Cheap flashlight problem

[JcMack]

For a few years now I've bought cheap, probably Chinese, flashlights. My favorites among the bunch I have are approx. 3" long and 3/4" in diam. and use a single AA battery to power a single LED. They easily fit in a pocket and surprisingly supply quite a bit of light. I bought six or so off ebay for $1.50 shipped. If you loose one so what. The problem is the aluminum barrel and screw on head and head an tailpiece. The threads develop enough corrosion in a short period that the light appears dim as if it needs a battery replacement. Twist the head and tail piece around a couple times to grind off corrosion and light is as bright as it should be. It's not a big deal but is there a conductive fluid that can be placed on threads to eliminate the problem?

 

[gpe55bud]

I'm not sure, but you might try using the lube that you can put on plug wires for your car when you insert them into the distributor cap. Can't think of the name of the stuff right now but you can get it at any auto parts store. Dielectric lube, maybe? Hope this helps!

 

[JcMack]

I'm not sure, but you might try using the lube that you can put on plug wires for your car when you insert them into the distributor cap. Can't think of the name of the stuff right now but you can get it at any auto parts store. Dielectric lube, maybe? Hope this helps!

That sounds like an excellent idea!

Thanks, Jim

 

[Farmer17]

I have bought several lights from Deals Extreme and they have some pretty high quality lights for not much money. They are MUCH more powerful than about anything you can buy at Walmart or Target and the Romisen brand is one of the better lights. If a flashlight only costs a buck fifty its not really worth spending much time trying to fix to me, and will probably have future problems.

 

[ohiobuckeye]

For a few years now I've bought cheap, probably Chinese, flashlights. My favorites among the bunch I have are approx. 3" long and 3/4" in diam. and use a single AA battery to power a single LED. They easily fit in a pocket and surprisingly supply quite a bit of light. I bought six or so off ebay for $1.50 shipped. If you loose one so what. The problem is the aluminum barrel and screw on head and head an tailpiece. The threads develop enough corrosion in a short period that the light appears dim as if it needs a battery replacement. Twist the head and tail piece around a couple times to grind off corrosion and light is as bright as it should be. It's not a big deal but is there a conductive fluid that can be placed on threads to eliminate the problem?

It does not have to be conductive and it's better if it isn't conductive or the grease would create new circuts everywhere it was spread, smeared, or touched during reassembly. A liberal coating of silicon grease prevents the corrosion and stll allows the metal to make proper contact. There are special compounds for electronic and RF applications but for a simple low voltage low current DC flashlight, a basic clear silicone grease works fine.

 

[n4zov]

You will find your answer at candlepower forum dot com. Look under "General Flashlight Discussion" and you will find a sticky on lubricants. I better warn you that looking at that forum can cause you to spend lavish amounts of money on flashlights and you will no longer be happy with cheap flashlights!

 

[JcMack]

I have bought several lights from Deals Extreme and they have some pretty high quality lights for not much money. They are MUCH more powerful than about anything you can buy at Walmart or Target and the Romisen brand is one of the better lights. If a flashlight only costs a buck fifty its not really worth spending much time trying to fix to me, and will probably have future problems.

Thanks for your reply and info. I have 4-5 Surefires that use the 123 batteries. However I got them when incandesant bulbs were the norm. These little lights I'm talking about are handy. I've got them in the same pocket with my "old guy" magnifier.
Mini 3W LED Handy Flashlight Torch For Sporting Camping - eBay (item 260500365847 end time Nov-26-10 19:20:29 PST)

 

[DeadAye]

NEVER-SEEZ
You should be able to get it any hardware store.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Go to the Electrical wearhouse or lowes and get some no-locks - come in a small tube for electric connection and alu. conduit. Great to put on the car battery to. One drop will cover a hill side.

