Biggest throw / smallest package?

[sac02]

I'm looking to round out my night cycling light setup. I'm happy with my rear
lights and my front flood lights - what I want to add is a spot light mounted to
helmet.

I want something small to mount easily to my helmet so I can "aim"
the light with my head movement to pick out items to my side or rear, or flash
my light across the windshield of an approaching car on a sidestreet that I think
didn't see me.

Ideally I would want:
1. All throw, don't care at all about spill/flood for this light
2. Small size, to easily mount to helmet and not be bulky/heavy
3. Rechargeable LiIon would be nice, I own several 18650 and 14500 but an 18650
light would already be on the large side of the scale for helmet mounting.

Thanks!

 

[belomeclone]

EagleTac T20C2 XM-L. Done!

 

[enomosiki]

EagleTac T20C2 XM-L. Done!

I think you meant T20C2 MkII with XR-E drop-in.

 

[Z-Tab]

Surefire L1 head running direct drive off an IMR123 in a Valiant Concepts 1x123 Clickie Body might be pretty good for these purposes. I think the posts about this set-up were lost in the crash, but if I recall correctly, it was tested at well over 300 lumens. With the L1 beam pattern, that should out-throw pretty much anything that is anywhere close in size. (On further thought, it might be very dangerous to run this set-up for a long bike ride.)

It might have been Captain Spaulding that had done this, but my memory is not helping.

The Surefire TIR lenses do offer superior throw. Otherwise, I think you might want to look for lights that are using XR-E or other similar emitters, they're not going to give as much overall light as an XP-G or an XM-L, but their beams tend to be throwier in smaller housings.

 

[TyJo]

Check out Lenslight Mini, the optics are focusable and it can throw very well. I have a hard time believing any 123 light can beat it in terms of throw.

 

[sac02]

... The Surefire TIR lenses do offer superior throw. ...

I'm not familiar with the Surefire TIR lenses, but I will do some research/searching on them, thanks.

Your post made me wonder, is there any sort of lens/optic that can be modded to a P60 module to reshape the beam and increase throw? I have several P60 based bodies I could use if it's just a matter of getting the right optic for the drop-in.

 

[Z-Tab]

Anything with an aspheric lens is going to be quite throwy. The Lenslight Mini that TyJo mentions has an aspheric lens, which gives it its ability to focus. If you put an aspheric lens into any light, you're gonna end up with a throwy light. ahorton sells them on the Custom B/S/T board, you can see a beam shot in his thread there. http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?303292 (If that link doesn't work, just search for aspheric lens.)

Also, many XR-E drop-ins have 8-degree optics on them, but I was assuming that a P60 host would be a bit unweildy when mounted to your helmet. I don't know about optics for other emitters.

 

[angelofwar]

Yeah, regarding the L1, check out "I finally got an L1". Captain Spaulding built one and either bighchelis or bullzeyebill.

 

[sac02]

.. but I was assuming that a P60 host would be a bit unweildy when mounted to your helmet. ...

You are correct, a P60 host is larger than what I was originally hoping to find, but it's not out of the question.

Especially if it's as simple as slapping a $1.92 aspheric lens from DX onto a light I already own. That's a definite temptation.

 

[Chrisdm]

EagleTac T20C2 XM-L. Done!

Eagletac tech support told me the XM-L version sacrifices some throw to the less powerful (but better throwing) original Mk2 model (Cree R5 I think).

 

[jonesy]

What about the Surefire E1B? More lumens than the L1 (110 vs 65, but both are considered underrated).

 

[Joe Hone]

Shiningbeam s-mini XP-G R5 single 18650 is hard to beat for biggest throw, smallest package, plus the light is very reasonably priced

 

[Throwjunkie]

Anything with an aspheric lens is going to be quite throwy. The Lenslight Mini that TyJo mentions has an aspheric lens, which gives it its ability to focus. If you put an aspheric lens into any light, you're gonna end up with a throwy light. ahorton sells them on the Custom B/S/T board, you can see a beam shot in his thread there. http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?303292 (If that link doesn't work, just search for aspheric lens.)

Also, many XR-E drop-ins have 8-degree optics on them, but I was assuming that a P60 host would be a bit unweildy when mounted to your helmet. I don't know about optics for other emitters.

Did that here a few months back with an aspheric I found on ebay for 2 bucks used a cheapo ultrafire. made for a fantastic thrower with Q5 emitter. the SMO reflector has rings in the beam and an OP has ugly spots so I will be painting the reflector Black.

Joe

 

[bigchelis]

Check out Lenslight Mini, the optics are focusable and it can throw very well. I have a hard time believing any 123 light can beat it in terms of throw.

This will not work. The LensLIght Mini has very little throw eventhough its an Aspheric. In fact a Stock Surefire L1 has more lux, but in direct drive the L1 will offer nearly 40% more then the Lenslight Mini.

The Throwiest I have seen is Ahorton Aspheric Kit. You can use a Nailbender XR-E R2 P60 Pill and you should have 25~27K lux at 1m. You could use it in a L2m for smaller size.

 

[guiri]

ITP R01

Great thrower, built in rechargeable battery and USB rechargeable and under 50 bucks.

 

[chris1]

This will not work. The LensLIght Mini has very little throw eventhough its an Aspheric. In fact a Stock Surefire L1 has more lux, but in direct drive the L1 will offer nearly 40% more then the Lenslight Mini.

The Throwiest I have seen is Ahorton Aspheric Kit. You can use a Nailbender XR-E R2 P60 Pill and you should have 25~27K lux at 1m. You could use it in a L2m for smaller size.

I have to ask if you have a LL Mini or have handled one? I've got an L1 and comparing the two is akin to comparing a .22 with a howitzer........The Lenslight absolutely out-throws the L1, there isn't even anything to talk about here.....

 

[TyJo]

I have to ask if you have a LL Mini or have handled one? I've got an L1 and comparing the two is akin to comparing a .22 with a howitzer........The Lenslight absolutely out-throws the L1, there isn't even anything to talk about here.....

I was wondering the same thing when I suggested the LensLight and was told it had very little throw...

 

[Waspy]

Torch Light C78 takes a 14500

 

[bigchelis]

I was wondering the same thing when I suggested the LensLight and was told it had very little throw...

I had 2 of them on loan for testing. The super tight beam while its awesome delivers very little lumens and this results in very little lux. Does it throw, well yes and to the naked eye a laser like beam looks throwier, but it has low lux and low lumens.

Would I get one if I could? Hell yeah. The lenslight mini has probably the best build materials and I would love to have one someday. Not just a borrowed one.

I had the same issues when I was doing Mag XR-E R2 builds with Aspherics. I thought no way a Tiablo A10 XR-E R2 throws more the beam on the Mag Aspheric just looks more impressive and throwy, but MrGman set me straight reall quick.

bigC

 

[orbital]

+

Really tough to beat this for the price,

Romisen RC-C6 II R2 Flood-to-Throw {single cr123}

from: shiningbeam dot com