In the past as a firefighter in the 80s, 90s, and into early 2000 the flashlight technology was limited compared to what it is now.
I always kept a two battery D cell flashlight in the car along with two smaller AA battery types in my turnout gear.

With modern technology I am looking for something smaller that can be kept in the center armrest/console of a car and be able to put out a good amount of light.

Recently I had a flashlight in the car that took two, AA batteries and would check function and battery condition(if they were leaking) parodically.
Unfortunately that flash light is now toast. Last time I checked it less than six months ago it was fine however when my wife needed it the other day the battery's had leaked and destroyed the light.

So my question, what have you had luck with as far as what is the best flashlight in the car and what kind of battery's do you use.
I have read that CR123 type batteries are less likely to leak but how do they hold up if left in a very hot car all summer?

Thanks





Best flashlight and battery combination for storage in a car.

Just checked a Streamlight Microstream that I keep in a small survival pouch in the car. Still works fine. I like this light because it easily clips to the brim of a hat. Battery is Energizer lithium AAA. I put it in there in the fall of 2018 (wrote the date on the spare battery package). Also checked a Pro-Tac that's in another bag. Works fine too but its only been in there a couple years. Same battery only AA.

And thanks for reminding me to check it. Can't remember the last time I did.

quote:

I have read that CR123 type batteries are less likely to leak but how do they hold up if left in a very hot car all summer?

They hold up just fine, even to the extreme temps inside a car through all four seasons. I stash flashlights all throughout my vehicles with no issues.

However, CR123 batteries are less likely to leak because they're lithium batteries, rather than old technology alkaline batteries. Not anything inherent to the CR123 battery design itself.

Lithium batteries won't leak and ruin electronics. Whereas alkaline batteries are near-guaranteed to leak eventually, especially in electronics that sit unused for long periods, and especially especially in those subjected to frequent temperature swings.

So you don't necessarily have to switch to using CR123s. You can also get lithium AA batteries.

You could simply get a replacement AA flashlight for the one that got ruined by the alkaline AA batteries leaking, and then just only use lithium AA batteries in it this time.

I forget the brand, but my dad had one with a mounted charger, a bit smaller than the typical 2 cell Maglight. Always charged & the charger kept it in place so it didn't wander around a cubby or console.
Might've been a Streamlight?

I have several for the car. Things like headlamps and red flashing hazard lights and floodlights but if I could one keep one it would be my Lumintop Tool AA.

It takes 1 AA (keep lithium primary in it and spares) so batteries can be found anywhere.

It has usable brightness, a diffuser, and a magnetic tailcap which I find handy.

Something with lithium AA batteries. They can take the car's heat and won't leak, as well as being just fine in very cold temps.

Pick anything that's LED. I like Pelican, Surefire and Streamlight.

Do you want really bright for a shorter period of time or lower output for a much longer period?

I like the site Brightguy for tons of info and they are an authorized retailer for most every brand.

As others have mentioned, I have a 2xAA LED MiniMagLite with Energizer Lithium batteries in them for each vehicle.

The Lithium batteries are more expensive, but I have yet to have one leak out or die in storage.

I have small Coast lights in my rigs.
Dual fuel, always plugged in and charged.

I have the big ones for home use.

Find a headlamp that will hold lithium batteries. There are any number of them. I’m not a fan of 25 function scroll through switch presses.

If you’ve not used a headlamp you’re missing out. I like Petzl, but have gotten great service from a Walmart sourced Bushnell ( rechargeable )

quote:

Originally posted by Gibb:
As others have mentioned, I have a 2xAA LED MiniMagLite with Energizer Lithium batteries in them for each vehicle.
<snip>

I threw a 2xAA LED MiniMagLite in the trash two days ago. Its rotating switch was was unreliable – fussy to turn on.

I keep a Fenix lithium headlamp in my glovebox so if I'm changing a tire, or any other mechanical issues in the dark, I can work hands free with the light.

Whichever flashlight you choose, CR123A batteries are hands-down the most robust heat and cold resistant and longest lasting batteries out there.

Surefire stamps their 123 batteries with a date ten years in the future from the month/year of manufacture and I can tell you from personal experience that these batteries will still work past their ten year expiration.

