Author Topic: LED flashlights (Read 1478 times)

Questor · « **on:** December 21, 2009, 09:26:39 AM »

I needed a new flashlight for in my toolbox and found a little LED model at Walmart for about $6. Runs on two AA cells. Wow! Awesome! I know the LED flashlights used to be expensive, but the prices have really come down. If you're a flashlight afficianado like me, you want to check them out. I've had this little light for about six months now and I'm really impressed. Much better than incandescent.

This would make a dandy stocking stuffer.

teamnelson · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2009, 09:52:32 AM »

Depending on the bore of the flashlight body, a couple of enterprising DIY types have reamed a plastic body to take the CR123A batteries, and basically made their $6 flashlight into a SureFire. I've seen the lumens compared, and its cool. I'm a flashlight collector as well.

I took the 6led headlamp from walmart on two tours to Iraq, and that is one awesome piece of gear.

Sourdough · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2009, 10:19:12 AM »

I use the LED Headlamp for night hunting of predators. The red mode will last several nights. The wife has given Sky and I large LED flashlights for stocking stuffers two years running now. We told her no more big flashlights this year try to find some small ones.

I have a small flashlight that is crank powered, and LED light. Two years ago 2 hunters got lost while hunting Caribou. I saw their flashlight flicker just after dark, then go out. They were a long way off. I cranked my Flashlight and aimed it at them. I saw a white flash, then red light. I knew one of them had a LED headlight like one I carry. White light only last about two hours, Red light last several hours. after 20 to 30 minutes my crank light would go down to a soft glow. I would crank it back up to a bright light and aim it back toward them. I would fall asleep, then wake up and crank the light. I watched their progress through out the night. Seven hours later they made it to the bottom of the hill/bluff I was sitting on. They said my light was the only thing keeping them going. They said everytime they fell down in the Alders or mud, and was ready to give up, my light would brighten like it was calling them onward. So all of them LED lights are real nice to have around.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2009, 10:27:10 AM »

Another advantage to the led lights is that blood glows when blood-trailing at night.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #4 on:** December 22, 2009, 01:29:07 AM »

Quote from: TeamNelson on December 21, 2009, 09:52:32 AM

Depending on the bore of the flashlight body, a couple of enterprising DIY types have reamed a plastic body to take the CR123A batteries, and basically made their $6 flashlight into a SureFire. I've seen the lumens compared, and its cool. I'm a flashlight collector as well.

I took the 6led headlamp from walmart on two tours to Iraq, and that is one awesome piece of gear.

See the youtube for parts & assembly of the 123 type

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,192260.0.html

kynardsj · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2009, 02:19:41 AM »

I'm glad that I'm not the only flashlight nut around here. My wife tells everyone that if they don't know what to give me for Christmas or birthday then pick out a cool little flashlight. I also put a LED bulb in my 4-D cell Maglite. It cost as much as the light itself but WOW what a difference. At least two of my friends that saw it turned on at night went and bought the LED bulb for theirs.

rex6666 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2009, 06:37:30 AM »

Quote from: kynardsj on December 22, 2009, 02:19:41 AM

I'm glad that I'm not the only flashlight nut around here. My wife tells everyone that if they don't know what to give me for Christmas or birthday then pick out a cool little flashlight. I also put a LED bulb in my 4-D cell Maglite. It cost as much as the light itself but WOW what a difference. At least two of my friends that saw it turned on at night went and bought the LED bulb for theirs.

I have looked for the led bulb for a D-ceel Mag lite, where did you find them?

I have a streamlight that is rechargeable, really lot brighter than i thought,
have ask Santa to bring me a new one with car charger and extra bat.
Santa calls me a flashlight Freak.

RaySendero · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2009, 06:50:02 AM »

Quote from: mirage1988 on December 21, 2009, 10:27:10 AM

Another advantage to the led lights is that blood glows when blood-trailing at night.

mirage.

Quick please - Think this would be a good last minute Christmas present!

Do all of the "blue tint" LED lights show a blood glow?

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2009, 09:01:22 AM »

I got my LED kits for Mag Lights from GBO Sponsor Midsouth Shooters Supply.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2009, 09:08:36 AM »

The best flash light I have ever owned is my Dewalt 14.4 volt flash light. The great thing about it is it uses the same battery as my cordless drill and is very handy. It will stay lit for hours. Do any of you know if I could buy one of them LED bulbs for this flash light? If can you tell me where? Thanks Dale

lucky guy · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2009, 09:38:58 AM »

They all use the same led's and batteries, the difference between lights is the lens and the waterproofing of the cases. My favorite carry light is a small, slick LED called a Princeton Impact II. I think I got it at REI, about $20. 4 AAA's, sleek small case, O-ring seal, pocket clip, and a killer lens that projects a focused tight circle of light all the way out.

kynardsj · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2009, 10:19:55 AM »

The LED bulb I put in my Maglite came from Walmart for about $18.00. Probably could find one online from one of the sporting goods companies.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2009, 12:11:12 PM »

Quote from: RaySendero on December 22, 2009, 06:50:02 AM

Quote from: mirage1988 on December 21, 2009, 10:27:10 AM
Another advantage to the led lights is that blood glows when blood-trailing at night.

mirage.

