LED drop in replacements

Just picked up a Rayovac LED flashlight drop in replacement at walmart for about 4 dollars. Finally got to replace the incandescent bulb in my old military angle light. Nice light. Nice price. They have them for 2 cell (3 volt) and 3-4 cell (6 volt)/lantern.

I only got the 2 cell. Nice. Cost effective. LED. Can't wait to get more and the other type too.

Those PR mount drop ins are a great was to upgrade the old incan lights. My only caveat is the LED emmitter is not always in the same location as the incan filament, and it will alter the focus fo the flashlight. The older Nite Ize LRB-07-PR has this problem, but the newer LRB-07-PR1W doesn't.

I did this with my Maglites. A 3 watt LED in my 3D and a 1 watt LED in my 2D. Those were some pricey bulbs. At $4 I'd be all over those.

They seem to be pretty good. Focal spot was straight ahead. With the diffuser on it, there was a nice even very usable light source. My "D" batteries will now have a 'they've been used up but still have power' purpose. I had planned on buying some from a place I've ordered from (superbrightleds.com) (usual disclaimer) and been very happy with. I wasn't sure I wanted to risk it and the shipping meant just getting the bulb was going to be 10 dollars (5+5 for shipping). Local.... good price.... I gives off a really good amount of light. All in all..... bit hit with us.

You'll like 'em. The light should be tougher without a filament to break. I really like the bulbs in my Maglites.

I upgraded a couple of older Surefire 6P and G2 incandescent bulbs with some SolarForce (HK) LED modules for about $15... additionally assembled a couple of lights with their L2M bodies, add a module, and a couple of CR123s, and you have a "tactical" light for under $35... the 320 lumen has a center throw, and the 820 lumen a serious gob of light... Lighthound is a couple of bucks higher, but doesn't take 2 weeks to get shipment from Hong Kong...

http://www.lighthound.com/

Sounds like a good combo for you. With the lower power draw of the LED, those big D cells will give you usable light for a good, long time. Definitely not a barn burner (or should I say, retina burner), but with fairly dark adapted eyes, you have enough light to work with for many, many hours. A tough general purpose or "hurricane" light.

I like that form factor of LED in a 2-D cell angle head flashlight that can stand on its own, but there are really no off-the-shelf options unless you go custom-built, like from Elektrolumens, or switch to a CR123 battery configuration. Then again, LED's are so efficient now that you don't really need all the capacity of D cells like you do with incandescent bulbs.

I would be concerned with the batteries corroding before they go dead.be sure to check them periodically....

BOATMAN

As others post, LED drop in flashlight "bulbs" have a number of advantages.
It is however well to be aware of a potential drawback, many of these bulbs are regulated, that is they give a near constant light output over a range of input voltages.
This means that the batteries are discharged to a much lower voltage before replacements are needed.

For example, 2 D cells driving an incandescent bulb would probably be replaced when the voltage drops to 2 volts/1 volt per cell.
With an LED bulb, a good light might be obtained down to 1 volt/0.5 volts per cell.
Batteries discharged that far are MUCH MORE LIABLE TO LEAK.
It is therefore most important to remove spent cells promptly.

If keeping nearly dead cells in order to "suck them dry" then I urge that these cells be stored in a box etc. and not in a flashlight. Put them in the flashlight when needed as then discard them promptly when the light dims noticeably.

Better still, don't use alkaleaks - at least not in anything you value at all. Either lithium primaries or NiMH are better,and actually cheaper, as well.

Just use plastic bodied flashlights or use plastic C to D adaptors. Corrosion killed my 2D Maglite because the batteries lasted over a year. That is only a minor inconvenience with the old rubber and plastic Rayovacs and Garrets that I converted.