When Batteries were Cheap and Candles Expensive

Submitted by Eric Daniel

I need a new light.  The one I am using currently, the Surefire G2 Nitrolon is brilliant, literally, but its insatiable battery habit has become an albatross around my neck.  I’ve even gone so far as to name my light “Audrey” after the man-eating plant from Little Shop of Horrors because every time I turn around that light is saying “feed me!!”

Don’t get me wrong, I love that light.  I love the high output, the on-off push button on the back, as well as the durable design, it’s the $12 batteries it eats on a regular basis that are killing me.  While this wasn’t a deal breaker in Iraq, where we has access to cases of lithium 123A batteries, back in the states, in a National Guard unit with not a lot of surplus cash lying about, those batteries are hard to come by.

I have used AA maglights in the past, and I like them as well, but the rapid on/off ability of the G2 makes it the preferred light in my opinion.

One option I’ve considered is going to an LED version of the same light.  While I sacrifice some total lumen output, I will get longer battery life (and it’s not like I’m trying to light up the entire city of Cleveland, just the 10-15 feet in front of me.)  I’ve also considered going to a rechargeable battery version, with a spare battery so I can always keep one in the light and one in the charger.  Unfortunately, those rechargeable units are expensive, and it’ll take a lot of persuading to get me to drop $150+ on a light I’ve never seen.

Anyone have any luck using different lights?

Check out the Surefire G2 here

Comments

[BWJones]

I've been very happy with the Pentagon LED lights. While they run on 123A batteries, they seem to last forever and the output is exceptional. They are ruggedly built, will not roll around on flat or curved objects and are reasonably priced. Check 'em out:
http://www.pentagonlight.com/item_detail.cfm__id.144

[Andiceman]

If you're paying $12 per battery, or even $12 per two batteries, you are paying too much. Sure, that's what the CR123A cells go for in stores where they are primarily sold for cameras and such, but you can easily find quality batteries online for less than $2 per cell. I get mine at BatteryJunction.com, but there are many other reputable sources online (see http://candlepowerforums.com/ for a community of flashlight geeks with lots of advice). I switched to a SureFire L1 from my E2E as it has comparable light with only one battery and has a low-level setting as well so that one battery lasts a lot longer than two do in the E2E.

Good luck!

[Electromancer]

I've heard good things but don't own one (yet). Uses AA or CR123 depending on the body you use. I'll try to post again after I get one.
https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=226

[vorfeed]

I can't vouch for their reliability with a Surefire-branded light, but I've got a knockoff that runs fine on the rechargeable 123As you can find on Ebay. $20-$40 gets you 4 batteries and a charger. Alternately, you can get slightly higher-class (but probably otherwise identical) rechargeables at places like GreenBatteries. Like that site says, "not recommended by Surefire, can sometimes burn out bulbs, etc etc"... but to my mind, a new bulb is pretty cheap compared to $150 for the Surefire rechargeable lights. For what it's worth, that site's author says that the rechargeable batteries work fine with his G2.

[KG2V]

As others have said, from Surefire themselves, or Battery Station, you can get CR123A batteries for about $2 each, which actually makes the care and feeding of a G2 somewhat reasonable

That said - depending on which lamp you were using, the G2 is a 65 Lumen light, which is VERY easy to get in a LED lamp today. The thing is, most LED lights tend to have more of a "flood" beam pattern vs the G2's "throw" beam pattern. Each has it's use

Do yourself a favor - get thee to

http://www.candlepowerforums.com

They are THE flastlight geeks. I have NOT been keeping up on the latest in LED lights, but I know they are in the 125 lumen range now (cree LEDs)

[Gene]

I've seen replacement pressure switch tailcaps for mini-mags.

[Ian]

You can get a drop in LED replacement light for surefires for cheap here

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4296

Their other flashlights are great for the price too. High end tactical for a Taiwan price

[ChuckMK23]

So I would second the drop in LED replacement - you will get MORE lumens with less power required - Surefire's own drop in replacement head is $30 and it works fine...

