New Anker torch, quick question

#1

Recently purchased one of the new LC40 torches as a little gift for one of my kids (they live nighttime walks). The information says it’s a regulated LED driver, but I cannot find out what happens towards the end of battery life. I’ve seen some regulated ones that just suddenly turn off and give you no warning :(. Can Anker tech let me know? I’m looking at ordering another 4 :smile:

#2

That is a good question. I would contact Anker support for the answer. They’ll probably see this post at some point, but a direct email will get you a more timely response.

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#3

I didn’t even know Anker made a torch! Oh well, bang goes my product suggestion lol.

#4

Craig, I can recommend. Brilliant for the price. Really nice quality.

#5

How many lumens?

#6

Craig, 400 Lumens. Fixed semi spot. 3xAAA cells.

#7

Oh, I thought it had a built in battery and was USB chargeable.

#8

Pretty sure its like any standard torch, with depleted batteries, the light output would be dimmer than usual. Other more costly torches have led indicators on the tail switch but this one doesn’t.

#9

I’m interested myself!

I own one and currently I just proactively swap battery with a charged one. What if I didn’t… just turn off… go dim… flash …? No guide.

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#10

Sorry to tell you LC 40 does not have any low battery reminder but LC 90 and LC 130 will flash 3 times before it turns itself off…

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#11

Thanks @AnkerSupport can you elaborate on low battery performance? My understanding is with an LED light bulb that brightness should not deteriorate until there is insufficient power, at which point it just goes dark, correct?

#12

Thanks for the (unfortunate) answer. So are we correct in assuming that it’ll just suddenly turn off when batteries are low? I hope that version 2 has some way to indicate getting low. Maybe you could flash and go to lower power?

#13

I own a LC40 and I use 18650B batteries (cost about $5-$6 each but price seems high at the moment was lower in the summer), and a USB recharger.

I agree that if Anker merged the LC40 with the Powercore+ Mini so it was a torch which was rechargeable, as basicaly if I were to crack open a Mini i’d likely see the same 18650B I put in manually, it should be basically same brightness same light duration, but be a bit heavier as the charging electronics are in the torch but when do you use an 18650B inside there is a decent amount of nothing around the battery as the torch diameter is made wider for the 3 AAA holder.

To me it is such an obvious product I’m feeling I should wait for it to become real.

Ahead of that, the problem of it suddenly dying, well you can solve this proactively or reactively. Proactive is periodic just swapping the battery for a charged on. Reactive is to carry a battery then swap if the light goes out.

#14

A rechargeable touch would be good. I must admit, I thought that’s what anker torchs were :blush:

Edit:spelling…

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#15

for those who don’t own attached is the typical battery type inside most (all?) Anker products of a 18650B 3.7V battery usually around the 3000mah mark (likely there’s a 3350mah one inside the Mini), the Mini, the LC40 torch and here is a dual 18650B USB charger.

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If you look at the relative diameter you can see the LC40 is quite a bit wider as its to house the jacket for the 3AAA so if you made it a sealed unit torch+battery and had a say screw-on or press-in waterproofing cover for the USB port then there’s no reason to think it would be any larger.

So that’s a rechargable torch.

Then you can consider if the torch is also itself a portable charger or not. If it has a USB output then it adds bulk and adds usefulness. I’d say likely of those two ideas a simple merger of a rechargeable torch with a portable powerbank would be a good combination, to be the type of thing you’d give for a present. I’d like to see integrated USB2 output, like a flick-up or pull-out option so no carrying a cable, you’d literally just have your mobile and this unit and covers for dark and flat scenarios. Yes I know most mobiles are used as torches so this is just a backup device of light+power.

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#16

I mostly only use a torch for power cuts, but I like to keep one in the car. Sice I always have a car usb/phone charger and a power bank in the car, a torch that is recharged via them would be best.

#17

I have now received the LC40 torch as part of my prize bundle. I totally forgot it wasn’t USB chargeable until I opened the box and unscrewed the cap. ‘Oh’. I don’t get why Anker even makes these if they are not USB chargeable. I certainly don’t get the price.

I’m sure it’s a fine torch, but without a built in battery pack, I just don’t see why I anyone would buy it over the many competitor offerings. I really wish I’d been able to get the Lumiere instead now.

#18

@CraigW I was aware LC40 required a battery, here in USA it is usually about $10-$16 per pair of 18650B plus you must buy a charger.

There are contexts where non-rechargable makes sense which is really when you’re looking for density/weight benefits. Carrying a 2nd 18650B is a pre-charged 3400mah of power which is lighter than carrying say a 5000mah to recharge the torch.

There is no warning of low power on the LC40 so what I do is I just proactively swap batteries and charge and have the 2nd battery charged ready to swap.

Anker does other products which have USB input to recharge.

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