Good, cheap LED torches

[Glort]

Looking at ebay there are thousands of Cheap LED torches.

Some cite wonderful Lumen numbers but I'm sceptical.

Has anyone found good low cost Torches both in a searchlight and pocket type size they could recommend?

[admin]

Led lenser p7 are great... Not sure if this is what you mean by low cost thou.

[Ray!]

I bought a bunch of those Cree mini LED torches (200 or 300 lumen) for about $4 each delivered and a mate bought some also, for even less, to use in his electrical job. They are bloody great and only one has failed so far. These are the ones that use 3 x AAA batteries. We use them all the time. I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again.

Cheers

Ray

[Glort]

Led lenser p7 are great... Not sure if this is what you mean by low cost thou.

I have a P7 and it is a great bit of gear.

I was wondering if any of these cheapies live up to their claims. Plenty of them quote numbers 5 times higher than the lenser but i was wondering if that translates to real world performance?

I bought some LED torches from Costco a while back, 3 for $24 and they came with duracell batteries. They are pretty close to the lenser in output bar the zoom feature.

If other cheapies are as good, one of those 1000 lumen jobs for $49 ought to be a ripper..... if they are good as claimed. I'd love one of the big lensers but at $4-500, a bit much for this little black duck to justify. If I could get something Chinese for $50, though, different story!

I was thinking one of the big high output jobs might be good for the old man who is on property. As good as it is, the P7 looks less impressive in the bush where a 200M beam doesn't look near as illuminating as it does in surburbia.

[Ray!]

Ours is the zoomable type and we mostly use it at wide beam where it really shines (pun intended), but it also work well as a tight beam for about 50m. I can't find the same type on eBay now, as it looks like the design has changed. I also bought a couple of those 3.7V single batteries and charger as well, which saves having to buy AAAs.

Cheers

Ray

[Glort]

I have some torches that have AAA"s in a little holder.

Are the 3.7v batteries ( 1850??) a direct replacement to drop in without the holder?

[Ray!]

Yes, they are a direct replacement and you need this battery:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250717601860&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:AU:1123

And a charger like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330539670995

You can't charge these batteries on a normal charger.

Cheers

Ray

[Glort]

Awesome!

You learn something worthwhile every day. I never made the connectioon between the battery and the holder before.

It looks like the 3.7 Batteries are about twice the capacity of the AAA"S. I'm sure the ones I bought not so long ago are only 900Mah and given the voltage rating, the AAA's are obviously in series not parallel.

I'll definitely get me some of them.

Are there any replacement cells for the 4xAAA my Led Lenser uses??

[Ray!]

I'm not sure, but I think 4 x AAAs might equate to a D cell, so it could be possible, would just have to search.

Cheers

Ray

[BigGQWesty]

Sorry Glort, the 4 AAA's are in series so you'll need a 6V battery..

[admin]

Just purchased those batteries - thanks for the tip. Would love a big batt to fit the. P7