<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hotfoot:
hiya Empath,
I'd wholly agree with ya on the PR2, a little expensive - but it ROCKS! Care to share which eight lights you're using with the PR2s? I'm always on the lookout for the "perfect" host for one. Thanks!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
PR Versalux Inventory and Application:
Streamlight Swivel Head Aluminum 2AA flashlight -
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Sears retro chrome plated 2D ribbed flashlight (I think it sold for about $1.99 or $2.99)
It has an interesting dimpled reflector that diffuses the beam slightly, and would probably give several weeks constant use on the batteries before reduced output was noted.
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Radio Shack 2AA aluminum flashlight. - Makes an excellent long throw light.
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Garrity Glow-in-the-Dark 2AA flashlight - A good long throw application, but at close range accents a yellowed reduced output at the center of the beam. Easy to find in the dark, since the whole body glows in the dark.
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A Walmart Sam's Choice 2AA rubberized flashlight - This light looks very similar to the Rayovac and Eveready 2AA industrial lights. Unlike the Rayovac and Eveready, which are rigid plastic, the Sam's Choice feels flexible, and says "made in USA on it". The Rayovac and Eveready are both made elsewhere. I haven't really been able to identify the manufacturer, but it's a well built light.
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A Rayovac Prodigy 2AA available from Target - This is an attractive light available in green, silver, or blue(I think). It's semi faceted, which makes an interesting beam distribution, and an excellent application.
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PT Tec20 modified - I call this one my moonlight walk light - (one of my most valued lights)
The reflector has been modified by coating it with silver glitter. Originally I coated it with about 7 or 8 coats of glitter fingernail polish. Since then I've modified my procedure. I coated the reflector with Elmer's Glue, and sprinkled the glitter on it, which provided an excellent coat. Once dried, I then added one coat of clear nail polish, which helps to hold the glitter intact and provided a useful smoothing action to the glitter.
The glitter diffuses the light evenly over the whole output area, and contains absolutely no hot beam. The lighting is very similar to the amount of light you get on a night lit by a full moon. For me, and totally dark outside areas it seems ideal.
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Dorcy Translucent Frosted 4AA flashlight modified - I use this as a nightlight/battery burner. The 4AA battery holder is the same size of a D cell, and can be removed and replaced with a D cell. The battery burner aspect hasn't proven that great though, since it takes weeks-on-end for it to burn up a discharged-beyond-reasonable-use D cell. With the adaptor available at
American Science and Surplus you can use any cell from a AAA to a D. The Versalux lamp is designed for 2 cell use, but still provides reasonable output down to .8 volts, so runs well with one cell. I've got the Dorcy light set up for two methods of use.
Method 1:
The reflector has had it's coating removed totally, and is transparent. The lens has a mirrored surface I cut from a flexible mirror available for school lockers with adhesive backing attached to the inside of the lens. The light reflects back into the translucent flashlight. The aluminum retainer ring for the lamp/reflector obstructs the light shining back into the body. I've drilled a bunch of 1/8 inch holes into the retainer ring, which allows plenty of light, similar to a screen, to shine back into the flashlight body. The translucent flashlight body (I chose a nearly clear purple) lights up instead of the shining a beam. It makes an excellent nightlight.
Method 2:
I've covered the lens with a glow-sheet material that glows in the dark. The beam shines diffused through the glow-sheet and reflects off the ceiling or wall very softly, and is hardly noticeable until your eyes are adjusted to the dark. It then provides a soft lighting enabling you to identify your surroundings in the room, while still maintaining sufficient darkness to avoid interfering with your sleep. If for some reason you consider the amount of light too great, you simple turn the light off, and the glow-sheet glows brilliant for hours as a guide-light similar to "Indiglo®", without emitting any interfering light.
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That still leaves a Versalux lamp I don't devote to anything other than popping into lights to see how they do. The 2D or 2C cell Maglite gives an excellent long throw beam when focused down. For a really long throw try an Eveready 2D Industrial. If you've got a Batteries Plus nearby, they carry the Eveready 2D Industrial with their name as advertisement on it, and they sell them for only $3.77 each. It's not a bad flashlight, and a good value.