A friend gave me a Streamlight Clipmate that uses 3 AAAs to light up 3
blue/white leds in a compact light. Unlike most other things, I haven't
taken it apart to see if any electronics are inside. It appears to be a
welded or cyano-glued case made out of tough stuff.

It comes with a head-strap and lanyard and has an integral clip for
attaching the light to a hat visor or pocket flap (nostril, lip, eyelid),
etc.

It's a rotating head twist-on switch design, and appears to be nearly
waterproof but certainly very water resistant with an O-ring in the battery
cover.
It's also offered in a green light version according to the package.
They claim 120 hour battery life.

I picked up a Coleman lantern-style flashlight that I hadn't seen before, at
a flea market. It looks like a short D-size flashlight with an oversized
reflector head.
When the handle is drawn/pulled out of the head, it reveals the internal
clear acrylic tube (similar to a lantern's globe) which allows 360 degree
illumination.
The oversize head acts as a wide lantern base, so it's not as likely to tip
over.

It has 4 AAs in the handle, and seems that it would be a good choice for
adapting to LEDs. The case is fairly rugged and appears to be water
resistant, but it had a crappy switch in it. There is room in the back
portion for a small circuit or an additional switch for your white or green
light options.

WB
....................

"Gunner" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 00:40:57 -0400, "John Keeney"
wrote:


"Gunner" wrote in message
.. .
If you folks come up with decent LED flashlights, or plans..the people
over on misc.survivalism would love to have some, as this is a regular
topic of discussion.

What constitutes a "decent LED flashlight", Gunner?
I've build a few that I gave friends in, umm, that work for
the government that they've found useful.

The "white LEDs" are, as was said, blue LEDs with phosphors.
I've fooled with using the base color LEDs combined to give
white light for some efficiency gain but juggling the different
voltages & outputs using surplus components (like I do) is a
pain.

Hummm lets see.
#1 Maximum brightness over a reasonable circle.
#2 Maximum battery life
#3 maximum ruggedness in the unit
#4 as compact as possible. (and water tight)

#5 batteries must be commonly available
#6 cost

In most cases, color rendition is not a big criteria, though for map
reading its important.
Ive been lead to believe that green is the most efficient color for
average human vision..ie fewer candlepower in green is needed to see
the same distance and with the same resolution, and is almost as good
as red for not knocking out ones nightvision. But green doesnt seem to
me..to focus very well and tends to wash out under dim ambient light.
For me. YMMV. Ive used a few of the blue/whites and they work well for
me 99% of the time, except for washing out my night vision.

A light with a couple heads would be the cats meow..one in blue/white,
one in green, or a head on either end or something similar.

There are a plythora of LED lights on the market, from keychain styles
up to D battery units, and others with lithium$ batteries.

Most of us keep a keychain style handy, though many of them are of
poor quality and are not particularly rugged. Ive busted a couple of
the $10 ones this year alone. Something along the lines of a MiniMag,
double AA battery sized would be damned nice as would a larger
version that uses C batteries.

During an emergency, C batteries are the last to be sold off the
shelves, as few devices use them. Double C battery sized is about
the maximum size that can be held between the teeth for any length of
time while doing something that needs light, or held along side a
handgun or rifle for impromtu illumination of that possum in the
backyard. G I dont wear dentures, so Im good to go..if I
did..smaller is better LOL.

Maximum distance is also nice, though something with a 15ft working
range is ok..longer is better G. If Im walking a trail at night, its
nice to be able to see the path ahead a bit.

A simple sealed push button s switch on the ass end is good, though
"twist the head for on" is probably better due to construction
restraints and ruggedness. A lanyard ring is a virtual requirment.
Like the MiniMags have....

Another light that would be handy..is a small area lantern. Something
you could set down and read by, or cook by etc etc. Fairly limited
range, and either 180 or 360 degrees in illumination arc. If the
power is out and you want to do something..it would be darned nice to
be able to put it on a flat surface, or magneticly stick it to
something. It would be the tits for changing a tire, or working on
your engine, for example. C or D battery would be fine. Perhaps a
sliding cover would be nice, simply close it and drop it into your
glove box or back pack or BoB.

Perhaps others have other criteria that they think would be nice to
have? Or differnt priorities of course.

Gunner
"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle
behind each blade of grass." --Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto