Replaceing my minimag 2AA

J

Josh Wilson

Joined
Aug 3, 2000
Messages
232
I've heard a lot about LED lights and I want to find one to replace my 2AA minimag. I am hoping to get better performance in terms of output and more importantly life while still maintaining the same approximate size/weight/waterproofness/durability/cost. I would also like to stick with AA batteries if possible. (I guess what I would like is a minimag with an LED instead of a bulb.)

Could someone more familiar with the world of LED lights give some recommendations?
 
There are several out there...if I were you, I'd check out http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ Ask you question there and it will get tossed around by people who are as crazy about flashlights as we are about knives...

Incidenty, the LED lights that I have and use:

an Arc LE (1-AAA) on my keychain (hard to find, about $40, but almost as bright as your maglight)
(3) CMG Infinity task lights (1-AA) for various military and camping tasks (red, green, and amber LEDs) - long batt. life, not as bright as an Arc.
A few Photon IIs for other keyrings (white and red), and sleeping bag zipper-pulls, etc...
a Streamlite Baton-lite (uses Lithium 123s). This is close to your AA mag in size and also can serve as a kuboton.
And finally a Princeton Tec Matrix headlamp (2-AA) - 3 white LEDs...waterproof to 2000'...very nice!.

My tip is to use lithium AAs over alkalines for LEDs...they will give over 2X battery life, are not affected by freezing, and give more light output.
 
Warriorsociologist,
Why did you change you name?
Was it offensive to those that are ignorant of its true meaning?
 
Originally posted by MyNamesUsed
Warriorsociologist,
Why did you change you name?
Was it offensive to those that are ignorant of its true meaning?
Click to expand...

No, actually, I had used "Warriorsociologist" for a long time on E-Bay and other forums. I was just so enamored with the new bike I built; I changed my name to "rigormootis" when I joined this forum. Then, after several individuals figured out who I was, they wanted to know why I had changed to RM. I didn't have that great of a reason and I rather missed the old name (It speaks more to who I am that does the name of the bike I ride). Thus, I changed (back) to my original name.:cool:
 
The only LED light I own at present is the CMG Infinity. Great "little" light, and much better output than what I was originally hoping for. I mainly got it for its tiny size and phenomenal longevity. But everybody says that lithium batteries make it an even better light, with more light output AND longer duration. But where does one find lithium batteries? I've looked in all the stores around here, and while they sell rechargeable batteries, none have lithiums. Could somebody tell me a good place to find these so-far mythic batteries? And waht's a good brand nale to look for?
 
Yep, Walmart is the place for lithium AA batteries. They have them in the Photo department. I found them right by the register, not on the racks with the other batteries. Figure about $10 for a four-pack.

The ones I found were made by Energizer. I've not found any made by anyone else, but that could be a failure of my not looking harder for them.

That Infinity LED light advertises 40+ hours runtime with an Alkaline AA battery. So a lithium battery should ramp that up to about 100-150 hours of runtime. I find the Infinity not as bright as a Photon II, but always carry one (along with a couple of Photon II's) for the comfort offered by its extremely long runtime.
 
Excellent! Thanks, guys. I'll have to check out Wal-Mart the next time I'm in town. And for 3 to 4 times the run-time on my CMG light, it's worth the extra price of the batteries. Imagine nearly a full week of constant-on light from a tiny little thing like that. I bet Rambo would have liked to have had one of those in the cave scene. :~}
 
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