Multitool.org Forum
Non Tool Forum => Flashlight Forum => Topic started by: Quartz on June 12, 2013, 09:08:28 AM
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My current EDC is an old-ass 2xAA maglite I've had forever, but with an added Nite Ize upgrade. I'm very happy with the NI, but I've decided that a 2xAA is too big and I'm sick of dragging it around all the time. I'm looking for a 1xAAA size equivalent. Looks like I can pick up one of the new Maglite Solitaire LEDs for about $15-20 range, but before I bite I'm wondering if there's anything better out there. I don't want anything fancy: nothing with a chip and half a dozen modes, just a simple cheap basic reliable LED with a battery and some metal to hold it together. I'd prefer twist-on if possible (last longer than buttons in my experience) and it needs either a clip or be thin and smooth enough to be rammed into a sharpie holster (ie; Maglite Solitaire). This will be exclusively for home/office work so I'm not terribly concerned with overall brightness or runtime as long as they're reasonable. The main thing I want is a near guarantee that I can get a solid 10+ years of use out of the thing as I have my current one.
Any suggestions?
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There's a bunch,but try a Fenix E05, or an Olight i03. The Olight as three modes which is a nice bonus :D
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The Olight as three modes which is a nice bonus :D
The thing is, I don't really want modes. I don't need them, and the more complicated the light the more likely it is to break or wear out.
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Also: the Fenix appears to be both dimmer and more expensive than a Solitaire LED, so unless it has something else going for it.....
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Tank 007 are nice and cheap but both of mine only lasted 12 months before they constanly require to be banged against hard surface to turn on. (and even then they still flicker off on their own at times)
I got a free photon led led with my baofeng radio. I have always been skepitical about the light they throw but now i think they are great especially when the can be as little as $1 delivered from china on ebay. Bought several and stealthly added them to family keychains.
For myself i have aquired some old incadecent solitaires on ebay for less than $10 delivered. The plan is to add 13.5 lumens led kits. These kits cost $7 and they also have 15.3 lumen kits for $10.My kits have arrived today from a hong kong seller who i have regularly bought led bulbs from in the past and has super fast registered shipping. Just waiting on the solitaire i got from the uk and one locally here in aus now!
The idea is i will have much more robust flashlight to my tank007, 13 lumens is bright enough for my EDC and hopefully translates to longer battery times.
As an example my 2D cell everyready torch lasted 2-3 hours with 4x2000ma AA NIMH batteries with the original globe, swapping it out for a 20 lumen led replacement from this hong kong seller got me a much brighter light and a tested 27+ hours!
All in all i not really saving much for compared to just buying a 35 lumen led solitaire, but its fun to re-appropriate and retrofit old stuff rather than buy new.
While not guaranteed, as it depends on the circuit and led efficiency, hopefully i get an added bonus of longer run time with the 13 lumens over a factory 35 lumen option!
(given the operating voltage of my kit is 0.6 to 1.6v this is a good start!)
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May i suggest the Thrunite TI?
It´s quite cheap, nearly as slim as teh Solitaire, brighter and is twist on.
It does have 2 modes (low when turned on a bit, bright when turned on fully) but they are not problematic.
You can force the clip of a Solitaire/Mini mag AAA onto it.
comparison:
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/mattschwarz/tools/thrunite_solitaire_1_zps321acd76.jpg) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/mattschwarz/media/tools/thrunite_solitaire_1_zps321acd76.jpg.html)
The Clip:
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/mattschwarz/tools/solitaireclip_zpsf2556c21.jpg) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/mattschwarz/media/tools/solitaireclip_zpsf2556c21.jpg.html)
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Hm, that doesn't look too bad. There are hardly any reviews for it on Amazon though, and I've never heard of Thrunite before. What's their reputation like?
It does have 2 modes (low when turned on a bit, bright when turned on fully) but they are not problematic.
My main issue with extra options is reliability and robustness. I don't want to deal with anything that has a chip- I don't need my damn flashlight freaking out because I'm somewhere with a lot of EM noise or something, or I left it running too long in the summer and the chip fries. If the modes are purely mechanical in nature it's not big deal, but anything with a lot of circuitry is pretty much off the table.
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Basically, my interest in any particular model is directly proportional to how well it will withstand an EMP :)
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Interesting, I've been looking for something as such, JR
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Basically, my interest in any particular model is directly proportional to how well it will withstand an EMP :)
how do you verify this?
I can test the effectiveness of a makeshift faraday cage/box/bag by putting a mobile phone inside and ringing it. If i get signal out of the box but it doesn't ring when inside i know its has some blocking qualities.
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how do you verify this?
Well I mean I don't, I'm mainly joking. I just don't want complicated electronics in my flashlight.
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Most - if not all - LED Flashlights have a more or less complicated "chip" or circuit, the most basic would be a current/voltage controller which takes care that your light maintains a certain brightness with teh varying output from a battery.
In case of teh Thrunite TI -afaik- there is this and for the 2 modes they use a conductive rubber material which changes it´s conductivity/resistance when it gets compressed and so allows for 2 modes.
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how do you verify this?
Well I mean I don't, I'm mainly joking. I just don't want complicated electronics in my flashlight.
Oh how dissapointing :D
I do tend pick things for servicibilty (ussually means simple) over flashiness and features.
I love the Ipod Mini for example cause its so easy to repair and built like a tank. Fast forward a few models on and you might as well bin them & the last 4 ipod minis i have bought have been $10 each! (and will gladly spend $10 every year to service one if need be)
Lowtech: i think a lot of the 3xAAA single light led china offerings would be chipless. Just a whole lot of white led wired in parrelel and a switch (possible a resistor) i could be wrong.
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As an aside, does anyone have any experience with the new Solitaire LED? I get the feeling here that Maglites are "too mainstream to be cool" and people are always geeking out over the esoteric brands, but it would be nice to read a real review and see how they compare.
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Hi : )
I'd suggest the Fenix E01. Someone suggested E05, but I think it's more expensive than your preferred price. The E01 has only one mode, twist-on, it's a little slimmer than the E05 and is rugged as hell :D I love the Olight i3/s as well, but you sid you don't want modes and they're a little more expensive. They have cool clips, though.
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Hi : )
I'd suggest the Fenix E01. Someone suggested E05, but I think it's more expensive than your preferred price. The E01 has only one mode, twist-on, it's a little slimmer than the E05 and is rugged as hell :D I love the Olight i3/s as well, but you sid you don't want modes and they're a little more expensive. They have cool clips, though.
Another vote for the Fenix E01 here too.
Incredibly tough and reliable light, that just runs, and runs :)
There are plenty of pics on the web with them being frozen in ice while still turned on!
