LED Flashlights - Worth Bothering with?

[Chris F.]

Just looking around at some LED flashlights on Ebay, and I was wondering
how much better they actually are, if any. I have a small 4-AA cell
flashlight I use for service work (especially handy when poking around in
old console TVs), it will give about 8 - 10 hours of usable light on a pack
of Energizer Industrial batteries. If an LED flashlight could provide at
least as much light, and save 50 - 75% on batteries, it would certainly be
worth my while. There seem to be quite a few choices in terms of the number
of LEDs (anywhere from 1 to 32). I was considering a 7-LED simply because I
could power it from my existing stock of AA batteries.
Any advice?

 

[Jim Yanik]

Just looking around at some LED flashlights on Ebay, and I was
wondering
how much better they actually are, if any. I have a small 4-AA cell
flashlight I use for service work (especially handy when poking around
in old console TVs), it will give about 8 - 10 hours of usable light
on a pack of Energizer Industrial batteries. If an LED flashlight
could provide at least as much light, and save 50 - 75% on batteries,
it would certainly be worth my while. There seem to be quite a few
choices in terms of the number of LEDs (anywhere from 1 to 32). I was
considering a 7-LED simply because I could power it from my existing
stock of AA batteries.
Any advice?

Some LED flashlights are small enough that they can be carried on your
person,for when you might need some light.And LED flashlights are generally
more efficient in battery life than incandescents.I have two keychain LED
lights,one red,one white light,a tiny 1 cell white LED light(AAA cell),and
a 4 LED 2-AA (white)light that I made myself.I also have a 3 LED head-
mounted light for no-hands operation.(I keep that one in my car) It's about
the size of a golf ball. The smaller ones run on alkaline or lithium button
cells,and the larger one on AA cells.

No,they aren't as bright as a decent incandescent,but still very useful.
It all depends on your application/needs.Have a pocket/keychain LED light
in an emergency,where you normally would not have any flashlight handy.
Ones that run on lithium cells have very long storage lives,too.

Wal-Mart and Target have some inexpensive LED lights.My single AAA LED
light cost $6 USD at Wal-Mart.(Garrity LED light)

 

[Jerry G.]

I have used a small one, and found it very good. I suggest you try one to
see how you like it. The one I have is a bit blue in colour. I have seen
these in Radio Shack and in a number of large hardware stores. I would
rather buy one locally than from the net.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
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Just looking around at some LED flashlights on Ebay, and I was wondering
how much better they actually are, if any. I have a small 4-AA cell
flashlight I use for service work (especially handy when poking around in
old console TVs), it will give about 8 - 10 hours of usable light on a pack
of Energizer Industrial batteries. If an LED flashlight could provide at
least as much light, and save 50 - 75% on batteries, it would certainly be
worth my while. There seem to be quite a few choices in terms of the number
of LEDs (anywhere from 1 to 32). I was considering a 7-LED simply because I
could power it from my existing stock of AA batteries.
Any advice?

 

[Ron Bean]

If an LED flashlight
could provide at least as much light, and save 50 - 75% on batteries,
it would certainly be worth my while. There seem to be quite a few
choices in terms of the number of LEDs (anywhere from 1 to 32). I was
considering a 7-LED simply because I could power it from my existing
stock of AA batteries.

The light is not as bright but the color is better (blue-white
instead of yellow-orange) and more diffuse (no strange beam
patterns). I find them more useful than small incandescent
flashlights. My only complaint is that one fell off my keychain
and I lost it (and it wasn't cheap).

If you'd use it a lot, don't hesitate to spend the money for a
good one (more LEDs = more light). If you want to experiment with a
cheap one first, make sure it has a white LED (the *really* cheap
ones are red).

The real drawback is that, like most flashlights, they don't work
with dead batteries. There's one that has a magnet and a coil of
wire in it, so you can charge it up by shaking it. Has anyone
tried this one?

 

[Ian.2]

Just looking around at some LED flashlights on Ebay, and I was wondering
how much better they actually are, if any.

I've got a Cateye white LED light on my bicycle, and find it very good, the
light is very bright, but a different sort of colour to a normal filament
lamp. Not sure I'd get on with it as a work-light, but then I find I can't
get on with a portable flourescent work light either - I prefer the more
direct illumination of a filament, be it battery or mains powered I guess.

Chief advantage of course is the battery life, and there's no lamps to blow
through age or rough handling (up to a point!)

Ian

 

[Ken G.]

I have a small set . One is a keychain size it takes a stack of 3 watch
batterys and is very bright white it throws better light than my regular
2AA bulb flashligh . It is great to keep in any pocket to use to see
part numbers on parts on a circuit board or down inside a cabinet . very
nice to take along to swap meets & yard sales to see down in the back of
things before you buy them .
Or for those of us who go so early its still dark outside

The other one is bigger and takes 1 AA bat. it is not as bright it
comes with a silly belt pouch . I have not had the chance yet to
experience battery life .
These are both small lights ment for looking in places and not good
enough to light your way in the dark outside other than on the ground in
front of you .

