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Semi-OT: Flashlight recommendations
This thread has 53 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Thursday January 12, 2012 at 22:56
Audiophiliac
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I finally lost my turd of a flashlight. Well it was actually a fairly nice and somewhat spendy (by my count) flashlight, but I am glad it is gone in a way. I think I know exactly where it is, but I do not want to go and get it, so that I have a reasonably decent excuse to buy a new one. :)

It was a small Coast brand LED light. One of the single LED light lens models. $40 4 or 5 years ago. Bright as hell, but ate batteries (3 x AAA) like a mofo. It seemed to be bright for an hour or so, and then limp along until I could not take it anymore and replaced the batteries.

I was at Lowes today and saw the Maglite XL50 which looks nice. Similar to my old one. I think it was around $30. Thought about it and decided to hold off.

I have a headlight for crawls/attics....this is more of an "inspection" or "project" light for working in dark cabinets/racks, etc. I liked my old Mini Maglite and still have 1 or 2 floating around the house, but I went threw enough bulbs on them to switch to an LED light.

What do some of you other CIs use and recommend? Battery life, brightness, durability, cost....those are my top 4 priorities in order of importance....I am not looking to buy a $200 Surefire or anything. $50 would be the very upper end of my range at the moment.
"When I eat, it is the food that is scared." - Ron Swanson
Post 2 made on Thursday January 12, 2012 at 23:01
jimstolz76
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My main flashlight is actually a free LED light from Control4 that I got probably 1.5 years ago. Same batteries. YMMV. Pretty sure Garrity made it, you know, the ones that Home Depot sells in like 10 packs for $10.

Other than that I have a mini Mag lite that I practically never have on me, and an 18V Dewalt gooseneck 'lantern'. And a cheap Energizer headlamp. Any my EVO flashlight app. That gets used 100x more than anything else because it's always right at hand.
Post 3 made on Thursday January 12, 2012 at 23:39
roddymcg
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On January 12, 2012 at 23:01, jimstolz76 said...
My main flashlight is actually a free LED light from Control4 that I got probably 1.5 years ago. Same batteries. YMMV. Pretty sure Garrity made it, you know, the ones that Home Depot sells in like 10 packs for $10.

Other than that I have a mini Mag lite that I practically never have on me, and an 18V Dewalt gooseneck 'lantern'. And a cheap Energizer headlamp. Any my EVO flashlight app. That gets used 100x more than anything else because it's always right at hand.

Seems like I am using my phone more than anything these days as well. Until the battery dies.
When good enough is not good enough.
Post 4 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 00:06
bricor
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Check out Fenix. I have an eo1 on my keychain that is awesome and a ld20 for when I need something a little brighter.
Post 5 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 00:56
pilgram
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I've been using Streamlight Stylus Pro for a few years.I don't leave home without one!
Easy on the batteries(2 AAA) and pretty bright. Only $20 and they hold up.On average,I replace the batteries every two-three weeks but it gets a ton of use.

[Link: amazon.com]
Every day is a good day.......some are just better than others!

Proud to say that my property is protected by a high speed wireless device!
Post 6 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 10:00
ichbinbose
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[Link: buy1.snapon.com]

[Link: buy1.snapon.com]

the second one is really bright and the one I use the most.
Post 7 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 10:21
TRCGroup
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I use this the most, great because it uses the same batteries as all of my tools. About $30 from Milwaukee store.
Photobucket

This one sits in it's charger in my truck and gets used on initial walkthroughs. Around $100 from police supply store.
Photobucket

This one gets used in cabinets. $30 from WalMart.
Photobucket

All are rechargable and have very good battery life.
"You can't fix stupid."
Post 8 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 11:16
Bonavox
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Just bought one of these along with a few other items in this series. Pretty happy with performance and price. Love the rechargeable batteries.

[Link: homedepot.com]
Bill's Electric & Home Theater & Plumbing & Automation & Small Engine Repair, and Animal Removal Services......did I mention we do remotes also?
Post 9 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 13:14
Ernie Gilman
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There's a big dividing line in LED flashlights, and it's the presence or lack of electronics, basically being a buck/boost power supply.

