SniperAceX
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2005
- Messages
- 2
<Removed by Site Administrator>
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Last edited:
LED Flashlight help!
- Thread starter SniperAceX
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
BentHeadTX
Flashlight Enthusiast
Sniper,
A few questions...
How bright you want it to be?
What kind of runtime do you expect?
How much do you want to spend?
Do you want regular 5mm LEDs--Luxeon LED?
What will you use it for?
Does it need to have regulated output for even brightness?
Will it be used on a daily basis or emergency use?
Will you use rechargable AA batteries?
Does it need to be waterproof?
How many AA batteries to run it?
Prices vary from $25 to $370....
A few questions...
How bright you want it to be?
What kind of runtime do you expect?
How much do you want to spend?
Do you want regular 5mm LEDs--Luxeon LED?
What will you use it for?
Does it need to have regulated output for even brightness?
Will it be used on a daily basis or emergency use?
Will you use rechargable AA batteries?
Does it need to be waterproof?
How many AA batteries to run it?
Prices vary from $25 to $370....
SniperAceX
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2005
- Messages
- 2
.....
Last edited:
Solstice
Flashlight Enthusiast
SniperAceX- do you get a good discount? 
Not that it really matters with the lights at Target since they are already pretty cheap ($20). My recommendation would be to start out with the River Rock 2AA. It's actually quite a decent light that uses one of the newest LEDs (Nichia Jupiter). Just note that the output is like a spotlight- it projects a narrow circle of light and throws far. Batteries last around 3 hours. The Inova "Radiant" 2AA is also fairly well recieved, but I just like the River Rock better.
Not that it really matters with the lights at Target since they are already pretty cheap ($20). My recommendation would be to start out with the River Rock 2AA. It's actually quite a decent light that uses one of the newest LEDs (Nichia Jupiter). Just note that the output is like a spotlight- it projects a narrow circle of light and throws far. Batteries last around 3 hours. The Inova "Radiant" 2AA is also fairly well recieved, but I just like the River Rock better.
joema
Flashlight Enthusiast
SniperAceX, based on your criteria a good choice is the Streamlight Propoly Lux 4AA. It runs on 4AAs (alkaline, NiMH, or lithium). Excellent output, throw, good handling. Available in either yellow or black body. $22.95 from http://www.fox-intl.com/item.asp?id=338, $32.95 from http://www.brightguy.com/detail_int.php?Sku=STR68244
Review: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/streamlight_propolyluxeon.htm
It's not a cylindrical design like the X5, but it's a great light.
If you want a tail click cylindrical design running on AA batteries, the Fenix L1P is probably the best. Runs on a single Alkaline, NiMH or Lithium AA, much smaller than the X5 but much better output. About $45:
http://www.fenixlight.com/
https://www.jsburlys.com/shop/
Checking JSBurlys web site, it appears they currently just have the L1 not L1P -- check with them before ordering.
Review: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/streamlight_propolyluxeon.htm
It's not a cylindrical design like the X5, but it's a great light.
If you want a tail click cylindrical design running on AA batteries, the Fenix L1P is probably the best. Runs on a single Alkaline, NiMH or Lithium AA, much smaller than the X5 but much better output. About $45:
http://www.fenixlight.com/
https://www.jsburlys.com/shop/
Checking JSBurlys web site, it appears they currently just have the L1 not L1P -- check with them before ordering.
Tythagoras
Newly Enlightened
I just went through the experience of shopping for a flashlight that meets my needs and you have similar requirements. I found that modifying my Mini Maglite® was the way for me. I used Dat2Zip's 500mA NexGen sandwich with the UX1K emitter. It's sold as a drop-in kit on his website.
The sandwich modules will run on alkaline, Lithium or NiMH AA cells. They draw a lot of current, so the lithium or NiMH cells are the preferred powerplant for these modules.
It has made my dim little light into a light that produces more light than my 3-D cell Maglite®, not just a little more, but WAY more. The D-cell light still throws a little better if it's focused to the tightest spot, but the overall light output of the sandwich makes my whole backyard visible, not just the one spot.
