I need major help!

[hwydopehound]

Ok guys, I know NOTHING of flashlights but here's what I believe I want. A 2 cell incandescent w/ a tail cap. I want the cr123a's-like the surefire g2- but I want rechareable. The reason I want an incan. is because it enables me to see certain things better when I'm doing my job on the highway that an LED tends to not let me see. For example, dirt on screws and that kind of thing. The LED's are too "white" and I like the regular bulbs better. That said, I do not like having to pay out the butt for batteries so I'd like to get a rechargable power source. If anyone could point my in the right direction I'd appreciate it. If you have any questions or need me to be more specific just let me know.

 

[brighterisbetter]

Firstly, :welcome:

Second, you should probably post a budget within your means. Also, will the light's task require multi-modes? By this I mean, do you want it to have both a user-selectable high and low, or do you just want high only? And what realistic runtime between charges are you thinking of? Answering these three basic questions will greatly assist those who may be able to help you by narrowing down the field of lights out there. I should add that generally speaking, runtimes will be longer with LED's than with incan's. I know you specified you prefer the warm tint of incan's, but there are warmer tint LED's out there too that I'm sure some of our more experienced members can point out.

 

[RWT1405]

Welcome to CPF!

I was thinking perhaps a Streamlight Strion, it seems to be along the lines of what you asked for. It is not 123 batts., but it is rechargable.

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Streamlight_Strion_Rechargeable_Flashlight.php

Hope this helps.

My .02 FWIW YMMV

 

[Gunner12]

I think posting what you need in this light would be helpful. Like what is your price range? What size? What output? Would multiple modes help?

There are warmer tinted LEDs and higher CIR(color rendering index) LEDs that aren't as "white" or blue as the other ones.

:welcome:

 

[LukeA]

Something with a Cree 5A Q2 or warmer will look like an incandescent.

I've never used a 5A, but I do have experience with 7A P4s, which is an even warmer bin, and I feel comfortable saying that you will love the 5A.

 

[SureAddicted]

You could get a G2/6P and use Lumens Factory LA's with rcr123's.
Lumens Factory
http://www.lumensfactory.com/d26_series_specification.htm

 

[metlarules]

Try a Princeton tec 40. It uses pr-based bulbs which can be purchased about anywhere.If you need brighter you can change to a different bulb.You can buy a pack of eneloop batteries and charger for under 25 dollars so the whole setup should run less than 50 bucks.

 

[LED61]

The solution to your problem is a Wolfeyes Sniper. Small, cheap, and rugged.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

Rechargeable 123's can't put out a whole lot of current. In general they are bad for incans. I"m sure there's something that they will work with, but you're going to have short runtime with them.

I'd go for something like a Wolf Eyes Raider with 2 18500 Li Ion rechargeables. A Wolf Eyes Sniper with a single 18650 will work as well but won't be as bright.

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

If you want decent runtimes stick with lights that accept two 17500, two 18500, or two 18650. Your best bet is to check out mdocod's MDs Lithium-Ion>Incandescent guide, +compatibility/comparison chart.

 

[Gunner12]

As a newer member, maybe Li-ion isn't the best battery chemistry to start out on.

I'm thinking that rechargeable AAs might be a good choice. But the main thing is that the brighter AA powered lights are mainly LEDs.

What LED lights have you used? 5mm kind or high power kind(5mm ones often seem to be blue tinted)? If you've used a high power LED before, do you know what brand and model the LED is?

 

[hwydopehound]

I would use a rechargable if it would recharge pretty fast. Like, if I need to make 10-20 traffic stops a night and use the light for 20 mins, I'd like to be able to use that light. The streamlight w/ piggyback charger would work-but i've heard nothing but bad about streamlight on these forums so I'd like to shy away. For budget, I'd like to try to keep it under 200 bucks. If you guys think a "warmer" tint LED would work, then point me that way. I'm up for trying something new. Like I said, it's just w/ the LED's I've used(stinger LED) I can't see the things I'm looking for. The regular stinger works GREAT. I just wish they'd last longer and you could recharge the batteries more often.