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I'd suggest the Fenix E01.
I know I said I wasn't that picky about brightness, but 10 lumens is kinda on the low side. Super long battery life really isn't that important to me.
but I think it's more expensive than your preferred price.
The thing with price is that I'm all about what you get for your money, ie; I'm ok with paying twice as much for something that's three times better. I'm not ok paying twice as much for something that's subjectively the same or worse.
but you sid you don't want modes
I'm not strictly against modes per se, just that in most lights you have to tap/twist out your life story in morse code to switch between them which I find incredibly irritating. Half of them have a memory too so I never know what mode it's going to start in. Also, the more crap the light does, the more complicated the circuitry/switch and the more likely it is to break in a few years. I don't need fancy features, I do need long term reliability, so I tend to lean towards more primitive designs. I've looked at the Olight i3.... the mode switching is simpler than others but I still have concerns (not interested in the i3s). The Olights don't have a lot of reviews though, so that doesn't help either.
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Oh, one more thing:
I made a mistake/assumption when writing out my initial paragraph. The light doesn't HAVE to be 1xAAA, I'm willing to look at 1xAA or others, providing that they're small and the battery type is a 'standard' that can easily be found in a corner drugstore.
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As an aside, does anyone have any experience with the new Solitaire LED? I get the feeling here that Maglites are "too mainstream to be cool" and people are always geeking out over the esoteric brands, but it would be nice to read a real review and see how they compare.
Maybe you can be the first to convert us to the fold :D
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/14182
also i got my solitaire yesterday, really happy with the light it throws with just the 13.5lum led kit, for such a small unit on hand unit i don't need to light a place like i just turned on an imaginary wall switch to a imaginary 100w incandecent globe.
i tried making a video in the pitchblack of my bathroom but i don't think it does it justice
13.5 lumens 40cd Led upgrade for Maglite Solitaire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qm2R7tlKB0#)
Time will tell how reliable the 20,000 hour led is to being knocked around on my keychain, but the way i see it i still have a spare incadecent in the bottom if it fails, a feature which the official 35 lumen model might not have :)
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http://budgetlightforum.com/node/14182
Yeah I saw that already. That's pretty much the single sole review I can find though.
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For me it's not the light I'd pick, but given your wants/needs I am thinking it might be the right light for you. :)
Personally I really like the Fenix E05 for a simple, single mode AAA light.
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Personally I really like the Fenix E05 for a simple, single mode AAA light.
Ok, so, the e05 is a little dimmer but runs a little longer (which in my mind cancel each other out). Considering it's about $6 more than the Solitaire, what else does it offer? Trying to find hard technical data on all these lights is almost impossible. Is it regulated? Focusable? Better waterproof rating? etc.
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Maybe I can get better suggestions by rewording the question.
If I want a light that is:
- no bigger than a SAK (1xAAA, ultra compact 1xAA, etc)
- bright enough to overpower dim lighting (maybe 25+ lumens?)
- EXTREMELY reliable and durable, with a good reputation, a robust non-fiddly switch mechanism that won't die in 10 years, and circuitry that won't burn out
... what are my choices?
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Personally I really like the Fenix E05 for a simple, single mode AAA light.
Ok, so, the e05 is a little dimmer but runs a little longer (which in my mind cancel each other out). Considering it's about $6 more than the Solitaire, what else does it offer? Trying to find hard technical data on all these lights is almost impossible. Is it regulated? Focusable? Better waterproof rating? etc.
it's a heck of a lot shorter for one thing. :D It is also regulated. The beam is all about wide spill (not focusable), great for close up work but not intended for throwing the light way out in front of you. The UK prices of these two lights is nearly the same (about £1 between them). The difference in Lumen level won't, I suspect, actually be all that noticeable, but the extra hour run time is a big bonus IMO. There are even some people who think that the E05's run time is much too short.
Like I say, I suspect the LED Solitaire is a good light and if I was in the market for yet another AAA light I would seriously look at getting one myself. :)
There aren't actually that many lights that are doing quite what the Solitaire does, so if it's features suit you I think you should go for it. The only light that I can think of that is similar is the LED Lenser P2 AFS (http://www.zweibrueder.com/ENG/produkte/html_highperformance/html_Pserie/p2-afs.php?id=p2afs). Lener's product have always left me feeling a little cold for some reason and their claimed runtimes need to be taken with a very large pinch of salt apparently.
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It is also regulated. The beam is all about wide spill (not focusable),
Hrm. Ok, I'll have to look up some videos on youtube to see what that's like. Regulation is a mixed bag for me, on the one hand it's nice to have, but on the other it's one more thing to short out in a decade.
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The problem with asking for 10 years reliability is that there are very few LED lights that have been around that long. I certainly I don't know of anyone who has used one LED light, every day, for ten years to test to see if it will hold up, so any estimates on reliability is just an educated guess. :shrug:
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The problem with asking for 10 years reliability is that there are very few LED lights that have been around that long. I certainly I don't know of anyone who has used one LED light, every day, for ten years to test to see if it will hold up, so any estimates on reliability is just an educated guess. :shrug:
No that's a valid point, it's one of the main reasons I'm looking at the Solitaire (more primitive design by a company with a known history).
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Also worth mentioning is that the Solitaire LED has a limited lifetime warranty.
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My Fenix E05 has been on my keys for probably 6 months now. My keyring isn't mollycoddled and has been accidentally dropped, kicked, thrown etc and the light is still fine. It's also had a swim at the bottom of an oil tank (not much oil in, but some) and is fine.
For my use, that's peering inside things, lighting up things that are in corners etc it's extremely good.
In comparison to my old incandescent Solitaire or my dual AA Mini-Maglight I'd say the Fenix was a lot more durable but of course YMMV. I have to repeatedly hit the Solitaire on things to get the light to come on brightly and it hasn't had as much abuse as the Fenix. I got my Solitaire off the side of a Weetabix packet about 15 years ago and it's had ongoing light use, some pocket carry, some time in a drawer etc.
The AA Mini-Maglight was a more recent purchase that had heavier use over about 3 years. Over that time I got through a lot of lamps and a lot of batteries until one day the switch unit fell out of the bottom when I was changing the batteries. When you screw the head all the way down it pressed against a plastic ring on the switch which turns the light off. It seems that that ring also holds the switch in the body of the torch because the ring came off all the way around this allowed the switch to fall out :(
That left me with a partially working torch that fairly quickly got replaced with my first Fenix, an LD01.
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The problem with asking for 10 years reliability is that there are very few LED lights that have been around that long. I certainly I don't know of anyone who has used one LED light, every day, for ten years to test to see if it will hold up, so any estimates on reliability is just an educated guess. :shrug:
My longest living LED light was a Lucido Lightwave. It replaced my Mini Mag AA as my Go-To light years ago.
