LED Lantern Light

When one goes out, take it apart and see if the battery can be replaced..probably a button cell battery?

The Guardian lights could be used in similar fashion and have replaceable coin cell batteries like your photon.

Bob –

Just wanted to say "thanks" for posting the information about the Brinkmann. I was looking for a small LED such as what you suggested in place of a headlamp. I visited Radio Shack today and picked up a set. Their size and weight, the fact that they are waterproof, the 170 hour longevity, and their cost were all a worthwhile purchase for my needs. All too often little things like this which could benefit someone (i.e. "me") don't get posted for one reason or another.

Can either of you gentlemen post the weight and also what battery the lamp uses? Thanks.

Apparently three 357 coin batteries power it and cannot be changed without ruining it.

Weight is .07oz.

It is slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball with a flat end so it will sit cleanly on a surface.

Although it claims to run for 170-hours, a review I found claimed the output significantly decreases after a fairly short while, although the remaining output will still likely be useful in a small area setting.

For under $5.00 for 4 of them, just use it in another setting if it isn't right for backpacking.

Here is a link from a review:

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/brinkmann_goled.htm

To add to James comments: I plan to glue a thread loop on the bottom so I can hang it overhead in my tent as I not only think that will be the best lighting, it is so bright initially that it could be quite dim and still give adequate light for a long time used in that fashion.

I am a recycler and admit a disposable flashlight goes against my grain. I will probably attempt to repower mine or at the very least properly dispose of the batteries.

Gentlemen — thanks — and enjoy your new lights.

Thanks, I had not seen the flashlight review site before last evening and then couldn't get into it. I did this morning and Brinkmann has made some design changes since that was written as the 4-pack of lights I bought have some differences in the case design. The back half is now fastened to the front with what appears to be a rolled lip but it is not glued. On and Off is achieved by holding the top half of the case and twisting the bottom 1/8 turn.

In actual use I would probably want to use it for a maximum of continous use for 2 hours per night. Over the next few days I will run it in 2 hour cycles to see how many I get before the light level is too low to be useful and report back. I will also attempt to open it at that point.

OK, here are the results of my minimal testing. It is no where near the life as advertised but I believe more than serviceable for backpacking and it can be repowered.

I have put it through 7 cycles that were between 2 and 2.5 hours each (a weeks trip). At the end of the last cycle it was pretty dim but in the dark I could still easily read fine print though I had to hold it over the page and in the beginning it was a bright overhead light. Even so, 7 decent cycles for $1.25 isn’t bad.

The new design (not like the one on the review site) is sealed very well and has an excellent twist “on-off” design where a tab pushes a contact and there is no glue tabs you can cut apart. It is two halves that when pressed together, locking tabs are sprung into place. To really see how it works, you will have to cut the first one open by cutting off the clear bezel and pulling up the reflector foil. Then through slots you can see the tabs and using a thin knife blade, move them back to the release position and take it apart. Once you see the bottom half, you can see how you could drill small holes, take one apart, replace the batteries and reuse it. On the bottom half you would drill a small hole through the side, in line with the tab (they are actually marked for you on the bottom). Using a small wire (a paper clip would do) you can push through the hole against the tab and release it. Push the tabs, pop it open and replace the batteries (will they cost more than $1.25? Doesn’t matter—it’s better for the environment) and push the two halves back together and the tabs will lock into place.