dorcy 220 lumen

[MrGman]

A new friend came over last night with one of these Dorcy 220's and I got to compare it to my "harrum" of flashlights. It is bright, I estimate right off the bat that its true out the front output is a good 200 lumens. It has a well focused hotspot and the typical darker cree ring around it and than a larger ring of what I would say is useful spill. It was very close in throw to the Malkoff single Drop In for the mag light, that I specifically had in my 3 C cell mag. Looking at palm trees at least 100 feet away, where all we could see is the hot spot, these 2 were very close to each other.

The beam had some artificacts up close on a white wall and its leans to the purplish side where the Malkoff leans to the green side. My friend was saying he was getting good run time off the batteries even though he didn't do the full initial 10 hour charge.

Two 17500's fit into the compartment with a little room to spare. I am guessing 2 X 18500 would fit in there easily but the voltage would be high.

This looks like a direct drive light with probably only a ballast resistor in series to the light path, so I don't know if we could run it off 2 3.7 to 4.2V batteries without killing it. It was his and I didn't want to find out the hard way and possibly kill it.

Overall I would say its worth the $50.00 despite the battery pack situation.

 

[IsaacHayes]

Wow, nice thrower! I wonder if they make a version that isn't rechargeable for less that we could mod with different cells and put a buck circuit in.

 

[KD5XB]

Well -- I'm new to CPF, too. Dunno why, but I bought this Dorcy 220 lumen light today, and I've been fooling around with it a bit. Nice bright light, haven't found the limitation of the battery pack yet, but -- if I can figure out what to put in it, this 700 mah rating is leaving!

Interesting thing, I've been buying all kinds of different flashlights for some years now, and I just figured to call this my "eclectic" hobby -- and now I find I'm not the only one in the country doing this!

Any suggestions on what batteries to use in this flashlight, and where to get a lens to replace the cheap one that is so easily scratched?

Thanks,
Earl
Clovis, New Mexico USA

 

[Superdave]

Protected 18650's would work very well, the Ultrafire ones are 2400mAh. I get about 2 weeks of moderate use out of 1 in my SF 6P with a generic Cree module.

:welcome:

 

[KD5XB]

I'm not totally up to speed on a lot of this stuff -- could the aforementioned "protected 18650's" be charged with the same charger as the original pack uses?

And -- -- where should I look to pick up a couple?

The voltage seems a little high, too -- the original pack is labelled as 4.8VDC total.

Thanks,
Earl

 

[Superdave]

I'm not totally up to speed on a lot of this stuff -- could the aforementioned "protected 18650's" be charged with the same charger as the original pack uses?

And -- -- where should I look to pick up a couple?

The voltage seems a little high, too -- the original pack is labelled as 4.8VDC total.

Thanks,
Earl

http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire-18650-Protected-Rechargeable-Lithium-Battery_p_24-2263.html

you'd need a lithium charger,

http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire...7-volt-Lithium-Battery-Charger_p_21-2279.html

they charge up to about 4.2-4.3 volts. Plenty to run this light.

 

[KD5XB]

you'd need a lithium charger,

Rats! That pretty much puts the brakes on this one -- I want to use this thing in the 18-wheeler, and I want to have it all in one piece as much as I can. Trying to find a dropped cell when you're doing 65 MPH is rather difficult -- and maybe a bit hazardous, too!

they charge up to about 4.2-4.3 volts. Plenty to run this light.

What I'm thinking is that the voltage would be too high with two of these lithium batteries in series -- or are you talking of using only one cell?

Thanks!

 

[kwalker]

Amazon has this for $42.38 with free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

 

[johniwan]

I would think that a purchaser of this light could find a battery dealer to build a NiMH stick to replace the OEM one and still be able to use the chargers, not?

You can buy parts here: https://www.dorcydirect.com/p-209-41-4299-rechargeable-parts.aspx

Extra OEM battery pack is $7.99

 

[PeteBroccolo]

I just received a 41-4299, complete with both chargers, in today's mail, so the light is charging up so it will be ready for my 20:00 - 06:00 shifts 2008-10-24 & 25, so I will report back on its performance after trying it out while dealing with my "clients".