It had 4 5 mm LEDs with no optic whatsoever. It worked very well, while not the brightest, but died after being retired as my shop light in a big gasoline spill - The plastic was not gasoline proof , apparently.
Back to topic: I´d say, with most of the lights suggested, you are not making any big mistake even if it should burn out in only 5 years. For my everyday 8or night) chores, teh Thrunite and Solitaire with LED dropin work really well. They have no fancy modes, are not the brightest or most neutral lights, but they are small enough to not get into the way but bright enough to check teh interns of a shut down 300kW wood heater, look down a drain, find your seat in a cinema or help to look under the tank of my bikes.
and if i break them, I´ll be mad for a day or two, but won´t be broke.
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My friend got the Thrunite Ti2 dual mode 3lm/81lm and hangs it off her car keys. It gets banged around a purse, rattled from day to day handling, certainly not a babied torch. I think single modes are great as there times when a lot of bright light is needed as well as a very low light mode so for that this dual mode fit the bill for her, YMMV as usual. This torch is a twist on for 3lm then twist a bit more for 81lm pretty straight forward.
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looking back at my post - I'm not trying to say you shouldn't get the Solitaire. I really love my old one and will probably end up getting a new LED one at some point. It was the first proper torch I had.
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You could always take an incandescent or gas lamp light and convert it to LED pretty easily. It then wouldn't have a chip.
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My Fenix E05 has been on my keys for probably 6 months now.
As someone who has owned a Solitaire, a 2xAA mag, and the e05, what's the beam spread on the e05 like? On the one hand having a more 'flood fill' style would be handy when under desks, but I'm concerned it might suck when trying to see anything more than a few feet away. If you were, say, trying to look across from one side of an attic to the other, would it deliver?
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The plastic was not gasoline proof , apparently.
A lot of plastics and foams aren't, actually. I think it has something to do with them all being hydrocarbon based (like dissolves like?). Same deal with spraypaint and other aerosols.
I´d say, with most of the lights suggested, you are not making any big mistake even if it should burn out in only 5 years.
It's really a question of hassle.
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You could always take an incandescent or gas lamp light and convert it to LED pretty easily. It then wouldn't have a chip.
Not sure if you're serious or joking, but I want something that's made properly, not a hack job.
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You could always take an incandescent or gas lamp light and convert it to LED pretty easily. It then wouldn't have a chip.
Not sure if you're serious or joking, but I want something that's made properly, not a hack job.
He's not joking, this is what we had to use to give our old solitaires a new lease of life before the LED Solitaire came out:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15-3-lumens-Bi-Pin-LED-MODULE-FOR-MAGLITE-SOLITAIRE-/111088293135?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item19dd60d50f
Whether or not you would still consider this a hack job is up to you, it's no different to the Nite-ize drop-in you were running in your Mini-mag 2AA.
If you never owned an original Solitaire however it has little merit.
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He's not joking, this is what we had to use to give our old solitaires a new lease of life before the LED Solitaire came out:
Sorry, when someone talks about 'gas lamp lights' I think of this (http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/8633274/2/stock-photo-8633274-old-fashioned-gas-lamp.jpg)
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Actually i misread his post, i missed the gas lamp bit.
Most incandescent lights (especially with the standard bulb fitting also found in C/D maglites) can be converted to LED with little effort but a gas lamp might require some serious creative thinking.
There were such things as gas lamps that had a focused reflector for flashlight type beams but the inconsiderate designers often forgot to add such convenient things as battery cavities, wiring and bulb roses so not the cheapest of conversions, even if you don't mind butchering antiques.
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My Fenix E05 has been on my keys for probably 6 months now.
As someone who has owned a Solitaire, a 2xAA mag, and the e05, what's the beam spread on the e05 like? On the one hand having a more 'flood fill' style would be handy when under desks, but I'm concerned it might suck when trying to see anything more than a few feet away. If you were, say, trying to look across from one side of an attic to the other, would it deliver?
That depends on how big your attic is!
I would say that the beam is better on the E05 than the Solitaire in all respects. Whilst the Solitaire can by focussed it's overall so dim that the E05 wins on all accounts. For close range, I'd say that the E05 and the AA Mini-Mag were fairly comparable (though I always had a problem with a dead spot in the middle of my Maglight beam) but at long range the AA Maglight was better because you can focus it.
The E05 (and I guess by extension the new LED Solitaire) is fine at night for looking in sheds to find where the JCB I'm looking for has been hidden, working out that it's the correct one and seeing what's been left on the front of it, from the entrance to the shed. I don't think you'd have a problem with either the E05 or the LED Solitaire for general walking, peering, etc. type jobs but it wouldn't replace a searchlight. When I've been doing tours at night showing people round, I've swapped for my LD10.
The E05 is as simple as it gets really, you turn the head and the light turns on. It's like the opposite of a Maglight.
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Another idea if bumping up to a "AA" is this one, my wife grabbed it when placing an order. Grant it, it's not the best looking one but it had what I wanted, a rear click switch, knurled grip, good STRONG pocket clip(not a wire one) focus lens, a defense bezel, and a high/low output(this came with flash too) now for the down side, the lens looks funky! When focused on narrow beam all you see is a very bright micro chip, and shipping I think it took over a week to two weeks, but for $7 over all, I can't complain, well worth it! JR
Oh yeah another plus, fits perfect in the palm of your hand, kinda like a roll of quarters, just not as heavy,
http://www.amazon.com/FordEx-Group-300lm-Flashlight-Adjustable/dp/B006E0QAFY/ref=sr_1_2?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1371394266&sr=8-2&keywords=led+aa+flashlight
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I will just add that one of the first big brand LED lights I got was a Fenix L0D (now sold as the LD01) and after 5-6 years use it's still going strong. It's been rather superseded in my affection by bigger, brighter, whiter lights, but there's no getting away from the fact it did many years good service with no issue whatsoever.
Dang, I need to go dig it out now. ::)
:D
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My LD01 is dead. Contact issue. :cry:
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Well my red L0D has just gone back on my keyring thanks to this thread. :doh:
Sorry to hear about your issue with the LD01 mate. :-\
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When I've been doing tours at night showing people round, I've swapped for my LD10.
Taking this into account vis a vis your shed comment, I'm guessing you consider the e05 to have a useful working range of maybe 10-15 feet?
The E05 is as simple as it gets really, you turn the head and the light turns on. It's like the opposite of a Maglight.
Wait, what? How is that any different? I don't understand.
