Cabelas XPG/SF 6P drop-in LED options

[fatboy]

I know this is old-hat for some but am just a noobflashoholic :shakehead

Got one of the Cabelas Light/knife combos coming.

Looking at the XPG and 6P light assemblies they are identical in my book. And what's up w/SF 6P switch (or is that the lack of?)

I see the Malkoff LED is $60 and some $20 ebay options. Don't want to spend $60 and don't want anything I have to use ebay to buy.

My 3V Fenix Luxeon Rebel spits 175 lumens and would like something brighter, 6V should help, right?

Suggestions?

Links?

TIA

 

[1pt21]

Move on over to the LED section and check out the P60 sticky for a wealth of info on drop-ins.

What exactly are you asking about the 6P tailcap???

--Paul

 

[Gunner12]

Check this thread for a list of drop-ins.

What do you mean by the tailcap?

For LEDs, higher voltage doesn't mean higher output. It will depend on how much current the driver supplies to the LED.

 

[fatboy]

Tailcap was just a momentary switch, on and off was by turning the head like a mini-mag unlike the XPG.

Seemed kinds useless and a pain.

 

[Gunner12]

That sounds odd. The 6P has a momentary/twistie switch. Tighten the switch for constant on. Push for momentary.

 

[fatboy]

OK, perhaps the tail was twisted for on/off. Doesn't seem any different from having to twist a head, twisting anything seems like a pain too me.

 

[BMF]

OK, perhaps the tail was twisted for on/off. Doesn't seem any different from having to twist a head, twisting anything seems like a pain too me.

You have a PM.

I have this combo and it's a reverse clicky, no twisting to turn on/off and it's a little hard to push. It's exactly the 6P clone: everything is interchangeable between this XPG combo and 6P. I have both.

 

[USM0083]

OK, perhaps the tail was twisted for on/off. Doesn't seem any different from having to twist a head, twisting anything seems like a pain too me.

The 6P has been around for 20 years and was the one of the first compact and bright light for LE use. For tactical use a momentary/twist on switch is a requirement. It is simple and reliable and foolproof. A momentary clicky is also acceptable. I've been carrying a Tiablo A8S for 6 months and bought the momentary clicky switch, which for my use is far superior to the standard clicky switch (lo-high-off) which has no momentary functions.

 

[fatboy]

Perhaps I havn't thought about it much. Seemed to me having to use 2 hands to operate a light isn't such a good idea when I already have (I don't know) a gun or my wife in one.

Gotta think about it some.

 

[kramer5150]

IMHO....

the biggest advantage of the 6P twist-on/off tailcap over a mechanical click-switch is its added durability and lifespan. It has no moving parts or parts that can wear mechanically. It merely is a battery contact spring thats pressed into a metal plate. Twist the cap and it pushes the plate against the body tube for electrical contact. Technically there is no mechanical swich parts/components at all. It is the simplest switching mechanism I have come across on a flashlight, and has VERY few CPF reports of failure. Some members have 20++ year old 6Ps still going strong on the original twist-switch. It is a little awkward at first, but I use my light on the job and for me reliability and durability are more important than minor ergonomics.

I can easily activate it with one hand.

Its very unlike a mini-mag in that you tighten the 6P to turn it on. So while its in service it is a tight, secure solid feeling assembly. The minimag is the opposite, you loosen it to turn it on, IMHO it gives the lights a different "feel" when in service.

What do you mean by "brighter than a Fenix"... are you wanting more lumens? more Lux?... or both.

you should read the P60 drop in sticky.

 

[fatboy]

I know I (we) got a little side-tracked from the original purpose of this thread, but thanks for the responses just the same....

I still havn't thought about it a whole lot but like the idea of the twist on/off more and more especially considering....

The switch on my first "go fast" flashlight Fenix P2D, JUST QUIT WORKING!!!!

Slapped the head on the L2D body and it works fine - so I'm not left completely in the dark ;~)>

Although the Fenix's have feature rich mode selections, I'm now thinking that may not be a great piece of needed criteria in evaluating future purchases!!!

I'm still trying to find the "best" $20 or $30 LED drop-in with increased lumens.

The Dereelight 1SM-1 looks good - except, I like the idea of a regulated module even tho I don't completely understand all the implications of having/not having one.

Again, thanks all for taking the time!!!

 

[fatboy]

Who else carries DX bulbs and takes Visa - without paypal in the middle?

