Flashlights - it's sorta related to ecigs, they use batteries :)

[Racehorse]

I live in the woods, and need a very reliable flashlight.

I have one of those HUGE maglights, long, takes lot of big batteries.

I also have 2 mini's, which I love, because you can screw the tops off and flip and use for a "candle". I live in a place where there are a lot of storms, and I don't use candles......so many people burn their houses down with candles, and I'm living in all wood cabin, in the woods. Too much wood.

Anyway, I was happy to see there is an upgrade kit now available for maglites to turn them into LEDs. (replaces incandescent inside, you remove the reflector shield too).

But none of these really have the power I need in case something happens at night...I have bears (they are pretty harmless) but sometimes horses and cattle wandering up to my porch if they get loose from somebody's pasture---at any rate, I need to be able to *see* what is out there LOL

I've tried to buy those super powerful lights, big pain, they consume so much batt power that you use them once then it's back on the charger again....ugh.

Anyway, any ideas?

 

[DaveP]

I have one of these. It's 170 lumens, 8 hours on high setting, 14 hours on low setting (which is still really bright). It uses 6 AAA batteries and I'd recommend a 15 minute charger and some NIMH Ray-O-Vac IC3 15 minute charge batteries so that you can have two sets to swap out.

I grab this flashlight any time I need a light outside, but it isn't that often I have to use it. I have a couple of MagLites that use D cells. Those used to be the ones I took on vacation for night walks on the beach, now it's the Craftsman. The Craftsman fits in my back pocket and provides equal or better light than the Mags, which are the old filament type bulbs with 3 and 5 cell D battery power.

The batteries fit into a plastic holder that slides into the barrel. If you could get a spare, you'd have a quick swap and 16 hours of light at the brighter 170 lumens setting. This thing will paint a good sized bright spot on the top of a tall tree and make a blue streak if you shine it upwards into the night sky. It also spreads enough light on the ground in front of you to illuminate your path while still having a hot spot in the center that directs a stabbing beam a long way. I'm not saying it's the best light available, but for the money, it's a good light. You can spend $200 on some of the tactical lights that are made for law enforcement and the military. This one is on sale for $35.99 at Sears online.

There's one guy in the reviews who makes a big deal about the switch being on the side instead of on the bottom. I found that the switch is right under my thumb when I grab it. the switch is covered by a rubber disc that waterproofs it and you push it once for bright and a second time for battery saver. Push it again and it's off. The switch is also in a recessed cutout to prevent accidental turn on. I find the switch to be right where I want it. Go figure.

Going from one of the mini mag AA lights with the tiny two prong bulbs to this one is a world of difference. It makes those look like toys.

Craftsman LED Flashlight, Luxeon K2, 1 flashlight - Tool Catalog - Electrical - Flashlights

Before I bought this light, I went to the CandlePower forums and read some threads about it. The veterans scoffed at it at first, then one of the 18650 guys said he kept one in his truck and it was a good light. They decided to do a test and post pictures of it compared to one of the really good lights they prized. The tests showed me that the $35 light was just about as good as some of the expensive lights that they used and assured me that it was the one I wanted around the house for the price. These are guys who talk flashlights like we talk ecigs. There's no end to their quest to own the latest and greatest.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...T!-quot-PICS-ADDED-with-Revised-Details!-quot

 

[Racehorse]

This sounds PERFECT, Dave. I like the switch on the side as well.

I gotta go buy a 19.2V Diehard replacement battery for my drill, so I will just pick this up at the same time while shopping Sears.

Thank you for introducing this product to me.

I may also have to buy the LED kit though for my maglight...I mean, getting rid of the 2 prong bulb might make those "better" anyway, and since I already own them, I can improve them for $11 bucks or so. Yes, that big maglight takes 6 batts, very heavy. But I keep in my truck for protection too LOL Never know when a gal might have to conk somebody over the head LOL

 

[DaveP]

This sounds PERFECT, Dave. I like the switch on the side as well.

I gotta go buy a 19.2V Diehard replacement battery for my drill, so I will just pick this up at the same time while shopping Sears.

Thank you for introducing this product to me.

