't already know this... when the dark is total you don't need even a 1W worth of light. A multi 5MM light is just swell!

EDIT: Just came up with an idea for the 14 LED light. Instead of 3x1.2 V AAA I've given it one seasoned 123 at 3V. It's not as bright obviously, but should last longer this way.

 

[TorchBoy]

LEDs that fail due to a relatively gentle overload (as opposed to, say, giving them 30 volts at five amps...) usually fail by going short circuit.

You mean they fail open circuit. If they were shorting out the other LEDs none of them would work, the battery would get warm and wouldn't work for long either.

My torches of this type are direct drive, though, so the only difference an LED blowing would make is the battery voltage would go very very slightly up because the load is perhaps 50mA lighter. Yea, I suppose that would slightly increase the chance for a blowout of the remaining LEDs.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

Yeah, I never even thought about that short circuit comment. I reckon I'd have had a 123 by now were it true.

 

[Fallingwater]

You mean they fail open circuit. If they were shorting out the other LEDs none of them would work, the battery would get warm and wouldn't work for long either.

Yes, of course.

It did sound weird while I was typing it, and a small voice in my head kept telling me "you're doing it wrong", but I had other things in my mind and didn't bother to double-check the correctness of what I was writing

 

[Alero]

I like the plastic Garrity 9 LED better. I own both. HD one cuts in and out. I have 5 garrity. All are perfect after 2 years or so.

 

[rmyc]

so i bought a few of them becuase the cheap housings can make good projects.. any one know how to safely remove the LED/lens

 

[Alero]

Yeah I admit the aluminum and finish on them are pretty slick. They feel nice in the hand too. I also have their 12 LED version. It shorts out on me as well. I really don't like those holders for 3 aaa batteries.
I wish they made a 3.7v lithium ion rechargeable that was the exact size of those tubes, or at least the same length so I could put some hose around it. That would be a nifty and useful light!

Seriously though, try a Garrity sometime. You'll love it. I give them out as wedding presents all the time! Every new couple needs a good flashlight for the kitchen drawer! They are always a big hit! Just don't ever buy the metal one from them. The focusing lens gives a horrible beam and color! I plan to take mine out and replace it with a regular flat lens eventually if I can ever find one that fits. I have no idea what size it is.

Ok so to know out the lens safely....do you mean safely for you or safely for the light? Safely for you = hammer+center punch+safety glasses. Safely for the light = ??? :shrug: