Ginseng\'s EDC Utility Case, 2005
Hi everyone. I <font color="red">love</font> the SureFire L4. For numerous reasons, it is my favorite EDC light of all time. The unit I proudly EDC is one that I bought from Dan Legg at Tactical Warehouse almost two years ago. This is the same light that recently survived being picked up, chewed up and spat out by a gas powered snow blower. You can read about that crazy situation in this thread.
Recently, my good friend S4MadMan exposed me to the work of one of our resident Luxeon modders/artists, Chop. As a result of this exposure, I decided it was time to upgrade and add to my arsenal. Just FYI, I don't consider my self a flashlight "collector." I only buy and keep what I actually use. So, aside from all the lights that are projects, the only lights I would say I use are my L4 and MagCharger85.
Maybe a year ago, I posted about my L4 EDC rig of that era. There were lots of good comments and consensus about the utility of the L4 and this setup. Well, I'm back now in 2005 to share my revised EDC Backup Kit. Here's the original Ginseng's L4 EDC Rig thread. For on-body carry, my setup remains the RipOffs CO-73 clip-on holster for the Leatherman Wave + light loop.
The Case
Pelican 1020 Micro Case from Kevin at Batterystation. The functionality upgrades I made to this well engineered case consist of adding two strips of tape to provide visibility under all conditions. One is a strip of ultra-high retroreflectance tape from Reflexite. This provides visibility when illuminated by light from distances as great as 1/4 mile in the dark. For example, when walking along a country road and lit by headlights from an oncoming car in the distance. The second strip is of tough, phosphorescent tape. This charges up in direct illumination and glows for 8 hours, or more.
Here is a picture of the EDC Case in daylight.
Here is a picture of the EDC Case viewed in direct-reflected light.
Here is a picture of the EDC Case in the dark after the phosphorescent tape had been charged up.
And finally, here's the internal layout of my EDC backup case. I keep it simple, light and limited to the most useful of components. These are:
1. Aleph 2 head, black HA. TWOJ Lux III, Wizard2 board driven at 1,000mA. This unit is a work of art. Well made, high performing and providing a very useful complementary capability to the L4: it throws a nice tight spot of pure white light. Cheers and gratitude go to Chop for his work and on this unit and his composure and professionalism in the face of the aggravation I put him through trying to find the only worthy companion for my L4.
2. Z57 with two-stage modification (22 ohm). I love the clickie Z57 and it will remain my mainstay. But now for those times when dual-level brightness is advantageous, I will be equipped.
3. Spare Pila 168S. I keep one in this case. As a worst case backup, I also keep 6 x 123 cells in a belt holster. Thanks go to Jon at JSBurly's. He feeds all my lithium ion needs /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
4. Surefire F04 Holographic Diffusing Beamshaper. For those times when an absolutely perfect beam is required. No other technology I know of does this so effectively and efficiently.
So there you have it. Most of you know I'm primarily a hot wire guy. But when I choose LED lights, I am as careful and as methodical selecting them as I am over the top with hot wires. It may be boring to the LED cognoscenti, but I am thrilled as can be.
Wilkey
Hi everyone. I <font color="red">love</font> the SureFire L4. For numerous reasons, it is my favorite EDC light of all time. The unit I proudly EDC is one that I bought from Dan Legg at Tactical Warehouse almost two years ago. This is the same light that recently survived being picked up, chewed up and spat out by a gas powered snow blower. You can read about that crazy situation in this thread.
Recently, my good friend S4MadMan exposed me to the work of one of our resident Luxeon modders/artists, Chop. As a result of this exposure, I decided it was time to upgrade and add to my arsenal. Just FYI, I don't consider my self a flashlight "collector." I only buy and keep what I actually use. So, aside from all the lights that are projects, the only lights I would say I use are my L4 and MagCharger85.
Maybe a year ago, I posted about my L4 EDC rig of that era. There were lots of good comments and consensus about the utility of the L4 and this setup. Well, I'm back now in 2005 to share my revised EDC Backup Kit. Here's the original Ginseng's L4 EDC Rig thread. For on-body carry, my setup remains the RipOffs CO-73 clip-on holster for the Leatherman Wave + light loop.
The Case
Pelican 1020 Micro Case from Kevin at Batterystation. The functionality upgrades I made to this well engineered case consist of adding two strips of tape to provide visibility under all conditions. One is a strip of ultra-high retroreflectance tape from Reflexite. This provides visibility when illuminated by light from distances as great as 1/4 mile in the dark. For example, when walking along a country road and lit by headlights from an oncoming car in the distance. The second strip is of tough, phosphorescent tape. This charges up in direct illumination and glows for 8 hours, or more.
Here is a picture of the EDC Case in daylight.
Here is a picture of the EDC Case viewed in direct-reflected light.
Here is a picture of the EDC Case in the dark after the phosphorescent tape had been charged up.
And finally, here's the internal layout of my EDC backup case. I keep it simple, light and limited to the most useful of components. These are:
1. Aleph 2 head, black HA. TWOJ Lux III, Wizard2 board driven at 1,000mA. This unit is a work of art. Well made, high performing and providing a very useful complementary capability to the L4: it throws a nice tight spot of pure white light. Cheers and gratitude go to Chop for his work and on this unit and his composure and professionalism in the face of the aggravation I put him through trying to find the only worthy companion for my L4.
2. Z57 with two-stage modification (22 ohm). I love the clickie Z57 and it will remain my mainstay. But now for those times when dual-level brightness is advantageous, I will be equipped.
3. Spare Pila 168S. I keep one in this case. As a worst case backup, I also keep 6 x 123 cells in a belt holster. Thanks go to Jon at JSBurly's. He feeds all my lithium ion needs /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
4. Surefire F04 Holographic Diffusing Beamshaper. For those times when an absolutely perfect beam is required. No other technology I know of does this so effectively and efficiently.
So there you have it. Most of you know I'm primarily a hot wire guy. But when I choose LED lights, I am as careful and as methodical selecting them as I am over the top with hot wires. It may be boring to the LED cognoscenti, but I am thrilled as can be.
Wilkey
