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Posted: 9/16/2008 1:45:00 AM EDT
| If a light is not used only periodically, say once a month, is it better to take the batteries out or leave them in? In other words does a battery drain more in or out of the unit? All comments are appreciated. |
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If you can be certain that you have disabled the flashlight to prevent it from accidentally activating then leaving the batteries in shouldn't be a problem. Caution against using non-American made batteries. Note also that batteries stored in high, or low temperatures, or batteries subjected to large changes in temperature will not have as long a shelf life as ones kept cool and dry. Also, once used, even if only for a short while, this shortens the shelf life too. I think it is wise to change out batteries from flashlights left unused every year or so if stored in adverse temperature conditions, or every 3-5 years if stored in stable temperature conditions. These changed out batteries can be used in more active flashlight so they are not wasted. |
No difference, unless: 1. The flashlight uses an electronic switch that consumes a small amount of current (as opposed to a mechanical switch), 2. The flashlight has a defect (i.e., condensation or corrosion) that allows some current to flow across the mechanical switch contacts even when the switch is turned off, or 3. The flashlight is stored in a much hotter location than the removed batteries would be stored (since all batteries self-discharge much sooner in high temperatures than in cold temperatures). |
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I own a surefire G2 and have not experienced any problems of the batteries draining when I have left them in for long periods of time with the original tailcap, However I recently purchased one of those "smart" tail caps that has a strobe feature as well as different levels of brightness, and I left it alone for the past month, I was kind of shocked yesterday when I went to check it (they were fresh batteries with less than 10 minutes of use on them) and they were completely dead. Luckily me I have spares so it's no big deal, but its a lesson learned. So heads up for the upgradable caps. (its ironic because I purchased the new tailcap to save my batteries when I don't need the full level of brightness) |
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