My minimag is now the flashlight I wished it was when I bought it. If anything, it's a little too bright for some close-in uses, even when my eyes aren't dark-adapted. The only problem might be runtime, with the latest NiMH cells, they seem to get about 2-3 hours of runtime. AA cells are small enough for me to carry spares, and cheap enough to stockpile.
The problem I kept running into was that I wanted a bright LED flashlight that was about the same size as my minimag that used AA cells. I need a light that is small enough to keep with me all the time. There just aren't a lot of options in that arena. The Streamlight JR Luxeon came close, but for some reason it's longer than the minimag, and rechargeable cells aren't recommended. It's only semi-regulated, rather than the sandwich's constant-current regulation.
I can't recommend the sandwiches strongly enough.
My setup was a bit over your target price. You could go with the TY0J emitter with a 750mA converter board, it's $50 + shipping. Both come with optics, but you may want to upgrade them to the 17mm IMS reflector, from what I have read, it produces a superior beam with good sidespill. The IMS is an extra $2.00.
The TY0J emitter is less efficient than the UX1K and will drain the batteries faster when used on the 750mA NexGen board. I spent the extra $15.00 on the UX1K @500mA, but I don't know if it's as bright as the 750mA TY0J. I suspect the output is pretty similar.
Some other great extras for the minimag are the Kroll tailcap switch and the 22.5mm flat mineral glass. The twist switch was my lease favorite feature of the minimag, and the plastic lens didn't help anything.
Here's the link to the Sandwich Shoppe:
http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.com/index.php/
I'm considering the Fenix L1P as an indoor/backup light, but I only just contracted flashiholism, so I haven't had a chance to play with one yet. I got my mom a River Rock 2xAAA light at Target and it's perfect for indoors, but it runs on AAA cells, making it not very useful to me.
Hope this helps,
Jon
The sandwich modules will run on alkaline, Lithium or NiMH AA cells. They draw a lot of current, so the lithium or NiMH cells are the preferred powerplant for these modules.
It has made my dim little light into a light that produces more light than my 3-D cell Maglite®, not just a little more, but WAY more. The D-cell light still throws a little better if it's focused to the tightest spot, but the overall light output of the sandwich makes my whole backyard visible, not just the one spot.
My minimag is now the flashlight I wished it was when I bought it. If anything, it's a little too bright for some close-in uses, even when my eyes aren't dark-adapted. The only problem might be runtime, with the latest NiMH cells, they seem to get about 2-3 hours of runtime. AA cells are small enough for me to carry spares, and cheap enough to stockpile.
The problem I kept running into was that I wanted a bright LED flashlight that was about the same size as my minimag that used AA cells. I need a light that is small enough to keep with me all the time. There just aren't a lot of options in that arena. The Streamlight JR Luxeon came close, but for some reason it's longer than the minimag, and rechargeable cells aren't recommended. It's only semi-regulated, rather than the sandwich's constant-current regulation.
I can't recommend the sandwiches strongly enough.
My setup was a bit over your target price. You could go with the TY0J emitter with a 750mA converter board, it's $50 + shipping. Both come with optics, but you may want to upgrade them to the 17mm IMS reflector, from what I have read, it produces a superior beam with good sidespill. The IMS is an extra $2.00.
The TY0J emitter is less efficient than the UX1K and will drain the batteries faster when used on the 750mA NexGen board. I spent the extra $15.00 on the UX1K @500mA, but I don't know if it's as bright as the 750mA TY0J. I suspect the output is pretty similar.
Some other great extras for the minimag are the Kroll tailcap switch and the 22.5mm flat mineral glass. The twist switch was my lease favorite feature of the minimag, and the plastic lens didn't help anything.
Here's the link to the Sandwich Shoppe:
http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.com/index.php/
I'm considering the Fenix L1P as an indoor/backup light, but I only just contracted flashiholism, so I haven't had a chance to play with one yet. I got my mom a River Rock 2xAAA light at Target and it's perfect for indoors, but it runs on AAA cells, making it not very useful to me.
Hope this helps,
Jon
