Spec me an LED Torch

Eddie · 12 Sep 2017 at 11:49

Yeah, it's a very good little torch. It has incredible power for such a small torch. I mainly use the moonlight mode for just lighting up enough of the path to see any obstacles, but it's good to have the full brightness there if you need it. It also has a magnetic base which comes in handy.

I bought a spare battery to go with it, too.

I can't imagine anyone being unhappy with this torch once you see the size of it and then the brightness of it. Maybe a bit pricey for some but it is quality and well worth it, imo.

The little usb charger is good, it's specific to the type of battery that's in the torch but they also do the same style charger (£10 or so iirc) for normal rechargeable batteries, which means I can charge up any battery from a power bank (when camping, mainly).

Eta: It does have one minor drawback in that if you hold the torch in your mouth you can feel an electric charge, not as bad as putting a 9v battery on your tongue but it makes you take it out your mouth quite quickly. You could probably make something that fits over the end that you could bite on if holding the torch in your mouth was something you did regularly. These days I tend to just use a head torch for those situations anyway so it's no big deal for me.

Feek · 12 Sep 2017 at 12:16

That's good enough for me, also read a few reviews which are all positive. I've ordered it, thanks.

I won't be eating it so your point about putting it in my mouth is irrelevant!

Eddie · 12 Sep 2017 at 12:33

Haha, maybe it's just me I don't know, I've asked people to try it to see if they feel the charge too but nobody volunteers!

Eta: this is the additional little usb charger I got, for anybody interested... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=SXVV4276TP3HE8DPJR0Z

Malt_Vinegar · 27 Sep 2017 at 23:59

Just knocked this up this evening as a test-bed.

Only running it on a 4 cell lipo, got a smaller 6 cell coming. Then when I am confident it will not burn/blow up/expire, I will build up a better housing for it.

I made a 6 cell lipo out of laptop batteries, but I did it by soldering two 3 cell 18650 cages together, and the current was too much for the springs! It melted one of them after a few seconds of use. So I have ordered the 6 cell hobby unit, then I will work out how to join these 18650 cells in series without frying something so i can recycle all these laptop cells I have acquired.

Early findings with the 4 cell are that it is VERY bright, and very floody. I think I might try and get a parabolic reflector from somewhere, as it is going to be an almighty spot light even as it is on 14.8 volts. I am fairly certain that when at 22.2 volts, with the 6 cell and the parabolic reflector, it will burn through someone's soul at 300 yards.

Malt_Vinegar · 30 Sep 2017 at 11:42

Stuck a 6 cell in it, and it's epic

Just got to find myself a broken large torch with a large reflector, then gut it and put my spangly new internals.

Just to to think about the cooling, as I think it might need a bit of airflow.

I have seen similar examples mounted into a bit of drainpipe with a rear cooling fan, but I think I want something a little more refined.

Should be around 8000-9000 lumens, and with a reflector it will be pretty scary.

silversurfer · 30 Sep 2017 at 20:56

Definitely going to need a video of that at work. I take it the basic parts are far cheaper then most torches.

Love this charger, wonder how it compares to the fixed 18650 usb charger I have now which is not fast but very convenient.

18650s charge at 450 mA, AAs at 250 mA and AAAs at 150 mA. So, to charge a typical AA NiMH 2000mAh battery from flat will take a theoretical 1 hr 45 minutes, or more likely 2 hours when thermal losses are taken into account.

Malt_Vinegar · 30 Sep 2017 at 21:30

I think it's cost me about £80 in parts.
Could have done it cheaper, but spent a bit on postage from the US on the led/fan/board combo. Just so it turned up faster.
If I was to go full Chinese I could slash that down to £30-£40 with the decent 6s lipo.
Got it put into a better housing tonight.

The reflector is helping with the flood, but it's a bit too open really. It's lights up most of the field and the trees 100 meters away. I think I want to find a narrower reflector to get a proper beam out of it. Still, will do for now. I can get some decent run time in and make sure it does not melt and work out what the small 6s will give me.

Also going to change the switch to a smaller toggle and move it up to the handle. Its too far away to operate 1 handed at the moment.

I may add a dimmer too, as frankly it is crazy bright, and will be more so when focussed properly.

