Hi,
I have been looking into flashlights for emergency preparedness kits for my family. I have the following criteria:
1. Long run times are more important than lumen level
2. Needs to store well
3. Not expensive as I need to buy 5 (home, 2x car, 2x workplace)
4. Strong preference for AA cells (availability/trying to standardize)
I just bought a Fenix E21 as a trial and discovered that I should have been researching batteries as much as the light itself! The generic alkalines I had to hand couldn't drive the high mode, Duracells could but I understand the runtime is a lot less than NiMH. I know NiMH discharge has been much improved but I'm still worried about using them for emergency backup, particularly in the car. Lithium non-rechargables would seem to solve the power and discharge problems but I read on another thread somewhere that the E21 can only use them in high?
I also read that electronic switches have a small parasitic drain, but haven't been able to confirm that this is the case for the E21?
What combination of flashlight/cell do you recommend for my use/given my criteria above?
Thanks, B
BTW: I already have some cheap dynamo lights and light sticks in the kits, am interested here in a "real" primary flashlight.
I have been looking into flashlights for emergency preparedness kits for my family. I have the following criteria:
1. Long run times are more important than lumen level
2. Needs to store well
3. Not expensive as I need to buy 5 (home, 2x car, 2x workplace)
4. Strong preference for AA cells (availability/trying to standardize)
I just bought a Fenix E21 as a trial and discovered that I should have been researching batteries as much as the light itself! The generic alkalines I had to hand couldn't drive the high mode, Duracells could but I understand the runtime is a lot less than NiMH. I know NiMH discharge has been much improved but I'm still worried about using them for emergency backup, particularly in the car. Lithium non-rechargables would seem to solve the power and discharge problems but I read on another thread somewhere that the E21 can only use them in high?
I also read that electronic switches have a small parasitic drain, but haven't been able to confirm that this is the case for the E21?
What combination of flashlight/cell do you recommend for my use/given my criteria above?
Thanks, B
BTW: I already have some cheap dynamo lights and light sticks in the kits, am interested here in a "real" primary flashlight.