I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

In article ,
Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

If just a basic torch, yes. LEDs use a lot less current so cheaper on
batteries. I'd also prefer a rechargeable one - especially if it uses
easily replaceable stock sized cells.

A properly designed LED torch should also give the same light output
regardless of battery state - until they die completely. Which may or may
not be an advantage. ;-)

--
*WHAT IF THERE WERE NO HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.
Yes LED torches are the way to go.
Look for known brands such as Cree for a better build standard likely to
give the long life you seek.
The power consumption is so much lower, you won't need such large cells
and re-chargeable might be an option with the newer, low self-leakage
NiMh cells.

ALDI and or LIDL sometimes have led torches in their special offers too

Broadback wrote:
snip
These
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...p age_o00_s00
are so cheap I bought half a dozen last year and leave one in most room
plus in the cars (with slow self- discharge rechargeables).

I'd not die in a ditch to defend them really having Cree LEDs or compare
their built quality with Maglite but (a) they've worked for a year and
(b) at less than £2 each I won't feel hard done by if I throw them away
when bigger/better/brighter LEDs come along.
--
Robin
reply to address is (meant to be) valid

"Robin" wrote in :

Broadback wrote:
snip
These
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007B86KLC?psc=1
&redirect=true&ref_=
oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 are so cheap I bought half a dozen last year
and leave one in most room plus in the cars (with slow self- discharge
rechargeables).

I'd not die in a ditch to defend them really having Cree LEDs or
compare their built quality with Maglite but (a) they've worked for a
year and (b) at less than £2 each I won't feel hard done by if I throw
them away when bigger/better/brighter LEDs come along.

I bough a LED Torch from Amazon that has a zoom lens and can take a
3.7Volt recharchable. I use is as a pointer in my role as a guide at a
museum. It is amazing. It cost less than £3. The batteries and charger
were less than £5. Long life is not an issue with such things as it is
always likely that something better will be on the horizon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/UK-DIRECT%C2...ight-Zoomable-
Torch/dp/B00QKG7EKC/ref=lp_1938891031_1_1?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1447514716
&sr=1-1

On 14/11/2015 15:26, DerbyBorn wrote:
wrote in :

Broadback wrote:
snip
These
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007B86KLC?psc=1
&redirect=true&ref_=
oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 are so cheap I bought half a dozen last year
and leave one in most room plus in the cars (with slow self- discharge
rechargeables).

I'd not die in a ditch to defend them really having Cree LEDs or
compare their built quality with Maglite but (a) they've worked fora
year and (b) at less than £2 each I won't feel hard done by if I throw
them away when bigger/better/brighter LEDs come along.

I bough a LED Torch from Amazon that has a zoom lens and can take a
3.7Volt recharchable. I use is as a pointer in my role as a guide at a
museum. It is amazing. It cost less than £3. The batteries and charger
were less than £5. Long life is not an issue with such things as it is
always likely that something better will be on the horizon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/UK-DIRECT%C2...ight-Zoomable-
Torch/dp/B00QKG7EKC/ref=lp_1938891031_1_1?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1447514716
&sr=1-1

I got one of these acts as a PIR nightlight, always on charge and is
also a torch.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2817902892...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

On 14/11/2015 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

I have a 'thing' about torches, I have loads. This is my favourite
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...h_ detailpage

On 11/14/2015 10:55 AM, ss wrote:

I got one of these acts as a PIR nightlight, always on charge and is
also a torch.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2817902892...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

+1
I will be buying one or two more.

On 14/11/2015 16:04, David Lang wrote:
On 14/11/2015 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

I have a 'thing' about torches, I have loads. This is my favourite
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...h_ detailpage

Thanks for all the feedback. I've had a good look and decided to go for
Davis Lang's recommendation.

On 14/11/2015 16:46, Broadback wrote:
On 14/11/2015 16:04, David Lang wrote:
On 14/11/2015 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

I have a 'thing' about torches, I have loads. This is my favourite
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...h_ detailpage


Thanks for all the feedback. I've had a good look and decided to go for
Davis Lang's recommendation.

Let us know what you think when it arrives!

On 14/11/15 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

4D LED Maglite.

*That's* the way to go.

Actually, I already had the Maglite - it's 20 years old. I upgraded the
lamp module with one of these:

I put one of these badboys in 4 years ago and changed the switch at the
same time:

http://thetorchsite.co.uk/Terralux_tle-310m-ex.html

and it lights up across half a field.

Mini maglites can be a bit dodgy but the full sized ones are certainly
very long lived and maintainable.