Quick please - Think this would be a good last minute Christmas present!

Do all of the "blue tint" LED lights show a blood glow?

My LED headlamp and my mini-mag (replacement LED) both do, they both are blue, I can't say they all do I guess, just the ones I have used.

SteveHawaii · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2009, 12:33:45 PM »

Recently I stumbled upon a great little LED flashlight for $30 at Gander Mountain. Check it out at:
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=414671&pdesc=Gander_Mountain_125_Lumen_Handheld_LED_Flashlight&str=led%20flashlight&merchID=4005&r=view

It puts out 125 lumens on a single AA battery! It focuses and has a tactical switch at the rear. Battery lasts pretty long too. I've had it for several months now and haven't changed the battery yet. Shines really bright. My daughter saw how powerful and compact it was and wanted it for casual and defensive use. She loves it. It's small and light so it fits in her purse real nice. Living in Philadelphia she needs it. So I got another one. Now my wife took possession of that one. She takes the dog out for walks early in the morning and late at night. Again, she loves it. So I bought two more of them. They're going to end up as Christmas presents. Somehow I can't keep one for myself!

Not sure how it would stand up to recoil though. You might want a Surfire for that. But for casual use, this little light is great.

powderman · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2009, 03:41:14 PM »

REX6666. Walmart has those bulbs. Usually on a sidekick same aisle as the flashlights.
QUESTION. Do the LEDS actually lengthen the battery life??? I have a mini mag with a sgl led, how can converting to a 3 led light make my batteries last longer as claimed??? I also have a 2D cell maglite I thought about converting. Advantages?? Disadvantages??? POWDERMAN.

kynardsj · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2009, 04:06:11 PM »

Although I haven't tested LED's against regular bulbs I do know that my batteries seem to last a long time. I have several LED flashlights that have batteries more than two years old and still shining bright. One of the best and brightest is a Dorcy LED light I bought at Walmart that uses three AAA batteries that snap into a holder that has them sitting side by side. Throws an incredible spot. I own two Streamlights that use the lithium batteries but rarely use them anymore because of the bright LED lights I own that run on regular and less expensive batteries.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #16 on:** December 22, 2009, 04:25:05 PM »

These aint cheap but I started using 3 "C"cell led flashlights when I was in the marine business. They are made by "Pelican" they have no switch, you twist the head, so they are water proof and nothing to break. It also has a spring loaded clip for a belt.

The one here at my desk is 6 years old and going strong. It will light up a coyote at 100 yards and the batteries last months. The last one I bought was around 50 bucks, but it has paid for itself in batteries and no replacement costs.

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2009, 06:35:00 PM »

YES. LEDs with same light output increase battery life tremendously. Like by a factor of ten to twenty minimum often far more.

fr3db3ar · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2009, 06:54:05 PM »

For a bright powerful flashlight that runs on AAA rather than camera batteries......I recommend http://www.amazon.com/LED-Lenser-Power-Chip-Flashlight/dp/B000COMT1W This one.

I bought 2 and mounted one on my 22 WMR for night time use........this thing cuts the dark at a distance like a hot knife through butter.

teamnelson · « **Reply #19 on:** December 22, 2009, 09:37:15 PM »

fr3db3ar, got one of those V2 in 4 color: red, blue, green, and 3 white, or combination. They flew off the shelf whenever the mobile PX came to the FOB in Iraq cause they fit one of the surefire rail mounts, but run on AAAs forever.

Victor3 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 22, 2009, 10:04:30 PM »

If you want a tiny powerful light for your keychain, this one has been reviewed favorably...

http://www.countycomm.com/aaa.html

Three levels of output, one of the latest LED emitters, and weighs about the same as two large keys with a lithium AAA battery installed.

I have a similar one (same manufacturer) that has a better keychain attachment. It puts out ~20x the light of my older one shown above it here....

http://www.batteryjunction.com/itp-a3-eos-upgrade.html

I've got a 30 million candlepower HID spotlight that doesn't impress me as much a this little AAA one. It's always on me, so I get more use out of it than any light I have.

rex6666 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 23, 2009, 06:29:45 AM »

I bought 2 flash lights about 6' long on ebay for $11.00 they were shipped from
China ($11.00 and shipped from china) on the side they say made for U S A
very bright have 3 brightness and the rapid flash, uses the 3 AAA stacked together. How can they do that?