 

[ace0001a]

Well for one thing, you should really find a way to get a Paypal account. For one thing, it adds another layer of security to online transactions. For another, it makes it easy to do transactions with other fellow CPF'ers as alot of us have Paypal accounts. Unless you've got something against them, Paypal is good to have.

I'd say bang for the buck would be stuff from KD or DX...especially when it comes to the P60LED dropins. There are dealers here in the US that sell the same type of dropins, but you're going to easily spend twice as much (if not more) for a comparable product.

By the way if you don't like your Cabellas tailcap, KD is now selling the Solarforce L2 tailcap. It's very well made and like the Cabellas tailcap is a reverse clicky (so that means it will work well with multi-mode P60LED dropins).

http://www.kaidomain.com/webui/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=4224

Hopefully they'll have a forward clicky version available in the future.

DX has a new Q5 P60LED dropin available:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11621

 

[fatboy]

I had a paypal account for 5 or 8 years. Bottom line, if you NEED to get something done, only a government regulated institution (bank) can make it happen. Paypal can keep your money, for any reason THEY deem authorized and there isn't squat anyone can do.

When they didn't move for me, I got the bank to handle it, paypal didn't like that, closed my account.

On $10 items paypal is fine, anyone can afford to throw that away. Big ticket items is another story. Plus they're anti-2nd now.

Oddly enough, I can buy from some places that only use paypal IF they "go through the backend" to process the credit card (fenix-store for example).

I was just hoping there was an online Amerian company that can compete with the offshore groups in this industry that process payments with real banks so I could buy some parts for a new found pastime.

 

[MarNav1]

IMO a P60L is hard to beat for $30-32. A little cool but a great drop-in for your light. Plus the Surefire warranty. Enjoy!

 

[ace0001a]

I had a paypal account for 5 or 8 years. Bottom line, if you NEED to get something done, only a government regulated institution (bank) can make it happen. Paypal can keep your money, for any reason THEY deem authorized and there isn't squat anyone can do.

When they didn't move for me, I got the bank to handle it, paypal didn't like that, closed my account.

On $10 items paypal is fine, anyone can afford to throw that away. Big ticket items is another story. Plus they're anti-2nd now.

Oddly enough, I can buy from some places that only use paypal IF they "go through the backend" to process the credit card (fenix-store for example).

I was just hoping there was an online Amerian company that can compete with the offshore groups in this industry that process payments with real banks so I could buy some parts for a new found pastime.

Yeah, I'll agree that Paypal can be a pain in the butt sometimes. But having experienced both sides (as an ebay seller and buyer), I have seen Paypal work for and against you, so yeah I know. For the most part, I have never been burned by Paypal (knock on wood) and I even had them get me my money back once from a deceitful ebay seller. Like everything else in life, Paypal is not perfect (and some would say far from it), but I just simply feel that it comes in handy for online transactions.

To reiterate what other's have said, you can't go wrong with the $10 DX 6090 Dropin and now they even got a 11621 Q5 dropin for $13. Either one will give you much better performance than the standard Surefire P60L...until Surefire comes out with their P61L, I just don't see a better alternative, especially for the money.

 

[ace0001a]

IMO a P60L is hard to beat for $30-32. A little cool but a great drop-in for your light. Plus the Surefire warranty. Enjoy!

Yeah, I just can't agree with that... I briefly owned a P60L and was not impressed with its lowly 80 lumens performance. Maybe if it was like a $10 module, it would be ok. I won't argue against Surefire's warranty, but I own quite a few of the aftermarket dropins and use them regularly without any problems. Heck I would rather pay $60 for a Malkoff Devices M60 than the $40 the P60L costs (sure you could catch it for $30-$35 on the cheap sometimes). As I said in another thread, some people just prefer the "name brand" item over the "generic" and that's their perogative...me, I'm a "bang for the buck" kind of guy and the aftermarket dropins fit that point of view...

I guess we'll have to wait and see how good Surefire's P61L will be. Hopefully they don't charge and arm and a leg for them.

 

[MarNav1]

You may be right. I really liked the P60L alot. It's bright enough for me but maybe not for others. I've bought a couple of em for $30 lately.

 

[GPB]

does anyone know when the P61L will be out or how many lumens Surefire expects to rate it at ?

 

[ginaz]

i believe it's going to be 200 lumens. no idea of an eta.