what brand's/price's of red torch lights

[mimosa]

Hi. Forum members, my first thread so here I go. I have a Astro meeting comming up with the Herveybay Astronomy Society for first time also, (read a few threads on this site taking iis advice and joining a club), My family will be comming with me . (were all a bit nervous)! I'm hopping the kid's get into it and its not to high tech for them or me? anyway One of there rules is that we will need a red torch as (it's not cool to use a white light as this may offend others) and I was wanting to know if someone can recommend a place /brand were i can purchase a couple of these (online) fairly cheap as I have five going. (I got a feeling one is not going to be enough) any help would be much appreciated p.s I have recently purchased two scopes. 1. celestron nexstar 102 SLT 2.sky watch 10' Dobsonion as well THE WIFES DELIGHTED (I'm now sleeping in the dog box for a while)!( should arrive early next week)! will defiantly require your HELP.. apologizes for waffling on. I will try to be brief next time...many thanks. Dave.

[michaellxv]

Welcome to IIS :welcome:

Just get some red cellophane to cover your torches, or some red paint. Just keep applying layers until it looks right.

[that_guy]

you can just replace the bulbs of your normal led light or other wise with a red one.

[mithrandir]

See if one of the local stores (eg Woolies) have the Eveready headlight (sort of like a miner's lamp). It does both red and white light so remember to push the switch to the left - assuming it's the right way up. The batteries last fairly well too.

Not exactly cheap, but you get to have two free hands.

[erick]

You say as much as you want, Dave! Welcome!

Yes, get the Everyready headlight - Coles or Woolies Supermarket or K-Mart would be best - unfortunately $30? This is for yourself! You need your hands free. :) The rest of the family get several layers of red cellophone over a normal torch, held in place with rubber bands.

But get everyone to let their eyes adjust to the dark. If you aren't going to a dark sky site, you'll be amazed how much you can see safely after 10-15 minutes of allowing eyes to dark adapt. Could be fun for the kids - but no playing "tiggy" around the scopes! :rolleyes:

[mimosa]

Thanks, Guys you've made me feel at home. and thanks for the heads up, thought it would cost me heaps. (to easy) appreciate all your comments and all your threads a wealth of info (I'm happy I joined) hope to here from you all soon....MAY THE STARS SHINE UPON YOU"S ALL..Dave.:)

[mental4astro]

Hi Dave,

You can also get the head lamps cheaply from markets, even $2 shops, and use cellophane over them too. Thats what I did.

You can also vary the dimness of the lamp by varying the number of layers of cellophane. Three is a good number of layers to start with, four may prove a little too dim.

[RAJAH235]

Hi Dave & welcome.
I "modify" the normal pre-focus globes & fit a 5mm red LED, complete with dropping resistor into the bases.
Can be used in any torch with 2/3/4 batteries.
All this for the lowly cost of just $5 per globe.
I use the cheap "Acme" brand 2 x AA cell from Woollies.
They are very small & you can hold them in your mouth if 2 hands are needed. ;)
There's an article or 2 in here somewhere.

[mic_m]

I generally use a Sky-Watcher duel beam flashlight for astronomy: http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?id=108&class1=5&class2=501 (http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?id=108&class1=5&class2=501)
You can switch between regular white light and red light and there is a wheel for adjusting the brightness of the beam.

I also have another type of Sky-Watcher flashlight: http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?id=109&class1=5&class2=501 (http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?id=109&class1=5&class2=501)
This also has a wheel for adjusting the brightness but it only has a red beam.

We purchased two of each for our first Messier Marathon with the ASV in 2008 and they have all lasted well.

I personally prefer the duel beam and this is the one that I use at home or when I am out at a star party: it has a greater maximum brightness and I like the fact that I can switch over to the white beam if I need to (e.g. if I need to quickly find something important that I have droped on the ground or when I’m away from the observing field and packing equipment into the car). But really if you just need something basic the second torch is just fine and it costs less too.

If you are buying online you can purchase the first torch for $32 and the second torch for $19.00 at Bintel. Over the phone Andrews Communications sell the first torch for $29.00.

Here are the links to the torches at the Bintel site:
https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=7440 (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=7440)
https://ww.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6889 (https://ww.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6889)

Dave, I hope that you and your family enjoy your astro meeting.

Michael.

[GrampianStars]

Here's a good head-Lamp :thumbsup:
Needs a quick work around
sw1 = 2 white led
sw2= 2 flashing RED led
sw3= 10 white led
will need to open it up and swap over the wiring for the 2 led white / 2 flashing RED led
will get one and try it out

[phranticsnr]

Ebay has switchable red and white LED headlamps for under $20 delivered. Internet superheros DealExtreme also have a section of Flashlights, Guns & Lasers (http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.999). It's all in US dollars, but include delivery in the price. They also have parts to make or modify your own lights!

[bmitchell82]

Welcome to our great little forum.

