$5 1.5 oz. Energizer LED Headlamp @ Walmart

Three Li coin cells, what an odd (no pun intended) number of batteries to use. Wonder what batteries they are (CR2016, CR2032, CR2025, etc)? I’m guessing they must be in parallel, otherwise if in series my guess would be that it would overdrive the LED and thus require a current limiting resistor – which would be a waste. In parallel, there would be great battery life and the internal resistance of the Li coin cells would inherently limit current flow and prevent the LED from burning out. However, this arrangement, base upon my experience with other Mfrs “microlights” would only work for longer wavelength LEDs (red, orange, yellow/amber) as their forward bias voltage is within the range of a single Li coin cells typical voltage. Shorter wavelength LEDs are “doped” differently (as are white LEDs) and so have a higher forward bias voltage (the voltage needed to get the LED to switch on and produce light) and normally two batts are put in series – still with no current limit resistor necessary for the same above stated reason).

Very curious design. Are you sure that it is not two or four batts? What color is the LED? What is the battery numerical designation (e.g. CR2016)?

What is the model number?

One light I like is the Energizer folding LED light, model LED4AA1BP. It is a palm-sized lantern with 4AA batteries and supposed to run 100 hours on high (2 LED’s) or 200 hours on low (1 LED); 2.3oz empty, 5.8oz with 4AA batteries. At any rate, it makes a great tent light and camping with kids. The led’s feed their light into two long plastic tubes so it looks like a mini flourescent. Nice to read and write by. The price varies a lot. I got mine off an end cap display at Office Depot for $4 and I still think that was a mistake.

Dale, Neat Idea. I have the predecessor flourescent versions of the lights pictured. Batt life is NOT as long as one would expect (maybe 40minutes of 15w of light output. I’m going to retrofit one of the lights with LEDs. Thanks for the idea. -pj

pj wrote” …I have the predecessor flourescent versions of the lights pictured. …. I’m going to retrofit one of the lights with LEDs….”

The one in the photo is just a bit longer than the AA’s in the black portion– I assume any flourescent rigs are quite a bit larger. Some white plastic tubing might work to serve as a light pipe with an LED in each end. Making them switchable for high/low output would be cool too. The Energizer has some sort of clear plastic rod to act as the light pipe. The whole purpose is to get a softer “wrap-around” quality light. Tracing paper or frosted drafting film make good light diffusers. If you go to a pro-level photo store you can get reflective mylar and diffusion material. Display supply stores have interesting stuff too. A chunk of space blanket would make a good refelctive material for DIY light making too.

Actually, the flourescent ones are only a bit longer than a dbl-A batt. There are the necessary electrical components in the extension area of the flourescent predecessors. So, they are perhaps 1/2″ longer than a AA cell.

To extend batt life of the flourescent ones that I have, like in the event of a power outage (not for use when backpacking – too heavy), I have one that I’ve added a 2C batt holder to the back, and a 2D batt holder on another.

i have the same LED lamp as Dale – even came with the batteries for under $5.00 a few years ago. it’s heavy, but i use it with my son – it has a flip stand that allows it to stand upright and with the LED light facing the ground at a slight angle – perfect for playing Uno.

i use a Tika that i picked up at REI on sale for 50% off – paid less than $10.00 for it.

-Steve

Hey folks, sorry it took me so long to respond. I completely forgot about this post. Anyhow, I’m posting a photo of the headlamp that I found in an arbitraty nook at Wal Mart. Unfortunately, I tossed the packaging out the day I bought the headlamp. Also, I’ve yet to find it on the web. Finally, note that the headlamp has 1 LED bulp powered by two (not three…sorry about that) coin cells.

Antonio, thanks for the clarifying remarks on the batteries – it all makes more sense now (see my first reply to your initial post to see my “confusion”).

Looks like a nice little task light. Button position and size looks easy to operate – perhaps even with gloves.

One question: is that a plastic LED cover, or a true lens or collimating optics to focus the LED light output into a tighter, brighter beam?