Spec me an LED Torch

FL630 said:
Thanks for the replies everyone, will continue reading up in the next few days.



I've a very specific use, it's to inspect aircraft. Range needs to be around 30 meters at most, but I need to see with quite a level of clarity, hence my requirement for brightness. Also in a geek and cannot have just a "normal" flashlight, it needs to be brighter than the sun :D. Head lamp would be no use as it's got to point into lots of areas rather than just where I'm looking.

I need to look into these 14500 and 18650 cells. Where's a good place to buy them? I'm reluctant to buy non-branded cheapy lithium cells, having worked with traditional flat cells I like to know I'm buying good quality given their explosive nature if you get a dud.
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I did quite a bit of research but I'm no expert. Your inner geek might want to look here...

http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Common18650comparator.php

I ended up getting Sanyo cells and so far they're working very well.

Do some more reading because for what you describe i think you might want more flood ( it helps put what youre looking at in context) and light colour/warmth might be a factor. Also if you go for something very bright get something with a few settings because a light can be TOO bright to use for some purposes, and can reduce clarity.

I still think the Jetbeam IIM I mentioned a few posts upthread might be an option for you to consider.
 
garnett said:
I did quite a bit of research but I'm no expert. Your inner geek might want to look here...

http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Common18650comparator.php

I ended up getting Sanyo cells and so far they're working very well.

Do some more reading because for what you describe i think you might want more flood ( it helps put what youre looking at in context) and light colour/warmth might be a factor. Also if you go for something very bright get something with a few settings because a light can be TOO bright to use for some purposes, and can reduce clarity.

I still think the Jetbeam IIM I mentioned a few posts upthread might be an option for you to consider.
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Interesting link, I'll have a proper look when I'm on my PC. I've also found out 14500/18650 cells are common in e cigs so might drop by my local vaping shop and pick something up up.

Surprisingly spot is more useful for what I will be using this light for. Flood is handy for illuminating wheel wells or inspecting the engine fan blades as a whole. A spot light is better to see if there are any dents where dents shouldnt be by seeing the light glance off in the wrong way. Think dents in leading edges of wings/tails.

I ended up pressing the buy button on the Jetbeam, it only costs £16 so if it's no good I can keep it for less demanding tasks and buy something better.
 
Years ago i was browsing ebay for junk and a photoshop picture of a bloke fighting off a bear with a torch beam came up!

It would have been rude not to entertain the product given the low price and bold claim of 'Super powerful, self defense animal attack torch. Ultra bright xxxxxLm!'. I will admit that i decided to take the plunge into buying this bear fighting torch.

3-4 weeks later and 99p later I received a packet int he post from China. I had totally forgot about my silly buy and was pleasantly surprised to see it. It came with no batteries and was made for a single 18650 or 3 aaa on a mount that it was supplied with. I gave it the once over checking to see if there was anything sketchy about it and nothing, was just a simple light that had a few little design differences - tiny drilled hole at the bottom of the battery compartment to allow for air to escape any unruly fizzing batteries, the torch was almost all metal design designed to allow it to cool quickly if it got hot, glass focusing lens on the end was super thick and curved.

Stuck one of my 18650s from one of my vapes. Expecting disappointment, i was surprised to find that i was holding the equivalent of what felt like a circus light. What an absolute beast and completely silly light. The company i work for has full range of coast torches and a variety of other torches used for poor weather emergency conditions and all sorts - Never have i encountered something like this. It ran warm after about 20 minutes of use and i was careful to check the battery drain. I would not have trusted a cheapo 18650 with it and was lucky i had some hefty vape batteries to hand.

I lost it in a fishing trip about a year later and have not manage to find its like. I have bought a variety of them up to 25 quid and not found anything even close.

Anyone recommend something that may help me fend off a bear attack? I have plenty of torches, i just miss having a silly pocket spotlight.
 
233 said:
looking at a new day to day torch and looking at a maglight charger setup

this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maglite-RN...18478222&sr=8-3&keywords=maglite+rechargeable

then add this
http://www.thetorchsite.co.uk/TLE-310Mr-ex.html


is there anything similar for less money available ? or even better something superior for less money,
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Personally I would forget Maglite even exist and look elsewhere.

If you're looking for a powerful, flood torch with USB recharge capabilities (and add a USB car charger), I have one of these (which you might find cheaper elsewhere)...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Klarus-Rec...pID=51mEf6LhFVL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Check out some of the other offerings from the likes of Olight and Nitecore. There's some really powerful but yet compact torches around these days.
 
FL630 said:
Interesting link, I'll have a proper look when I'm on my PC. I've also found out 14500/18650 cells are common in e cigs so might drop by my local vaping shop and pick something up up.

Surprisingly spot is more useful for what I will be using this light for. Flood is handy for illuminating wheel wells or inspecting the engine fan blades as a whole. A spot light is better to see if there are any dents where dents shouldnt be by seeing the light glance off in the wrong way. Think dents in leading edges of wings/tails.

I ended up pressing the buy button on the Jetbeam, it only costs £16 so if it's no good I can keep it for less demanding tasks and buy something better.
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Just an idea but it sounds like a head torch that you can also use as a hand torch might be more suited to your needs.

