Flashlights?

[Fifty150]

A half of a lifetime ago, this is what I started with. Even in today's world of LED & lithium batteries, I still think of this as my favorite light. And for whatever reason, the flashlight rings on the market today, have lesser grade leather and are made of plastic. I've had guys trying to buy the flashlight ring from me.​

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[Fifty150]

15 years ago, this seemed like a good idea. LED and battery technology was not what it is today. A red LED upgrade for a Mini-Maglite. I had absolutely no use for a red flashlight beam. I still don't have a use for a red flashlight beam. But I got it. Then never used it. Then forgot about it. And I found it today while looking for something else. The real problem is that I still have no use for it, and don't know what I'm going to do with it.​

 

[Peacoat]

As you probably know, red light doesn't destroy night vision. When I was an Army pilot, I had an issue light with a clear lens and a red lens. Could get a good read on maps and still be able to see outside the cockpit. Still have it somewhere. Just hope I haven't left the batteries in it.

I will buy your light from you. Suzie and I just need to get out that way again.

 

[raf]

Random observations:

Colored bulbs/LEDs tend to "wash-out" same color on maps, and make other colors seem different.

True that Red and Green are "gentler" on night vision than other colors, but just as important is the intensity of the light. A brilliant red light can temp ruin night vision.

Common rechargeable and replaceable Batts are far less costly in the long run than non-replaceable/Proprietary Batts. Can be used for multiple items. I have standardized on AA and AAA Japanese-made Eneloop batts for rechargeables. Other alternatives exist, both good and bad.

Common AA and AAA batts (as well as others) come in different energy capacities; the more you pay, the more you get.

Buying batts in bulk and storing unused batts in a waterproof container in the bottom of refrigerator will extend their storage life greatly.

Consider that your particular light may not need to always emit a blinding light. Consider also that a much dimmer light may be far more generally useful (and use less Batt power) than a "light saber".

Being able to quickly and intuitively adjust flashlight Modes/Brilliance is highly useful. It's frustrating to fumble with controls of a flashlight. often, simpler is better.

Some lights start at low setting and cycle up, while others start at high setting and cycle down. Buy the one that suits your usage pattern.

Water-proofness is essential; there are recognized standards for this. Know the standards for water-proofness, and the related "drop" standards. Failure to mention meeting such standards may be an indicator that the item does not meet such standards.

Being able to stand a light on its base, shining the beam on the ceiling, may allow enough illumination for walking around in a room, maybe even reading.

A good Headlamp is perhaps even more useful a similar hand-held unit, since it leaves both hands free. Have both.

 

[Fifty150]

Common rechargeable and replaceable Batts are far less costly in the long run than non-replaceable/Proprietary Batts.

I completely agree. In a disaster situation, you are much better off with AA, AAA, C, or D batteries.




I just got this little Energizer. It claims 400 Lumens, which is good for 2 AA batteries. It was less than $10. It's a little bigger than a Mini MagLite. It fits perfectly in my little tool pouch with my folding scissors. Just right for a guy who needs a scissors to open bags of chips.​

 

[Fifty150]

I will buy your light from you.

I have it listed on eBay.



https://ebay.us/m/JPMeNu

 

[Peacoat]

I have it listed on eBay.



https://ebay.us/m/JPMeNu

Unfortunately, someone else wants it more than I want it.

 

[Fifty150]

Nobody has bid on it.

From what I remember, the cost of the TerraLux LED was about $25. The flashlight, an incandescent 2 AA Mini Maglite, sells for $18 on Amazon.

TerraLux is out of business now. When the company folded, nobody bought the intellectual property. TerraLux upgrades were probably better than other LED upgrades a decade ago. Compared to what's available today, as LED upgrades for incandescent flashlights, the old TerraLux products are probably better.

The only reason why anyone would want something like this is nostalgia. Someone has to really like old, incandescent Mini Maglites, and want a red LED lamp in it.

For the right buyer, this is a really good deal. I am not making any money. It's a financial loss for me. eBay charges the seller a percentage of the gross sale, including the shipping fees. Weird, right? If the buyer pays $10 for shipping, I buy the $10 shipping label, then still pay about $1.50 of that to eBay.

I'm just trying to get rid of things that I'm not using. eBay helps put it in the hands of someone who will use it. As opposed to just throwing it away. Or letting sit in a coffee cup full of pens, pencils, etc., on my desk.

