Extremely Budget CR123 Light?

[sol-leks]

I decided to start a new thread on this but it is an extension of the 1 dollar ebay light thread.

I have bought a number of surprisingly nice 1xAA lights recently and I thought I would gamble on a cheapo cr123 light next. I was thinking something under 10 bucks.

I've been looking at the 3W MXDL light from DX(sku 2097) or this light from ebay mentioned in the ebay thread:
Link removed

any other cheapo cr123 lights I should look at? Thanks

 

[kramer5150]

RC-C3
K109

they are a hair over $10, but they are well made, serve me well and have an overall good CPF track record. Even at ~$10... I think you should still try and avoid junk and unreliable designs.

 

[sol-leks]

Isn't the k-109 like twenty bucks? I dunno, I usually try to find quality even in budget lights, but sometimes it is just fun to buy something absurdly cheap. I guess that just means I should go for the 4 dollar one.

 

[march.brown]

Isn't the k-109 like twenty bucks? I dunno, I usually try to find quality even in budget lights, but sometimes it is just fun to buy something absurdly cheap. I guess that just means I should go for the 4 dollar one.

A decision at last (hopefully).

Took me a few hours to decide too.
.

 

[SixM]

Go cheap or go home!

 

[RepProdigious]

I cant say this too often: If you go for the K-109 get the programmable version! Its about $3 more than the non programmable version but quality wise its in a completely different league!

I can promise you that you will not find a better cr123 light for the money, but than again it isn't cheap as ships (esp compared to the $1 eBlights)

 

[petergunn]

I bought "3W Watt CR123 Luxeon LED Flashlight Torch Police black" (ebay 140390188940) for $3.86 (free US ship) some months back.

Claims 80 lumens - more like 30-40 maybe, but it is brighter than the $1 AA ebay light on the other thread but not much.

Its also very short - too short for protected RCR123 rechargeables.



Its the one on the far right.

Plastic lens, reflector, etc. machining is not great. It does have an aluminum pill tho so modding/upgrades are possible but I didn't bother.

-PG

 

[sol-leks]

Thanks for the tip PG, oh well I guess it was too much to hope for from a 4 dollar light.

 

[petergunn]

The MX Power ML-360 (2nd from right in pic, ebay#380221365108) is my favorite single CR123 light. I usually replace the emitter with a XP-G R5, add a glow-in-the-dark o-ring and a multimode driver but its still pretty good for $13 as standard.

DX 14904/14905 looks similar but the silver one was out of stock for months and when the black one turned up it was awful - poor machining, protected RCR123 didn't fit (tube was too narrow), plastic reflector and the lens was missing! I've bought 4 of the silver ebay ones and they are all good.

They also fit some of the P60 dropins that are thread compatible with the pill.

-PG

 

[alfreddajero]

So far i have been digging the Aurora SHO34, love the first one i got and had to order another....dont know how cheap you want to go but for an SS light it is very well made.

 

[sol-leks]

good call, I've had that guy on my list for a while actually. Really nice looking light.

 

[march.brown]

I bought "3W Watt CR123 Luxeon LED Flashlight Torch Police black" (ebay 140390188940) for $3.86 (free US ship) some months back.

Claims 80 lumens - more like 30-40 maybe, but it is brighter than the $1 AA ebay light on the other thread but not much.

Its also very short - too short for protected RCR123 rechargeables.
-PG

I'm not worried about the torch being too short for the protected rechargeables as it will only be used with primary 123s ... Just something cheap to leave in the car forever , with a couple of spare batteries.

Not too worried about machining quality or plastic lens either ... At this price , it is almost a throw-away torch ... Also in the car will be my Romisen RC-U4 fitted with three AAA lithium primaries plus my Trustfire F20 (AA) also with a lithium primary battery.

I will just have to wait and see how well (or badly) the cheapie works ... After all , I will always be carrying my two keyrings with their iTP A3s plus my EDC iTP A2.

Perhaps I keep (in the car) and carry (on my person) too many torches.

If I carry any more torches (and spare batteries) I will need a bigger car.
.

 

[gcbryan]

I'm not worried about the torch being too short for the protected rechargeables as it will only be used with primary 123s ... Just something cheap to leave in the car forever , with a couple of spare batteries.

Not too worried about machining quality or plastic lens either ... At this price , it is almost a throw-away torch ... Also in the car will be my Romisen RC-U4 fitted with three AAA lithium primaries plus my Trustfire F20 (AA) also with a lithium primary battery.

I will just have to wait and see how well (or badly) the cheapie works ... After all , I will always be carrying my two keyrings with their iTP A3s plus my EDC iTP A2.

Perhaps I keep (in the car) and carry (on my person) too many torches.

If I carry any more torches (and spare batteries) I will need a bigger car.
.

