I must be evolving: Paradigm Shift

[ab1ht]

The event: Not that long ago (maybe 4 months?), I shelled out about 20 bucks for the 1xAA LifeGear LED light from Target. It was my first 80(ish) Lumen light. For some time, it was my EDC. I recommended it to my brother and he got one and raves about it. I thought it was the greatest thing until...

My 5-year-old hands it to me: "Daddy, this light doesn't work. Can I have a different flashlight?"

I looked at it for a moment and then clicked the switch a few times. Sure enough, it didn't work. Swapped the battery. Still nothing. Then I felt a few different emotions: First irritation, then disappointment, then helplessness.

A truth dawned on me: I can't fix this. I don't have another tail cap. Nor does this light accept a replacement drop-in for the LED. Even if I knew what the problem was, I had no standard spare parts. All I had was a 20 dollar POS for the landfill!

Epiphany! Unless I have a collection of lights which I can disassemble, easily troubleshoot and maintain with readily available spare parts, then all I have is junk.

Paradigm shift: With only a few special exceptions (like my Zebralight), I'm going to invest my hard earned money on lights that I can maintain to ensure that they will be with me for many, many years and provide reliable light when and where I need it.

Strategy: I've decided to start with a small collection of Maglites and build a collection of spare parts. I have 2 and 4 cell D's and a handfull of AA miniMags. I have extra bulbs, LED drop-ins, and will be ordering some spare switch modules. From there, I'll move up to higher end lights with standard drop-ins (SolarForce and Surefire in particular).

So there you have it. I thought I'd share this because I think I've taken a significant step in my flashlight evolution. Anyone else had this experience?

 

[redcar]

yes, its happened to me also. I have at times felt 'marooned' with a particular light, even when still working. Now I usually stick to particular brand known for lego-ing, lol. Nice to know you can reconfigure or cannibalize or borrow pieces and get something back to working order. I have also gathered a few extra parts, although I've been fortunate that they all still work, so its all been for fun. Doesn't upset me at all. 🙂

I have enough lights though (afraid to say how many), so this shouldn't be a concern, but its mainly a hobby, so I just do whats fun for me.

Redd

 

[Linger]

forget the maglights.
p60 form factor (d26) has huge versatility. tail-caps (clicky or twisty), bodies, lamp assemblies.
otherwise in a year's time, you'll think you wasted a bunch of money on steps 1 and 2.

(also, no-reason you can't figure why her light didn't work, no needing spare parts but figuring where the issue is and correcting it. Getting a Digital Multi Meter is a good step in this direction)

 

[ab1ht]

Linger, point well taken; you may be right about the maglights. It doesn't bother me to put a little money into them since they are still good flashlights. And if you're right, it's not like I spent a huge amount of money. I'd just chalk it up to my natural evolution.

As for fixing the LifeGear... I'm afraid I don't agree. Even if I knew what was wrong, I don't have spare parts. And let's say the circuitry in the regulator was bad (most likey). What then? Do I start troubleshooting at the electronic component level for a $20 light? Just not worth the headache.

 

[StarHalo]

A flashlight is a tool, and just like at the hardware store, there's the cheap crap and then there's the serious tools.

Everyone wishes they had skipped all the cheap lights in the beginning and had just gotten one or two good lights.

The lego is the ultimate form factor because the light conforms to the user, not the other way around.

 

[kelmo]

This is why I enjoy the Surefire C & P series lights. I can install aftermarket light engines and keep the original LAs in a spares carrier. With a twisty switch they are nearly fool proof.

 

[HKJ]

I have been working with electronics all my life, but I do not really what to repair the stuff (Except my own designs), I prefer just to get something new when the old stuff breaks.
In my opinion, modular equipment is seldom the answer, it is much more expensive and the modular aspect makes it bigger and has a negative impact on performance. The price on modular equipment is usual also much higher than for dedicated equipment.