Plus, as you're using it for work, I'd suggest you go for a neutral white torch as it will reproduce/render (whatever the word is) colours accurately, something along the lines of this might be ideal...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Olight-Hea...id=1518541857&sr=1-1&keywords=olight+h1r+nova
 
Dr.Eddie said:
Just an idea but it sounds like a head torch that you can also use as a hand torch might be more suited to your needs.

Plus, as you're using it for work, I'd suggest you go for a neutral white torch as it will reproduce/render (whatever the word is) colours accurately, something along the lines of this might be ideal...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Olight-Hea...id=1518541857&sr=1-1&keywords=olight+h1r+nova
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Thanks for the suggestion. The Jetbeam I've ended up taking a punt on is actually superb. The beam pattern is almost exactly what I want and with a 14500 battery it's ludicrously bright. It does get hot though with the 14500 cell, certainly when amusingly myself by shining through my hand in a dark room seeing my bones I found it burnt pretty bad if I pressed it into my palm too hard. I know, I know, I'm on the list for a Darwin award one day...

I've yet to work in the dark so I've not actually tried it properly, but I'm sure it'll work just fine. If it had an adjustable lens that would the icing on the cake, but for £16 I'm not complaining.
 
FL630 said:
Thanks for the suggestion. The Jetbeam I've ended up taking a punt on is actually superb. The beam pattern is almost exactly what I want and with a 14500 battery it's ludicrously bright. It does get hot though with the 14500 cell, certainly when amusingly myself by shining through my hand in a dark room seeing my bones I found it burnt pretty bad if I pressed it into my palm too hard. I know, I know, I'm on the list for a Darwin award one day...

I've yet to work in the dark so I've not actually tried it properly, but I'm sure it'll work just fine. If it had an adjustable lens that would the icing on the cake, but for £16 I'm not complaining.
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Ah well that's good you got something suitable. :)

You have to be very careful with some of the powerful torches as they can actually set stuff on fire!

When I hold the Klarus G20 up to my fleece on full power you can see smoke within a few seconds and the fleece material actually starts to melt!

Luckily they have lock-outs on them these days - either switch lock-out or mechanically unscrewing to disconnect the batteries - which stops them switching themselves on in a rucksack or similar.

I know they have safety cut-outs if the heat gets too high but I'm not sure I'd rely on it working accurately 100% of the time. Some of my torches get too hot to even touch - useful when your hands are cold though.
 
Had that itch for a new light and was leaning towards the Thrunite TC20 until i found a great deal on the Rofis MR70 which in turn made it much cheaper than the TC20.

15hoi2p.jpg


Features:

● Uses a 26650 5500mAh high-rate discharge lithium battery,the main light and side light dual light source design.
● The main light utilizes XHP70.2 P2 CW LED,output up to 3500Lumens.
● Side light utilizes XP-G2 R5 NW LED,maximum output to 200Lumens
● One-touch control all function,it is easy to operate.
● Body with Micro-USB charging,which supports up to 2A charge.
● Can be used as a mobile power supply,use the USB adapter provide power to other devices,the maxmum output to 2.2A;with a dischargercapacity reminder.
● Users constant current circuit, with high battery effciency,stable output,no flashes.
● Anti-reverse design to prevent incorrect battery installation causes the circuit damage.
● Battery power detection,charging instruction,low battery reminder function.
● With locking function prevent accidental illumination.
● One-pieces shell,the structure is stable and reliable.
● Made of aero grade aluminum alloy,premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish.
● With flashlight self-location function.
Charging:

● Before charging,ensure that the battery is correctly loaded into the flashlight, and the tail of the flashlight has been tightened.
● Insert the charging cablle Micro USB port into the flashlight charging port,then insert the charging cable USB port into the power port to recharge.Charging light red indicates charging,green indicates charging has been completed.The flashlight can only turn on side medium mode while charging.
Package included:
1 x MR70 flashlight
1 x ROFIS 26650 5500mAh battery
1 x Charging cable
1 x Micro USB to USB adapter
1 x Holster
1 x Lanyard
1 x USB cover
1 x User manual
2 x O-ring

https://www.banggood.com/Rofis-MR70...-p-1250131.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN
 
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@Deluxe1: That torch is actually very tempting! I was looking a while ago for a torch that could double up as a battery pack, as it seemed a very useful way to have the capability for both, without having to carry 2 devices!

Is there an additional discount code you found, or is the £65.79 the best you found it at?
 
Deluxe should be a sales rep, you've sold me. Only thing I lack is an actual excuse to buy it, if I had any professional requirement or just a pair of wild dogs to walk I'd get that.
£65.79 for 3500 lumens, that giant capacity battery and the charger all included is actually not a bad price at all. Obviously its not cheap to your average layman but that is the route to go for a beast of a torch not the cheapy way as they just wear out, wont actually shine that bright. My Fenix tk22 which is still going strong I saw listed for 110, so I guess prices arent falling much and thats below 1000 lumens
upload a video if you have the chance, bandicam is utility very easy to use for youtube filesizes

● Can be used as a mobile power supply,use the USB adapter provide power to other devices,the maxmum output to 2.2A;with a dischargercapacity reminder.
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Maybe thats the excuse I need, I'd rather have that then a power pack and I have some 26650 already. It avoids running down unprotected batteries I presume
 
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