These came from Costco for aprox 20$
for the set Its worth a try .

 

[Tim Auton]

Just looking around at some LED flashlights on Ebay, and I was wondering
how much better they actually are, if any.

The flashlight junkies hang out here:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/

Check the forums, there are loads of reviews of all manner of lights
there, including many LED models. Lots of good links too, buried in
the posts. For your purposes I think an LED light would be a good
choice.


Tim

 

[michael turner]

I've got a Cateye white LED light on my bicycle, and find it very good,
the light is very bright, but a different sort of colour to a normal
filament lamp. Not sure I'd get on with it as a work-light, but then I
find I can't get on with a portable flourescent work light either - I
prefer the more direct illumination of a filament, be it battery or mains
powered I guess.

Chief advantage of course is the battery life, and there's no lamps to
blow through age or rough handling (up to a point!)

Talking about lights on vehicles. I notice that few new vehicles (buses,
cars, and lorries) now have LED tail-lights, brake-lights, and indicators.
How long before LED head-lights I wonder ?

There are also a few LED traffic-lights around here to. South West, UK.

 

[Michael Black]

The light is not as bright but the color is better (blue-white
instead of yellow-orange) and more diffuse (no strange beam
patterns). I find them more useful than small incandescent
flashlights. My only complaint is that one fell off my keychain
and I lost it (and it wasn't cheap).

If you'd use it a lot, don't hesitate to spend the money for a
good one (more LEDs = more light). If you want to experiment with a
cheap one first, make sure it has a white LED (the *really* cheap
ones are red).

The real drawback is that, like most flashlights, they don't work
with dead batteries. There's one that has a magnet and a coil of
wire in it, so you can charge it up by shaking it. Has anyone
tried this one?

I had a cheap pocket one, it sold for five dollars, that I was
happy with because of it's small size. I found like a lot of
things, I used it because it was handy, when I wasn't expecting
to use a flashlight that much. It ran off three button cells,
which happened to be the same type as used in cheap laser pointers
taht are readily available here, for as little as $1.99. It
was not a particularly bright light, but if there was so little
surrounding light that I needed it, it was fine. The big problem
with it was that the on/off switch was too easy to press, so often
I found it turned on when I took it out of my pocket.

I gave it away, not to get rid of it, and intend to buy another one
eventually.

I was all set to buy a fancy and expensive LED flashlight, when I wsa
given a Maglite a year ago. Considering the only reason I wanted
an LED flashlight was for it's novelty, the fact that I had a pretty
good flashlight in the Maglite made me put off spending thirty dollars
or so on an LED flashlight.

I don't know how to compare them, but I notice you can get LED bike
lights, with white LEDs, that come cheaper than LED flashlights.
They perhaps are a good balance between cost and output, at least
a step up from the five dollar pocket lights without the full cost.

Michael

 

[Jim Yanik]

[email protected] (Ron Bean) wrote in

The light is not as bright but the color is better (blue-white
instead of yellow-orange) and more diffuse (no strange beam
patterns). I find them more useful than small incandescent
flashlights. My only complaint is that one fell off my keychain
and I lost it (and it wasn't cheap).

First thing to do is to buy some split rings in the sporting goods
department (where the fishing stuff is) and replace the hardware on the
light.

 

[jakdedert]

I had a cheap pocket one, it sold for five dollars, that I was
happy with because of it's small size. I found like a lot of
things, I used it because it was handy, when I wasn't expecting
to use a flashlight that much. It ran off three button cells,
which happened to be the same type as used in cheap laser pointers
taht are readily available here, for as little as $1.99. It
was not a particularly bright light, but if there was so little
surrounding light that I needed it, it was fine. The big problem
with it was that the on/off switch was too easy to press, so often
I found it turned on when I took it out of my pocket.

I gave it away, not to get rid of it, and intend to buy another one
eventually.

I was all set to buy a fancy and expensive LED flashlight, when I wsa
given a Maglite a year ago. Considering the only reason I wanted
an LED flashlight was for it's novelty, the fact that I had a pretty
good flashlight in the Maglite made me put off spending thirty dollars
or so on an LED flashlight.

I don't know how to compare them, but I notice you can get LED bike
lights, with white LEDs, that come cheaper than LED flashlights.
They perhaps are a good balance between cost and output, at least
a step up from the five dollar pocket lights without the full cost.

Michael

I've owned about ten Maglite AA flashlights over the years. I had one that
I kept for almost ten years, then lost it, but....

My main 'work' flashlight is now a 3 - AA LED unit from C. Crane. It's got
some drawbacks, but compared to the Mag's, it also has significant
advantages: You can drop it, throw it...whatever, and the lamp (two LED's)
will not burn out from shock. The LED's don't 'silver up' from use (The
main gripe I've got with the little halogens in the Mag's, is the fact that
after a few hours use, the light output decreases significantly due to the
filament outgassing onto the inside of the envelope). Three AA's are good
for 50 hours at full brightness, plus an additional 100 hours usable light
if you don't get around to replacing them. I use Nimh's, so even that's not
an issue. When using it, I usually just turn it on and leave it
on...something I never did with the Mag's.