 

[sipowicz]

I bouht 5 of those dollar ebay lights for gifts...but when I got them, two didn't work...a third crapped out a week later....I asssume the two I gave away still work or one of them would have said something to me. I carry an ITP EOS A3 on my key chain....for around 20 bucks shipped it's the best keychain light I have ever used (even better than my old ARC AAA) It has 3 brightness settings and high can light up a while room (I've actually used it to shoot with during our flashlight course in the mobile range). The low setting is extremely useful too since it is only a few lumens and is great for reading menus in dak restuarants without sending out a beacon. If anyone is interested on one, you can get them at the link below and if you ar a member of candlepower forums you can use their coupon code cpf10 for an extra 10 percent off.

iTP Light A3 EOS Upgrade Edition AAA LED Flashlight - Black [itpa3eosub] - $20.50 : Going Gear, Gearing you up for the outdoors

 

[Smith357]

I have bought several lights from Deals Extreme and they have some pretty high quality lights for not much money. They are MUCH more powerful than about anything you can buy at Walmart or Target and the Romisen brand is one of the better lights. If a flashlight only costs a buck fifty its not really worth spending much time trying to fix to me, and will probably have future problems.

I too have bought a quite few lights from DX. Genrally I get the single AA battery pocket lights. I find them to be of better quality and far more powerful than the wally world brands. My issue is I loose them, but when I get them I do lube the threads with Vaseline to keeps corrosion down, I them relube them every battery change. I recently lost my 160 lumen Hugsby P31 and am currently waiting for my new 240 lumen light to arrive.

AA Cree Flashlights, AA Flashlight, Torch, LED Flashlight on Sale - DealExtreme

 

[JcMack]

Thanks for all replies. Honestly everyone of these little lights I bought has worked. The biggest issue is the corrosion thing. The more expensive Surefires never have the problem. I don't like putting a Surefire in a coat pocket. I don't have any LED Surefires. If you accidentally leave it on I believe it would catch fire.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I have several Surefires and two Dorcy flashlights for general use.

Never a problem with the Surefires which are all LED. The Dorcy (Taiwan) aren't too bad. One is 200 lumens but a little big for pocket carry.

I also carry a Streamlight Stylus Pro in a shirt pocket for a second light just in case. Only 24 lumens but great for emergency use.

 

[Farmer17]

Thanks for all replies. Honestly everyone of these little lights I bought has worked. The biggest issue is the corrosion thing. The more expensive Surefires never have the problem. I don't like putting a Surefire in a coat pocket. I don't have any LED Surefires. If you accidentally leave it on I believe it would catch fire.

You can buy LED bulbs that will fit in your Surefires for 10-15 dollars from Deals Extreme and you will be amazed at how much more efficient and bright they are. The R2 and R5 LEDs are cutting edge technology and the light will get hot, but in the winter time you can use it as a hand warmer.

 

[JcMack]

One I'd like to covert is an E2E executive. Can you tell me what $15 conversion I need?

 

[sipowicz]

You had better check with the boys over at candlepowerforums for conversions...I don't think it's as easy as popping in another bulb...there is different power circuitry involved...an LED head for you surefire from the factory is over 100 bucks...

 

[JcMack]

You had better check with the boys over at candlepowerforums for conversions...I don't think it's as easy as popping in another bulb...there is different power circuitry involved...an LED head for you surefire from the factory is over 100 bucks...

Yes thanks,

That's what I've seen pricewise for conversions. I'm gonna leave this stuff alone.

 

[Faulkner]

I'm usually pretty frugal with my money, but one thing I've learned is I usually buy flashlights and sunglasses that cost at least $75.00

 

[sipowicz]

That's about what my eagletac p20c2 cost...although I got a discount of 10 ercent through the CPF....amazing light....and it has a removeable bezel so when I fly, I don't have to worry about the TSA idiots confiscating it...


http://eagletac.com/flashlights/p20c2.html

 

[5Wire]

Radio Shack Precision Oiler is inexpensive and dielectric. Works great on those threads and helps prevent corrosion.

Replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs is simple. Here's a source for conversions like this bulb replacement LED for Maglite 2D or 3D flashlights.