9V Flashlights

I recall some discussion(s) about LED lights that snap onto 9V batteries but for some reason my searches did not seem to find it.

Being diligent about replacing all 9 smoke detector batteries every 6 months has left me with MANY 9V batteries that test (with load) at 100%.

I would like to get some snap on flashlights for my use as well as gifts to make use of these perfectly good batteries.

The Pak-Lite looks good but I only see them sold with batteries. I don't need the batteries!!!

Does anyone know of a source to purchase 9V snap on flashlights in bulk, say packages of 10, without batteries?

All input is most appreciated.

Craig T.

There's an eBay listing with 6 LEDs that looks interesting. No affiliation. I have no idea about the quality. You can get 10-packs of these from the same seller. If you buy a bunch you can probably get a better deal. Maybe even negotiate a "no battery included" deal.

[Sorry, tried to post a link but some anti-spam bot censored it out.]

The other option to consider is that 9V batteries actually have six individual AAAA batteries inside. They appear to be full size, though I haven't checked this closely. These batts can be adapted to power small headlamps etc. And there is one nice, skinny little Streamlight penlight that uses AAAAs.

That's interesting, I hadn't thought of wanting to purchase a Pak-Lite without an included battery. I've never seen a "naked" Pak-Lite sold, even with the bulk, retail display packs.

The Pak-Lite seems so low-tech that you think you'd find many knock-offs out there, but not sure if I ever have. If I wanted something reliable with that form factor, I personally would stick with the Pak-Lite.

Another 9V option is another oldie, but goodie, the Rigel System Starlite and Skylite. Originally made for astronomers who needed a super-low amount of adjustable light, they are well-built and waterproof. I'm not sure if they have an official website anymore, but it's easy to find retailers online. Unfortunately for you, they come with a new battery, too.

The final option that I'm aware of is one of the very first serious LED flashlights to be sold, the Eternalight line of flashlights. They use a series of small LEDs and have all kinds of different modes. Sturdy, waterproof, and often featured in survival magazines (not sure the web was even around back then) as the ultimate flashlight. Unfortunately, these come with batteries, too.

may have been an offshoot of the US military "firefly" program...originally developed by a Florida doper to identify landing zones for airborne drug drops... the ones I've seen had 3 LEDs .... there were different flash rates available...and were in the infra red spectrum visible with night vision goggles... a friend was attempting to market them to the Rangers...a couple models with constant visible light were around...

Oh, how could I have forgotten the Safe-light and PALight 9V flashlights? These come with batteries, too.

what Arney said

If the batteries test out under load maybe you could let them live a touch longer in the smoke detectors?

Ok, here's a question:

Other than "batteries not included", what would you folks like to see different than the Pak-Lite? In other words, what would be the ideal 9v flashlight?

Robert,

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to ask this question!

I was thinking that myself. Though even if I do leave them in the smoke detectors a bit longer, I would want to pull them at no less than 1/2 the usable power remaining. Still could be used for flashlights.

I wonder if there is a timer in the smoke detectors because when I do not replace the batteries at 6 months, they start tweeting at me. When I pull the battery and test it, it shows full or nearly full charge.

Craig T.

thseng...I would use it as an area light, and no need to focus or have a lens.... the one's I was referring to had no switch, you simply snapped the button fastener on or removed it...it was a poured epoxy top, and resistor to reduce the voltage was not visible (if there was one)... they were very well made, and the connector buttons were above average quality...I've never had good luck with the typical 9v snap on strip, as I tend to destroy the strip after about a dozen battery changes...

We have hardwired (connected to household electric) smoke alarms, so the batteries only get drawn upon directly when the power is out. I change those once a year in spring at the daylight savings shift, instead of every six months which is the rate recommended for battery operated alarms. 9V batteries taken out still have plenty of charge in them, but replacements are cheap enough I just don't want to take any chances with my family's safety in deviating from a set replacement schedule. I respond to alot of fires for the Red Cross, and in almost every instance its a smoke alarm that alerts people to the fire and that gives them time to get out safely.

Worse case, if we had a long duration power outage the battery backup would be drawn upon, so I would just change my smoke alarm batteries when the power comes back on.

Here's a related follow-on question--Has anyone ever had a 9V battery leak?

Perhaps the 6-month rule came about at a time when batteries were less reliable, and 6-month replacements made more sense? I've never seen a leaking 9V, and with the availability of lithium 9V cells now, you could go many years without changing those puppies.

I have fond memories of a 9V-powered transistor radio from Radio Shack when I was a child. It came in many colors, I recall. They don't make 9V radios anymore, it seems, but that would've been a good way to use up those cells from the smoke detector.

Yes. However it was many years ago. The only gear I have that runs on 9V batteries now is my cable tracer set, and I haven't used that for a couple of years.

I'll second the recommendation for the PALight/Safety-Light flashlights. 9volt is a bit of an oddball battery, and it wouldn't have been at the top of my list for most purposes, but it works great with these lights.

The thing I like best about them is their extremely low "always on" level - great for a nightstand light. You don't notice that they're on when there's a light on in the room, and when the lights are all out, it's enough light to easily find the flashlight on the table top without disturbing your night vision or being an annoying source of light when you're trying to sleep. Then you can use the light as needed. Even on its highest setting, it's not what you'd call a terribly powerful light (LED technology has really leaped forward from when these lights first came out). But they're very useful lights.

