# How do you routinely use flashlights in and around your home? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 5, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640 "2023-07-05T13:41:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2023, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/41 "2023-07-06T02:49:32Z")
I’m a fan of Olight’s Baton 3 rechargeable LED flashlights. They can go from a very dim 0.5 lumens to 1500 lumens. I use the dim setting most—I often hike before dawn and half a lumen is just enough to light the trail in front of me. They’re expensive, around $70, but the features match my needs. I keep one in the car, one in a kitchen drawer, and one in a gear cabinet, for traveling. I also have a rechargeable UV flashlight for hunting scorpions. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2023, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/42 "2023-07-06T04:52:39Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#): > > Olight Anyone looking for a AAA LED light, Olight is having another sale, sign up and get one for the price of shipping. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/43 "2023-07-07T16:40:21Z")
I _might_ have enough to play a nighttime MLB or NFL game with, provided they are down low as some don’t have the reach of stadium lights. I have a bunch of head lamps & even two waist belt lamps for running. 3 bike lights (one on bars & one on helmet) for fall winter riding / running. I was gifted a beanie with a light in it & have a baseball-style hat with two watch-battery powered lights in the brim. I have a couple [Guardian Angel](https://www.guardianangeldevices.com/) lights, which are more to make me more visible but all have at least a single white LED & have various mounts for them. I have a couple RGB panels for photography & a couple of RBG wands, as well for light painting. I was using one of the 500 wt bike lights to frame & focus a night photo shoot earlier this week. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/44 "2023-07-07T16:56:21Z")
I have oodles of flashlights around our house. The most common use for them is to find things on the floor. Drop the back of an earring? Hold the flashlight parallel to the floor and you can usually spot it very quickly. Whenever anything is lost or dropped, my first thought is to grab a flashlight. In my experience, cell phones do not do as good a job for this purpose as a good quality dedicated flashlight. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/45 "2023-07-07T17:03:03Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > In my experience, cell phones do not do as good a job for this purpose as a good quality dedicated flashlight. Granted. But the phone is always in my pocket and is always charged. while the flashlight is located ??? and its batteries are in condition ???. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/46 "2023-07-07T17:19:56Z")
The obvious solution is…more flashlights. I’m never more than ten feet from a very powerful one. And I buy Amazon batteries in packs of 20. As an old person, I’ve learned my lessons well. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/47 "2023-07-07T17:22:23Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > I’m never more than ten feet from a very powerful one. And I buy Amazon batteries in packs of 20. As an old person, I’ve learned my lessons well. This! ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/48 "2023-07-07T17:56:44Z")
But why 20-packs? They have rechargeable batteries. 18650 lithium batteries (e.g., LiCoO₂) work pretty well. BTW they may not be “very powerful”, but there are also LED micro-lights to keep on a keychain. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/49 "2023-07-07T18:27:05Z")
I’ve also standardized on 18650 batts for my larger flashlights & headlamp. These batteries have a large capacity and can supply a lot of current for high power devices. I keep a bigger flashlight in the car, one each near the front and back doors of the house, one at my parents’ place, one with my travel and camping stuff. One charger does fine. Of course, I also have some smaller lights around. One on my keychain, tied to my laptop bag, nightcase, several more scattered around the house. For my EDC keychain, I was lucky to get (in 2016!) one of these nifty Jetbeam Mini-1 Cu lights. About the size of half a AA alkaline, it’s dual power, has an integrated USB Micro charging port & circuit (with tiny red/green status LED), and the cutest little 10180 battery inside. And the copper patina is great. [https://www.knifecenter.com/item/JTMINI1CU/jetbeam-mini-1cu-rechargeable-copper-led-flashlight-130-max-lumens](https://www.knifecenter.com/item/JTMINI1CU/jetbeam-mini-1cu-rechargeable-copper-led-flashlight-130-max-lumens) ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/50 "2023-07-08T01:10:14Z")
I hear ya. The phone light is very handy. But most of the time when I use it, I find it disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/51 "2023-07-08T01:16:31Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Flashlights are my adult toys Too much information. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/52 "2023-07-08T01:17:40Z")
Probably had a typo too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/53 "2023-07-08T10:54:17Z")
I have rechargeables as well, but they usually do duty in my remotes, mice, and other portable personal appliances. The typical LED flashlights I have tucked around the house use 1, 2, or 3 AAs. or 3 AAAs. My neighbors know this, and it’s common to get late-night “Can I borrow a couple batteries?” visits. They don’t even bother calling first, as they know I’ll have some. I grew up in a home where kids got toys that used C or D cells. My sibs and I would have to wait until the next family trip to Safeway to spend our allowance on crummy, big, over-priced carbon-zinc cells to get another 25 minutes of play-time. Like Scarlett, I swore, “As God is my witness, I’ll never be batteryless again!” ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/54 "2023-07-08T13:40:04Z")
You can prevent the battery borrowing by switching exclusively to B cells. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/55 "2023-07-08T14:36:46Z")
Speaking of batteries, a year or two ago I went to Target, where I bought a pack of ten AA (or AAA) batteries for about ten bucks, mostly for remote controls. On the way home, I stopped at Costco, where a pack of forty AA (or AAA) batteries was fourteen dollars. I considered returning the smaller pack, but don’t use that size battery very often, so I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/56 "2023-07-08T15:37:09Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Like Scarlett, I swore, “As God is my witness, I’ll never be batteryless again!” See post #22 above: > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I had a battery-deprived childhood, and when I grew up, along with Scarlet O’Hara, I pounded my fists on ~~the ground~~ a desk and swore, _“As God is my witness, I’ll never run out of batteries again!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/57 "2023-07-08T17:16:34Z")
I am an outlier here because we keep no flashlights readily available in the household (my state of Baden-Württemberg had low voltage level power outages of 12.68 minutes/year in 2021 - no statistics yet for 2022. The US had an average of 7 hours in 2021 according to [eia.gov](http://eia.gov).) I have a flashlight in my hiking backpack in the cellar and a power bank with integral flashlight in my work backpack in the study. In an emergency at night with a new moon I’d use my iPhone or the landline handset (which has a mode to light the display) to find the way to these flashlights. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/58 "2023-07-08T19:28:40Z")
Dang! I missed that. I will gladly yield my claim on any royalties back to **ThelmaLou**. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/59 "2023-07-08T20:03:47Z")
Same type and brand? I think some of them really do last longer than others. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640/60 "2023-07-08T20:09:08Z")
Both were Duracell copper-top batteries. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-routinely-use-flashlights-in-and-around-your-home/986640.md?page=4)