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Another idea if bumping up to a "AA" is this one,
I'd be ok with a 1xAA if it's really compact, but that looks like a beast :)
Also, is the beam pattern really shaped like an ethernet jack, or is that just some quirk of the pictures on amazon?
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LD01
People keep suggesting this one, but I don't think it's what I want. I don't really like the med>hi>low switch design. Also, AFAIK, 'hi' only lasts for like 7 minutes before it drops into some sort of half-hi? (I've heard complaints of high-pitched inverter whine too. Most people wouldn't give a smurf about that but my ears are annoyingly sensitive and I have problems with some electronics because of it, so this is all stuff I need to take into account).
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Most people wouldn't give a smurf about that
lol censoring.
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Another idea if bumping up to a "AA" is this one,
I'd be ok with a 1xAA if it's really compact, but that looks like a beast :)
Also, is the bean pattern really shaped like an ethernet jack, or is that just some quirk of the pictures on amazon?
Oh it's a beast alright, still not to bad though. And yes the beam pattern is shaped like that while narrow, kinda weird but does its job! JR
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When I've been doing tours at night showing people round, I've swapped for my LD10.
Taking this into account vis a vis your shed comment, I'm guessing you consider the e05 to have a useful working range of maybe 10-15 feet?
The E05 is as simple as it gets really, you turn the head and the light turns on. It's like the opposite of a Maglight.
Wait, what? How is that any different? I don't understand.
with the maglite you loosen the head to turn it on, with most other twist lights you tighten the head to turn them on. :)
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When I've been doing tours at night showing people round, I've swapped for my LD10.
Taking this into account vis a vis your shed comment, I'm guessing you consider the e05 to have a useful working range of maybe 10-15 feet?
The E05 is as simple as it gets really, you turn the head and the light turns on. It's like the opposite of a Maglight.
Wait, what? How is that any different? I don't understand.
with the maglite you loosen the head to turn it on, with most other twist lights you tighten the head to turn them on. :)
I wish more lights would be tighten for off. I hate having to loosen and check if there is still contact under pressure. ::)
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Yes, that.
Usable range - the longest distance I can test it out on inside my house is about 8 metres and at that range the E05 gives a decent light all over my 6 place dining table. Useful = I can work out that it's a can of electrical contact cleaner in the corner rather than a can of something else.
LD lighting modes: mine have all been the same. Tightened head Ultra High > Strobe, loosened head Low > Med > High. The E05 is single mode so that's a bit irrelevant. Also on the subject of irrelevance, if anyone's got an LD01 (as opposed to an LD10) and would like the little tube that allows you to put CR123 batteries in it along with a spare tail switch, give me a shout. It seems to have a different thread to the LD10.
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with the maglite you loosen the head to turn it on, with most other twist lights you tighten the head to turn them on. :)
A question about this: does the tighten-to-on type have any play? When off/loose, does pressing the head towards the body turn it on? I feel like this system is liable to turn on accidentally if jammed into a pocket with other stuff.
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Usable range - the longest distance I can test it out on inside my house is about 8 metres and at that range the E05 gives a decent light all over my 6 place dining table. Useful = I can work out that it's a can of electrical contact cleaner in the corner rather than a can of something else.
Ok, fair enough. Thanks.
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with the maglite you loosen the head to turn it on, with most other twist lights you tighten the head to turn them on. :)
A question about this: does the tighten-to-on type have any play? When off/loose, does pressing the head towards the body turn it on? I feel like this system is liable to turn on accidentally if jammed into a pocket with other stuff.
Level of play entirely depends on which light and how well made the treads are. Some cheap ones are horribly sloppy, good ones will barely move if at all.
As to turning on/off; if you give the head the smallest of turns off then yes, that's possible. However if you give most of them as little as half a turn then that shouldn't happen. :)
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I have an old Arc with Nize 5 led, a Fenix E05, a Peac lead solution StainlessSteel body, and aLitxPress pen Power100 (supposed to be a German producuction) and have had in past a bounch of Solitaries and other Mags lite (one converted to led about 6 or 7 years ago). While the Mag's long presence on the market is a strong appeal to me (it means "thrustable" in my simple consumer mind) the evidence is alla but the contrary. Only the modded AA is still well working (but from Mag it has only the body). Instead I had litteraly thrown away all the others becasue of insurgin switching problem soon or later. Counterside the E05 AAA and the Arc AAA are still firmly on my edc and had never failed, even if somethime happened to me to forghet them lightning for various hours. In my opinione reliability (just turn and switch one) is way more important respect any other feature. Because I learned by experience (have been a reporter for long time) that seconds are vital in certain situation. This is also whay I feed all my flashlight only with Litium AAA batteries that are suppose not having voltage dopps and leaking.on the other side the Peak Led and the LiteXpress, are permanetly sitting home. Both are longher than the E05 wich is longher than the old and thrusty Arc, and while the difference in measures are in terms of 1cm 1cm and 1/2 and do not feel the as confortables on pockets.
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Ps: 2 mt distance beams comparison, in same order showed on my previous post. Hope it helps
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Level of play entirely depends on which light and how well made the treads are. Some cheap ones are horribly sloppy, good ones will barely move if at all.
As to turning on/off; if you give the head the smallest of turns off then yes, that's possible. However if you give most of them as little as half a turn then that shouldn't happen. :)
OK, that makes sense. Thanks.
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Anyway, this thread is getting kinda long and I think I'm hitting the law of diminishing returns. Between this thread and ones I ran on other sites I have around a dozen models that sorta fit my criteria to look over, so I'm going to call it here. Thanks to everyone who tried to help.
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Whatever decision you make will at least have been an informed one :)
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Whatever decision you make will at least have been an informed one :)
And if you do get a maglite led let us know how it goes!
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The Fenix LD01 is the brightest I have seen for 1x AAA, but it is probably 2.5-3x the price of the Maglite Solitaire LED.
http://www.fenixlight.com/ProductMore.aspx?id=50&tid=10&cid=1#.Uc1BHKGBSgg
I have the Maglite and it is good enough.
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I have the Maglite and it is good enough.
You have a Solitaire LED?
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Well, I've just bought a Solitaire LED so assuming it arrives in time I'll do a quick comparison of that, the E05 and the original Solitaire for you.
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Well, I've just bought a Solitaire LED so assuming it arrives in time I'll do a quick comparison of that, the E05 and the original Solitaire for you.
:woohoo:
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Great! i have a solitaire led and love it, i think is great in every aspect, but i dont know much about flashlights so i dont know how does it fare against similar models.
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Great! i have a solitaire led and love it, i think is great in every aspect, but i dont know much about flashlights so i dont know how does it fare against similar models.
