Eveready EVEL 152S Two Pack Flashlight Gets Two Thumbs Up

Manufacturer: Eveready.  Part number: EVEL 152S.  Two pack D cell LED flashlights

At first glance this two pack of flashlights may look like a LED re-do of the junkiest flashlight I ever owned that I bought at the hardware section of the grocery store.  It’s oh so much better.  We have 6 or more around the house and I have hacked and re-engineered several of these because it’s what I do.  So I have done quite a bit of testing. So far I have done instuctables hacking 3 different flashlights that were good flashlight but needed to be made better,  This one is just fine the way it is.  I got my latest purchase and the several before it for under $5 plus tax for a two pack.  Each flashlight requires only one D cell and these are included.  The specifications are as follows:

25 Lumens

60 hours run time

The 3 main problems with with this type of flashlight have been enginered out.  These would be the slide switch.  These have click on - click off switches that are sealed. brass sheet metal contact that connects the switch to the mirror / light assembly.  A direct connection to this assembly is impractical since the assembly is screwed off and on to replace the battery.  The sheet metal in this type of flashlight typically is too thin or made of a material that does not hold it’s shape. The contacts in these two flashlights appear to be made from stainless or spring steel.  None of mine over the last year or so have had any electrical failures such as poor electrical contact.  The run time for incandescent flashlights of this type is about 8 hours.  I did a life test in anticipation of doing this article.  As of tonight the flashlight is still running after over 70 hours.

A typical problem with LED flashlights is that they have been engineered to overdrive the LED or LEDS.  One of the flashlights I “fixed” was running the 3 LEDS at 3 times the optimum current.  This tends to result in poor run time as well as possible degradation of the lifespan of the LED or LEDS.  The LED runs cool and the run time is great.  The flashlight come with two zinc carbon batteries.  An alkaline should have a run time of over 120 hours.  I wouldn’t know first hand.  I haven’t replaced any of the batteries yet. 

I get half used D cell batteries for free. I work at a company that has Enmotion motorized paper towel dispensers in all the restrooms.  Each despiser runs on 4 D cells.  The motor is of high enough current that the batteries still have a lot of life left if used in lower current applications.  This flashlight is one of those applications.  The “dead” batteries I take home (I must have over 50 of them) typically measure over one volt and quite often over 1.3 volts.  This flashlight poops out at a little over 0.6 volts.  So mine run for free.

These two packs make great gifts.  I can give away a two pack or I can give away one flashlight and keep the other one for me.  Nothing says “I love you” quite like a flashlight although a portable weather radio comes close.

So far my hacks / re-engineer projects with these flashlights are:

I removed the LED and replaced it with a resistor and laser diode.  I made this for my boss because he was complaining about having to buy batteries often for his laser pointer that he plays with his cat with.  He now has an industrial cat toy laser that should run for over 60 hours before the batteries need to be replaced.  Also the click on / click off switch eliminates the thumb fatigue so common with laser pointers that have momentary on switches.

I replaced the circuit board with one from a solar lawn light.  I did this for the gain in run time at the expense of brightness.  It is now a flashlight ./ night light.  I think the run time is like about a month of continuous use.

I removed the circuit board and reinstalled it on the outside front of the flashlight.  By doing this I converted it from a spot light to a flood light which is great for reading and close work,  The bright spot is great for distance but sometimes annoying for extrema up close work. or emergency desk lamp.

I removed the circuit board and used it with a completely different battery enclosure to be used as a battery operated desk lamp or area light.  Misc hack pictures below.