Lights WILL shine, boys - oh yeah!

 

[PeteBroccolo]

Here are my preliminary thoughts on this light, and part of my eMail to Dorcy Canada about same:

"I am a little confused regarding your warning about charging the light for 24 hours, when according to http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx?p=414299 12 hours is the recommended charging time. Further, the packaging does NOT state how long to charge the first time, nor subsequent times, nor any cautioning about leaving the light on the charger past these recommended times. As always, I do not mean to tell Dorcy what to do, but they MAY wish to consider adding these points to the packaging - the current in-stock items could have a sticker, similar to the one that mine had on it, warning about removing the paper insulating tab, with the charger time recommendations put on the outside of the clamshell, and new packages could have the charging time recommendations printed on the cardboard insert. The warning about the insulator tab COULD be a sticker on the tail-cap.

I HAD fired this light up this morning after 12 hours on the AC charger, so will put it back on to finish charging per your warning, but my first impressions of this light are:

- Colour: I MUCH PREFER it being all black, and NOT fitted with rubber armouring (such as the goofy stuff fitted on the Terminator or its 2 x 123A smaller look-alike);

- Weight: lighter than I expected, and better balanced than a Pelican 7060;

- Knurling: quite good, not too aggressive but still provides a very good grip;

- Switch: while it works well enough, I have never been a fan of Dorcy's choice of reverse-clicky style (fully depress until it clicks and release to lock on, then slightly depress and hold for momentary off, then fully depress until it clicks again and release to turn off), which is less desirable than the true-clicky or forward-clicky style (slightly depress and hold for momentary on, fully depress until it clicks and release to lock on, then fully depress until it clicks again and release to turn off) from a LEO / PO perspective. The body-side switch is not necessarily less desirable than a tail-cap switch for many LEO / PO in that not all LEO / PO needing a light that they can activate while aiming a firearm. In fact, a reverse-clicky tail-cap switch, such as on the Spyder, is HIGHLY UNDESIRABLE for low-light tactical firearm use;

- Charging system: the port seems pretty handy. I like that it does NOT need to be on a hook, like Pelican, Streamlight or Maglite rechargeables. I REALLY like that both chargers are included. 4 hours for recharging is not unreasonable;

- Battery stick: NiCd are not very well respected at all on Candle Power Forums, given their tendency to develop a "memory", and NiMH would have been a better choice, and the BEST choice would have been li-ion. I will see how this light works out, but I intend to go to a battery dealer in Regina to get a similar sized NiMH stick made for it, and may even try running it on an 18650 3.7 v 2200 (or more) mAh li-ion cell with a dummy cell spacer;

- Light output: again, following the Dorcy website recommendation, I did fire up this light after 12 hours of charging, and found it to be very bright. Not as bright as my modified Maglite 2 D using a Terra-Lux TLE-300M triple-LED module running on 2 x 18650 li-ion cells, but certainly brighter than my LED Logic Striker VG. I will run it off against my Pila GL3 Frankenstein (GL3 body with Wolf-Eyes 9 v lamp assembly, Wolf-Eyes forward-clicky tail-cap switch and 2 x 18500 li-ion cells), Striker VG, Mag TLE300M, modified Mag 3 C (Carley potted 809 bulb, 3 x 18500 li-ion cells, MOP reflector and borofloat lens) and Wolf-Eyes M90 (running on 4 x 123A li primary cells). I REALLY want to see it up against my Corporal's Pelican 7060, but he is off this weekend. I have handled a Pelican 8060, which is longer and heavier than this 41-4299, and noticed that the 41-4299's lumens rating is higher than both the P 7060 and even the 8060. The reflector does, however, produce a "ringy" beam, as others on CPF have mentioned, which I can probably live with, since it has a very bright hotspot - I will have to see how it does for "throw" at 0dark:30 during my shift.

I would suggest clearing out the Spyder, 41-4292 Terminator, 41-4295 2 x 123A min-Terminator. 41-4279 Hawkeye, and push just about every other item on http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx?c=36, especially the all black models, plus the 3 LED wands."

Did I ever mention that I am afraid of the dark?