Question: It's supposedly focusable, right? Does it actually have a useful range, or is it like traditional incan maglites where its just something they made up to flesh out a bullet list?
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Also: the Solitaire LED isn't regulated as far as I know. What's your layman's opinion of the brightness dropoff over time? Does it like, drop down to a quarter brightness over the first 15 minutes and then stay there for the next hour, or does it seem like a continuous gradual slope, or whatever...
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looking forward to the comparison mate. :cheers:
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Question: It's supposedly focusable, right? Does it actually have a useful range, or is it like traditional incan maglites where its just something they made up to flesh out a bullet list?
Yes no regulation posible, you just turn the upper part for on/off. For me it has a very useful beam pattern, its what i most like about it, for its size i think is great. It has a center circle full of light (which is pretty big) and an outer circle which is more dim but adds a lot. Havent tried how far it reaches yet but only because i wouldnt need or want this one to light further. I think i can iluminate 10 meters ahead of me without problem, but i should properly test that.
I actually use it a lot because i currently have no light on my bedroom or patio and didnt have to replace the battery yet and didnt find any light loss yet.
I could try taking some pictures tonight and upload them to show it.
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looking forward to the comparison mate. :cheers:
I'm going away on Friday for a month, so I hope it will arrive before then!
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It has a center circle full of light (which is pretty big) and an outer circle which is more dim but adds a lot.
I meant, how well does the focusing work? It was basically a joke on traditional incan maglites.
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My current EDC is an old-ass 2xAA maglite I've had forever, but with an added Nite Ize upgrade. I'm very happy with the NI, but I've decided that a 2xAA is too big and I'm sick of dragging it around all the time. I'm looking for a 1xAAA size equivalent. Looks like I can pick up one of the new Maglite Solitaire LEDs for about $15-20 range, but before I bite I'm wondering if there's anything better out there. I don't want anything fancy: nothing with a chip and half a dozen modes, just a simple cheap basic reliable LED with a battery and some metal to hold it together. I'd prefer twist-on if possible (last longer than buttons in my experience) and it needs either a clip or be thin and smooth enough to be rammed into a sharpie holster (ie; Maglite Solitaire). This will be exclusively for home/office work so I'm not terribly concerned with overall brightness or runtime as long as they're reasonable. The main thing I want is a near guarantee that I can get a solid 10+ years of use out of the thing as I have my current one.
Any suggestions?
Hello friend which one you got? I am in similar dilemma so can you sort out my problem with your experience?Please reply thanks in advance:)
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I haven't gotten around to buying one yet. I decided to wait a couple months to see if any more reviews of the Solitaire LED come out.
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Since my Olight i3 failed following a drop on the ground, I am after a new flashlight, and having come across this thread, it seems my requirements are identical to Quartz's. Having said that, reading the recommendations in this thread, the Fenix E05 seems perfect.
So, for those who live in the UK, any suggestions on where to purchase this light?
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You're probably a lot better off starting a new thread than bumping this one.
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I'm sorry, I did not mean to hijack this thread in any way; but I had thought it had become dormant since your decision to delay purchase, and since I was after something quite similar, it would be fitting to carry on with the same thread :)
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I don't care personally if you hijack this thread or not, it's just that two other similar threads I had going on other forums turned into trollfests, and this one was starting to wear on people. Also: I was trying to figure out which flashlight to get, whereas you've already decided and are trying to find a retailer, which is a lot more specific and easier to answer. For your own sake, I'm suggesting starting a new thread because I don't think you'll get any responses posting in this one.
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While I agree with Quartz that starting a new thread might have been a better idea I'll say that for most Fenix flashlights eBay is your best bet. You can get any choice of colour for $20,50 shipped which should be a bit over £13. I avoid buying flashlights locally, the mark up is just too :ahhh
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=fenix+e05&_sop=15
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While I agree with Quartz that starting a new thread might have been a better idea I'll say that for most Fenix flashlights eBay is your best bet. You can get any choice of colour for $20,50 shipped which should be a bit over £13. I avoid buying flashlights locally, the mark up is just too :ahhh
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=fenix+e05&_sop=15
I cannot think of a UK based seller that will do a better price than that. Mostly they sell for around £18 here.
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While I agree with Quartz that starting a new thread might have been a better idea I'll say that for most Fenix flashlights eBay is your best bet. You can get any choice of colour for $20,50 shipped which should be a bit over £13. I avoid buying flashlights locally, the mark up is just too :ahhh
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=fenix+e05&_sop=15
I cannot think of a UK based seller that will do a better price than that. Mostly they sell for around £18 here.
Not worth paying the extra amount for the warranty?
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What warranty? ;) You are replacing the broken olight i3 although it's still under warranty, right?
And as I told you in that other thread, I got a warranty repair from a Hong Kong based seller. Actual repair, not replacement, as I got my old flashlight back with all the dings and scratches but working. Don't think any UK based seller will be doing any repairs. They'll probably just ship it to China or claim it's your fault and do nothing. So why pay 30% extra for a non existent service you probably won't ever even need to use? That's just my personal opinion though and you might disagree. :D
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:rofl: well, when you put it like that...
I bought my Olight in December 2011, so more than 1.5 years old. But even if it needs hipping to China to get repaired, I would be willing to pay the postage to get it working again, even though I have my heart set on the Fenix E05 now. It would make a nice gift.
So how do I find out whether I can get this repaired or not? Contact Olight directly?
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Hmm, so cheapest I can see in the UK is for £17.95:
http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/led_torches/fenix-e05-r4.html
Fenixtorchuk have this on the website:
Warranty and Returns
All torches carry a full 24 month warranty against defects. We now test every torch before it is dispatched, so you can be assured the item you receive is in full working order.
Quicker delivery, 2 year warranty, worth paying the extra £5?
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It's up to you. :salute: Mine developed contact issues due to use, not after a drop so I'm not sure how it would be considered in your case.
Here's olight's warranty statement:
http://www.olightworld.com/en/Support_show.aspx?SupId=584
and the Fenix official one:
http://www.fenixlight.com/Service.aspx
Buying locally gets you your light faster as shipping from Hong Kong can take weeks. It's a decision you have to make though, I have "a few" flashlights around so waiting for the next one never was an issue for me. ;)
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So surely in a case like yours, where there was a fault with the light, you would have been able to take advantage of the 24 month warranty from Fenixtorch.co.uk
But like in your case, it does seem you can return the product directly to the manufacturer, in China, or wherever that may be. Do they pay for the shipping cost to them?
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You're responsible for the shipping costs to them. They pay the return shipping.
