Visual cues that your batteries are about to run out

[sfca]

I find it hard to tell when my batteries are about to run out. I do have a ZTS tester now, but I still can't tell with my eyes.

I've never had a flashlight of my own before I got a good LED one and now this is the standard of which all flashlights are held by.

When I first got it I thought it would be super bright. I realized later that my expectations were too high. Most flashlights don't light up trees 50 yards where there are streetlights.


Nowadays, with fresh batteries it seems bright. Couple weeks later, it's still bright. A month later..it's still just bright. And then one day, pick it up and only low output works.

It could be because of the tight beam or TIR optics. I've gotten coworkers to shine it at me a few times, I might be able to tell that way. But from the point of the guy pointing it - and a new guy at that... it's impossible for me to tell!

 

[DimeRazorback]

I can't tell, unless high mode stops working!

That's why I carry spares with me

...and two backup lights

 

[hyperloop]

I find it hard to tell when my batteries are about to run out. I do have a ZTS tester now, but I still can't tell with my eyes.

I've never had a flashlight of my own before I got a good LED one and now this is the standard of which all flashlights are held by.

When I first got it I thought it would be super bright. I realized later that my expectations were too high. Most flashlights don't light up trees 50 yards where there are streetlights.


Nowadays, with fresh batteries it seems bright. Couple weeks later, it's still bright. A month later..it's still just bright. And then one day, pick it up and only low output works.

It could be because of the tight beam or TIR optics. I've gotten coworkers to shine it at me a few times, I might be able to tell that way. But from the point of the guy pointing it - and a new guy at that... it's impossible for me to tell!

what light are you using? i use unprotected 16340s in my Nitecore EX10 and can tell when output is dropping indicating that its time for a recharge but i normally test the cells every 2 weeks with a DMM and recharge if necessary (earlier if the light has been used more often).

 

[Sgt. LED]

Some regulated lights keep running at a particular output without any cues at all till it steps down a mode or totally shuts off due to low power.

So what light are you dealing with?

 

[yellow]

When I first got it I thought it would be super bright. I realized later that my expectations were too high. Most flashlights don't light up trees 50 yards where there are streetlights.

mainly depends on:
* how tight the focus is,
* the current the led gets from driver
then there is the tint, the individual led used, ..., all directly leading to dramatically different "results"
but You are totally right: with ambient light, all lights (that still fall into a "normal light" class) "fail"

PS: without anyone knowing what Your light is, there is no chance to give input on its standing in comparison to actual models.
f.e. an older led that drives a luxeon V with high current --> would be in brightness range of actual single die led lights, but eating four times the current and making a wider beam

PS: those "throw" uses - like checking how far a light can "light up trees" - that is good for short impressing ppl. But 99 % of real handheld flashlight uses play within shorter distance.

 

[qwertyydude]

That's the pitfall with perfect regulation. It's why in some ways I actually like my direct drive lights, they dim noticeably when dead and sure they are always constantly dimming but that's actually only slightly noticeable in use but when they start to die you get plenty of notice and can continue to use it til it's too dim to be useful.

 

[Egsise]

Use Rechargeables.

 

[lightcacher]

With the new LED Maglites, it's not hard at all. One minute you've got light, the next you're in total darkness.

 

[kelmo]

The output drops big time!!!

Sorry couldn't resist that one.

This is the achilles heal of regulation. As DimeRazorback says, carry spares. My LEDs get fed incan leftovers so I have to carry spares.

 

[sfca]

PS: those "throw" uses - like checking how far a light can "light up trees" - that is good for short impressing ppl. But 99 % of real handheld flashlight uses play within shorter distance.

Your right about that. It's an '09 E2DL (I thought I had mentioned that). Hell even up close the high beam isn't as useful as I would like. Wanna grab an LX2 but wondering if it'll be the same [200lumens + TIR optic + similar run time]?
I'm just going to get a Quark Turbo and try that but waiting first for the reviews, build issues, updates, etc.

Looking forward to that AZ2. A useful low and high beam. Sweeet.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

My P2D will get so it won't support high/turbo but will still provide light for a good while.

My Zebralight H30 is crazy! It usually gets used in medium as a read in bed light. Twice so far it has gone out as if the switch was used. Last night it wouldn't come on at all until I put a fresh cell in. Weird because I shut it off working in Medium the night before.

 

[zven]

Your right about that. It's an '09 E2DL (I thought I had mentioned that). Hell even up close the high beam isn't as useful as I would like. Wanna grab an LX2 but wondering if it'll be the same [200lumens + TIR optic + similar run time]?
I'm just going to get a Quark Turbo and try that but waiting first for the reviews, build issues, updates, etc.

Looking forward to that AZ2. A useful low and high beam. Sweeet.

Yeah, the LX2 will be about the same as your E2DL. The optic and output are effectively identical (with unit to unit variation, as always). And actually, I believe the LX2 has even flatter regulation than the E2DL, so if you're looking for lots of advance warning that you're batteries are getting low, the LX2 may not be for you.

 

[yellow]

now, the best way would be to measure the current from the battery,
and with that data (+ the cell data) to simply calculate possible runtime.
Then test it once
from now on think how long the light has been used and recharge when it comes close


PS: if the light has not been used (much) but the cells are dead
a) You have an electronic switch that needs power, or
b) throw away those crappy 2500+ mA AA cells and get LSDs

 

[sfca]

I'm using primaries and although there is a runtime graph posted by Chao for the '08 model I'm not sure if mine follows the same.
I wouldn't be surprised to see if mine ('09) follows an LX2-like runtime grpah.

 

[Turbo DV8]

I find it hard to tell when my batteries are about to run out.

When you see them start doing stretching exercises, for one...

:duck:

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

I don't know if it's been said this way.

MOST regulated lights will be the same brightness until they go out like the switch was thrown. If they have multi levels it MAY be possible to run at a lower level until changing battery(s).

Direct drive lights (you can use a wet finger to make the ground connection and if the LED glows it is DD) will noticeably dim as they get close.

I have no idea about the E2DL as I've never even seen one in person.