Compact Torch for the Car ?

[Spy]

Hi all, I am from the UK and new to these here forums. Finding them really interesting. I am hoping for you help here on pointing me in the right direction for a budget torch I want to keep in the car for emergencies. I would like it to be as powerful as possible but not particularly large, say max 12 inches but ideally around 6 inches. I don't want to spend too much but at the same time I don't want it exploding in the car :tinfoil: I have come across the Ultrafire torches on Amazon and eBay but reading on here, they are not recommended due to poor quality. Happy to stick 18650 batteries in there or others, that will give a higher lumen output. Any recommendations ?

 

[Nicola]

I'm not a big expert, but if you want to leave the torch in the car, and you want to be sure that it will works when you will need it,
then address yourself to a CR123A battery (1x or 2x) operated torch.

CR123A batteries have about 10 years shelf life and they are powerful.
I keep an Eagletac D25LC2 in the glove box.

Just my two cents. :)

 

[Spy]

Thanks for the tip on the batteries. I had a look at the Eagletec you have (looks great and perfect in size) but is way more than I wanted to spend. In the UK it is about £75 ($100).Ideally, I don't want to spend more than say £25-£30 ($50).Any recommendations in that price range ?

 

[mccririck]

Sipik sk68

 

[Nicola]

Have a look to the Olight S10 Baton.

It should be within your price range and it has very interesting features.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...RCR)-Review-RUNTIMES-BEAMSHOTS-VIDEO-and-more!

 

[Spy]

Thanks for both suggestion. There seems to be a big difference in price between the Sipik and Olight. Is the Olight worth the extra money ?

 

[BobDeLaLuz]

I personally still use the Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED Flashlight that I purchased in 2008 perfectly. I put it in my car in 2008 and its still there, working perfectly. Its very inexpensive yet its turned out to be completely reliable. I use CR123 batteries in it for reliable use in my car and although this model is no longer made, there are other Romisen that use CR123 batteries and bright LEDs. I just have not found anything else this inexpensive, with such a good, bright, LED that actually is proven to be reliable.

 

[FlashKat]

check out shiningbeam.com.
I also recommend Romisen or shiningbeam brand lights.

 

[Dave D]

For a budget light to keep in the car I can recommend the Solarforce L2P HA3 3 Mode U2 XM-L Cree LED 880 Lumens.

Direct from Solarforce Flashlight sales.com it costs $31.99 + $2 shipping to the UK, works out about £24.00 delivered.

It has type 3 hard anodising, has the three mode 880 Lumen lamp, Low, Medium, High and takes either 2 x CR123a's or a 18650 rechargeable.

 

[Spy]

Thanks for more suggestions. The Solarforce looks like decent quality. Is it better than the Romisen torches ?

 

[gravelmonkey]

Does that £25-£30 budget include a decent charger and 18650 cells? I have an Olight i2 in my car and put a Fenix E21 (idiot-proof) in my parents. Both have primary lithium AA's in them for longer runtime, better heat tolerance, longer shelf-life and no leaking compared to alkalines.

The (much) cheaper lights can be okay but it's a bit of a lottery. Some sipik68's are pretty good for the money while some are awful even when purchased through the same seller!

 

[Yorgi]

Romisen is a step above the UltraFire/Sipik type DX.com lights in terms of quality and in my opinion a Romisen will be good enough to use for a job that requires 100% reliability like in your car. I would not rely on an UltraFire or Sipik in my car unless I had additional backup lights in the glovebox. The SolarForce L2P is slightly better quality than most of Romisens I own.

None of the 6 Romisens I own have ever failed on me or required disassembly to repair switches etc... On the other hand, 5 of the ~ 20 xxxFires I purchased before finding CPf have needed repairs.

Besides the reasonable cost, the beauty of the SolarForce lights is the ability to customize and upgrade them in the future. If some great new LED comes out you just replace the drop-in, or change the tailcap if you want a different style switch. You can also use CR123 primary batteries or 18650 cells.

 

[LEDninja]

I don't want it exploding in the car ... Happy to stick 18650 batteries in there or others, that will give a higher lumen output.