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Well many thanks for all your advice; I have contacted Olight about what can be done if anything about repairs, and think I will order the Fenix E05 from Fenixtorch.co.uk.
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A little while ago I offered to do a comparison of the LED Solitaire and the Fenix E05. This was to be done with an LED Solitaire bought from Go Outdoors.
When I received my order, it turned out that they'd send the incandescent version despite the packing slip saying the LED version. I wrote to them and complained, heard nothing back until this morning when I got another package with an incandescent Solitaire :facepalm:
I'm now going to contact them again and see what's up, but I foresee a rather dim giveaway!
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What's up with the Maglite dealers in the UK this year? ??? Gareth had the same problems with his Maglite purchase. I don't think he got the correct version yet.
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What's up with the Maglite dealers in the UK this year? ??? Gareth had the same problems with his Maglite purchase. I don't think he got the correct version yet.
ironically, keeping in mind Cupboard's problems, Heinnie Haynes kept sending me a LED Solitaire rather than the LED AAA Mini-maglite I actually wanted. ::) And no, I've still not got the right light. :bnghd:
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are you getting to keep all the wrong ones? I seem to have been allowed to keep the first one but have to send back the second :think:
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are you getting to keep all the wrong ones? I seem to have been allowed to keep the first one but have to send back the second :think:
Nah, I've had to send them back. Sadly they were also well packaged enough that I couldn't play with them either. :-\
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Wellthis thread remnded me of the theory that too much choice just creates anxiety. honestly given how cheap they are in the states i don't know why you wuldn't just buy one rather than wait 6 months for another review. At $15 thats 65c a week.
I bought one from the states and had it posted to my door in australia under $20. Eating at home this week to pay for it. Impressions?? freakin' awesome, throws a good light and is comparable to my 35 lumen mini-mag led upgrade in a much smaller package. i have the 13.5 and 15.2 lumen solitaire kits too. For pure light the factory led blows the others away but i think the kits still have there place especially if you are like me i like having the back up bulb... the led have unbelievable hour ratngs but if the circuit fails i can put the spare incandecent in until i get another kit, can't do that with the factory led and where i live not much point sending it in for warranty as it wuld cost me another nrw one in postage
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Tank007 E09.. Try it! Cheap, tough, sexy :whistle:
I have given several to people and they all still work fine and can take any AAA size battery, including LiIons. I really do not need any other torch when I have it one me.
Do not worry about hijacking a thread in this forum (I know some forums get all weird about that). After a few posts most threads tend to wonder a bit anyway; have a look around (apart from the female thread ; that one is seriously focused)
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are you getting to keep all the wrong ones? I seem to have been allowed to keep the first one but have to send back the second :think:
Nah, I've had to send them back. Sadly they were also well packaged enough that I couldn't play with them either. :-\
I'm betting you didn't quite read this carefully before posting...
:facepalm: :rofl:
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are you getting to keep all the wrong ones? I seem to have been allowed to keep the first one but have to send back the second :think:
Nah, I've had to send them back. Sadly they were also well packaged enough that I couldn't play with them either. :-\
I'm betting you didn't quite read this carefully before posting...
:facepalm: :rofl:
And I thought I had a filthy mind! :twak:
:D
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(http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4818262941369797&pid=15.1)
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:whistle:
It's arrived! At last! On the third attempt, I have an LED Solitaire. Phew.
First impressions in daylight are that the focussing feature is a bit pants, it goes from a reasonable blob on the wall, to a slightly bigger blob on the wall to nothing; but otherwise it's pretty good. It feels cheaper than the Fenix but I like (and always have liked) how thin it is.
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Well, I've just bought a Solitaire LED so assuming it arrives in time I'll do a quick comparison of that, the E05 and the original Solitaire for you.
Looking forward to the beam-shots, run times, size comparison pics etc etc. :pok:
:D
Glad to hear you finally got your hands on one mate. :cheers:
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Just notice this thread, in my previous life, I was a flashaholic and AAA led lights always hold a special place in my heart(always an EDC item).
Currently I have been using the DQG AAA Ti light and it is rather well executed and do recommend it(if you can still find it, but I am sure it should still be the smallest in the world right now).
As for the question to original poster, I think I'd go with Solitaire if I were you. There are few things I value in my flashlight--form, function and robustness. Maglite company has made millions of flashlights worldwide, and there are a few flahslights that could claim the same serviceability as maglite. The problem of modern led flashlights, many made by Chinese, is that none has seen the same kind of serviceability as maglite does, and with all the frequent updates of product lines, few had the data of how well each particular product work in a very long run.
I still remembered how primitive were the flashlights made by Fenix/Jetbeam/Nitecore etc companies when they were starting. And vividly remembered some Chinese flashaholics who went for an earthquake rescue mission with many different brands of well-known flashlights came back to a forum only to comment the only reliable choice was surefire(it was a few years back, things might have changed now)
So combining experience, cost of scale, simplicity, I will bet on the new led solitaire should be a decent balance of them all.
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OK, OK :whistle:
It will probably be a this weekend thing - our workshop's gloomy enough it should be doable during the day.
In summary though, the Fenix has a much better flood and the Mag has a much better throw. The Mag's focussing feature is useless, when you turn it on you get a typical LED hotspot with some flood (but it's definitely a throwy pattern). As you rotate the focussing ring I was expecting the hotspot to get bigger and dimmer, in reality it just gets dimmer but doesn't seem to add to the flood at all.
Build quality doesn't seem as good as the Fenix but I can't help liking it, possibly for historical reasons as a Solitaire was the first torch I ever bought with my pocket money as a kid.
Slightly related, I was up the top of a grain silo today with my boss who's always taking the piss out of me carrying a torch and an MT. What does it turn out we need? A torch. Hah.
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I saw one today for the first time , plenty bright for a 1xAAA , I like the simple interface ( on/off) .
In all honesty , I don't have much faith in Chinese lights , Mag has yet to let me down .
Chris
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I saw one today for the first time , plenty bright for a 1xAAA , I like the simple interface ( on/off) .
In all honesty , I don't have much faith in Chinese lights , Mag has yet to let me down .
Chris
Not including my new LED Solitaire I've had two Mags and four Fenixes. An AA Mini Mag, an incandescent Solitaire, an L1D, two LD10s and an E05.
Fit and finish was better on the Fenixes and the finish is much more durable.
The innards of the Fenixes also seem better. I have never had a problem with a Fenix not turning on - that's not to say I never will but I haven't yet. Given at most a similar amount of of use and abuse as the equivalent Fenix, both of my Maglites developed problems.
