What light should I get for *blackouts*

[chefwong]

Leaning on having a couple of Innova X5 around the house - just getting ready as during the hot weather, we get a couple blackouts per season. Anywhere ranging from 1 hr to *multiple hours*.

Runtime speced at 20 hrs.

Is there any others I should be looking at ?

 

[PhantomPhoton]

You can get 20+ hr runtimes from 1xAA lights like Fenix and 4sevens' Quark. You now have choices based on size and battery type. The X5s are still tanks however they aren't the most efficient anymore and definitely less versatile than a multimode light. However again, you may not want a multimode... choices choices. :devil:

 

[glockboy]

E01 for around the house and a Rayovac Sportsman Extreme lantern for eating dinner.

 

[sol-leks]

I agree an LED lantern is a good investment, I have a coleman one that is great and the batteries lasts forever. Maybe one of those wind up or shake lights might be good too just in case u dont have spare batteries atm.

 

[StarHalo]

I've found the best blackout lights (specifically flashlight format, not lanterns) are the super-efficient 2xAA lights, namely the Nitecore D20, the Fenix LD20, and now the Quark AA2. 2xAA gives you phenomenal runtime regardless of which output level you need (and will easily last ~2 weeks on the lowest level), and should the batteries go dead, you have all the other AA cells in your house as a backup, plus any common corner store has a large supply of AAs.

Also of note; this is the one application where I prefer warmer emitters, for purely psychological reasons - being in a house with no electricity with only a cold, stark LED light isn't very comforting; the warm and relaxing hue of a neutral/warm tint light is much more natural and welcoming. Sounds crazy, but it's the voice of experience; I don't use my cool tint emitters for room lighting at all when the power goes out. The Quark AA2 is going to be available with a "neutral tint" option for a limited time..

 

[sabre7]

Pak-Lite Original w/lithium battery-- 1200 hrs/low, 200 hrs/high, 10 yr shelf life. Alkaline battery-- 600 hrs/low, 75 hrs/high, 5 yr shelf life.

 

[optodoofus]

I keep a pair of Lightwave 4000s around for power failures. They are not the brightest flashlights you can get, but they run darn near forever on 3 D cells.

Also, I keep an LED head lamp around as well. It is a very handy thing to have when the power goes out.

opotdoofus

 

[Lite_me]

Blackouts....!? You neeed a headlamp! I recommend any of the Zebralights. I have an H50 and an H501. It is thee best light to have during a blackout. It's as if you had power, as far as lighting goes. There's light everywhere you look. :thumbsup:

 

[mega_lumens]

I've found the best blackout lights (specifically flashlight format, not lanterns) are the super-efficient 2xAA lights, namely the Nitecore D20, the Fenix LD20, and now the Quark AA2. 2xAA gives you phenomenal runtime regardless of which output level you need (and will easily last ~2 weeks on the lowest level), and should the batteries go dead, you have all the other AA cells in your house as a backup, plus any common corner store has a large supply of AAs.

Are run time specs on these lights based on Alkaline or lithium and NiMH? I believe that for blackouts and disaster lights, AA/AAA must perform well on Alkalines. L91s are not widely available or cheap, and NiMH are useless in prolonged blackouts. A lot of AA/AAA lights on the market boast good run times, but they are mostly intended to run on NiMH and lithiums.

 

[StarHalo]

Are run time specs on these lights based on Alkaline or lithium and NiMH?

Lithium primary, but the specs I'm quoting are from testing, I don't go by the manufacturer numbers. To be fair, alkaline cells will usually net about 2/3rds the runtime of lithiums, so you'd still get at least a week. Having multiple chemistry types available is an advantage - any type of AA cell from any source will power your light.

A continuous-runtime number isn't meaningful in this context anyway; you're not going to leave the light on 24/7 even for room lighting. Assuming a more realistic four hours a night, even the old Fenix L2D would manage nearly three weeks on lithiums..

 

[chefwong]

Thanks all sofar with the feedback. I just purchased 2 of the Cree warm led lanterns.

 

[LightWalker]

The two cell Quark lights are rated to run 30 days in moon mode and about 5 days on the next level up.

 

[sol-leks]

I always thought those paklite's look neat but they seem kinda overpriced. What kind of lantern did u get, I've never heard of a warm tint lantern before?

 

[tennisplyr3]

Blackouts....!? You neeed a headlamp! I recommend any of the Zebralights. I have an H50 and an H501. It is thee best light to have during a blackout. It's as if you had power, as far as lighting goes. There's light everywhere you look. :thumbsup:

I agree that headlamps would probably be the most useful. Light without a hot spot would simulate overhead lighting the best during blackouts.

 

[sabre7]

If you live in a generally sunny area, a BoGoLight solar rechargeable might be useful...
http://www.bogolight.com/

 

[Fenris]

An X5 is a great Emergency light. You'll be fine with just those two. Unless you're just looking to buy more lights, then get whatever you want.

 

[dchao]

I have two of these warm white lanterns:

http://www.neweggmall.com/Product/2005583910/product.html
(Specs: 3 AA Batteries - 24 hours on HIGH - 48 hours on LOW)

Take the top cover off, you can use it as a flashlight or in ceiling bounce mode.

 

[stinky]

Get 12v RV fluorescents and a good sized battery/power source. Others have posted how to setup elsewhere on cpf (yes I know it's the led forum, don't shoot me).

 

[BadHobbit]

Blackouts....!? You neeed a headlamp! I recommend any of the Zebralights. I have an H50 and an H501. It is thee best light to have during a blackout. It's as if you had power, as far as lighting goes. There's light everywhere you look. :thumbsup:

:twothumbs I second that, I have a handful of zebras for boat, car, and house. The most useful light I have, but then again, I am a flashaholic so I am still collecting a lot of less 'useful' lights ... Triton M30, Deree, etc.

 

[defloyd77]

I have two of these warm white lanterns:

Those are really neat, I especially like how the top comes off for hanging upside down.

The E01 is a great light to have if you want something small in your pocket if you are anticipating (or not) a power outage, just to get you to your other lights if you don't have them on you. I myself am not too big of a fan of lanters and headlamps as they have a tendancy of shining in eyes, I strongly prefer tailstanding/ceiling bouncing a light vs. a lantern and as for headlamps, I have many times space out that it's on my head and when someone talks to me I look at them and accidentally shine them in the eyes.