What is the cheapest reliable CR123A flashlight to leave in the car forever ?

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march.brown

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
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Location
South Wales, UK
I normally everyday carry either an iTP A2 or A3 (with Eneloops) anyway , but since the 123 primary cells can tolerate high temperatures , I want a cheap single 123 size torch to leave in the car forever ... I will also leave a couple of spare 123 primary cells also in the car ... The glove-box gets very warm hence the need for a high-temperature-tolerant battery type.

At the moment I keep a Trustfire F20 with single AA Eneloop in the glovebox but I'm not happy about letting the Eneloops get as hot as that ... I also keep a Romisen RC-U4 (18650) in the door pocket which doesn't seem to get as hot ... I suppose that logically I should keep both torches in the door pocket , but I want to have "space diversity" in their location ... I don't want to use the passenger-side door pocket as it is usually full of a combination of sweet-papers , rubbish and Wifes oddments ... A small torch could easily be lost in there or thrown out when the occasional clean-out occurs ... If the price of a reliable 123 torch is cheap enough , I might be tempted to buy two for the car.

I also have an iTP A1 on order , but I don't want to leave that in the car forever when it could take its turn as an EDC torch ... As the iTP A1 cost just over £18 including postage , I would hope to get a much cheaper one (or two) for the car.

Does anyone know if there are any AA batteries that are high-temperature tolerant ? ... This would mean that the Trustfire F20 and a spare battery could be left in the car forever and I would only need to buy one 123 torch.

If only there was a cooler place in the car that was also easily accessible from the drivers seat ... I would also be happier if the Romisen RC-U4 and its 18650 was kept a little cooler ... It doesn't get as hot as if it had been in the glove compartment but it does get warm.

I guess it's got to be a CR123A powered torch then , unless I can get an AA battery that doesn't mind the heat.

Decisions ... Decisions ...
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As far as I know Ni-mh chemistry AA cells deal with the heat better than most other chemistries, the availability of energizer AA lithium primaries is also a plus as they hold as much power as average cr123a cells anyway and as far as I know deal with heat better as well. I'd go for a RC-G2 II warm white from shiningbeam, or the warm RC-29, I think you would be really impressed with either of these lights and they would be great for glove box use as well.

If you don't like a AA idea, then the RC-C6 NW is another great option, if you ask then you can have it shipped with a 2xAA extension tube like the RC-N3 as well.
 
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RedForest UK said:
As far as I know Ni-mh chemistry AA cells deal with the heat better than most other chemistries, the availability of energizer AA lithium primaries is also a plus as they hold as much power as average cr123a cells anyway and as far as I know deal with heat better as well. I'd go for a RC-G2 II warm white from shiningbeam, or the warm RC-29, I think you would be really impressed with either of these lights and they would be great for glove box use as well.

If you don't like a AA idea, then the RC-C6 NW is another great option, if you ask then you can have it shipped with a 2xAA extension tube like the RC-N3 as well.
Click to expand...
Many thanks for your prompt reply ... I was under the impression that the NiMh LSD cells would self-discharge more quickly under the hot conditions of the car glovebox which is why I was looking at the CR123A primary cells as they are OK up to 140 degrees F ... I just want to be able to have a torch (or two) to leave in the car forever ... As for the single AA torch , I would keep to the Trustfire F20 if I knew that AA lithiums were OK in high temperatures ... I will see what the temperature is under the car seat as it might be cooler there ... Snag is that it is not as easy to get at as the glovebox is.

Again , many thanks.
.
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I have a couple of old (relatively speaking) Fenix P1's. Just a plain Jane single CR123 light. I have one of these with a primary batt in each of my cars glove boxes with a couple of spare primary CR123's. Set and forget until needed. The cars will most likely not last 10 years so I guess I will check the batt's when I get rid of the car.
 
I live in the sticks in a much hotter part of Wales - New South Wales........... and have had no problem with the heat here on my AA lithiums stored in my cars.

As long as you leave them inside a glovebox or centre console and not in direct sunlight I can't see them getting hot enough to create a problem.
 