Remember from our LED discussions that LEDs have a voltage drop across them, so they totally quit when the voltage drops below that value.

If a flashlight is just a stupid set of batteries and an LED, it will quit when the voltage reaches about 2.5. If this flashlight has two AAs or AAAs, it will quit or limp when the batteries are at about 60% (a guess) of full capacity. Those are the dollar flashlights.

A flashlight that's got a converter in it, usually referred to quite mysteriously simply as "technology," then that circuit supplies a constant voltage and current to the LED unti the battery is really really depleted.

It used to be that the "technology" type LED flashights were about $30 and up, but there are probably ordinary ones in that price range now. They just run down in a few hours, then you have to throw out batteries that would still be plenty useful in a flashlight with an incandescent bulb.

Look for the description to mention technology or some other such thing. And remember there are still rechargeable Mag and Streamlights that are just batteries and a light bulb.

I'm not giving you an actual model recommendation as mine came from Tech Tools, and when I inquired recently about addition batteries, they said they had none as this was a short-run product and replacements don't exist. I guess you should try to avoid that, too.

Oh, yeah, in the process of looking for lights, many people said that a "tactical" flashlight has that name for no reason at all. Tech Tools finally clued me in -- a tactical flashlight has some kind of sharpish edges or other feature that makes it a MEAN weapon when jammed sharply into someone's eye socket. (Mine makes a nice hexagonal scar on, say, a forehead, too.) After hearing that, I see it clearly on every one named "tactical."
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 10 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 14:09
jcbremotes
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On January 13, 2012 at 00:06, bricor said...
Check out Fenix. I have an eo1 on my keychain that is awesome and a ld20 for when I need something a little brighter.

+1
Post 11 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 14:12
Bruce Sinclair
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I generally carry a nine led small flashlight from Lowes. They are about 15 bucks and take 3 AAA batteries. It is bright and can be held between your teeth when you need both hands.
Bruce Sinclair CMB Integrations LLC DMC-E
"Those who are most critical, often have no real skills themsevles"
Post 12 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 17:28
Hasbeen
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I have 4 things in my life that I cannot keep, no matter what I do.

1. Lighter
2. Pen
3. Watch
4. Flashlight

I cannot keep any of these things, therefore I buy the nicest "cheap" flashlight that I can.  I use a mini-maglight about $25.
Post 13 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 17:37
39 Cent Stamp
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On January 13, 2012 at 17:28, Hasbeen said...
I have 4 things in my life that I cannot keep, no matter what I do.

1. Lighter

I had this problem until i quit smoking.

2. Pen

Yep.

3. Watch
4. Flashlight

I have never lost a watch or a flashlight but i don't think i have ever picked one up that didn't need batteries.
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 14 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 17:40
edizzle
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On January 13, 2012 at 17:28, Hasbeen said...
I have 4 things in my life that I cannot keep, no matter what I do.

1. Lighter
2. Pen
3. Watch
4. Flashlight

I cannot keep any of these things, therefore I buy the nicest "cheap" flashlight that I can.  I use a mini-maglight about $25.

LOL!!!!!!

me too. for the love of God, i cant keep a damn one of them. Also, sunglasses!

I cant tell you how many pairs of $150-300 sunglasses i have lost. I love nice shades but quit buying them probably 5 years ago because i just cant keep them.
I love supporting product that supports me!
OP | Post 15 made on Friday January 13, 2012 at 18:32
Audiophiliac
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I am thinking a nice penlight will be good enough. I have a cheapy freebie LED light from a vendor....and somewhere I do have a mini maglite that I put an LED conversion in years ago. I just have to find it. Also, like many others, my phone has a great light on it that gets used often. Just do not leave it in a rack. ;)

But both of those, and the one I just lost, are "dumb"....without "technology" I am guessing.

I just starting carrying my Bosch PS10 again and if I can find the light that used the same batteries, I will probably pick it up....I need new batteries for the driver anyway.
"When I eat, it is the food that is scared." - Ron Swanson
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