Convert
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2009
- Messages
- 20
Well, kinda. It's my first post here, so I'm hoping that I don't make myself looks like too much of a noob...but I inevitably will at some point.
Anyway, I carry a SF G2 every day at work (I'm a patrol sergeant and firearms instructor for a local emergency services agency), and initially set out to find an upgrade that would give me the perfect balance of flood and throw that everyone seems to covet. Unfortunately, I didn't find this forum until I had already wasted my money on a cheap, overrated LED module from ebay (Alpha USA G8 or something like that) that was rated at 390 lumens. 390 lumens? When I saw that I was very excited...I thought that I'd be holding the sun in my hands and blow my coworkers' Pelican 7060s away.
Not the case. At all. Much brighter than the stock P60 bulb...but only putting out 100 lumens at best. A far cry from the 390 lumens advertised.
So then I come upon CPF, lurk a while, and learn some stuff. I've been slowly but surely going e-bay crazy buying decent parts for a good tactical light build up. I just found a great deal on an SolarForce L2 body complete sans bulb, ready for a drop-in. Picked it up for $15 shipped. I ordered an extension unit last week for $9 shipped so I can add a 3rd CR123A battery (basically I want to push that POS Alpha USA LED to see if it can do any better than what it's currently putting out, but it certainly wont be a permanent fixture in the new light).
Anyway, I need to pick an LED module to run in this new tactical light, and I've been seriously considering the Malkoff M60. I've read nothing but excellent things about it. But, I've also been reading alot about 18650 batteries, which appeals to me since having rechargeable batteries is a must in my line of work. However, this is where I get a little confused.
[noobness]
From what I gather, 18650s are rechargable Li/Ion batteries, right?
From all of the pictures I've seen, they look like they are the size of two CR123A batteries, so do they just drop in like the CR123As, or do I to run them with an extender or something like that?
And, since I'd be running the 18650, I'd need to use a M30 drop-in instead of an M60, right?
Can you guys point me toward good brands of batteries and chargers? The last thing I want is to lay down the $55 on a Malkoff then feed it crappy batteries, or good batteries with a poor charge.
[/noobness]
Pardon the obviously very common questions...I've read the wiki a little and browsed several posts, but most of the conversaitions on here get pretty technical pretty quickly, and it's rather hard to decipher for someone not in-the-know.
I'll get there eventually, I just need a little break-in time.
Also, I tend to write introductory novels when I get onto a new forum, so sorry about the long first post. Thanks in advance ladies and gents...looks like quite a knowledgable group here. Looking forward to becoming a part of it.
Anyway, I carry a SF G2 every day at work (I'm a patrol sergeant and firearms instructor for a local emergency services agency), and initially set out to find an upgrade that would give me the perfect balance of flood and throw that everyone seems to covet. Unfortunately, I didn't find this forum until I had already wasted my money on a cheap, overrated LED module from ebay (Alpha USA G8 or something like that) that was rated at 390 lumens. 390 lumens? When I saw that I was very excited...I thought that I'd be holding the sun in my hands and blow my coworkers' Pelican 7060s away.
Not the case. At all. Much brighter than the stock P60 bulb...but only putting out 100 lumens at best. A far cry from the 390 lumens advertised.
So then I come upon CPF, lurk a while, and learn some stuff. I've been slowly but surely going e-bay crazy buying decent parts for a good tactical light build up. I just found a great deal on an SolarForce L2 body complete sans bulb, ready for a drop-in. Picked it up for $15 shipped. I ordered an extension unit last week for $9 shipped so I can add a 3rd CR123A battery (basically I want to push that POS Alpha USA LED to see if it can do any better than what it's currently putting out, but it certainly wont be a permanent fixture in the new light).
Anyway, I need to pick an LED module to run in this new tactical light, and I've been seriously considering the Malkoff M60. I've read nothing but excellent things about it. But, I've also been reading alot about 18650 batteries, which appeals to me since having rechargeable batteries is a must in my line of work. However, this is where I get a little confused.
[noobness]
From what I gather, 18650s are rechargable Li/Ion batteries, right?
From all of the pictures I've seen, they look like they are the size of two CR123A batteries, so do they just drop in like the CR123As, or do I to run them with an extender or something like that?
And, since I'd be running the 18650, I'd need to use a M30 drop-in instead of an M60, right?
Can you guys point me toward good brands of batteries and chargers? The last thing I want is to lay down the $55 on a Malkoff then feed it crappy batteries, or good batteries with a poor charge.
[/noobness]
Pardon the obviously very common questions...I've read the wiki a little and browsed several posts, but most of the conversaitions on here get pretty technical pretty quickly, and it's rather hard to decipher for someone not in-the-know.
I'll get there eventually, I just need a little break-in time. Also, I tend to write introductory novels when I get onto a new forum, so sorry about the long first post. Thanks in advance ladies and gents...looks like quite a knowledgable group here. Looking forward to becoming a part of it.
Last edited:
So, thats where the G2 comes in. 