On Sat, 14 Nov 2015 14:49:20 -0000, Bob Minchin wrote:

Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.
Yes LED torches are the way to go.
Look for known brands such as Cree for a better build standard likely to
give the long life you seek.
The power consumption is so much lower, you won't need such large cells
and re-chargeable might be an option with the newer, low self-leakage
NiMh cells.

ALDI and or LIDL sometimes have led torches in their special offers too

If it's anything like the CREE spotlights I got for mains GU10 fittings, the lifetime will be miserably short (mine lasted 6 months!)

--
You can make a signature quote seem authoritative by attributing it to a famous person. -- Sun Tzu

On 14/11/2015 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

A headlamp is far better than a torch. I have two of these. Very good.

http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_20805.html

Bill

There are an amazing variety of LED torches available - search for candlepowerforums and you'll see that some people are obsessed by them - but they tend to call them flashlights!

Fenix and Nitecore are good brands plus Thrunite who can be found on Amazon

On 14/11/2015 15:04, Robin wrote:
Broadback wrote:
snip
These
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...p age_o00_s00
are so cheap I bought half a dozen last year and leave one in most room
plus in the cars (with slow self- discharge rechargeables).

Those make very god DIY inspection torches I find - very good for
projecting a long narrow beam of light under floors and through roof
voids etc.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 14/11/2015 16:08, S Viemeister wrote:
On 11/14/2015 10:55 AM, ss wrote:

I got one of these acts as a PIR nightlight, always on charge and is
also a torch.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2817902892...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


+1
I will be buying one or two more.

Lidl had what looks very similar indeed. I just wish they'd put a bit
more battery capacity into them.

--
Rod

In message , Bill Wright
writes
On 14/11/2015 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

A headlamp is far better than a torch. I have two of these. Very good.

http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_20805.html


I don't think head torches are better per se, just different. We have
head torches, and have been using them for years, but sometimes a troch
is better.
--
Chris French

On Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:28:20 +0000, Chris French wrote:

In message , Bill Wright
writes
On 14/11/2015 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look
into dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is
a PITA as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being
rubberised. Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I
can get one as long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy
bunny. All recommendation welcomed.

A headlamp is far better than a torch. I have two of these. Very good.

http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_20805.html


I don't think head torches are better per se, just different. We have
head torches, and have been using them for years, but sometimes a troch
is better.

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it isn't
classified as carrying a weapon.

On 15/11/15 00:28, Chris French wrote:
In message , Bill Wright
writes
On 14/11/2015 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

A headlamp is far better than a torch. I have two of these. Very good.

http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_20805.html


I don't think head torches are better per se, just different. We have
head torches, and have been using them for years, but sometimes a troch
is better.


...especially for a sore throat?


--
the biggest threat to humanity comes from socialism, which has utterly
diverted our attention away from what really matters to our existential
survival, to indulging in navel gazing and faux moral investigations
into what the world ought to be, whilst we fail utterly to deal with
what it actually is.

On 15/11/2015 00:44, Bob Eager wrote:

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it isn't
classified as carrying a weapon.


If that post is ever linked to you in real life you might find out the
hard way that virtually anything can be classified as an offensive
weapon. It depends partly on intent, and your post implies that you
regard a big Maglite as a weapon.

On 15/11/15 08:44, GB wrote:
On 15/11/2015 00:44, Bob Eager wrote:

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it isn't
classified as carrying a weapon.


If that post is ever linked to you in real life you might find out the
hard way that virtually anything can be classified as an offensive
weapon. It depends partly on intent, and your post implies that you
regard a big Maglite as a weapon.

Don't be daft.

On 14/11/2015 20:31, John Rumm wrote:
On 14/11/2015 15:04, Robin wrote:
Broadback wrote:
snip
These
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...p age_o00_s00

are so cheap I bought half a dozen last year and leave one in most room
plus in the cars (with slow self- discharge rechargeables).

Those make very god DIY inspection torches I find - very good for
projecting a long narrow beam of light under floors and through roof
voids etc.


I find a head torch useful for DIY, and splashed out on a Petzl on a
recommendation. Proven to be durable and bright, although gets through
the rechargeable batteries quite quickly.

Any decent cheaper (£10) alternatives?





--
Cheers, Rob

On 15/11/15 09:15, Tim Watts wrote:
On 15/11/15 08:44, GB wrote:
On 15/11/2015 00:44, Bob Eager wrote:

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it isn't
classified as carrying a weapon.


If that post is ever linked to you in real life you might find out the
hard way that virtually anything can be classified as an offensive
weapon. It depends partly on intent, and your post implies that you
regard a big Maglite as a weapon.