Bigeasy · « **Reply #22 on:** December 23, 2009, 06:47:00 AM »

I used to use a large, heavy, re-chargable Mag Lite flashlight when coyote hunting at night. It was very bright, very heavy and bulky. Then I picked up a Streamlight TLR-1 LED weapon light. 135 lumens, 2 1/2 hour run time. With a red filter mounted on the front, it is now mounted on my favorite coyote rifle, and works great. Can't get over how bright it is, compared to the older generation led bulbs that require multible bulbs for so so light output. I also have several LED lites that clip onto your hats visor, and they work great for walking out of the woods at night, while leaving your hands free.

Larry

mtbugle · « **Reply #23 on:** December 23, 2009, 10:32:19 AM »

I like these ideas for getting good performance from small flashlights. Do you have any neet ways to attach to the firearm other than expensive mounting systems. I would like to build up a nice gunmount system for my father in law for him to control preditors if attacking his sheep at night. Now he trys to hold lantern light in one hand while trying to shoot.
Thanks Don.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #24 on:** December 23, 2009, 01:07:39 PM »

I have not tried it but I bet Velcro would work well. Dale

teamnelson · « **Reply #25 on:** December 23, 2009, 01:17:57 PM »

The non-stick camo tape works good too for securing a light to a weapon temporarily.

hillbill · « **Reply #26 on:** December 23, 2009, 01:41:49 PM »

ive got one of the dewalt lights also but mine is a 18v. love it. also have a flouresent light that goes with my 19.2 craftsman tool batterys, its nice also. my go to deer hunting flashlight is a led ,blue point rechargable i got fron the snap on guy. just a little bigger than a tv remote but stout and long lasting.a little spendy at 70 buks but i use it almost every day for hunting or just working on stuff.betwixt the 3 of them im good for a nice long power outage also.

fr3db3ar · « **Reply #27 on:** December 23, 2009, 02:46:00 PM »

Quote from: mtbugle on December 23, 2009, 10:32:19 AM

I like these ideas for getting good performance from small flashlights. Do you have any neet ways to attach to the firearm other than expensive mounting systems. I would like to build up a nice gunmount system for my father in law for him to control preditors if attacking his sheep at night. Now he trys to hold lantern light in one hand while trying to shoot.
Thanks Don.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MA94OK/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001NX3HGC&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0DRQ1SCAYWAE61X1JANP

That is the one that I bought....I have it so it can slightly rotate on the scope....it's not leaving a mark....and folds down against the gun to go in the case. As it rotates up and around the scope it's still pointing to the same spot, so it doesn't matter where you have it turned for use. I mounted it forward on the scope so I can switch the light on with my left thumb while holding under the fore end. It clears the objective of my 40 with plenty of room left over.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #28 on:** December 23, 2009, 04:41:28 PM »

To mount the Streamlight to my CZ bolt action, I simply removed the front sling swivel, got a slightly longer screw from the hardware store, and attached an old weaver base I had laying around using the swivel hole. Attached the light to that base, and I can work the on / off switch with my left hand while I hoild the rifle. This should work for any flashlite designed to be mounted on a gun. For mounting a conventional style flashlite, I have seen several versions of a 2 peice figure eight mount that attaches to the barrel and flashlite body, like a clamp. Cheap, and designed for mini-mag lites, stingers, and small ones like that.

Larry

Victor3 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 23, 2009, 08:46:25 PM »

Quote from: mtbugle on December 23, 2009, 10:32:19 AM

I like these ideas for getting good performance from small flashlights. Do you have any neet ways to attach to the firearm other than expensive mounting systems. I would like to build up a nice gunmount system for my father in law for him to control preditors if attacking his sheep at night. Now he trys to hold lantern light in one hand while trying to shoot.
Thanks Don.

For a rifle bbl mount...

This one says it's for mounting a laser, but it would work fine with an aluminum flashlight under .78" diameter. If you wanted to use the rails, there are inexpensive flashlight clamps available to fit. If you have a flashlight with a 1" tube, a scope ring or two will do. Or, you could get him one of the gun lights with an integral rail mount.

http://www.amazon.com/UTG-Universal-Tri-Rail-Complete-Clamping/dp/B001BR2XH4/ref=pd_sbs_sg_24

Or even cheaper...

http://www.amazon.com/UTG-Universal-Single-Rail-Barrel-Picatinny/dp/B001WJ0CFQ/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1