torches
Submitted: Monday, Jul 14, 2003 at 20:30
ThreadID:
5986
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3537
Replies:
21
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Member - Terry
In the opinion of my fellow 4wdrivers what is the best non rechargable torch?
This means not only brightness but durability,water resistance,size and battery availability away from the big smoke.
Terry.
Reply By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Jul 14, 2003 at 20:45
Monday, Jul 14, 2003 at 20:45
Terry,
I have a Mag Lite, it's waterproof, (
mine didn't float but because the light stayed on when at the bottom of a pond I was still able to get it back), dustproof and anything else proof, Mag lite I believe is a good brand, you can get from a pen lite size to something that takes six D size batteries. The reflector is adjustable so you can have a pencil beam to a broad beam the size of a footy oval (slight exaggeration). These torches are not the cheapest but they are good, in my oinion of course as usual. Over to you people.Keep the shiny side up
AnswerID:
24932
Reply By: Jack - Monday, Jul 14, 2003 at 21:21
Monday, Jul 14, 2003 at 21:21
Maglite are hard to beat for brightness, toughness etc etc. I have a 3 x D battery size and it is terrific. Take it everywhere.
However, I am about to get hold of a torch called a "Lightwave 4000, which has 10 LEDs, and claims to run for 1 month continuously on 3 x D batteries. They were advertised in April 2003 4WD monthly (Page 229). I have seen a couple of LED based torches and they seem superbright, and easy on batteries.
Jack
AnswerID:
24935
Reply By: Luke - Monday, Jul 14, 2003 at 22:03
Monday, Jul 14, 2003 at 22:03
I've had many Maglites ranging from the single AAA maglite solitaire to the 4xD cell maglite.
They are a good quality torch - the bigger ones such as the 3xD or 4xD especially. I still use a 2xAA maglite which lives in the glovebox :-)
Having said that, I've had a few maglites fail too.
If you want the very best, get over the Maglite hype and visit
http://www.pelican-flashlight.com/flashlights.html
Pelican flashlights are awesome - every one I've had beats a maglite hands down for durability,value for money, water-resistance, and brightness. Don't be put off that they are made of plastic and the Maglite is alloy :-) they are tougher :-D ...and lighter.
Anyway, if you want an awesome torch -
check 'em out. (especially the 1910 - no small maglite even gets near it!
Cheers,
Luke.
AnswerID:
24939
Reply By: Matt (W.A.) - Monday, Jul 14, 2003 at 23:10
Monday, Jul 14, 2003 at 23:10
Terry,
I too have dealt with and still own 4 Mag-Lites 2 x 2AA & 2 x 4D Cell Three of which Live in the Pajero I was told about LED Flashlights href="
http://www.princetontec.com/entry.html">Princeton Tec And purchaces a Headlamp for hands free Operation whilst camping and working on/under The paj.
Apart from Getting the Pi$$ taken out of me by my Mates for the first half hour or so whilst camping they then realise that there not a bad idea after all atleast I can eat my dinner with both hands! and the Burn Time for 2xAA Alkaline Batteries is 40Hrs / Lithium Batteries 100+ hrs, Mag-Lites are Great dont get me wrong but i would give a thought to L.E.D. if i were you. the only downer that i can see is that there not very good for distance lighting. approx 5m maybe?
No Affiliation with Any of the above mentioned products just my own Humble Oppinion for what its worth! Hope this helpsKeep It On The Rough Stuff
Matt (W.A.)
AnswerID:
24948
Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 15:22
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 15:22
Matt,
I'll second that about the headlamp thing, I have one as
well, great tool and real handy when replacing a fan belt or something like that when you need both hands. I always keep
mine in the recovery gear bag, I got
mine from a camping
shop, relatively cheap as
well. As you mention it's a good ice breaker when you pull up and set up your camper with a headlamp, gets a few laughs... Keep the shiny side up
FollowupID:
16882
Reply By: Member - Toonfish - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 01:33
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 01:33
Im another one with Mag light in tow.
i have 1 on a keyring aa i think ix 2aa i x 2d and 1 x3 d i never paid a cent for any of them .a triple pack was a promo from a bushwalking mag years ago and the other was a present from some friends.
having said that i am fairly happy with them however i updated the globes to krytonite i think and i reckon the batteries
check quicly on the d ell ones but hell its free barring the batteries .
cheers1999 NISSAN NAVARA DUALCAB
DIESEL 3.2 & SPRINGY CARLTON TOY
AnswerID:
24957
Reply By: baza - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 10:00
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 10:00
LED seems to be the future, very low current draw, each LED supposedly has a life of approx 500,000 hours (depending on the voltage applied to them) and the brightness seems to be improving all the time. It is easy and cheap to make your own, just do a search in google or similar.