Don't be daft.

He is not being daft.


--
the biggest threat to humanity comes from socialism, which has utterly
diverted our attention away from what really matters to our existential
survival, to indulging in navel gazing and faux moral investigations
into what the world ought to be, whilst we fail utterly to deal with
what it actually is.

On 15/11/2015 09:21, RJH wrote:


I find a head torch useful for DIY, and splashed out on a Petzl on a
recommendation. Proven to be durable and bright, although gets through
the rechargeable batteries quite quickly.

Any decent cheaper (£10) alternatives?



I use one of these and it's the dogs.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Product...FckaGwodx9MJHA

On 15/11/2015 00:44, Bob Eager wrote:
On Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:28:20 +0000, Chris French wrote:

In message , Bill Wright
writes
On 14/11/2015 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look
into dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is
a PITA as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being
rubberised. Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I
can get one as long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy
bunny. All recommendation welcomed.

A headlamp is far better than a torch. I have two of these. Very good.

http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_20805.html


I don't think head torches are better per se, just different. We have
head torches, and have been using them for years, but sometimes a troch
is better.

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it isn't
classified as carrying a weapon.

Unless you used it.....

On 15/11/2015 09:15, Tim Watts wrote:
On 15/11/15 08:44, GB wrote:
On 15/11/2015 00:44, Bob Eager wrote:

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it isn't
classified as carrying a weapon.


If that post is ever linked to you in real life you might find out the
hard way that virtually anything can be classified as an offensive
weapon. It depends partly on intent, and your post implies that you
regard a big Maglite as a weapon.

Don't be daft.

That's not very helpful. What if I can't help being daft? Or, heaven
forbid, what if I am right?

On 15/11/15 09:44, GB wrote:
On 15/11/2015 09:15, Tim Watts wrote:
On 15/11/15 08:44, GB wrote:
On 15/11/2015 00:44, Bob Eager wrote:

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it
isn't
classified as carrying a weapon.


If that post is ever linked to you in real life you might find out the
hard way that virtually anything can be classified as an offensive
weapon. It depends partly on intent, and your post implies that you
regard a big Maglite as a weapon.

Don't be daft.

That's not very helpful. What if I can't help being daft? Or, heaven
forbid, what if I am right?



I never seem to have any issues walking around with a 4D Maglite on my
belt clip. In front of policemen. Never been questioned for it.

On Sun, 15 Nov 2015 08:44:57 +0000, GB wrote:

On 15/11/2015 00:44, Bob Eager wrote:

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it
isn't classified as carrying a weapon.


If that post is ever linked to you in real life you might find out the
hard way that virtually anything can be classified as an offensive
weapon. It depends partly on intent, and your post implies that you
regard a big Maglite as a weapon.

Thank you for that wonderful observation.

On Sun, 15 Nov 2015 09:57:16 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:

On 15/11/15 09:44, GB wrote:
On 15/11/2015 09:15, Tim Watts wrote:
On 15/11/15 08:44, GB wrote:
On 15/11/2015 00:44, Bob Eager wrote:

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it
isn't classified as carrying a weapon.


If that post is ever linked to you in real life you might find out
the hard way that virtually anything can be classified as an
offensive weapon. It depends partly on intent, and your post implies
that you regard a big Maglite as a weapon.

Don't be daft.

That's not very helpful. What if I can't help being daft? Or, heaven
forbid, what if I am right?



I never seem to have any issues walking around with a 4D Maglite on my
belt clip. In front of policemen. Never been questioned for it.

I carry a Maglite in the car. It uses two AAA cells.

David Lang wrote:

I use one of these and it's the dogs.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Product...FckaGwodx9MJHA

There's also the similar
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SK410337.html which I bought a
couple of years aao as I prefer headtorches with weight split between
the front and back, albeit it is heavier overall as it uses AAs rather
than AAAs. (I do still tend to use it in conjunction with one or more of
the cheap little LED torches though indoors or on cars as I end up all
too often in some contorted position where I can reach the wotsit only
to find I can't reach then reach the headtorch. But that's probably
just my incompetence.)
--
Robin
reply to address is (meant to be) valid

On 15/11/2015 11:43, Robin wrote:
David Lang wrote:

I use one of these and it's the dogs.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Product...FckaGwodx9MJHA

There's also the similar
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SK410337.html which I bought a
couple of years aao as I prefer headtorches with weight split between
the front and back, albeit it is heavier overall as it uses AAs rather
than AAAs. (I do still tend to use it in conjunction with one or more of
the cheap little LED torches though indoors or on cars as I end up all
too often in some contorted position where I can reach the wotsit only
to find I can't reach then reach the headtorch. But that's probably
just my incompetence.)