In the glove compartment of my truck, I keep a Surefire G2L, yellow in color. This light came with an 80 lumen LED lamp which has since been replaced with a Malkoff M61L which has a 230 lumen output. For plastic lights such as the G2, you do not want to use the M61 because operating the light continuously will melt the lamp housing.

quote:

The M61 dropin was designed to operate at maximum output for extended times in metal lights. Operating the unit for more than 15 continuous minutes on high in plastic lights (Surefire G2 and G3) may damage the dropin. This is not an issue in metal lights or plastic lights with a metal head.

If you have and all plastic G2 or G3, please choose the M61L or M61LL.

The G2L comes with a momentary push tail switch. Constant on is accomplished with a twist. I replaced the switch with a McClicky which allows for both momentary by pressing on and constant on by clicking the switch. Also in the glove compartment, I keep two sets of replacement CR123A batteries.

Also, I keep a Black Diamond Spot 350 headlamp, apparently discontinued since it no longer appears on the Black Diamond website.

This light takes three AAA batteries. I use Energizer AAAs and I keep two sets of replacement batteries for this headlamp.

On my car keys, I keep an Olight I3E EOS.

Thank you for all the suggestions and information.

I never realized that you could get Lithium batteries in AA.
I always thought that Lithium were special for things like Cameras and specialty electronic equipment that uses non stand size batteries.

I have some older Surefire flashlights and may look to see if I can get up dated LED bulbs for them.

Looks like I have some more research to do.

Once again thank you everyone for the suggestions.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

In the glove compartment of my truck, I keep a Surefire G2L, yellow in color. This light came with an 80 lumen LED lamp which has since been replaced with a Malkoff M61L which has a 230 lumen output. For plastic lights such as the G2, you do not want to use the M61 because operating the light continuously will melt the lamp housing.

quote:

The M61 dropin was designed to operate at maximum output for extended times in metal lights. Operating the unit for more than 15 continuous minutes on high in plastic lights (Surefire G2 and G3) may damage the dropin. This is not an issue in metal lights or plastic lights with a metal head.

If you have and all plastic G2 or G3, please choose the M61L or M61LL.

The G2L comes with a momentary push tail switch. Constant on is accomplished with a twist. I replaced the switch with a McClicky which allows for both momentary by pressing on and constant on by clicking the switch. Also in the glove compartment, I keep two sets of replacement CR123A batteries.

I have this exact light with the same Malkoff and McClicky. It's an outstanding general purpose light. I have another G2 and G3 set up the same way.

Highly recommended for anyone who has a G2 or G3.

quote:

Originally posted by 71 TRUCK:

I never realized that you could get Lithium batteries in AA.

Amazon, Battery Junction, Ace Hardware, sometimes Walmart (if in stock), ... all the usual places.

Energizer is one of the easier brands to find.

Streamlight 1L-1AA

Keep it loaded with a CR123 or a Lithium AA. The light itself will run on any of the following and can be configured to 1 of a few settings (high only, low, high, strobe, high low etc.)

CR123A primaries
Lithium AA
Alkaline AA
NIMH AA
Also while not specifically designed around them AAA will work in a pinch.
Lithium AAA
Alkaline AAA
NIMH AAA

I have never tried a 14500 or 16340 since both run a higher voltage and I’m not sure the light would be able to handle it.

Point is the 1L-1AA makes for a helluva emergency light. Just use lithiums for long term storage/car storage. Honestly the only nitpicks I have are that it doesn’t tailstand and it doesn’t have a moonlight/low low mode of something between a half a lumen to around 5 lumens, but those are just nitpicks for me personally.

They are also fairly inexpensive. (I mean not dollar store pack of 5 cheap but for the quality and capability pretty inexpensive)

https://www.amazon.com/Streaml...a%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-1

As others have said, lithiums are the way to go. One thing to consider, if you use a led light for brightness, efficiency, size or whatever, is that some of them may have a small current draw from the battery in the off state. I’ve had a couple like that and if you store it for long periods of time without using it, you may find it’s run the lithium battery down. I unscrew the flashlight head one turn to ensure there’s a complete disconnect between the battery and the light’s electronics so there’s no possibility of a parasitic current. Just a thought.