Saying all that, I still use a maglite - experimenting with LED's at the moment.
AnswerID:
24974
Reply By: Member - Russell - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 10:22
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 10:22
I have a maglite 4 D size battery torch and it is very good -
bright, adjustable beam, tough etc. However, I find that when camping I almost exclusively use a Petzl (?) headlamp.
Mine is a normal bulb with a 4.5 v battery pack, but you can get any number of different systems. The point for me is that whether I'm hunting around in the back of the truck, in the tent, looking in the
camp oven or whatever, this thing is always there, gives good light for the task, is easy to turn on and off, and leaves both hands free for whatever I'm doing. Can't beat them I reckon, and I've been surprised at the longevity of the batteries - still on the first pack after a lot of use on several trips. That's my two bob's worth.Russell S
Prado RV6
AnswerID:
24978
Reply By: Troopie - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 14:11
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 14:11
Ah Dunno - I have a 3 d-cell mag light (which is great, don't get me wrong), but the torch that gets used the most by far and away is the trusty old Dolphin. I have had
mine for about 10 years and in that time it's been dropped on rocks, kicked about, fallen overboard (floats) and generally bashed about in the back of various vehicles.
The beam isn't adjustable on
mine, and it's not a
bright as others - but it was cheap and has survived everything thrown at it! A spare globe clips inside and betteries can be bought anywhere.
No association with the product!
Cheers
AnswerID:
24994
Reply By: Member - Colin (ACT region) - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 17:17
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 17:17
I have to admit to having a slight fetish with torches. I have tried lots.
Dolphin - great beam but the batteries don't last and cost a bomb.
Maglite - I have a 2 D cell model with focus, good beam, unbreakable, but too big to put in pocket!
Headlight - got
mine from Jaycar, "best thing since sliced bread" has 3 options - 1 LED, 3 LED or normal focusing globe, takes 3 aaa baterries which should last forever - good to read a book with and find that last elusive pee on the dinner plate !
Another light I picked up for $8 at BBQ Galore - Focusing Lamp - uses 4 C cells - has very
bright focusing Krypton globe or low power night light which is good inside the tent.
I use a 12v Fluro outside the tent from the car.
Talking of batteries - I recently bought a cheap digital camera for the quick snapshots ! Kodak CX4200 - I have been using rechargeable alkaline batteries and they always seem to be flat - no matter how long I recharge them for! Maybe I should stick with good quality normal alkaline ones ??Colin - Subaru Forester
- size isn't everything ! -
AnswerID:
25014
Follow Up By: kezza - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 21:28
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 21:28
Colin
Spend about $17 a pair and buy some rechargable Kodak AA ni mh they are 1600mAh (Nickel Metal Hydrides) The last for ages - if you have a real slow charger you can use the same charger you now have.
I use them in everything -especially my digital camera - I also use them in the handheld UHF so when the camera goes flat Ive got spares. The ones from the camera will still run the UHF for ages.
kes
FollowupID:
16905
Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 19:58
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003 at 19:58
Have a Dolphin, which is more practical than the "Big Jim" that's packed away, and has lasted over 15 years.
Have joined the "dork" brigade too, and have 2 LED headlamps. One 3 LED from Jaycar, and the other is 7 LED from Atlas batteries in the Isa. When the generator runs out of fuel at night(ever seen one run out in daylight!!!), where do you put the fuel? Where your head is pointing, and the h'lamp.
Have purchased a Lightwave 10 LED torch from ad in 4WDMonthly, cost $95, but haven't put any new batteries in, in last 12 months. Doesn't throw a long beam, but ample for 30-50 metres. Depends if you're scared of the dark....
Always wanted a Maglite too, cheap compared to the LED one above!
AnswerID:
25027