 

[PeteBroccolo]

Here is how things went last night:

- Lens:
- - I was able to fit a Mag C / D sized borofloat lens in the bezel, so will use it this way from now on;

- Light output:
- - the ring pattern of the beam detracts from its potential for a first-contact light;
- - I would prefer a bit more even flood pattern;
- - It does throw far and bright;
- - I like the colour of the beam vs that of my incans

- Belt carry:
- - I had tried carrying it in a C / D sized belt ring, but it is too short to stay in there well;
- - I used an old OC spray canister holster, sans top flap and bottom plug, to carry it after that and it worked better;

- Power source:
- - an 18650 cell DEFINITELY fits in the tube, but I either my cell was dead or my 41-4299 just would not run on it;

- Price:
- - I am still waiting on a price from the retailer I contacted, or Dorcy, for bulk purchases in case my partners are interested;

- Reflector:
- - the OEM one is silvered plastic;
- - I COULD fit in a MOP Cammed or HS Camless reflector, but either seems to soften the beam too much, making the hot spot larger but emphasizing the ring;
- - I am sure that I have seen a suitable metal reflector somewhere on this site, or CPF MP, that I would like to "creatively acquire" to see if I can improve this light

- Switch:
- - found it a bit hard to "landmark" its location as I was getting out of the patrol car;
- - the reverse-clicky is annoying from a tactical perspective;

- Toughness:
- - see the C / D sized belt ring thought above: the light hit the coffee shop parking lot as I walked away from the patrol car, yet almost no cosmetic and absolutely no operational damage

Overall, not a bad light, so it goes out for shift #2 of its field-training tonight again.

 

[mikekoz]

- Power source:
- - an 18650 cell DEFINITELY fits in the tube, but I either my cell was dead or my 41-4299 just would not run on it;

They would work if they had a tab on the + end of the light. I have a 17650 that works and it is tabbed. Without it, the + end of the battery does not make contact in the light. I pass on this info because I want to use 18650's in this light and am trying to find the best way to put tabs on the cells. I tried putting a drop of solder on the end but could not get it to stick. I also gave up on this idea after thinking it may not be too safe!!:poof:

Mike

 

[MrGman]

- Power source:
- - an 18650 cell DEFINITELY fits in the tube, but I either my cell was dead or my 41-4299 just would not run on it;

They would work if they had a tab on the + end of the light. I have a 17650 that works and it is tabbed. Without it, the + end of the battery does not make contact in the light. I pass on this info because I want to use 18650's in this light and am trying to find the best way to put tabs on the cells. I tried putting a drop of solder on the end but could not get it to stick. I also gave up on this idea after thinking it may not be too safe!!:poof:

Mike

Get the battery magnets from lighthound.com which you can only see when you look at their rechargeable battery series as an "accessory".

 

[mikekoz]

I got an 18650 to work by dropping a small piece of tin foil down the battery tube of the light, to where it rested in the center area where the + end of the battery would make contcat with it. Works great! I wonder what kind of runtime I could expect from it? The battery is lower voltage, but 2400 Mah. The Nicad stick that comes with it is 4.8v and 700 Mah.

Mike

 

[Superdave]

foil isn't the best conductor...

 

[PeteBroccolo]

I took one of the 18650 cells that I was using in my Mag 2 D TLE300M and put it in my 41-4299 with a dummy 123A cell, a dot sized & 3 larger rare earth magnets, and STILL could not fire it up.

I have replaced the OEM reflector with an MOP Cammed reflector, which has softened and flooded the beam, so I will try it next week on my night shifts.

I am thinking that the way to get rid of the ringiness of the 41-4299 is to come up with a reflector that will JUST fit over the lens of the LED without leaving an opening the way the OEM reflector does.

 

[KD5XB]

Just got a new lens from flashlightlens.com in today's mail -- it's just a start -- a good friend of mine calls me a "mad scientist"! Guess that means I'll have to find more potent mods soon!

Earl

 

[Juggernaut]

foil isn't the best conductor...

Really? I use it all the time :thinking::grin2::crackup:.

 

[KD5XB]

Anybody figured out the circuitry in this light yet? I.E. boost/buck, etc.?