I may also have to buy the LED kit though for my maglight...I mean, getting rid of the 2 prong bulb might make those "better" anyway, and since I already own them, I can improve them for $11 bucks or so. Yes, that big maglight takes 6 batts, very heavy. But I keep in my truck for protection too LOL Never know when a gal might have to conk somebody over the head LOL

I always felt much safer walking the beach in Daytona with a 5 cell Maglite with drunk teenagers all up and down the beach. Now, we go to Cape San Blas where it's a family atmosphere and low density beach walkers. Even with the Craftsman, you could knock some respect into someone if you needed to. The police carry a Kubaton, which is an 8 inch aluminum billy club about 3/4" in diameter. They lay people out flat with it. It's all about pressure points and acoustic shock.

The good part about the 15 minute rechargeable batteries is that they maintain almost max power until right before they start to fade, kind of like ecig batteries. Standard batteries work fine in that light, but they gradually fade in voltage over time. The IC3 NiMH batteries will be bright most of their charge life, then start to fade quickly, so a spare set would be good for a walk in the woods.

 

[Iffy]

Oh lardy, don't get me back into da 'ultimate flashlight' hunt... vaping is as addictive!

No... noo... nooo... I'll not revisit da CandlePower forum... well, OK, maybe just a lil' peek...

 

[DaveP]

Oh lardy, don't get me back into da 'ultimate flashlight' hunt... vaping is as addictive!

No... noo... nooo... I'll not revisit da CandlePower forum... well, OK, maybe just a lil' peek...

I've always been a flashlight lover, since Boy Scouts. You can't live in the woods at night without a good light source. I used to carry one of those sealed beam lights with the big square dry cell and a swivel head. The didn't hold a candle (pun intended) to the new ones of today, but they did the job.

BTW, Racehorse, make sure you see post #35 in the Candlepower forum link above ... actual photos of the Craftsman at work beside some more expensive lights.

 

[SilverBear]

Ohhhhh... flashlights!!! I misread the thread title.

Carry on.

 

[Off Topic]

A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste.

 

[Racehorse]

BTW, Racehorse, make sure you see post #35 in the Candlepower forum link above ... actual photos of the Craftsman at work beside some more expensive lights.

No, just found it now since you pointed it out. Interesting.

I think I need to check out more...........the 6 AAA batteries kinda got to me.

 

[DaveP]

No, just found it now since you pointed it out. Interesting.

I think I need to check out more...........the 6 AAA batteries kinda got to me.

8 hours of use on high is admirable for the light that flashlight produces. As I said, I like the 15 minute IC3 rechargeable batteries. They have a discharge curve that's pretty much flat until the end where they begin to drop off. Standard alkalines drop off gradually, so you get less light over time as they fade. With NiMH, you get bright light throughout the charge and then a rapid dropoff. You can charge IC3 15 minute batteries in a vehicle just like your ecig. A spare battery holder might be good for quick changes in the woods. You just pop in the new ones and screw the cap on, like changing an 18650.

You can spend $70 to $100 or more and get a real torch these days. It depends on what you want out of a flashlight and how much you are willing to pay. I'd try to find one that uses IMR batteries. You don't want yours to turn into a fragmentation grenade with Li-ion batteries.
Top 12 Tactical Flashlights

 

[Racehorse]

8 hours of use on high is admirable for the light that flashlight produces. As I said, I like the 15 minute IC3 rechargeable batteries.

You make a good point here.

You can spend $70 to $100 or more and get a real torch these days. It depends on what you want out of a flashlight and how much you are willing to pay. I'd try to find one that uses IMR batteries. You don't want yours to turn into a fragmentation grenade with Li-ion batteries.
Top 12 Tactical Flashlights

Will look again.

boy I sure wish they could make solar ones that can really suck in the light and be stronger. Those little LEDs that you can line your driveway with or your garden are great so far.......and during a electrical outage, some don't realize that you can actually pluck them out of the ground and bring into the house......plenty of light.

I don't burn candles during weather events.....too risky. Esp. duriing tornadic activity. So many many house fires and fires in the woods are caused by live flames. Knocking over stuff, etc.

Thanks for all the help, Dave.