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As to why some of us prefer D cells or even 6V lantern battery is cause they last.
I'm not sure that's the case with the switch to LEDs. It used to be that a small flashlight was perhaps good for an hour, with diminishing light output, and anything with a lantern battery might go all day. Now most LED flashlights give full brightness for 10+ hours, and the LED lanterns go for... a long, long time on a couple/four AA, C or D's. There's not much reason for the big, heavy units any more.
I've discovered the flashlight option on the cellphone and haven't grabbed the Maglight out of the drawer for ages. Guess I should remove the batteries so they don't leak from lack of use.
I love to point out that sf writer Brian Daley described this device, purpose and use in 1984. His characters had devices that are all but indistinguishable from modern smartphones—in great detail—and occasionally "turned the screen brightness up full" to use them as flashlights.
I love to point out that sf writer Brian Daley described this device, purpose and use in 1984. His characters had devices that are all but indistinguishable from modern smartphones—in great detail—and occasionally "turned the screen brightness up full" to use them as flashlights.
/enddrift
Yeah, well, he copied it from Asimov, in "Foundation", 1950.
mag lites and any D cell flashlight are obsolete relics in this day and age of small but intense lite and bright (very bright) LED flashlights..they're much cheaper, smaller, easier to carry, work 10 times better than the old stuff..you can pick 'em up in Walmart for less than 10 bucks..almost disposable for that price..
I have had crappy luck with C and D cell flashlights. I bought a LuxPro lantern that takes 3 AA batteries. Very bright and I can read by it when the power goes out (don't have to hold it, it sets on a table and shines in all directions. ) About $8 at Kmart.
This is a case where a $100 Maglite might have its place, mostly for someone like police, security or maintenance who carry it as a tool and use it frequently.
The better household solution is a bag of the small LED flashlights such as Harbor Freight sells — some of the tubular aluminum ones about half the size of a hot dog, and some of the 'blue brick' ones that give a larger light pattern. Buy a brick of AAA batteries from Amazon to backstop the Chinese cheapies that come with these lights, and then scatter them all over the house — several in the garage, one in each utility closet or hatchway, one or two in convenient locations near doors. You will never fail to lay hands on one the moment you need it, even if you have to go find a backup because the batteries are dead.
One finely-crafted, high-end, US-made flashlight is... a nice idea, but functionally obsolete in an era of nearly disposable, great-performing little guys. If nothing else, your Swiss-watch one is going to be at the other end of the house or on another floor when you need it.
Buy an HF flashlight!!! Never. They always have coupons where you can get one free if you buy something else! I like their little blue or red bricks (I wish they made a couple more colors, then each grand kid would get their own color) I've probably have 5 or 6 around the house. The little hanging hook is nice.
I have had crappy luck with C and D cell flashlights. I bought a LuxPro lantern that takes 3 AA batteries. Very bright and I can read by it when the power goes out (don't have to hold it, it sets on a table and shines in all directions. ) About $8 at Kmart.
We have a similar lantern, in addition to headlamps we have scattered around the house. One of the benefits of those lanterns is that now pretty much all of our electronics (flashlights, bicycle lights, remote controls, kids' toys, etc) all use AA batteries. Things are simpler... now we just have a bunch of AA rechargeable batteries and a charger/battery "station" on each floor.
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