I erased my first draft because it was too long, complex, etc. I like flashlights. I have multiple brands including Surefire. Although there are a few I would like to try, I’ve got most of my needs met and then some.
IMO, a great bedstand flashlight for searching around the property or reaching across the house is the Streamlight HL5. Not my brightest or fanciest light, but my favorite for identifying things across the house to 100 yards away. Very large hotspot which illuminates a large area outside, and enough punch to identify things 100 yards away.
A couple downsides… uses 2x longer 18650’s (means you should use the two rechargeable batteries that come with the flashlight or make sure they are matched batteries because of potential hazards… similarly if you use 4xCR123’s). The batteries have a protection circuit, so they are longer, meaning you can’t really use the less expensive ones from the vape shop unless you use a spacer and know what you’re doing. I’m pretty sure the switch is electronic, which means slight battery drain unless you lock out the flashlight (loosen the tail) or keep the batteries out. The low is too bright for up-close tasks, like checking the breaker box. Last, you have to take the batteries out to recharge them.
The Streamlight HL4 is better for close-up stuff like the breaker box, has a longer run time on low, but doesn’t punch quite as far outside (lower high)… It also has a mechanical switch so I don’t worry as much about battery drain. I think the HL4 is discontinued.
These are very large lights compared to today’s standards. They also have the hazards of flashlights that run Li batteries in series. That being said, they are still among my favorites.
Oh boy. Do I wanna look that up?
My brother in law gave me one that has four 18650s and it’s insanely bright on the highest setting. I don’t use it much because it’s a floodlight and I like a spotlight type beam out here in the country.
I’m guessing that if it has 4x 18650’s, that they are running in parallel. I think that greatly reduces potential hazards. I have a 3x 18650 light (parallel) that I’m currently using as my bedstand “electricity-is-out” light. Not for hard use, but the high CRI, 5k tint, long run time, and tail-stand ability make it a nice lantern alternative for me.
It may be both series and parallel. I’m pretty sure two of the batteries get installed the opposite direction. I’ll have to put the Fluke meter on it and check the voltage one of these days…
Keep the batteries matched. Buy the exact same 4 batteries, at the same time, use them only in that light, and always use and charge the together as equally as possible.
Triple check upon installation into the light that you have the polarities oriented correctly. Be as careful as you would about checking status before pulling the trigger on an ‘unloaded’ gun for disassembly or dry fire practice in the home.
Use reliable chargers that you trust won’t overcharge the battery, and preferably charge the batteries in an at least semi-supervised condition…just in case.
Don’t let them get too hot. Usual thing here, don’t run it on high in the direct sun or leave it on your dashboard in the afternoon or something crazy.
Yeah, similarly here. Like common batteries, like AA, C, or D. Guess we have our own size preferences, D can be a second CCW, but not fit in pockets well. Some have wavy front rims as a CCW.
My preferred are those that have only 1-3 simple settings. one being strobe, I prefer rear rubber push button, to more easily use by feel/touch so I can focus my eyes on surroundings. Seen some $20-$50.
Those are known as crenelated bezels by those addicted to flashlights.
I also like the squared off ends on some models, which keep them from rolling of night stands or tables.
I actually like two things in a bedside flashlight in terms of light output.
A really low setting.
This gets me around the house without waking up the family. I use the 0.5 lumen setting more than any other setting.
A really high setting.
What I am looking for here is something that a) can blind an intruder, b) search the house with (enter a ton of caveats here) and c) can light up the entire backyard. That doesn’t have to be as bright as some might imagine. My rule of thumb is 500 lumens or more with a good mix of throw and flood. However, half those lumens will get the job done 90% of the time and will be better in a lot of circumstances.
I also like all of the other features that come with modern tactical lights: preferably a tail cap switch, must be indestructible and ideally is small enough for pocket carry. However, with a bedside light this last feature is not necessary.
I have two lights beside my bed. Neither of them are made anymore. My little light is an Olight S15 baton. It takes an AA or 14500. It has a half lumen moonlight setting and a high of 280 lumens. It has a side switch, not a tailcap.
My big light is an Olight M30. It has a high of 750 lumens and is a “thrower” with a very long reach. I keep the diffuser on it for inside the house. It runs off of 2 18650’s or 4 CR123a’s. Family came to visit one time and they could see the light on their drive in probably a quarter mile away. I was just walking across the street with it.
For daily carry, I presently use a Streamlight microsteam USB. High is 250 lumens. Low is 90. That’s not low enough for not waking up the wife in the middle of the night. But the 250 lumens is bright enough to search the backyard. It runs off of a AAA sized rechargeable made by Streamlight.
My EDC bag has an Olight M1X Striker. I don’t like the aggressive bezel. I wouldn’t try to get through security with this light. I didn’t buy it to “strike” people with. In fact, I’ve thought about taking it to a machinist to remove the aggressive bezel. I bought it for the high of 1,000 lumens and low of 0.5 lumens. It runs off of 1 18650 or 2 CR123a’s. It would serve as an excellent bedside light. I use it for this purpose when traveling.
I retired my 275 lumen 16 year old Streamlight Ultrastinger to my bed side when I bought the new 1100 lumen Ultrastinger for when Rudy alerts to something on my property on his nightly patrols. I like the fact it came with 2 quick chargers as my old ultrastinger has the regular slow charger. Both lights can use the same chargers as well. I found an LED conversion kit for my older Ultrastinger that will bump it up a little over 800 lumens for only like $40. I also keep a Surefire E2 Defender on my nightstand.
I think its not hard for people to go a little overboard in regards to lumens. The last thing I want to kick off inside of a completely dark home is a incredibly high lumen light. It doesnt take much light to accomplish most needs inside the home. People tend to behave as if they need to signal to shore from a mile out in the ocean or throw a beam from one side of a river to the other. In many cases, you are simply working against yourself .
on the nightstand I have a streamlight 2x AA dualie. I believe its probably around 115 lumens. In the laundry room I have a 3x AA dualie that is 150 lumens. This is very usable light for inside the home as well as decent outside in the yard.
My EDC pocket light is an Olight that offeres 3 brightness setting and topping out at 300 lumens.
My designated outside light is a Fenix that offeres 500 lumens.
I agree, extremely high luminosity, dead of night, will certainly defeat the purpose. With white walls, doors and reflective surfaces, I’m the one blinded. Low light in the eyes of someone whose eyes are attuned to the dark will be devastating!
Sometime ago, we had a bump in the night scenario and I ended up searching our house. I was pretty sure nothing was wrong, but it was a good exercise. What I found was exactly as has been stated above. There is such a thing as too bright. My 750 lumen light was too bright. I no longer keep it on the highest setting. When tactical lights first came out, a lot of them were only 60 or 100 lumens. For inside a modest sized house in the dark of night, that’s prolly enough.