How about the Romisen RC-C3? It's a small inexpensive light that runs on a single CR123 that seems to be well received in the many reviews I've seen.

RedForest UK said:
I'd go for a RC-G2 II warm white from shiningbeam, or the warm RC-29, I think you would be really impressed with either of these lights and they would be great for glove box use as well.
Click to expand...

I've been looking for a buget warm light. Have there been any reviews of the warm version of these Romsien lights? I have not been able to find much on my own.

Thank you!!
 
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JaguarDave-in-Oz said:
I live in the sticks in a much hotter part of Wales - New South Wales........... and have had no problem with the heat here on my AA lithiums stored in my cars.

As long as you leave them inside a glovebox or centre console and not in direct sunlight I can't see them getting hot enough to create a problem.
Click to expand...
Hi JD (in hot South Wales) ... Which Lithium AAs do you prefer ? ... I would like to use the Single AA Trustfire F20 as I already have it in the car glovebox , but on a hot day it gets really hot to hold ... I have put it in the bottom of the glovebox but it still gets hot ... I just feel sorry for the AA Eneloop , so any battery that won't mind getting a bit hot would be great.

As far as buying another 123 torch , I only paid £18 for the iTP A1 and if any of the suggested torches are more than half that price , I would rather just get another iTP A1 ... I'm after a cheapie 123 that works OK.

If the Lithium primaries work OK in a single AA torch , that might be another excuse to get another AA torch ... That would probably be another iTP , I suppose ... I will have to give it a bit more thought , now that you have said that the AA Lithiums work OK in hot Oz.

Many Thanks.
 
How cheap do you need to go?
How reliable do you need it to be?

Safe answer... G2L or G2 with extra P60 lamps.

Somewhat riskier answer... Romisen RC-N3 with 2xAA Lithium Primaries, or a single CR123.
 
ky70 said:
I've been looking for a buget warm light. Have there been any reviews of the warm version of these Romsien lights? I have not been able to find much on my own.

Thank you!!
Click to expand...


I'm not sure about detailed comparison reviews, but I've heard a lot of good feedback from quite a few very impressed people on these two lights. Check out shiningbeam.com for many Romisens modded very professionally to warm white emitters and in most cases much better drivers as well. :thumbsup:
 
Why not just keep the torch in the car trunk? It is what I do & gets nowhere near as hot as a glovebox. JMO.
 
A vote for Romisen RC-C3. Is quite cheap, feels solid. Smooth threads, easy to operate. A bit too long IMO for pocket EDC but perfect for car. As it is longer and not so tightly threaded, it is far more pleasant to use with one hand than my iTP A1 SS which has terribly coarse threads (but less threadplay).
I
 
What about the Ultrafire WF-602C. I know some CPFers turn their noses up at Fartilure but this little number is plenty bright and has a GITD clickie cover and takes a single 16340 without complaint.

Or what about those little lights that you can plug into the cigarette lighter socket?
 
Tuikku said:
A vote for Romisen RC-C3. Is quite cheap, feels solid. Smooth threads, easy to operate. A bit too long IMO for pocket EDC but perfect for car.
Click to expand...

RC-C3 is less than 3 inches long...did you mean the RC-N3?
 
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My Romisen RC-U4 is using a 18650 at the moment , but it will also use three AAA batteries ... So there is the possibility of using three AAA Lithium batteries in it ... How will this compare with either a single AA or a single 123 using Lithium batteries,
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You might want to take a quick look at this: [link deleted - DM51]
No batteries, so no worries. Apart from possible quality issues.. ;)
 
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I leave a G2 and an extra lamp in my car. Reliable as hell. Proven tech, long-lasting, and very very well understood.
 
I have an Akoray K-109 (not the programmable version) from DX for $9. I keep in behind the armrest on the door and just forget about it.

The programmable version is much nicer (I have that too) but it costs twice as much so if you want something cheap that you can just forget about the non-programmable one fit's the bill.

By the way...what are sweet papers? :) Just curious!
 
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