Posted: 12/19/2016 7:47:21 PM EDT
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I'm pretty sure the answer will be no, but I'll ask anyway.
Elzetta needs to make a AA battery powered flashlight. I fly as part of my military duties, and like every military aviator, am required to have a working flashlight on me. This light needs to be bright enough to inspect outside or (worst case) signal for help, have a low mode for when we have the lights off inside (preferably a very low 1 lumen), have a good run time, and most importantly the light needs to come on every time. I would like AA batteries because that tube size fits the pockets better, CR123's are expensive, Enloops can put out a lot of power and be recharged for years, and I don't trust 18650 batteries enough to seal one inside a metal tube with me. While I'm making a wish list, this light ideally would be intrinsically safe/explosion proof, and high-CRI, but that's not a must-have. There are lights available that almost work for what I need. The Olight S2A puts out a lot of light, has a great form factor and interface, but probably doesn't meet the "mission critical" level of quality required. I initially had bought a Nightcore MH20GT to fly with, and while it's performance is phenomenal and USB charging is very convenient, the interface is garbage and I don't trust the batteries it uses. (see video) I've killed two Pelican lights, and had almost all of my 4 Sevens lights stop working for no reason, so those are out. L3 makes a nice sized high CRI light, but they are poor quality.  Man Hospitalized After E-Cigarette Explodes In Pocket Zebralight has several models that do everything I want, and I currently fly with one, but I'm unsure of how much abuse they can take. This is where a company like Elzetta can come in. You guys are known for dependable, reliable lights. That's exactly what I need, but the rest of the features (lack of features actually) have kept me from buying one. I'm obviously really into flashlights, not someone who's just upgrading from an incandescent maglite. TL;DR Pretty please make a pocket friendly AA flashlight with a ultra-low mode. |
A New American Standard in Tactical Lighting
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Originally Posted By Elzetta:
Thanks for the suggestion. No plans for AA products as CR123 batteries are superior in nearly every way. Are you sure about that? Other than cold weather performance, how are they better? Eneloop Pro AA batteries have 2550 mAh*1.2V=3.06Wh, Energizer lithium AA's have 3000 mAh*1.5V=4.5Wh, Panasonic CR123's are 1400mAh*3V=4.2Wh. Runtime advantage to the lithium AA's. Proper US made CR123 batteries can be $4 each (Amazon price on a 2-pack of Surefire cells right now), unless you're buying in bulk. Then they still cost $1.75 each. (Amazon 20 pack) This represents quite a bit of money over the life of the flashlight. Not all of us have access to the magical connex full of free stuff. Eneloops are rechargeable a thousand or more times. Btw, even those energizer lithiums are a better value at $1.50 each in bulk. (Amazon 20 pack) I can find AA batteries anywhere worldwide, or I can solar charge AA's when I'm away from civilization. CR123's? Not unobtanium, but if you don't plan ahead and have to buy cells from a camera shop or gas station, the price will make you cry. If I'm out in the sticks, on a hiking trip or deployed, I'll be able to find alkaline AA's. Can't say the same for CR123's. The smaller diameter of AA lights makes them more pocket friendly. That means I'm more likely to actually have a good light on me when I need it. Can't tell you how many times I throw a small AAA light into my pocket instead of a far superior 18650 light, just because it's more comfortable. Even quality US-made CR123 batteries can literally explode. CR123 explosion Imagine if that happened to me at 30,000 feet over someplace I'd rather not land at? This is the main reason I want you guys to make a AA light. CR123 batteries are no longer needed to have a bright light. A couple years back that was true, but brands like Zebralight are getting 500+ lumens from ONE Eneloop AA battery. LED and driver technology has come a long way. Please don't be like Surefire and let other companies technologically leapfrog you into irrelevance. |
A New American Standard in Tactical Lighting
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High temperature performance, low temperature performance, shelf life, non-corroding, higher energy density, lower mass density, higher voltage per cell, etc. etc. The advantages of CR123 over AA are numerous and significant.
 Tactical Flashlight Batteries, Elzetta vlog episode 10 |
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