Big bright light reccomendations/help (~$100 budget)

[darrenerrad2]

Hi, I've been looking around for a good quality big, bright light that costs approximately $100 with shipping.

In terms of 'bigger/brighter' lights, I have an Aurora AK-P7-3 (2*18650), Trustfire TR-1200, Solarforce Skyline, Uniquefire HS-802 and a cheap direct driven MC-E 502b light.

Build quality is a must - I'm not too happy with the build quality of my current lights except the Solarforce, so I'm extending my budget this time.

Beam shape - emphasis on throw rather than flood, but with some useful side-spill. I really like the large hotspot on my TR-1200 but the light has so many problems that I won't go into.

I've been thinking about getting the MG - X thrower (from shiningbeam), although I'm not sure if it would be any brighter than the ones I already have. The Solarforce Masterpiece and Polestar A6 are also perhaps an option.

Thanks

 

[mcnair55]

You are in the wrong section,quality stuff is in Led flashlights.We talk here mainly about the real cheap end of the market.:thumbsup:

 

[march.brown]

If you have an old Maglite torch , for a quarter of your budget , try this dropin ... It's a floody beam , but will really light up a large area ... My Wife loves this as a house-torch.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=277748

400 to 600 lumens depending on battery choice ... Will run on from two to six cells as long as the voltage is not over nine volts... My old 2C is running on two 18500 Li-Ions.
.

 

[LEDninja]

You already have P7/MCE or multi XRE lights. You would not get any brighter with a $100 budget. You need a fully powered SST-90 LED to get really brighter and those flashlights are HUGE and expensive.

Look also at Lumapower, Olight, Tiablo, Eagletac, Jetbeam. At $100 you should be able to get away from the 'DX lights' or even the upgraded Shining Beam versions.

Take a look at selfbuilt's high output roundup then check prices. Some or a close sibling would be ~$100.
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=255044

For max throw you may nave to go with a dimmer light. The P7/MCE or the small reflectors of multi-LEDs are inherently floody. Warning - due to lack of XR-E R2s many manufacturers are providing unannounced 'free XP-G R5 upgrades' which makes for floodier lights.

Do you have soldering skills. It may be time to build your own Mag P7. The 52 mm reflector would throw a lot better than the 26 mm reflector of a 502B.
How To Mod a Maglite P7 - 38 PICS

Mag P7 left, MTE P7 from DX right. Note the difference the bigger Mag reflector makes.

 

[aurum]

If you already own a Trustfire TR-1200 you won't find any flashlight which i brighter for 100$ The X-Thrower is great but offers only 500-600lm compared to 830lm (TR 1200)

 

[joe1512]

I coulda sworn I replied to this post...


Anyways, you need to fix your TR-1200. The latest ones are very weakly driven. Many DX lights have build issues which can often be fixed. If you can get a new driver to push 1 amp to each emitter, then you will have a good 1000+ lumens rated which is about 800-850 out the front. This is better than just about any SST-50, P7, or MC-E emitter flashlight with better throw.
Most P7s are 2.8 amp max driven. Even the most powerful SST-50 is under 5 amps. 5 smaller emitters which are more efficient at 1 amp = 5 amps worth of power. More power combined with a more efficient emitter at a more efficient wattage level = win.