With all that said, some flashlight manufacturers has succeed in making modular equipment and keeping a good price and performance point (SolarForce and Dereelight), but they have some limitations in their selections.

 

[NonSenCe]

having atleast one flashlight that has a strong following now and probably in future also makes sense. any light that has alot of spare parts available.

maglite is currently an "allright" option, but somehow i have a feeling it will soon (say in 5 years) start to disappear.. (their size is just rather too big to stand in competition.. size vs output war, you see.)

but i believe something like surefire p60 system will stay in production longer than that. and after market support is bigger too. it also helps the sustainability of the system that there are plenty of copies/clones sold for reasonable cost also.

p60 drop-in light is good to have. i have 3 of them..(only solarforce) and i dont even use them that much. they are there just waiting in case i need one. i know if one fails, i can swap parts between them to make working sample with ease.

which is a reason i have 2 quarks too (well 3 including the Ti) and thinking about buying one more.

and two itp c-series. just swap body for 1aa or 2aa or 1cr123.

i have always liked legos. 🙂

ability to use different battery type, voltage, or amount is a nice feature. no matter wether it is thru different drop-in, spare body etc.

ability to fix it. would be cool.

--and i too second the notion that there is plenty junk made and sold these days for cheap.. they are meant to be changed in few years or even months.. not fixed. recycled and buy a new one.

just look at the cellphones of today.. just cheap weak junk.. my 1st cellphone from mid 90s still works.. the one i have now in my use, will definately break in year or so. same goes for my vcrs and tvs. all are designed to be weak and not fixable.. if it breaks, its easier and cheaper to buy a new one.

and that i hate. i prefer to use them till death. hah.. (hey, my 2 cars are old.. other turned 41.. and other is soon 25yo. i like the ability to fix if they break.. on new stuff.. no hope.)

 

[smflorkey]

forget the maglights.
p60 form factor (d26) has huge versatility. tail-caps (clicky or twisty), bodies, lamp assemblies.
otherwise in a year's time, you'll think you wasted a bunch of money on steps 1 and 2.

Linger, point well taken; you may be right about the maglights. It doesn't bother me to put a little money into them since they are still good flashlights. And if you're right, it's not like I spent a huge amount of money. I'd just chalk it up to my natural evolution.

Or, use the perfectly sound MagLites as hosts to be enhanced. There is no lack of parts for anything from a simple LED replacement for the original incandescent bulb to serious LEDs that need a heatsink to serious incandescents that will start fires if you get careless. I don't think spending a little on MagLites now is anything to regret. :thumbsup:

 

[kramer5150]

... or you could just buy a surefire 6P and a Malkoff and never need to buy another flashlight for as long as you (and your son) live.

C/D maglite switches have a history of failure here on CPF (not rampant failure mind you). Not a perfect/ideal candidate if reliability is your goal.

 

[LEDninja]

Here is the Fenix lego compatibility chart:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=211145
Kind of between the mags and the P60s.

I got an Ultrafire C3 head on my Civictor V1 body.
My Civictor head is on an L1P body with L1T v2.0 tactical clicky switch.
(My L1P head would not work with the L1P body anymore. It would work with the Civictor body, but the Ultrafire XR-E Q5 is so much brighter than those old Luxeons that I retired the L1P head.)

 

[Entrope]

(Post Removed)

 

[ab1ht]

Or, use the perfectly sound MagLites as hosts to be enhanced... ...I don't think spending a little on MagLites now is anything to regret. :thumbsup:

Excellent point. And thanks for the reassurance.

I am familiar with the ROP 2D M@G modification (around $80). I just haven't gotten up the nerve to try it yet... :naughty:

 

[leukos]

Similar to the OP, at some point in this hobby it dawned on me that modularity is a huge plus to a hobby with technology that is constantly changing itself. SF has some incredible modularity in its C,P,G,Z series as well as the M series, and because they are so popular, there are a lot of custom parts available to give you something unique or suited to your use.