To provide a little more information; flashlight will be used at our summer cottage and I might need 4-5 hours of runtime with high output and a 10-pack of aa-sized alkalines. And whats high enough for me, well, rc-n3 wasnt enough with alkalines. Althought runtime was great, over 2 hours.
Oh, and before i forget; I do not actually need a thrower. More of a all-around light. Would a reflector change help?
Thanks in advance,Pyra
Vectrex
- 2010.03.07
- 23:57:36
I think the L2R is the way to go if you rely on standard AA cells,
but for the runtime you need I would seriously consider switching to
18650's. You can get 2.5-3 hours on very high brightness levels and
they are cheaper in the long run. Also the new R5 drop-ins blow the
L2R away in light output, especially the side spill, but they are only available in LIION configuration.
But coming back to the L2R:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=246286 (extensive test, bit hard to read)
In a German forum someone wrote 80-90 min endurance on high before it gets visibly darker, with 5 sets of batteries that would translate into 6-7 hours runtime. ( source in german and the crude translation ) I have the mentioned low voltage drop-in with 3 modes. If you intend to buy from ITC make sure they send you a drop-in with golden springs and a white emitter PCB, that one is considerably brighter than the ones with silver springs.
I have 2 L2R and I only use Eneloops and I think regulation is better than most budget lights in that price range.
The reflector shape is more or less the same in all P60 drop-in I have seen. They are all designed to be more "throwy" than "floody" but a big difference is the emitter that is used, so an XP-G has more side spill than an XR-E. An orange peel reflector is also good for less cree-rings™ and more side spill.



More explanation here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2992875
old4570
- 2010.03.08
- 08:08:12
3rd option = L2M [ 18650 body ] + CR123A extension ...
Allows for / CR123A / 18650 / or 2xAA ... I have several lights set up to run this way ..
Or a 9P [ 501C ] , these are 3xCR123A P60 host bodies , pop in a low voltage drop in , and run 2xAA [ I have this set up as a dedicated 2xAA ]
Well , you will most likely end up with the 0.8v - 4.2v pill ... Since you will need this voltage range to run 2xAA or 3xAAA
Alkalines 2xAA
Low mode = 0.11A
Medium mode = 0.44A
High = 1A
Varta 2xAA
0.14A
0.5A
1.15A
L2i
3xAAA
Rechargeable = 3.94v Total
0.08A Low
0.36A Med
0.85A
Dry Cells = 4.96v
0.07A Low
0.32A Medium
0.67A High
Single AA
Varta
0.13A Low
0.67A Med
1.8A High
The good thing about the L2i , its a battery host , 3xAAA , CR123A with adapter , 14500 , AA , 18500 , 18650 ...
I would not trade away my L2i , anything you can jerry rig to run in the body will power the light .
All pills are 0.8v to 4.2v Solarforce 3 mode low voltage ...