I use a Energizer head torch, you can get them at woolies for 20-30 bucks i think, they are the best as it leaves your hands free to do what you need to do. and has the red and white lights so that when your wondering around you can use the red but once the night has finished you will be able to switch the bright white light on to see what your doing to pack up.

Good luck and enjoy your new equipment.! the HAS fellas will open your eyes to alot of things.!

[Starkler]

I find the energizer head lamp to be ideal.

Tiltable, flick switch one way for comparitively dim red light, or the other for powerful white light. Just dont mix it up on the field ;)

Its a little pricey at 30-something dollars, but it does its job so well and conveniently its worth it to cut out the mucking around and compromises of lesser alternatives.

[wavelandscott]

Relax and enjoy the night under the stars.

An alternative to paint and/or red plastic is to use fingernail polish (red) on the lense of a cheap torch...

Why I use fingernail polish is a story that needs it's own thread...

[Blue Skies]

The end of a red balloon is my favourite cheap fix. Just cut the neck off, slip over the end and secure with a lacky band.

For the long term an LED torch is best, uses less power and batteries usually last for ages, which means it wont fade out on you just you're about to....

[okiscopey]

Michael, you CAN replace the 9v battery inside simply by using a small cross-head screwdriver to undo he screws that hold the two halves of the housing together. Well, this is true of the Sky-Watcher LED Night Vision red/white model ... I've just done it!

[phranticsnr]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12322

2x red LEDs, lots of white LEDs and a laser. Under $15 delivered.

Southern China's finest, cheapest lighting!

Admittedly, it's backordered at the moment. So you KNOW it's good ;).

[barx1963]

I use a Skywatcher led torch I bought from Bintel. Somtimes useful when reading atlases and maps as I can point it at where I want, sometimes the headlamp isn't always what you want.
Other wise I have 2 headlamps, both the energizer brand that have either red or white.
One is covered in 4 layers of red cellophane and I use it if I know I will be looking for really dim stuff, galaxies or faint nebs, or if I am going to be observing with company. The other I use as is with no cello if I am observing alone or looking for brighter stuff.

[dannat]

i also use the energizer, on ebay here for 19.95 free post http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Energizer-4-LED-Headlight-Torch-28-Lumens-Red-White-LED_W0QQitemZ290415474905QQcmdZView ItemQQptZAU_Sport_Camping_Hiking_La mps_Torches?hash=item439e1c78d9#ht_ 502wt_909
at coles/woolworths now they are 34.95-36.95, every now & then are $30 on special. I have a red torch as well but use it rarely

[pgc hunter]

I've got a Celestron dual red led torch with fully adjustable brightness from near zero to blinding. Bought it 11 years ago and hasn't missed a beat.

[mic_m]

Thanks for pointing that out Mike. I just unscrewed the white/red SW LED torch to check and the battery can indeed be replaced.

When I first got the torches I recall having tried to unscrew one of the red LED torches and having some difficulty getting it appart. So based on that experience I had assumed that they could not be taken appart. But perhaps it just required a bit more effort. Unfortunately, I can’t recheck the plane red LED torch to confirm that the battery can be replaced because I don’t have either of the plane red torches with me.

I will amend my original post so as not to include any misleading information about this issue.

Michael.

[JD2439975]

Just a note on the repair of a SkyWatcher variable red/white torch.

One of my white LEDs died in quick time & being a serial circuit it stopped the other from working too, so no white light for me.
So I replaced them with 40000mcd ones from Jaycar, these are MUCH brighter than the originals & I've had no problems with overheating or circuit burnout.

If your torch dies in a similar manner or you just don't find it bright enough then this is a modification I'd recommend.
Not only a dim red astro light, you can also burn the retinas out of a possum at 20 paces. :lol:

[astronut]

I bought one of the Eveready head torches, with both red & white light sources.
As Eric mentioned they are just over $30.
A week later a friend found the same torch, without the brand name at Supercheap for $19!!! with a extra hand held torch included!!:lol:
Moral to this.............look around.:lol:

[troypiggo]

+1 for the Energizer one. Just don't flick the white light on by mistake like I tended to do... :( Sorry Astrofest 2009.

While I think of it, and since there's so many Energizer headlamp users posted in this thread, has anyone modded it to put only red LEDs in it? Been thinking of that for a while, haven't gotten around to it.

[erick]

Yes, I have heard of that being done - whites replaced with reds - but it is not necessarily a drop in replacement in theory - they require different voltages. Better and easier is to just paint the whites with a few thick coats of a suitable red paint or nail vanish.

I'll leave mine with the white LEDs but I must think of a clever way to stop that annoying brain fade and switch to white in the middle of the night! Any ideas? Fit a separate switch for the white LEDs?

[troypiggo]

I was just thinking of sticking something at the white end of the switch so you can't even slide it that way. Glue something there?