My AA Mini Mag had been a bit dodgy for a while, often requiring a tap to come to full brightness after you turned it on. Then the switch fell apart, so I glued it back together which lasted a bit before the whole assembly completely disintegrated and fell out and it got replaced with the L1D. My Solitaire never comes on at full brightness first time - sometimes it comes on dimly and sometimes not at all when you turn it on. That requires varying degrees of being hit against things to make light. The battery contacts are all in decent condition and neither had been used for anything completely unreasonable, the only sustained abuse was hitting them to make them turn on.
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Having read the pros and cons on the Solitaire LED, and seen other noting they owned one years ago, I think I will have to pick one up for sentimental reasons to.
At the moment I carry a Led Lenser P3 AFS P, AAA with a one mode 75 lumen output. It only last for an hour, but as I don't work at night, and I have various other lights I may - may not - carry, I get a few months of use out of the battery before it dies. The Solitaire will probably last a year before I run it down. But as said above, I will buy it mostly for old times sake :)
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If a friend came to me and said "I've just bought a Solitaire" I wouldn't scream at them for making a silly choice. If I was buying then I wouldn't get one.
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Having had a look at Cupboards LED Solitaire I have to totally agree with the above statement. Good light and I'd not tell anyone that they were wasting their money, but I don't think I'll be getting one for myself any time soon.
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And I just found out the local price. $23 + $5 shipping.
Not getting one. ;)
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I bought a Mag Solitaire LED for $20 specifically because I've always liked the Solitaire body but hated their original light output.
Then, at the end of August, I bought an incandescent Solitaire with the vision of doing a 30 Day Challenge with it. You know what I figured out in two days? Useful or not, that would have been the most boring thread ever. Ever ever ever.
For what it's worth, I forced myself to carry that Solitaire for 30 days anyway. It was reliable enough, but it was too dim for anything. On the other hand, I've finally found my EDC light in the LED Solitaire. No modes! Hooray!
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I've also just ordered the LED version a day ago. Believe it or not, I've dreamed about this light like three times within a week or so, lol. When the flashaholic within speaks, the monthly budget and the wallet keep silence.
I've also always liked the appearance of the light, it's simplicity and sleekness, so I decided to give it a go. It looks far more elegant than my usual Fenix E01/E05s
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I've also just ordered the LED version a day ago. Believe it or not, I've dreamed about this light like three times within a week or so, lol. When the flashaholic within speaks, the monthly budget and the wallet keep silence.
I've also always liked the appearance of the light, it's simplicity and sleekness, so I decided to give it a go. It looks far more elegant than my usual Fenix E01/E05s
:tu:
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I want one and have stayed away for some unknown reason. I love the solitaire for all the reasons stated and yes the light is awfully dim the sleek body is so lovely. I will eventually get one as the repressed flashoholic is thirsting to be set free.
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On top of everything, I ordered the oooold incandescent version from my country and it should arrive tomorrow. I want to have SOMETHING before the LED arrives from the States, lol. I used to have the old version and then sold it some time ago. Now I think it will come useful for me for the evenings, when I need low/moonlight modes and don't want to twist through all higher modes before reaching the low one.
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I am getting bored with my penlight and yearn for something more efficient and smaller. Do I go with a Solitaire led or something like a Streamlight Nano or Photon?
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I'm not 100% sure, but the last two you mention run on button cells, I think? So here the Solitaire wins with its batteries being easier to find. As for the brightness, I'm again not sure, but I think it's brighter than the Nano and photon.
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I am getting bored with my penlight and yearn for something more efficient and smaller. Do I go with a Solitaire led or something like a Streamlight Nano or Photon?
The Photon and the Nano are very capable little lights, the Photon runs off 1 CR2016 and the Nano uses 4 LR41 cells. The Nano claims 10lm and 8 hours run time and the Photon 4.5lm and 12 hour run time. I have both and they each serve their desired purpose very well. I have the Photon X which is the clear one and it has the disco modes which are fun to play with.
There are other options like Thrunite Tis one mode 60lm using 1 AAA battery right now at amason for $8 free shipping if you are a prime member otherwise you need to spend $35, Lumintop worm 60lm/10lm 1 AAA $14 also at amazone, Thrunite TI2 at 81lm/3lm $19 same place. I have each of these an they each are good lights.
There was a good thread regarding a member wanting a new light and some great suggestion were made. I don't remeber what it was called off hand.
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I am getting bored with my penlight and yearn for something more efficient and smaller. Do I go with a Solitaire led or something like a Streamlight Nano or Photon?
The Photon and the Nano are very capable little lights, the Photon runs off 1 CR2016 and the Nano uses 4 LR41 cells. The Nano claims 10lm and 8 hours run time and the Photon 4.5lm and 12 hour run time. I have both and they each serve their desired purpose very well. I have the Photon X which is the clear one and it has the disco modes which are fun to play with.
There are other options like Thrunite Tis one mode 60lm using 1 AAA battery right now at amason for $8 free shipping if you are a prime member otherwise you need to spend $35, Lumintop worm 60lm/10lm 1 AAA $14 also at amazone, Thrunite TI2 at 81lm/3lm $19 same place. I have each of these an they each are good lights.
There was a good thread regarding a member wanting a new light and some great suggestion were made. I don't remeber what it was called off hand.
All good suggestions IMO. Another to add to the list for small and efficient would have to be the Fenix E01. Not the brightest light in the world, but will run on batteries that are so flat other lights won't even look at them. They have a reputation for sucking every last drop of juice from a AAA and have excellent run times. :)
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I have to get a Fenix :whistle:. I love those vampire lights and my Infinity Ultra is one of my favorites. I may also suggest another sub $25 light in the Olight I3S at $20 80lm/20lm/.5lm/strobe 1AAA. I have the I2 AA variety and I like it but I prefer AAA lights a bit more. There are so many good lights but with DST coming I wont have as much use as I currently have :(.
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Where I live, Daylight Savings Time means getting up in the dark. Lovely. I should just go ahead and zip-tie an LED Solitaire to each side of my glasses.
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Is it worth getting a regular Solitaire and doing the LED upgrade once the regular bulbs burn out or just getting a regular Solitaire LED?
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Just a quick look online says the price gap is only around 5 bucks. It looks like the cost of the upgrade kit cost more than the light itself, so I would say you're better off just getting what you want the first go around. Plus the regular version is not bright at all.
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Is it worth getting a regular Solitaire and doing the LED upgrade once the regular bulbs burn out or just getting a regular Solitaire LED?
From what I've seen on YouTube videos, the LED upgrade is only around 13 lumens, while the "real" LED version is supposed to be 37. Also, I think (again from YT videos), with the LED upgrade, the head doesn't twist fully for off .... you'd better watch some vids :D
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Go straight for the Solitaire LED. I've had the upgrade before and it was....OK. However the design is a few years old now and nowhere near the spec of the real Maglite.