 

[Fifty150]

red light doesn't destroy night vision

The old TerraLux LED upgrade that I have installed is 140 Lumens. That's very bright. Maybe too bright for things like map reading in a cockpit or in a car on the side of the road.


You're probably better off buying a brand new red light flashlight from MagLite. Or at least that's what I would do.​

 

[Peacoat]

Nobody has bid on it.

Your opening bid was $25. So I made an offer for that amount. It was rejected, so I thought someone had made a higher offer. I no longer have a snipe program so I don't do bids. Either BIN or offers.

Yes, I think the 140 lumens would be too bright for map reading. It would destroy one's night vision.

And you are also right about the nostalgia. Suzie wanted it because of that, so I made an offer for her. But who knows how much longer she will be around?

 

[Fifty150]

Suzie Vuong is like The Wind. Unpredictable.

 

[Peacoat]

Suzie Vuong is like The Wind. Unpredictable.

She has calmed down a bit since you knew her.

Suzie was working on a food truck that made the rounds on Music Row between the three hour recording sessions. I met her there.

Although it has been 30 years or so since you found her in the desert, she still has her youthful appearance and her exotic good looks.

Over the course of the past year, she has talked at length about her travels since she left San Fransisco. She doesn't much want to talk about her time before you, though. I never let on that I knew about those days. No reason to humiliate her. Let her past live only in the past.

Yesterday I had the idea to get an Opinel like the one she left at your place, and put it in one of my kitchen drawers to let her find it. Wonder what she will say? Wonder if she will recognize it?

How much longer will she stay around? I don't know. She is settled in and seems comfortable. I pay her for jobs around the farm, and she's learning to drive two of my tractors. I'm also teaching her to work with the Thoroughbreds, a breed unlike what she has known before.

Plus, she is on call with an agency in Nashville for Vietnamese and French translation services. She gets several calls a week in the local area. With decent money and a place to live, she may have found a home.

Now to find that Opinel.

 

[Fifty150]

Here's a weird one. Someone left it on my desk. The real question is, "what do I do with it?"

We don't use electric stun devices. I have no training on this type of device. Although I'm sure that I could figure it out. Nothing on the package mentions how bright the flashlight is. It has a charging cord that looks like something that plugs into an electric razor. Very awkward activation with an On/Off switch at the tail, and a stun activation switch in the middle of the body.

For the moment, I haven't even opened it. I know what it is. It's a salesman's sample. They do that all the time. They leave samples of whatever they're trying to sell. They hope that if some of us use it, we could go to the bosses at purchasing, and ask for it. I don't know about anyone else. I won't be carrying this. I would probably hurt myself with it, before I hurt anyone else. I could just see how it would accidentally activate in my pocket or on my belt.​

 

[Fifty150]

Because I'm old, I like my Mini Maglites. I'm not a fool. I won't walk around with a 14 lumen incandescent. I do have the LED mods, push button tailcap switches, and even different generations of LED Mini Maglite.

Nostalgia. It reminds me of my Days of Being Wild. Long gone youth. Long hair and cheap cologne. I keep trying to carry and use my Mini Maglite, as opposed to a modern tactical light.

I installed a tailcap switch on the Mini Maglite Pro. The brightest LED Mini Maglite with 320 Lumens. The switch works great. Only problem is that when the light is on my belt, the tailcap switch keeps bumping into things and turning the flashlight on. This was also the same reason that I stopped using my Surefire 6P & 9P lights.

No problem. I put the OEM tailcap back on. Now I'm carrying around a little light, which I have to twist on and off. Not exactly what you want when you're under stress or in a tactical situation.

Of course, you discover rather quickly, that a $25 Mini Maglite, even with 320 Lumens, pales in comparison to the modern technology. You're not exactly going to light up the night with 2 AA batteries. As my partner pointed out, it's perfect if we're sitting in the car at night, and I need to read the small print on the label of a bottle of Quaaludes.​

 

[大馬伕]

For me, an average non practical person, MagLite gets my business. Especially when you wait for them to go on sale every few.months. I have more confidence in a Maglite, than most of the cheap off brand lights on the market.

 

[Fifty150]

Here's a Mag-Lite that caught my attention. I don't own it......yet. The XL200.

 

[Fifty150]

Seasonal sales caught my attention. This one uses 14500 and/or AA batteries. Very convenient because AA batteries are easy to find.

 

[Fifty150]

Tonight's California Highway Patrol pursuit gave us more flashlight action.