WANTED: 2 x AA thrower

[headophile]

i'm thinking the reflector size of the usual suspects (dereelight dbs, tiablo a9, etc) but runs on 2 x aa.

the closest thing i've seen anything resembling a thrower in this configuration is the fenix tk20 and perhaps the new quark with turbo head but i don't think they'd be good enough

does this light exist? please inform me.

 

[qip]

maybe just maybe a Dmini with a 2aa body or see if the new dmini vx has a 2aa body coming

 

[headophile]

thanks for the info qip.

i just checked the specs of the d-mini vx and the bezel diameter is a full cm less than the dbs :mecry:

it's still bigger than either the fenix tk20 or the quark turbo head, but not by much.

i think reflector size is even more critical in making a good 2 x aa thrower since they won't have as much light to work with as, say, a 2 x cr123 one.

still looking :candle:

 

[jhc37013]

I think I good place to start looking is this link to selfbulits 2xAA round up.
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=214890

I would suggest maybe the Eagletac one of the Eagletac models like the P20A2 with smooth reflector.

 

[headophile]

^

nice comparison but none of those lights are real throwers. i'm looking for something with at least 15k lux at 1 meter.

something like a dbs with a 2xaa pill and matching battery tube

i already have the fenix ld20 btw.

 

[Saint_Dogbert]

I've never heard of such a light, although I'm not so familiar with some of the more specialty/obscure brands, so maybe one is out there. AA places a lower limit output, so pretty much all throwers run on cr123/li-ion rechargeables.

Do you already have a good AA rechargeable battery system? If so, I can relate, I have a good charger and lots of duraloops, so I usually look for AA lights over others.

 

[jhc37013]

Your asking alot for 2xAA nothing else comes to mind to me, your probably looking at something thats gonna have to be custom made if its possible. Good luck

 

[headophile]

well i've loosely computed the output of 2xaa to be around 80% of the equivalent 2 x cr123 version of, say, a q5 head.

a dbs v3 produces around 20k lux at 1 meter based on a review i read here. i don't think 15k lux is asking for too much at all from 2xaa provided the reflector is every bit as good as a dbs'.

i think you're both right though that no company makes such a light at this point. though i wish they would

i'm keen on the aa format because it's important for me that i will be able to use cheap and easy to find primaries should a situation call for it.

thanks for the replies so far!

 

[swiftwing]

Well, if you just want pure throw and are open to custom aspherics, Tekno_cowboy built me something very nice.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=240345

I've been meaning to take some beamshots, but i've been busy.

Subjectively i can say that it throws slightly better than my direct driven MC-E mag with 3AAs upon power up. And since its regulated, the throw distance doesn't drop like the mag does.

I'm thinking a dual lens design like saablaster's DEFT would throw even better, but i'm not sure if there are any 2AA hosts with enough space for that.

 

[Saint_Dogbert]

Well, someone should. I was just thinking that a mini aspheric lensed light would be awesome...you'd think there would be production lights using a lens for intense throw in a small form factor.

 

[headophile]

wow, awesome light you got there swiftwing. way up on the coolness factor :twothumbs

right now i'm leaning towards a regular-sized thrower with, of course, the optional aspheric head like the dbs and the a9.

i really think it will be a versatile, functional and practical light

 

[headophile]

Well, someone should. I was just thinking that a mini aspheric lensed light would be awesome...you'd think there would be production lights using a lens for intense throw in a small form factor.

agreed 100%

 

[qwertyydude]

There is the DX C78 flashlight. The lenser copy. It is a pretty decent thrower, probably not 15,000 lux but it is a mini aspheric.

 

[Hack On Wheels]

^

nice comparison but none of those lights are real throwers. i'm looking for something with at least 15k lux at 1 meter.

something like a dbs with a 2xaa pill and matching battery tube

i already have the fenix ld20 btw.

Well, I don't have anything else to compare it against, but when comparing my P100A2 to my L2D Q5 there is no competition for throw. The Eagletac does blow away my Fenix; I used to enjoy the beam of the Fenix, but now it looks terrible in comparison...

That said to put together a 2AA thrower... 2AA Minimag, modded to have an XP-E (you could use a different emitter if you prefer), then with the big head that was custom made (think it was called BHC). That would be a pretty sweet light, in my opinion. Maybe I'll have to hunt one of those heads down to try it out...

 

[headophile]

Well, I don't have anything else to compare it against, but when comparing my P100A2 to my L2D Q5 there is no competition for throw. The Eagletac does blow away my Fenix; I used to enjoy the beam of the Fenix, but now it looks terrible in comparison...

That said to put together a 2AA thrower... 2AA Minimag, modded to have an XP-E (you could use a different emitter if you prefer), then with the big head that was custom made (think it was called BHC). That would be a pretty sweet light, in my opinion. Maybe I'll have to hunt one of those heads down to try it out...

sounds like a viable option but i just searched and nothing came up for bhc. got a link to that head?

i've seen a video of the ld20 vs the l2d beams, side by side. the l2d's was much more diffused compared to the ld20's. it didn't look like there was even a proper hotspot in that video but i believe some people prefer it that way.

i really like my ld20's beam for near to midrange use around the house. great compromise between hotspot and spill imo. this light i'm looking for in this thread will be used more for outdoor stuff

 

[Crenshaw]

The Romisen Rc-C6 works with the extension tube of the RC-N3. The Rc-C6 is a Led Lenser type of aspheric light. The Rc-n3 also operates with single CR123 cell, so its possible to buy both and use the extension on one or the other.

Crenshaw

 

[Hack On Wheels]

sounds like a viable option but i just searched and nothing came up for bhc. got a link to that head?

i've seen a video of the ld20 vs the l2d beams, side by side. the l2d's was much more diffused compared to the ld20's. it didn't look like there was even a proper hotspot in that video but i believe some people prefer it that way.

i really like my ld20's beam for near to midrange use around the house. great compromise between hotspot and spill imo. this light i'm looking for in this thread will be for throw :devil:

Don't have a link, the head may not still be available. I can do a search though and see if anything comes up.

Oh, okay. I was under the impression that they had similar beams, guess I was very wrong! There is a hotspot for the L2D, but now it just seems terribly defocused and kind of "fuzzy" to me. Still nice for general use and short range stuff, but not a very "clean" and crisp beam in my opinion.

 

[FlashCrazy]

I think you're on to something.. there are many people who want a thrower in an AA format.

 

[jhc37013]

I would like it to but the ET P20A2 is nearly 8k lux, personally I would say that is a good AA thrower. I think it may be awhile to see a mass produced 15k-20k lux 2xAA.

Then again things seem to happen fast in the flashlight world lately I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow we see such a light.

 

[stallion2]

sounds like you have a great idea for a build project if you're up to it. when i read you wanted a thrower on two AA's my first thought was the LD20 which you've got. might not be a bad idea to get some different sized aspheric lenses on DX and hold them up to your existing lights, might give you some good ideas on where to start if you're willing to go that route. plus you'll have some cheap lenses for retrofitting either way.