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Ok, I got the LED version yesterday. This thing is reeeeallllly flooooooodyyyy, which is perfect for me. It illuminates the entire room like a sun. It's even floodier than my Olight i3s.
I like it so far, though it doesn't feel that high quality like the Olight. Feels somewhat... "thinner". But I love its looks. It also turns on a little after you've started twisting the head. I guess this is done to prevent it from accidental turning on, which is good.
On the menu they don't specify if it can be used in a candle mode like the regular Solitaires... though it's so floody, that a a candle mode isn't really necessary. Still the head can be unscrewed and the LED exposed- no idea if this will damage the LED.
There's no spare.... bulb/LED in the back, though there's still that empty hole under the spring in the tail cap.
It's very floody and very bright. For this I love it. It doesn't have the longest run time for the very same reason, though.
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You can take to top off without hurting the LED.
that's us mobile
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You can take to top off without hurting the LED.
that's us mobile
Cool, thanks. I did take it off, I just wasn't sure if longer exposure to .... whatever there is in the air (lol) won't hurt it...
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Btw, when the head is unscrewed i.e. the flashlight is on... the head might rattle a little.. if you touch it... or "move". Also, at times it may flicker in the process of twisting it for ON.. which the incandescent version does not do.
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This is how mine misbehaves : /
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kxbzoVo-jQ
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This is how mine misbehaves : /
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kxbzoVo-jQ
that seemed like an automated morse code signal. sorry you are having this trouble
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that seemed like an automated morse code signal.
:rofl: Try reading it... maybe it tells me:"smurf you, customer!"
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Contact Maglite and they will fix it. None of mine never done that. Not even my old school mags.
that's us mobile
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Contact Maglite and they will fix it. None of mine never done that. Not even my old school mags.
that's us mobile
It's just I don't want to go through all the hassle and explanations, additional shipping costs, sending it overseas, waiting for it to arrive again.... Thanks for the advice, I'll see what I'll do. Most likely it will just stay in my collection as a back-up of the back-up of my back-up...
And from what I've read on Amazon reviews, I'm not the only one with this problem..
**************************
P.S. Okay, Okay, I did find the contacts of some representative in my country on Maglite's official site... so I contacted them via e-mail. This seems to be developing like my old Leatherman Bulgarian Customer Service adventure.... lol. Will see what they tell me, but if they can't handle the situation, or want me to pay, or want any documents/warranty (which I threw away), I won't write to Maglite US...
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I had a problem with the original Maglite Solitaire. Don't remember if it was flickering like yours or if it just stopped working, but they sent me a replacement part and a special tool with instructions on how to replace the part. I replaced the part and it worked great. All was sent for free and i never had to send in the light.
I just explained how I was a loyal maglite customer and was disappointed with the quality of my light. I also explained (key for the situation) how it would cost me more to send it in than the light is worth. This might work for you if they think the problem can be solved with the replacement part. Hope you get it worked out. :tu:
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Thanks, cap :) US companies usually stand up to their name and take care of their customers from my experience. Just... yeah, me and my location, lol. Turned out the e-mail I wrote to (BG branch/representative) was invalid. I'll either find some official US contact... or... won't do anything.
I swapped the tail cap springs of the incan and the LED versions- the incan's one looked a bit longer/taller, so I wanted to see if the flickering will keep occurring if the problem was in the spring and I changed it... it still flickers sometimes, but I'm not in the mood to play with it a lot now, so I'll see how it behaves tomorrow.
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No problem. I understand not wanting to deal with it right now. If you don't get anywhere with your local Maglite distributer then I would say it's worth a shot to contact the US customer service to see if they will send you a part to try and fix it. :tu:
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Also: the Fenix appears to be both dimmer and more expensive than a Solitaire LED, so unless it has something else going for it.....
The Fenix lights are regulated for flat output throughout the life of the battery. The Mag-lite is not, so it will begin to slowly dim from the moment you turn it on.
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OOkay, the e-mail of the BG guys didn't work.... so I wrote to the official email given there i.e.the US guys. After 4-5 days they replied.... linking me the BG contacts (when I'd said that I didn't have any success contacting our BG gusy). Lol.
Well. The Solitaire will just stay somewhere there as a part of my collection... I won't use it anymore so that I try to preserve it... sort of... at least it works when you tap it. If I keep ... using & taping it, it may stop working completely. Now there's at least some use for it maybe. Some day. Somewhere.
Ordered a Fenix LD05 to comfort myself :D
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I ended up getting a Fenix E01 earlier today. It was a no brainer between that and a regular Solitaire.
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Btw, update: the freaking LED Solitaire flickers a lot less if at all with a regular CHEAP alkaleak battery from let's count in USD ... 0.25 cents.
I tried to measure the length of the two batteries and see if Eneloops aren't.... shorter somehow and dont make good contact, but failed to see the difference.
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I ended up getting a Fenix E01 earlier today. It was a no brainer between that and a regular Solitaire.
The Fenix E01 has become a bit of as classic itself IMO. You really can't go wrong with one. :tu:
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Btw, update: the freaking LED Solitaire flickers a lot less if at all with a regular CHEAP alkaleak battery from let's count in USD ... 0.25 cents.
I tried to measure the length of the two batteries and see if Eneloops aren't.... shorter somehow and dont make good contact, but failed to see the difference.
That's interesting. The only other difference I can think of is that rechargeable cells normally run at 1.2V rather than the 1.5V you'll get from alkaline. Not sure why that should make a difference TBH, just thinking out loud. :shrug:
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Btw, update: the freaking LED Solitaire flickers a lot less if at all with a regular CHEAP alkaleak battery from let's count in USD ... 0.25 cents.
I tried to measure the length of the two batteries and see if Eneloops aren't.... shorter somehow and dont make good contact, but failed to see the difference.
Odd how it does this :think:. When you put the cheap battery in it flickers less how about when you put the eneloop back in? Hmm very odd. I'm glad it's working better since getting it sent to Maglite would be a huge pain.
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I ended up getting a Fenix E01 earlier today. It was a no brainer between that and a regular Solitaire.
The Fenix E01 has become a bit of as classic itself IMO. You really can't go wrong with one. :tu:
I think I made the right decision. I am really impressed at how small this thing is and amount of light that comes out of it!
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@Aloha,
Yeah, I may try with an Eneloop again... just I'm not home now so I don't have any such around. Anyway, I've lost faith in the Solitaire... lol
And talking about faith, the Fenix E01 is one incredible & tough little light indeed. And it will shine literally till there's 0.0001% juice in the batter and even more, lol.