Cheap litghts that out-perform.

This is a bit of a strang post, but I still consider myself much a newbie...

Today I picked up a very cheap light. It is called an "8 LED mini work light" from "GRIP" (grand rapids industial products) and was only about $8.

This thing is tiny, runs on three AAA cells and has a clicky tailcap. Being a collector of small key-chain type lights, this is the cheapest one I've found and well out-performs all of my other lights (see my sig for my current collection).

It's just strange that this is the light I've spent the least on, and it is so much more powerful than my other, more expensive lights.

Anyone else out there finding satisfaction in less expensive units?

Pictures to follow... It's too late to take pictures and I'm pretty tired/intoxicated.

Thanks,
Dan

A 3xAAA keychain light?

You MUST wear cargo pants!

Honestly though, does this light have like hexagonal areas at the head and tailcap?

My brightest torch:
http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/third/7mmflite.htm

My poor man's Fenix:
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/sz_8led_1aa.htm

My fave is still this combo:
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/dcb.htm
http://www.led-replacement.com/lpr-113.html

It does not outperform, but my big keychain light does not need cargo pants. I do not carry or use the hatclip.
http://insulatorz.home.att.net/eled.htm

I got this instead of the Arc AAA 2-1/2 years ago. The Arc was backordered 3 months and I can't wait.
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/dorcy_aaa.htm
There is a recent post indicating Dorcy has significantly changed the design, and not for the better. Certainly will be much harder to mod.

cratz2,

I change the light on my keychain daily, for variety and fun. So, yeah it's a bit big for a key chain, but it's still fun to hook-on for the day. Also, you are correct about the hexagonal top and bottom.

LEDninja,

Interesting... So your brightest light is a cheap one too. I suppose we don't need all these other lights... Just joking... of course

Here's what mine looks like:


Thanks,
Dan

I have one of those from SE in aluminum color. I fried half the LEDs running on nimh and replaced them all with 26k and a resistor and a new clickie switch and it works fine now.

bruner said:

Here's what mine looks like:
Thanks,
Dan

Click to expand...

I have the same light in red from Surplus Computers, also $8. It's terrific. Bulkier but far brighter than the River Rock AAA at Target that many rave about. . .

I'm always on the lookout for lights like the RR 2AAA and the old Dorcy 1AAA. As LEDs become more mainstream good cheap lights will likely be more common, as we've seen happen.

Geoff

I just finished drilling and tapping a 1/4-20 hole on the side of the tail cap for mounting on a tripod. I had to take the tail cap appart to do it, but it wasn't very difficuly.

Here's a pic:


Dan

Bought the ASP Sapphire Elite with the ASP Eagle Head Brass Button Logo on it and thought what a neat little light! Forgot to remove it from pocket and threw clothing into the wash and then dryer.

Came out still working! Still bright as it ever was since the day I got it. Thought to myself "this cheapo thing went through all that and still comes out shining!"

So that's my take on "cheap lights that out-perform." That's all. . .