Oh, and once I can figure out how to join these laptop li-po cells without cooking the connectors, I can do this even more cheaply

Telecaster · 30 Sep 2017 at 23:44

Lost my little Olight i3 that I've had for years, I use it every day for a good 30-60m I reckon so an essential tool.

What is the best replacement these days in the single AAA battery torch market?

Edit: must haves - very robust as it will get hammered in a dirty environment, flat base so it can be stood up.

Rroff · 1 Oct 2017 at 00:15

Malt_Vinegar said:
I made a 6 cell lipo out of laptop batteries, but I did it by soldering two 3 cell 18650 cages together, and the current was too much for the springs! It melted one of them after a few seconds of use. So I have ordered the 6 cell hobby unit, then I will work out how to join these 18650 cells in series without frying something so i can recycle all these laptop cells I have acquired

Gonna have to kinetic weld (or solder if using 18650 with tabs or feeling brave) strip tabs like in laptop batteries for that kind of current IIRC the cheap holders are only really rated for 3-5 amp @ 4.25v.

Malt_Vinegar · 1 Oct 2017 at 07:16

Rroff said:
Gonna have to kinetic weld (or solder if using 18650 with tabs or feeling brave) strip tabs like in laptop batteries for that kind of current IIRC the cheap holders are only really rated for 3-5 amp @ 4.25v.

I figured as much, read that I can create a spot welder out of a microwave, so going to look into that to see how hard/dangerous that will be

Tomsk · 1 Oct 2017 at 17:25

Malt_Vinegar said:
I figured as much, read that I can create a spot welder out of a microwave, so going to look into that to see how hard/dangerous that will be

Make a spot welder out of a car battery.

Rroff · 1 Oct 2017 at 17:34

Looks like even solder tabbed are only rated for 2.6-3 amp sustained discharge, 8-10 amp burst. Not sure what kind of current Malt Vinegar is looking at but if its high enough to heat up the terminals on a battery holder not sure 18650s will do without a different configuration.

Malt_Vinegar · 1 Oct 2017 at 22:53

Here is the light in action...

http://www.maltopia.co.uk/manylumens1.mp4

I could embed it, by putting it on youtube, but it always seems to kill the quality!

The camera actually cannot seem to picked up the distance thrown, it just looks dark further out. I guess that's the camera being over-exposed and ignoring the lower light at the further parts? It picks it up slightly better when I lift the beam higher up and off the ground in front of me.

233 · 9 Oct 2017 at 13:50

Any recommendations for a cheap torch maybe £10-15 looking to buy something for the drivers at work so buying a dozen means I'd rather not be spending too much

Rroff · 9 Oct 2017 at 13:53

Olight Eos seems to be pretty robust, good output and cheap, though it is pretty small and twist to turn on/off isn't always the most convenient.

233 · 9 Oct 2017 at 14:53

Something like this any good?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B075CY1WLB?psc=1

233 · 9 Oct 2017 at 15:12

or these?

https://www.lightingever.co.uk/ipx8-waterproof-led-flashlight-rechargeable-1200019.html

silversurfer · 9 Oct 2017 at 16:35

Those are the clones, ok if not expecting too much. Lasts about a year before something goes wrong on it and probably over stated on the numbers. Its ok to try and maybe send back, I tried a few of them none were terrible.

Great vid Mr Vinegar

garnett · 10 Oct 2017 at 10:27

233 said:
Any recommendations for a cheap torch maybe £10-15 looking to buy something for the drivers at work so buying a dozen means I'd rather not be spending too much

Just got an email about this deal which might be of interest:-

XANES 1301 XM-L T6 1500Lumens USB Rechargeable LED Flashlight
Original Price: $12.29
Coupon Price: $5.99

https://www.banggood.com/XANES-1301...SB-Rechargeable-LED-Flashlight-p-1202114.html

That would allow you to buy them all a decent 18650 cell as well, easy to set up to recharge in the vehicle, and still come in under budget...

Malt_Vinegar · 10 Oct 2017 at 12:43

I get all my 18650 from old laptop batteries. Usually only one cell is dead in a faulty one, and others seem to be totally fine

Sure, you might not get a nice looking cover, or some of the highest capacities, but it sure is a cheap way of doing it!