Best budget 500 lumen or Better Light.
- Thread starter maxsutter
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aurum
Enlightened
Received the MG PLI SST-50 few days ago and i don't know if it's worth the money ... The LED is not not centered correctly, draws only ~2A from my 18650, the reflector has some imperfections. 70$ shipping included compared to my sf-23 for 33$. The SF-23 puts out more lm and is half the price (you'll have to glue the emitter to the heatsink with as).
shipwreck
Enlightened
I am awaiting a fairly cheap C30 from them - it's a spot to flood flashlight that runs on AAA batteries. I should get it this week.
I made a few posts about some of the models there, and I soon figured out that most are over rated on their actual lumen output. And, the quality seemed spotty unless you know how to mod your own lights.
I also am awaiting a solarforce light to come in - and the quality seems much better on those. They are no priced too bad on the ebay website.
I made a few posts about some of the models there, and I soon figured out that most are over rated on their actual lumen output. And, the quality seemed spotty unless you know how to mod your own lights.
I also am awaiting a solarforce light to come in - and the quality seems much better on those. They are no priced too bad on the ebay website.
Why not make one yourself? A C-cell mag + MC-E emitter on a heatsink is pretty easy to build - there are plenty of step-by-step tutorials here. You can make it direct drive (no driver) to simplify things. It may cost more than a DX or KD light, but it will be rock solid and quality, plus the satisfaction of having made it yourself.
Approximate cost would be
host $15
heatsink $15
MC-E or P7 $20
Total = ~$50
Satisfaction of making it yourself = priceless
Approximate cost would be
host $15
heatsink $15
MC-E or P7 $20
Total = ~$50
Satisfaction of making it yourself = priceless
That is disappointing. You should contact him about trading in for a better one. I've heard he was a reliable dealer and should be able to work with you.
Its still gonna be a lot better than a random Deal Extreme one! Plus you will have much better customer service in case you do get a defective one.
Otherwise, the Trustfire TR1200 is probably a good bet. For 45 bucks, it can use 2 or 3 18650s. Most DX lights that use more than 1 18650 cost around 70 bucks. The TR1200 will be a lot more efficient and brighter than 1x18650 P7s or SST50.
It isnt perfect but it seems to be pretty well received by those here.
randomlugia
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2009
- Messages
- 146
The Aurora AK-P7-5 2-mode is considered one of the more consistent DX lights, and the current draw is usually between 3 and 4.5 amps (which is probably about 600-800 lumens OTF).
LEDninja
Flashlight Enthusiast
How To Mod a Maglite P7 - 38 PICS
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=238641
Mag P7 left, MTE P7 right.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=238641
I prefer my Mag P7 to my DX P7 despite 4X the size, 2X the weight and only 1 mode vs 5.
Mag P7 left, MTE P7 right.
Trancersteve
Newly Enlightened
Any other suggestions?
I was about to buy the Trustfire TR1200 until I saw the current batch aren't up to scratch.
I was about to buy the Trustfire TR1200 until I saw the current batch aren't up to scratch.
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Jash
Flashlight Enthusiast
One of these is probably the cheapest/easiest way to do a P7 mag mod.
It needs a little grinding to get it to fit and you need to modify your switch and do some soldering (all up about an hour of work), but the end result is a 500 lumen light that works every time.
In a 4D mag with some 10k,mah LSD ni-mh batteries, you will get many hours of runtime.
It needs a little grinding to get it to fit and you need to modify your switch and do some soldering (all up about an hour of work), but the end result is a 500 lumen light that works every time.
In a 4D mag with some 10k,mah LSD ni-mh batteries, you will get many hours of runtime.
Yeah too bad about the TR1200 being crappy now. It was a great light.
There just aren't a whole lot of budget options for 500+ lumen lights. You can get a DX P7 light with 1x18650 but expect about 300 lumens at best... but its 32 bucks too.
Your only real choices are:
the new MG P-Rocket from shiningbeam.com.
An itp A6 Polestar (72 bucks delivered from goinggear.com)
A Deal Extreme light. But any of the 2x18650 lights cost around 70 bucks anyways, so you mine as well get a more mainstream option with better support.
Its too bad there are no commercial triple XP-G lights (except for the TK45 which is 150 bucks!). That would be quite efficient, produce good output with less heat concerns.
Good luck!
There just aren't a whole lot of budget options for 500+ lumen lights. You can get a DX P7 light with 1x18650 but expect about 300 lumens at best... but its 32 bucks too.
Your only real choices are:
the new MG P-Rocket from shiningbeam.com.
An itp A6 Polestar (72 bucks delivered from goinggear.com)
A Deal Extreme light. But any of the 2x18650 lights cost around 70 bucks anyways, so you mine as well get a more mainstream option with better support.
Its too bad there are no commercial triple XP-G lights (except for the TK45 which is 150 bucks!). That would be quite efficient, produce good output with less heat concerns.
Good luck!
entoptics
Enlightened
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2009
- Messages
- 388
If your budget allows, the iTP Polestar A6 is a pretty sweet deal. Decent quality, reputable dealers/service, and monster output.
Some things to consider about the Polestar
1) Very floody beam results in a "wall of light". Awesome for some things, but obviously distance performance suffers
2) 6xAA powered means relatively short runtimes (about 1.25 hours on max) and a somewhat inconvenient battery holder.
3) Mode switching requires you pass through strobe to go from high back to low.
All in all it's a great light for the money, but it does have some draw backs.
Some things to consider about the Polestar
1) Very floody beam results in a "wall of light". Awesome for some things, but obviously distance performance suffers
2) 6xAA powered means relatively short runtimes (about 1.25 hours on max) and a somewhat inconvenient battery holder.
3) Mode switching requires you pass through strobe to go from high back to low.
All in all it's a great light for the money, but it does have some draw backs.
What kind of switch mod/soldering is needed?
recDNA
Flashaholic
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
- Messages
- 8,762
I have a very inexpensive Xtar MC-E flashlight the has a very nice beam profile and tint is is very bright. It says Cree MC-E on the side. I bought it from Lighthound but I don't think they carry it any more. Too bad. Great bargain. It even throws pretty well. It's only flaw (and it's a bad one in my opinion) is that you have to cycle through strobe to get from low to high.
a1penguin
Newly Enlightened
$60 for "400+ lumens" seems on the cusp for a budget light. I've not seen this one reviewed so I don't know what the quality is like. XTAR lights don't seem to have a large following here. At least they don't try to claim that light is 9 bazillion lumens. The physical size makes it a reasonable option for mounting on the handlebars of a bike.
I've been using one of those $30 DX MCE-P7 lights on my bike for a year now and it's OK. I combine it with a Jetbeam III on the helmet and have a good balance between flood and throw as well as fixed direction vs any direction. But I keep thinking that P-rocket is nice enough and bright enough to be a fun^H^H^H good upgrade.
The Ultrafire UF-600L is a light that has 3 cree r5 xpg leds and is 1045(high) and 280(low) is around $61.89 wholesale.
I would give you a link but DM51 will delete it.
aurum
Enlightened
The UF_600-L is 55.39$ @ kaidomain
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