The plastic housing is not as solid feeling as the Mag's, but has proven to
be very durable over four years of hard use. The newer units from C. Crane
have active current limiting, according to their website. Mine's just a
housing and two LED's...probably somewhere in there is a current limit
resistor. The switch on mine has gotten intermittant. It depends on
pressing the pc board which holds the LED's down onto a contact; and the
trace where it makes that contact is wearing away...still works, but is a
bit hinky sometimes. Cost was an issue, around $30.

I firmly believe that in a few years time, most flashlights will be LED's,
they're that good. The cost will come down, and they'll suss out how to
concentrate and focus the beam--the main drawback, IMO.

jak

 

[jakdedert]

There are now 110 v incandescant replacement modules available. One
significant development is a replacement for the PAR 64 1kw stage lighting
lamp. Since it makes use of color mixing in order to obtain white light,
simply by varying the mix, you can get any desired color from one fixture
without the use of filters. I expect it will eventually take the place of
incandescants in this application.

The advantages are manifold...not the least being the increase in
efficiency. I've hauled and run hundreds of miles of 0000 feeder cable in
my lifetime--and many, many more miles of 12 gauge multicore load cable over
lighting trusses, and through crawl spaces--when putting together
productions...only to tear it all out again a few days (sometimes hours)
later when the show was over. 'Portable' dimmers for stage applications can
weigh up to a half a ton, with 1/4 ton units being common. This will
improve as well. Supplying high-current DC to the fixtures will present a
challenge, but nothing beyond the current state of technology.

jak

message

 

[Guest]

Who's making that PAR replacement? Mole-Richardson?

 

[Andrew Rossmann]

[This followup was posted to sci.electronics.repair and a copy was sent to
the cited author.]

Just looking around at some LED flashlights on Ebay, and I was wondering
how much better they actually are, if any. I have a small 4-AA cell
flashlight I use for service work (especially handy when poking around in
old console TVs), it will give about 8 - 10 hours of usable light on a pack
of Energizer Industrial batteries. If an LED flashlight could provide at
least as much light, and save 50 - 75% on batteries, it would certainly be
worth my while. There seem to be quite a few choices in terms of the number
of LEDs (anywhere from 1 to 32). I was considering a 7-LED simply because I
could power it from my existing stock of AA batteries.

Check out this web site. Tons of reviews on everything LED, and more:
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/

 

[jakdedert]

I'm not sure, I read about it in the ESTA Protocol magazine, and some guy
who had been to LDI last year confirmed it.

jak

 

[H. R. Bob Hofmann]

There are now 110 v incandescant replacement modules available. One
significant development is a replacement for the PAR 64 1kw stage lighting
lamp. Since it makes use of color mixing in order to obtain white light,
simply by varying the mix, you can get any desired color from one fixture
without the use of filters. I expect it will eventually take the place of
incandescants in this application.

The advantages are manifold...not the least being the increase in
efficiency. I've hauled and run hundreds of miles of 0000 feeder cable in
my lifetime--and many, many more miles of 12 gauge multicore load cable over
lighting trusses, and through crawl spaces--when putting together
productions...only to tear it all out again a few days (sometimes hours)
later when the show was over. 'Portable' dimmers for stage applications can
weigh up to a half a ton, with 1/4 ton units being common. This will
improve as well. Supplying high-current DC to the fixtures will present a
challenge, but nothing beyond the current state of technology.

jak

message
news[email protected]...

Where I live, in Naperville IL, almost all traffic lights are LEDs...
According to city officials, the increased cost is more than offset by
the reduced electrical consumption and the savings in labor due to
semi-infinite lofe compared to the light bulbs

 

[James Sweet]

Where I live, in Naperville IL, almost all traffic lights are LEDs...
According to city officials, the increased cost is more than offset by
the reduced electrical consumption and the savings in labor due to
semi-infinite lofe compared to the light bulbs

This is the case in many places now, my uncle is a signal electrician, he
recently worked on a project to retrofit a number of intersections, material
cost was under $5000 and they found it saved $10,000 in electricity in the
first year. The labor to upgrade was little more than that needed for a
yearly relamping and the LED's last 10 years.

 

[paul405]

hi there

i have a single led keyring type led torch
it doesent have any refeckector , just a 3v battery and a led
and irs very bright , i went on a walk , recently
down a dark country road , no lihgts anywhere
and saw a road-sign above a bridge the road was completely dark .
i continued on my walk , and kept turning around and shining it at the
sign-post , i walked over 350 paces , and i could still see the sign
refelcting
the light my keyring torch was emmiting , iam 5.8" high and have a standard
pace length

i could not go any further , as the road bent to the left .
if led torches had more leds of this kind in , iam sure it
would be absoulty brilliant , and i'am thinking of making one myself


hope the info , helps ..

oh yer and this one is blue in colour

de paul