[erick]

The trouble is, you just might need the white light, in a hurry - perhaps if being attacked by a mangy wombat (or rabid amateur astrophotographer)! So I don't want to stop it entirely. I might try a bit of blue-tac pushed into the switch track. Enough to impede it so you quickly realise you are trying to switch the white light direction and can reverse direction, but not enough to stop you if you force it.

[troypiggo]

LOL - that reminds me of a post I read once about this guy who does a bit of night urban shooting (not astro at dark site). Talking about walking around with expensive equipment in dodgy districts at night, he carries his monopod in right hand, 580EXII flash switched on and full power with finger on the test/pilot button. If someone attacks him, he fires the flash in their eyes, blinds them, then they cop the monopod "POP, thwack, thwack, thwack!" Haha.

[space oddity]

Another thumbs up for the Bintel red torch. The dimming capacity is very useful. I have once picked up some el cheapo red torches, good as spares, but require a heavy push to activate. Better to have one good torch than several difficult to use torches.

[Starkler]

Just try to remember that when its on your head, white is right ;)

I notice there's a new energizer head torch with three white leds.

[En1gma]

Just to add to this

woolies or bunnings have a replica enegizer head lamp for 19 dollars. Under the brand name 'varta'

works very well

rob

[erick]

didn't really work :sadeyes: Thinking cap back on..............:confused2:

[mswhin63]

I am not sure if this is right for me to post but I have a stack that will be selling already modifed for under $19.00. I still have to work out the right way to sell them. Tried it out for the first time at ASWA Baker Hill in a proper Dark Sky Night. No complaint from anyone.

[troypiggo]

Stack of what? What modification? Photos?

[GrampianStars]

A Headlamp + torch $10.50 at Supercheap Auto :thumbsup:

[mswhin63]

I have an unlimited supply (till they stop making them) headlamp torches already modified with Rubylith. Still working out final specs and warranty condition and how to implement them.

[multiweb]

Anything red not within the 656nm bandwidth or Fred V. will find you! :)

[asterisk]

Kathmandu are currently selling a little red LED light, 2 for $10

[Stu Ward]

I just bought a Headset from Bunnings.
Made by Varta, not as slim as the Energizer one, but nearly half price at $18

Seems good value to me


Stu

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: LOL Eric :rofl::rofl:

[Liz]

Yes, I have one of these too Stu, recently bought, and it seems fine, though not perfect.:confuse3:
Also bought an Energizer one off ebay, which carked it as soon I put batteries in!!! Got really hot, and now wont work... nearly burnt my fingers. :scared2:
Have bought quite a few torches over the years. :shrug:
Bought a red perm marker today, and have painted over the lens in another torch, as per someones suggestion.:thanks:
At weekend, I bought a Celestron torch, (good reviews here) so hopefully will be WONDERFUL so wont have to buy anymore torches after that. :question:

[Astrobserver99]

I bought an Energizer off ebay as well - maybe from the same place? This one has a push button instead of a switch....to get to the red light, the button has to be cycled through the white light by pressing twice...ruins your night vision...

I have gone back to the Skywatcher torch for now...

[Liz]

This is an ongoing process for me too.
I bought a Celestron torch which is OK.
Recently bought a 4 LED light from Woolies, and have painted the area with a red texta - looks great, and will test it out Saturday night for the Townsville Groups viewing!!
Bought an Energiser head lamp on eBay that died straight away!!:shrug:

[Astrobserver99]

Maglite have an accessory kit that includes a red lens and lens cap..for their maglite torches...saw them in some k-mart stores and those kitchen knife stores that also sell torches...these lenses also fit the duracell aluminum torches sold in Woolies and K-Mart...Only I miss being able to switch to white light when needed...

[ZeroID]

Your local Bike Shop, get one of the flashing red rear lights that clips onto the seat post. Has a steady light option when you press the button once or twice. I have one with 4 leds tucked between my paired Scopes which shines down over the Equi scales. Battery life about 200 hours or so on a pair of AAA's. Slips into the pocket easily. $10 -$15 maybe.

Brent

[PaulG]

Army surplus stores usually have military style right angle torches, most of them come with a set of filters (including red) that store in a compartment on the base of the torch. They're usually available in 2x AA, 2x C and 2x D sizes and most can be had for between $7 and $20.

http://www.wellingtonsurplus.com.au/listProduct/LIGHTING/ANGLE+HEAD+TORCHES

Many will have a clip behind the head and so can clip on your belt, shirt or jacket pocket, which helps if you need two free hands (the AA ones are really quite good for this) and the larger ones stand ok on a level surface.

[wasyoungonce]

I still like Chris Marsh's torch with replacing the bulb with a LED (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-278-0-0-1-0.html).

I love mine...battery life of well over a year with qty 2 AAA's.

My most used astro gear.

[Ian Robinson]

One of these is handy (and hands free)http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/energizer_ledessentials.htm

Has a built in red LED.