Odd. They seem to be exactly the same except one is 'rubberised' = and a
bit cheaper?

On 15/11/2015 09:57, Tim Watts wrote:

I never seem to have any issues walking around with a 4D Maglite on my
belt clip. In front of policemen. Never been questioned for it.

Is that in connection with your job or a particular hobby (staring into
really, really dark holes, for example)? For most purposes, a smaller
LED torch will do just fine, so you may be lucky not to have been
questioned. Or perhaps you look particularly honest and decent.

All sorts of things that have legitimate uses can also be used as
weapons, pickaxe handles used to be the weapon of choice for payroll
hold-ups at one stage. So, if you are caught carrying one, you really
need to be able to explain why.

David Lang wrote:

Odd. They seem to be exactly the same except one is 'rubberised' =
and a bit cheaper?

Well the one you have also uses 3 AAAs in a holder at the front where
the one I have uses 3 AAs in a holder at the back. There also seem to
be slight differences in brightness but I'd not put much on that. And
more generally I'm not saying one is better than the other.
--
Robin
reply to address is (meant to be) valid

On 15/11/2015 13:43, Robin wrote:
David Lang wrote:

Odd. They seem to be exactly the same except one is 'rubberised' =
and a bit cheaper?

Well the one you have also uses 3 AAAs in a holder at the front where
the one I have uses 3 AAs in a holder at the back. There also seem to
be slight differences in brightness but I'd not put much on that. And
more generally I'm not saying one is better than the other.

Aha! Sorry, I was having a grey moment! I didn't notice the battery
pack position!

On 14/11/2015 16:04, David Lang wrote:
On 14/11/2015 14:37, Broadback wrote:
I have had the same torch for many a year. Now has come the time to
replace it. I need it simply to use in the the home, mainly to look into
dark corners. The one I have uses 3X D sized batteries, which is a PITA
as they always come in packs of 4 and is very touch being rubberised.
Are LED torches the way forward? Naff question, but if I can get one as
long lasting as this one has been I will be a happy bunny. All
recommendation welcomed.

I have a 'thing' about torches, I have loads. This is my favourite
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...h_ detailpage

I just bought a set of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3114015390...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

which look quite similar. I don't bother with rechargables, just buy
duracells in packs of 12 from ebay. They seem to work fine after a year
or more in a glovebox or door pocket.

On 15/11/2015 09:21, RJH wrote:
On 14/11/2015 20:31, John Rumm wrote:
On 14/11/2015 15:04, Robin wrote:
Broadback wrote:
snip
These
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...p age_o00_s00


are so cheap I bought half a dozen last year and leave one in most room
plus in the cars (with slow self- discharge rechargeables).

Those make very god DIY inspection torches I find - very good for
projecting a long narrow beam of light under floors and through roof
voids etc.


I find a head torch useful for DIY, and splashed out on a Petzl on a
recommendation. Proven to be durable and bright, although gets through
the rechargeable batteries quite quickly.

Agreed, I love head torches for actually doing anything. The only
mentioned above though is still worth having for inspecting things though.

Any decent cheaper (£10) alternatives?

You can get cheap ones, but they are not usually as good (or more to the
point, as compact)


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 15/11/2015 00:28, Chris French wrote:

I don't think head torches are better per se, just different. We have
head torches, and have been using them for years, but sometimes a troch
is better.

I can't think of an activity in which it is better to have one hand
occupied holding a torch.

Bill

On 15/11/2015 12:14, Jonno wrote:

And of course you can keep a four D cell Maglite in the car and it isn't
classified as carrying a weapon.


Keep it under the driver's seat and you stand a very good chance of
getting nicked.



Can you imagine the headlines?
MAN PROSECUTED FOR TORCH IN CAR

Bill

On 15/11/2015 09:57, Tim Watts wrote:


I never seem to have any issues walking around with a 4D Maglite on my
belt clip. In front of policemen. Never been questioned for it.

If you get a 6D cell one they might.

My little single AA torch has a castellated ring to quote "be more
effective in self defence" and I doubt if the police would ever classify
it as weapon unless I used it as such.

Does fitting a LED bulb so it doesn't break when you hit something make
a 4D maglite more of a weapon or is it just to save batteries?

On 15/11/2015 12:14, Jonno wrote:

Keep it under the driver's seat and you stand a very good chance of
getting nicked.



Keep it under the drivers seat and there is no chance of being nicked.