One tip I got from CPF back when I first got my PALights - they come with a plastic lens that focuses the beam a bit more tightly than I find optimally useful - the tip was to pry out the lens and reverse it, so that it's got a broader beam. I prefer my lights that way - it might not be everyone's preference.

Ah, that's a great tip. I had not thought of that--turning that focusing optic into a spreading optic.

That optic is my primary reason for never getting a Survival Light or PALight back when they first came out years back--the beam is a distinct circle with a sharp cut-off, so you suffer from that "follow the bouncing ball effect" because you can only see what is within that circle. To be fair, that was quite common among many lights back then, when LEDs were pretty weak and you had to do things like use a lens to concentrate all that light into a smaller beam. We've certainly a long way from then in a short time.

I've always wondered how necessary the 6-month replacement rule is.

It reminds me of vehicle maintenance suggestions; cars all used to say the oil had to be changed every 3 months or 5,000 km. I always thought that was excessive, and newer vehicles with oil life monitors seem to be proving me right; according to GM's info on cars with their oil life monitoring system, "[m]ost GM vehicles average 13,500 km between oil changes." That's quite a difference.

It makes me wonder if we are being wasteful in changing all those batteries on a 6 month schedule (although searching around I see quite a few organizations recommending annual battery changes now - example).

As a side note, some manufacturers are now selling 10 year smoke detector models with lithium batteries installed; they say the life of the unit is the life of the battery so you just replace the whole unit at the end of 10 years.

Sorry to continue this tangent, but that's an important point--smoke detectors lose sensitivity for a number reasons over time, so most should be replaced at the 10 year mark (at least the ionization type). However, how many of us reading this post have smoke detectors that are more than 10 years old? Quite a few, I'm sure.

I just checked--I do have two units that are way past their prime. Something to remedy this holiday season, especially before any Christmas tree goes up.

I've read that smoke detectors should also be vacuumed to remove dust that can reduce sensitivity, but that's something I've never done.

Skylite

Starlite

9v batteries are actually comprised of 6 AAAA batteries inside a rectangular casing. You can have a 9v battery where the internal AAAA batteries are leaking, but fail to permeate the metallic casing. Ever have a 9v that looks overly fat/distended? Yup, it's leaking internally.

I suppose that's why they recommend such frequent replacement. You could have a failure inside the battery and not even notice it because of the battery's external case shielding the problem.

Interestingly, all the new battery operated smoke detectors I've seen now use AA batteries. Thankfully, I gave up on battery powered smoke and CO detectors years ago and just had them all hard wired into the alarm system. Now I've only got one battery to change...the backup battery down the basement....which supposedly has a 10 year lifespan (though I change it out every 5 or so).

I've always wondered how necessary the 6-month replacement rule is.

I suspect that part of the point is to get people into the habit of keeping that vital piece of equipment working. Too many people either forget about them, and many don't even have alarms. A dead battery is as bad as not having an alarm at all.

Does any know how much power the alarm going off drains? A few kitchen issues, humidity from the shower, grumpy toaster..... How long is the battery life if the unit is doing more than just waiting?

There's no way to know for your specific smoke detector.

Every six months, I break out the pulse-load battery tester (the one I like is http://www.batteryjunction.com/zts-mbt.html, no affiliation) and test the Energizer Lithium AAAs in my smoke detectors. If they don't all test at the same level, I replace them. If they test out at less than 60%, I replace them. Given that a smoke detector is good for ten years max, I end up replacing the batteries approximately twice before replacing the smoke detectors.

With alkalines my advice is to replace them every six months without bothering to test.

Most battery testers are just voltmeters, and don't test the batteries under load. In other words, most battery testers are next to useless.

If you have any doubt, replace the batteries.

Thanks Chaos!

This is Not a recommendation for anyone,& I advise against it!I have been out in the boonies more or less in the past,& Just didn't have my Multimeter handy(shucks! I alway's carry my multimeter on dayhikes/expeditions)I needed to check the load of a 9v battery,hello mr. tongue,whoa! spit a few times,Habanero pepper = Full Load,tested another,spit some more,Jalapeno pepper = 1/2 load,tested yet another,no spit required,Bell pepper = dead battery

The crazy thing about your reply Rich is that I understood it. lol

HJ

Very good point, however, if you cook like I do your smoke detector gets tested regularly. At least the one closest to the kitchen..............

Thanks for all the input. I decided to give these a try: http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-pcs-x-9-Volt-...#ht_3341wt_1342

To start off, I just want simple lights. Don't need waterproof. (Next round I might).

These have a low and high switch. They are a lot less expensive than the others so if the quality is good, they will do the intended job. I will give you a report when I get them.

I now am intrigued with the higher end ones, the encased waterproof ones. (It just never ends does it?!)

Craig T.

Those look like the same sold by DealExtreme.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/9v-battery-...on-1-6f22-52813

Price is comparable, if not a little better.

I joined this forum just to answer your question. I just happened to be looking at those flashlights the other day and then saw your post. So here you go.
http://www.survival-warehouse.com/lighting/9v_lights.htm

Your username is humorous considering the Pak-Lites were referenced in the OPs first post.