[Alan]

Nite Ize (niteize.com) makes at least one push-button tailcap for AA Maglites, along with 1-watt LED upgrades.

REI carries a combo of the "IQ switch" and LED here (item 760026) for $20: http://www.rei.com/product/760026

They also have a simple switch and LED combo (item 737322) for $9 and the plain IQ switch for $8 (item 743038).

Note that the IQ switch might not be suitable for military use; it includes a low-power blinking LED in the replacement tailcap. I didn't see a non-illuminated alternative on their website.

[John]

You should look at the Olight T20-M. 220 lumens long throw, good spill (flood) great runtime due to it being LED (uses CR123). Lots of sellers in the USA and Canada sell them but you can order single items direct from the company. They are bringing out a 190 lumen model at the end of March which uses AA batteries.

[Oz]

There is another American-made flashlight that rivals Surefire (I own one of each), it is the Goncz Hi-Tech.
goncz.net

The Goncz is smaller and lighter in weight, but has very similar output characteristics, is made of similar aircraft-alloy aluminum, has a similar array of accessories, and generally stacks up pretty well. It is also a lot cheaper...

[Dave]

I suppose that given Surefire's large product line, there is some crossover between markets, but...

Most of Surefire's lights are for tactical use.

I have an AA mini-Maglite retrofitted with a 3 LED cell and a push-button cap that I use for general illumination. If I were you, I'd do that and drop in the 120 lumen kit for the G2 for when you need a tactical light.

[WTJ]

The Surefire rechargeable lights are the way to go if you frequently use a light. We use them on the flight line at night and while doing aircraft inspections. There is a recharge kit for the G2 ($60) and the larger Nitrolon is the best bet. It comes w/ 2 batteries, dual chargers around $150. We have tried almost every type of light and the Surefire is top of the line.

[Jon Acheson]

On the inexpensive end of the spectrum, Garrity makes a decent model with 9 white LEDs running off 3 AAA batteries:

http://www.flashlightz.com/product.php/garrity/k035/garrity-9-led-super-bright-flashlight/?product=164569&category=

You can also pick these up at Wal-Mart for $5.99. Duracell batteries are included.

They are plastic bodied, and have a button type switch on the tail end. They put out a pretty good amount of light, are compact, and seem to get decent battery life. I bought my first one last July, and am still on my original batteries after a fair amount of use.

They are probably not up to being tactical gear. But if you operate under the principle that the things you take into the field are likely to get lost, stolen or ruined by use, these are good enough and you can afford to replace them.

[Ben]

Fenix makes some real quality lights, that are about as good on batteries as I have seen, and cost quite a bit less than SureFires. www.fenixlight.com I just picked up a P3D Q5, which has variable output modes to help save on battery life when you don't need to output 200 lumens from one of their distributors for about 85 dollars. Only downside for my use is that the push button is recesseded into the tailcap so you can use it as a lamp on a tabletop with the diffuser adapter... which means it isn't perfect if you are using it as an off-hand light for shooting... but as an all around light I would have to say it is a steal at the pricepoint for its performance.

[usn065]

for the guy asking about other lights and in respose to his G2, I just have to say that I opted for the led conversion for my aa maglite until I could better afford the surefire I've been looking at. the led conversion takes no time to put on the light and with my younger children constantly stealing my light to fight monsters in their rooms, it gets left on all night and I just have to say that it has only had to be refitted with new batteries once in almost 2 years. I use it often myself and for 10-15 feet its not bad, but beyond that down here in NE ohio it is useless. So I use my 4d cell mag in those cases. my thoughts, yes the led conversion is worth the money, but keep your G2 as a back up incase you need it.

[SFC J]

I have an old G2, its pretty cool. Bright and one of the cheaper SureFires or at least it was back in the day. Eats batteries fast though, but what Tac light doesnt? True story... had this G2 attched to my M4, flashed a man up close and he hit the ground, he thought i had shot him cause of the brightness. I thought it was funny... then someone made me do push ups, that wasnt funny. Win some lose some.