Battery Vampires

[Sam Quint]

What are you using to discharge your cells down to .05 volts without leakage and/or failure.
This isn't a prepper, zombie or end of the world thread.  I infrequently do foreign aid projects in locations where the "world" ended several decades ago.  I have witnessed candles made of virtually nothing. Lint and beeswax. Amazing how adaptive we are. I love to give Vic and LM products in these places.

[Sazabi]

The Fenix E01 is great for AAA batteries, and the Gerber Infinity Ultra M (and Infinity Ultra, to a slightly lesser extent) are great for both AA and AAA batteries.  I have thirteen Ultra Ms and two Ultras, if memory serves, and something like four or five E01s. >.>

[enki_ck]

Off the top of my head, Fenix e01, gerber infinity, peak matterhorn (especially with a qtc pill). The new leds with ultra low mods are good for runtime but won't power on dead cells which these 3 do. I'll do a proper write up tomorrow, it's almost 4am here.

[enki_ck]

Looks like Rex beat me to it.

[gregozedobe]

What are you using to discharge your cells down to .05 volts without leakage and/or failure.

If you are using alkaline batteries then running them down absolutely flat will make many of the batteries leak and damage any "regular" light they are in.

I bought a "Joule thief" from a cpf modder many years ago, it has a 5mm LED on a simple circuit on one end, and a short wire to go to the other end of most 1.5v batteries (magnets hold the terminals onto each end of the battery).  It will suck batteries down pretty low, and every now and then one will leak.  If this happened with a conventional light the nasty fluid could corrode the circuit and/or jam the battery in the body of the light.

So be careful about completely draining alkaline batteries.

[cbl51]

I have not found another light for eddc use that I like as much as the Fenix EO1. There are brighter lights out there, lights with more throw, but not the insane long run times of good usable light for lots of hours. And the EO1 is so small that it's actually easier to just carry a spare E)1, and you have light for a couple of nights of heavy use in an emergency.

[Styerman]

Inova had a couple of models that would suck the last drop of juice out of both AA's and CR123"s . I dissrecall the model numbers .

Chris

[enki_ck]

OK, here's a quote from an old CPF thread about it titled "Battery Vampires - Lights that you can feed your "dead" cells to, listing..".   There was an updated version of the list but it got lost during the big CPF crash.

http://www.candlepowerfor...mp;viewfull=1#post3825023

*LAST UPDATED 12/05/09*

we all have cells lying around that are half dead, because they dont run our lights at nice powerful outputs anymore...so what are the lights that run depleted cells well on the various battery form factors?
i was thiking of making this a master listing thread for those...and make them commercially available lights...yes i know the milky candle exists, but im wondering whats on the commercial market too...

EDIT 17/1/08 : Please also recommend lights that suck batteries dry fast, ie: Hungry Vampires..

1xAA : Gerber Recon, thanks to angelofwar
1xAA : CMG Infinity,Thanks to greenLED
1xAA :Inova X1 gen2 , Thanks jumpstat

2xAA :2xAA :Opalec NewBeam for MiniMag, thanks to Sinjz
2xAA : Fenix L2D-CE, thanks to ValhallaPrime
2xAA : Gerber Trio , thanks AFAustin
2xAA

4xAA : UK 4 eLed ,thanks to Led Thrift
4xAA: Princeton Tec Attitude, thanks Jake.t

AAA : Dorcy 1 Led 1 AAA, thanks to p1fiend
AAA : Arc AAA , thanks greenLED
AAA : Peak Matterhorn, thanks AFAustin
AAA : Fenix E0
AAA : Fenix E01
A


Multiple "D" cell : Nite Ize PR Bulb Led Upgrade, thanks to marduke
Multiple "D" cell : Elektrolumens Lights, Thanks to subumbra
Multiple "D" cell :SMJLed , Thanks tebore

9 Volt : the PALight Range,thanks omega man

1xCR123A : Inova X5 (red), thanks to marduke
1xCR123A : Dorcy 1 watt CR123 thanks to TMorita
1xCR123A :The Old Arc Ls ,thanks to greenLED
1xCR123A : Tekna Splash-Lite LED,Thanks louroy
1xCR123A : Inova 24/7, thanks Joe Talmadge
1xCR123A : HDS on lowest setting , thanks Thermal Guy
1xCR123A : Peak McKinley , thanks AFAustin
1xCR123A :Nitecore Extreme, thanks to VF1Jskull1
1xCR123A :Ra Clicky/Ra Twisty thanks to 270winchester
1xCR123A :Surefire L1 thanks Flying_Turtle
1xCR123A :Lightflux LF3XT Thanks Flying_turtle
1xCR123A :Zebralight H30 Thanks Playboyjoeshmoe


Multiple Types: Streamlight Twin Task , thanks PlayboyJoeShmoe
Multiple Types: MAGled 2 cell , Thanks PCC


2xCR123A : Inova X5 (alot of votes)
2xCR123A : Smith & Wesson 9X Galaxy , thanks to angelofwar

The CMG Infinity is the original version of the Gerber Infinity before Gerber bought them. In my opinion the best battery vampire cause it can run on both AA and AAA batteries without an adapter and runs on batteries that even the Fenix E01 can't use anymore.


I agree with gregozedobe about running the batteries too low.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Another vote for the Gerber Infinity series and the E01

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[Gareth]

Another Gerber Infinity user here, though I have to admit it's been a while since it got a workout.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

For shame!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[NutSAK]

You can add just about any Peak model to the list.

My favorite Peak vampires:

For CR123: McKinley
For AA: Pacific
For AAA: Eiger

The Eiger #4 power is by far the best AAA light I've owned, including ARC and E01.

[enki_ck]

Terry, have you tried them with QTC? I left a Peak Matterhorn with a bit of QTC in it on for a day and a half, and it was still working when I turned it off.

+ the added benefit of the Peak lights being fully potted for the "locations where the "world" ended several decades ago" as the OP stated. Never heard of a broken Peak, sometimes the finish isn't the best, but they are as reliable as it gets.

[Gareth]

For shame!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

In my defence I just don't have that many alkaline batteries kicking around these days, it's all Eneloops in my gear.  I promise I'll give it some work soon though, OK?

[NutSAK]

Terry, have you tried them with QTC? I left a Peak Matterhorn with a bit of QTC in it on for a day and a half, and it was still working when I turned it off.

+ the added benefit of the Peak lights being fully potted for the "locations where the "world" ended several decades ago" as the OP stated. Never heard of a broken Peak, sometimes the finish isn't the best, but they are as reliable as it gets.

Yes, I've tried them all with QTC, including a Logan that has the Peak QTC pill in it.  Actually, I prefer the simple operation of low-power Peaks without the QTC.  As QTC wears, the reliability of the light is somewhat compromised.

I agree with you about the durable Peak build.  They are built for a lifetime of use.