If your car doesn't hurry up and break down some night soon you are going to be disappointed! 🙂

 

[march.brown]

If your car doesn't hurry up and break down some night soon you are going to be disappointed! 🙂

Hondas don't break down but there again neither did any of my SAABs ... I had SAABs for over thirty years too ... This is my third Honda and it is now only three years old ... But if it does break down , I hope it will wait till all my cheap torches have arrived.
.

 

[mcnair55]

I decided to start a new thread on this but it is an extension of the 1 dollar ebay light thread.

I have bought a number of surprisingly nice 1xAA lights recently and I thought I would gamble on a cheapo cr123 light next. I was thinking something under 10 bucks.

I've been looking at the 3W MXDL light from DX(sku 2097) or this light from ebay mentioned in the ebay thread:
Link removed

any other cheapo cr123 lights I should look at? Thanks

I am going to give this one a go from shingingbeam RC C3

**33% brighter than the regular model and now uses a Premium WC tint XR-E Q5**

*Constant brightness: UP to 200 Lumens
*Water Resistant
*Aluminum Casing
*Uses one CR123A
*Compatible with most 3.7V RCR123A but not recommended by manufacturer
*Aluminum Reflector
*Textured Reflector (OP)
*Glass Lens
*Twisty switch for on and off

Dimensions: 2.91 in x 0.83 in x 0.83 in
Weight: 1.38 oz

Promised myself next purchase was going to be a AA cell but!

 

[shark_za]

My best budget CR123 light is the Romisen RC-F4.

2xCR123A or 2xRCR123 with a forward clicky.
Slim light and powerful.

Problem is its $5 more than your $10 budget but well worth it.
I'd trust it to sit for long somewhere with primary lithium cells waiting for the day it becomes handy.

 

[march.brown]

I am going to give this one a go from shingingbeam RC C3

**33% brighter than the regular model and now uses a Premium WC tint XR-E Q5**

*Constant brightness: UP to 200 Lumens
*Water Resistant
*Aluminum Casing
*Uses one CR123A
*Compatible with most 3.7V RCR123A but not recommended by manufacturer
*Aluminum Reflector
*Textured Reflector (OP)
*Glass Lens
*Twisty switch for on and off

Dimensions: 2.91 in x 0.83 in x 0.83 in
Weight: 1.38 oz

Promised myself next purchase was going to be a AA cell but!

Hi Bill

That does seem to be a nice torch but I thought your next purchase was going to be the Nextorch K2 AA.

The RC C3 will cost about $25 including postage from Bryan ... But for $28-38 you could have ten of these cheaper 123 torches ... You could give them to customers as freebies (maybe) ... Great with 123 primaries to leave in the car forever ... At a slightly higher unit cost , I have sent for two of the cheapie 123 torches just to see what they are like ... Probably will get them in the post next month I suppose.

I still quite fancy the iTP A4 , though it's a bit dearer than these cheapies ... I still can't bring myself to leave good torches in the car forever , hence the reason that I'm looking at these cheapies ... If I don't like a torch after I've bought it , It either gets used in the car or gets given to the Grandsons ... If a torch survives a few weeks of use by the boys , then it will survive anything ... I only give them AA or AAA torches as they are the only batteries and chargers that I have given to their dad.
.

 

[mcnair55]

Hi Bill

That does seem to be a nice torch but I thought your next purchase was going to be the Nextorch K2 AA.

The RC C3 will cost about $25 including postage from Bryan ... But for $28-38 you could have ten of these cheaper 123 torches ... You could give them to customers as freebies (maybe) ... Great with 123 primaries to leave in the car forever ... At a slightly higher unit cost , I have sent for two of the cheapie 123 torches just to see what they are like ... Probably will get them in the post next month I suppose.

I still quite fancy the iTP A4 , though it's a bit dearer than these cheapies ... I still can't bring myself to leave good torches in the car forever , hence the reason that I'm looking at these cheapies ... If I don't like a torch after I've bought it , It either gets used in the car or gets given to the Grandsons ... If a torch survives a few weeks of use by the boys , then it will survive anything ... I only give them AA or AAA torches as they are the only batteries and chargers that I have given to their dad.
.

To be honest been down this road before on cheapies and it ends in problems for me.I buy unbranded lights from the likes of Arco/CPC etc when they have sales days,always get a real bargain and at least at Arco you can haggle on price,I got another £2 off a nice Led Lenser.CPC did me a real deal on there own brand 120 lumens AA for less than a £10,nice light as well.The shingingbeam light works out at £16.

 

[kramer5150]

Isn't the k-109 like twenty bucks?

Nope

 

[RepProdigious]

Isn't the k-109 like twenty bucks?

Nope

Well, in fact it is!

I cant say this too often, you do NOT want the 5-Mode! It is COMPLETE AND UTTER RUBBISH (compared to the programmable) output, light tint, UI, function and build quality-wise!

Every cent that the 3-mode costs more over the 5 mode is worth its weight in gold! Money well spent!