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Non Rechargeable Non Corded Work Light Old School Batteries

jim7

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Apr 20, 2010
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I am sick of grabbing a light to work on something and find the rechargeable battery DEAD.. I have been looking for a light that uses old school batteries. something like this one but uses normal batteries.. I have not been able to find anything.. Any ideas?

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RTM

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Defiant makes a bunch, think Husky does too.


 

bonneyman

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I hear ya! It's what made me go back to corded drills after some years of cordless frustration.

I have taken some old Makita head flashlights and converted them to 9v alkalines. The flat bases and wire stands make them handy, and there's plenty of room inside the 9.6 volt bodies to stuff the transistor batteries. They last about as long as the original battery and take 5 minutes to change out. Since most folks mock the 9.6 volt line they're usually had for just a few bucks at thrift stores. FWIW
 

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GeoBruin

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Because "old school" batteries (alkaline batteries) will not allow sufficient current draw to power the kind of light you're looking for at near the output levels we've come to expect for any length if time. It's not just about lithium ion batteries being rechargeable, it's about the chemistry of the batteries allowing high energy densities and high power delivery.

You don't try to power your drill on Duracells.
 

honcho

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I understand your frustration with pulling out a rechargeable device only to discover that it needs to be charged before you can use it. It's even more frustrating to discover that a non-replaceable rechargeable unit will no longer take a charge.

Doubt you're going to find anything quite as big and bright as the one in the original post that uses AA, C or D cells. Energizer has some that are pretty decent area lights but aren't all that rugged.



The unit in the second link puts out nice soft light and can use either 4 or 8 AA batteries. I use NiMh Eneloop rechargeables but can use disposable AA batteries as necessary.

Second thought is if you have and use cordless tools with interchangeable batteries, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Rigid, Makita and others have lights that use their battery system(s). If you use a cordless tool often, then perhaps you're already keeping a battery at the ready.
 
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richfinn

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Streamlight do a regular battery version of the "Knucklehead" (or at least they did when I bought mine).

It's been a really good tough worklight, but I have mostly switched to rechargeable headlamps now, one ready to go and one on charge all the time.

Always having two hands free and the light where your eyes are facing is a big advantage in my line of work.
 

subroc

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OP. why do you believe you would deal with the regular batteries in a more responsible way than how you currently deal with the rechargeable batteries? What dynamic would have the regular batteries be ready for work and not be dead?
 

dscheidt

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OP. why do you believe you would deal with the regular batteries in a more responsible way than how you currently deal with the rechargeable batteries? What dynamic would have the regular batteries be ready for work and not be dead?
It's a lot easier to have spares. I use a headlamps that use AA or AAA batteries, because rechargable ones don't last long enough, and it's easy to swap the batteries for a fresh set. (I use NiMH cells, but I have used throwaways in a pinch.) I also have a couple little lights like the ones @RTM linked, for much the same reason. I have lithium powered stuff, too, which gets used but until fairly recently none of it had anywhere near long enough battery life to be useful.
 
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subroc

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It's a lot easier to have spares. I use a headlamps that use AA or AAA batteries, because rechargable ones don't last long enough, and it's easy to swap the batteries for a fresh set. (I use NiMH cells, but I have used throwaways in a pinch.) I also have a couple little lights like the ones @RTM linked, for much the same reason. I have lithium powered stuff, too, which gets used but until fairly recently none of it had anywhere near long enough battery life to be useful.
Well, I suppose I could argue point by point but the truth is you didn't counter my point. You are either prepared with rechargeable lithium, nimh, or even alkalines or you are not. Easier? Why? You either have a box of AA and AAA as well as a bunch of rechargeable ready or you don't.

My point wasn't that complicated. Look, the OP can tell us he wanted that light or something similar for whatever reason he wants or no reason at all for that matter. He told us it was about dead batteries. I was just asking why he believed a different light would somehow solve his dead battery issue.
 
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dchawk81

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OP. why do you believe you would deal with the regular batteries in a more responsible way than how you currently deal with the rechargeable batteries? What dynamic would have the regular batteries be ready for work and not be dead?
48 pack of AA alkalines in the kitchen drawer.
 

dchawk81

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Well, I suppose I could argue point by point but the truth is you didn't counter my point. You are either prepared with rechargeable lithium, nimh, or even alkalines or you are not. Easier? Why? You either have a box of AA and AAA as well as a bunch of rechargeable ready or you don't.

My point wasn't that complicated. Look, the OP can tell us he wanted that light or something similar for whatever reason he wants or no reason at all for that matter. He told us it was about dead batteries. I was just asking why he believed a different light would somehow solve his dead battery issue.
Huge difference between managing a charger and managing a box.

Or plugging the device into an outlet vs grabbing from a box.
 

subroc

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Huge difference between managing a charger and managing a box.

Or plugging the device into an outlet vs grabbing from a box.
Having a charging station with ready batteries is somehow different than having a box of batteries?

I suppose the burden of charging tool batteries is just too much effort for some. I certainly can't or won't argue with the fact that some find the simplest of tasks difficult.
 

dchawk81

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Having a charging station with ready batteries is somehow different than having a box of batteries?

I suppose the burden of charging tool batteries is just too much effort for some. I certainly can't or won't argue with the fact that some find the simplest of tasks difficult.
Not everyone lives the same. Plenty of people would rather not have a charging routine, and just grab & go.

Get enough **** going on in your life and maybe you'll finally realize that sometimes you just forget. And then you're screwed.
 

richfinn

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I forget to put stuff on charge, my solution is to have two the exact same and always have one on charge.

Li-on tool batteries I always have one in the tool other lives on the charger.
 

honcho

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Well, I suppose I could argue point by point but the truth is you didn't counter my point. You are either prepared with rechargeable lithium, nimh, or even alkalines or you are not. Easier? Why? You either have a box of AA and AAA as well as a bunch of rechargeable ready or you don't.

My point wasn't that complicated. Look, the OP can tell us he wanted that light or something similar for whatever reason he wants or no reason at all for that matter. He told us it was about dead batteries. I was just asking why he believed a different light would somehow solve his dead battery issue.
Subroc, get your point but it's irrelevant because he wants something that can use disposable batteries. In many cases, if he can use disposables, he can install a rechargeable version if he so desires. Just a different approach that the OP wants to pursue. Items that use common disposable batteries have the most flexibility. Further, while environmental responsibility may be part of your equation, it doesn't have to be for everyone else.
 

subroc

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Dover, NH
Subroc, get your point but it's irrelevant because he wants something that can use disposable batteries. In many cases, if he can use disposables, he can install a rechargeable version if he so desires. Just a different approach that the OP wants to pursue. Items that use common disposable batteries have the most flexibility. Further, while environmental responsibility may be part of your equation, it doesn't have to be for everyone else.
Environmental responsibility? Way to put words in a guys mouth.
 
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jim7

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Apr 20, 2010
Messages
33
Streamlight do a regular battery version of the "Knucklehead" (or at least they did when I bought mine).

It's been a really good tough worklight, but I have mostly switched to rechargeable headlamps now, one ready to go and one on charge all the time.

Always having two hands free and the light where your eyes are facing is a big advantage in my line of work.
Thank you for all the responses.. Been out of town and super busy I am just looking for ease of use. I do have multiple rechargeable light and numerous corded lights.. Having to work at multiple properties and shops I find it always dies at the worst time. (was in our attic running Cat 6 and the light pictured worked great when tested in my shop and worked great for 3 minutes in the attic .. till it didn't.. Having a drawer full of batteries in the shop as well as the house will give me a easy fix. Thank you the stream light is what I was looking for and will be ordering a couple..
 
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