Sorry bud but 18650 batteries tend to catch fire more than normal (AA, C, D) batteries. And the insides of cars get hot in the summer.
Protected 18650 has a slight parasitic drain which can leave you with a dead battery/torch unless you charge reasonably often. Torches in cars tend to be out of sight, out of mind.
Energizer AA lithium batteries are usually less than CR123A in small quantities. At a pinch you can use regular AA batteries.

-

Maglite Mini Maglite Pro Plus LED Torch - £43.00
Prices on your side of the pond is ridiculous. Its $28.99 in the US.

Fenix is a company with lots of online retailers in the UK. Have been around twice as long as Olight or Ultrafire.
Fenix E21 2AA $34.95
Fenix E25 2AA $36.95
Fenix E40 4AA $45.95

 

[Spy]

Does that £25-£30 budget include a decent charger and 18650 cells? I have an Olight i2 in my car and put a Fenix E21 (idiot-proof) in my parents. Both have primary lithium AA's in them for longer runtime, better heat tolerance, longer shelf-life and no leaking compared to alkalines.

The (much) cheaper lights can be okay but it's a bit of a lottery. Some sipik68's are pretty good for the money while some are awful even when purchased through the same seller!

No, budget is just for the flashlight. Batteries will be on top

 

[Spy]

Solarforce or Maglite

I have been leaning towards the Solarforce lights, either the L2P HA3 or the M6 XM-L U2 but seeing the recommendation of the Mini Maglite Pro/Plus that looks like a good option. This leads me to a couple of questions: 1) Out of the two Solarforce lights, which one would people recommend. I am not sure what the differences are. 2) Is the Maglite a better choice than either of the Solarforce torches ? Thanks

 

[Spy]

Re: Solarforce or Maglite

Another question, I have been looking at the Solarforce L2P HA3 and it comes with the U2 XML T6 LED but it offered in either one mode or 5 mode versions. Apart from the modes, is there any other difference between the two i.e. if there is no difference, wouldn't you always go with the 5 mode for flexibility ?

 

[Dave D]

Re: Solarforce or Maglite

I have been leaning towards the Solarforce lights, either the L2P HA3 or the M6 XM-L U2 but seeing the recommendation of the Mini Maglite Pro/Plus that looks like a good option. This leads me to a couple of questions: 1) Out of the two Solarforce lights, which one would people recommend. I am not sure what the differences are. 2) Is the Maglite a better choice than either of the Solarforce torches ? Thanks

I've had Maglites over the years and IMHO their output is disappointing, I have no experience of the Pro/Plus. I mainly have Surefire products and only recently bought some of the Solarforce bodies and have been very impressed with the quality/value for money. Another benefit of the L2P is that it has a built up edge around the tailcap which prevents the switch being pressed by accident.

Another question, I have been looking at the Solarforce L2P HA3 and it comes with the U2 XML T6 LED but it offered in either one mode or 5 mode versions. Apart from the modes, is there any other difference between the two i.e. if there is no difference, wouldn't you always go with the 5 mode for flexibility ?

The 5 mode is fine when you first get it and want to play with the different modes but in reality they are of little use as a car torch. The T6 is also available in the L2P in the 3 mode version. On the Solforce sales site, go to the products page and then use the drop down box to search the LED/Mode type that you want.

I am confident enough that you will be pleasantly surprised by the quality/value for money/output of the Solarforce lights, I've used Surefire products for the past 20 years and I was suprised!!

 

[Spy]

Re: Solarforce or Maglite

Thanks. I am leaning towards the L2P. As of today, I have been looking at the version with the 3-mode XM-L T6 8.4V LED. I want to run the torch on 2x CR123a cells. Will they be safe with this LED emitter ie low risk of meltdown ?

 

[MikeSalt]

Re: Solarforce or Maglite

How bright do you need? If 140 lumens is enough, may I recommend the Fenix E15? For a flashlight you are going to forget about 99% of the time, I would probably steer clear of multiple lithium cells, but indeed lithium is great for long-term storage so single-cell lithium is probably the way to go. UK temperatures, even in a car are not a likely concern for good quality CR123 cells. Also, a twisty switch is less likely to be activated whilst rattling around in the glovebox.

 

[Spy]

Re: Solarforce or Maglite

Thanks Mike, I think I would prefer something a little more powerful than the Fenix E15. It seems there are posts suggesting that 2x CR123a cells could be volatile and maybe not ideal for a flashlight stored in a car. Would people here agree ?