 

[hwydopehound]

Forgot to mention, I need something not much bigger than a stinger-smaller is better. I need to be able to get into tight spaces. It doesn't have to be any brighter than a surefire G2, and the whole different modes doesn't matter either.

 

[hwydopehound]

As a newer member, maybe Li-ion isn't the best battery chemistry to start out on.

I'm thinking that rechargeable AAs might be a good choice. But the main thing is that the brighter AA powered lights are mainly LEDs.

What LED lights have you used? 5mm kind or high power kind(5mm ones often seem to be blue tinted)? If you've used a high power LED before, do you know what brand and model the LED is?

I've used the cheap 1 watt led from wal mart and the cheap cree led from wal-mart(coleman light). Both were too bright.

 

[Any Cal.]

The Wolf Eyes Sniper, with an 18650 battery and a 3.7v lamp assembly makes a very nice light. Runtime is in the same range as the Stinger, I think, but it puts out more light. It would not be that difficult to keep an extra battery or two on hand either.

The reason I suggest that light in particular is because it takes the 18 series batteries, rather than the smaller 17mm ones. This makes a difference of 25-30 percent on runtime, and the light seems nicer on the larger battery as well.

That light is actually very comparable to a G2 in size, and close in weight. MUCH better than a Stinger size wise, unless you are wanting the extra weight.

The Streamlights are not bad lights, but somehow they were not designed for flashaholics, so they don't always get the love they might have otherwise.

If you already have a charger in the car, you could get a couple stingers, one for the belt, and one to sit on a charger, then switch them out.

 

[Gunner12]

I've used the cheap 1 watt led from wal mart and the cheap cree led from wal-mart(coleman light). Both were too bright.

Then the Pelican 7060 is probably not going to be a good choice.

I'm guessing a floody light would be better?

 

[LED61]

From Mdocods incandescent compatibility thread referenced above, here you go. IMHO, this is the combo that best fits your desires and needs in your original post and as I suggested in my post #8 above. Remember you will be using a nice protected single Li ion, which is very safe, and as someone else suggested you can keep a spare handy. You will have roughly an hour runtime with decent incandescent output. You´ll have the whole setup for about $50 or $60 I think, from a good dealer in the U.S. and respected CPF member. The light is tough as heck.

Oh and BTW, the neat thing is you can carry a few regular CR 123´s stashed nearby and change batteries at your leisure if it became necessary, the bulb will run in either with no further work done.
The WE Raider is an equally convenient choice, slightly larger and heavier, but much more impressive and powerful.

Cell configuration: 1x18650

Bulb Options:
LF D26 HO-4: 7W, 107 - 71 lumen in 68 minutes
G&P D26 3.7V: 8W, 121 - 80 lumen in 55 minutes
WE D26 3.7V: 8W, 116 - 77 lumen in 58 minutes
LF D26 EO-4: 9W, 129 - 85 lumen in 52 minutes
G&P D26 3.7V "DX 10W xenon": 7W, 121 - 80 lumen in 55 minutes

Body Options:
Leefbody 1x18650 w/C tail and head, +SF compatible tail-cap/bezel. +++
Wolf-Eyes 6 series sniper (non-turbo). +++
DX "JALL" ++
Pila GL2 ++
Huntlight FT-01 +

 

[hwydopehound]

From Mdocods incandescent compatibility thread referenced above, here you go. IMHO, this is the combo that best fits your desires and needs in your original post and as I suggested in my post #8 above. Remember you will be using a nice protected single Li ion, which is very safe, and as someone else suggested you can keep a spare handy. You will have roughly an hour runtime with decent incandescent output. You´ll have the whole setup for about $50 or $60 I think, from a good dealer in the U.S. and respected CPF member. The light is tough as heck.

Oh and BTW, the neat thing is you can carry a few regular CR 123´s stashed nearby and change batteries at your leisure if it became necessary, the bulb will run in either with no further work done.
The WE Raider is an equally convenient choice, slightly larger and heavier, but much more impressive and powerful.

Cell configuration: 1x18650

Bulb Options:
LF D26 HO-4: 7W, 107 - 71 lumen in 68 minutes
G&P D26 3.7V: 8W, 121 - 80 lumen in 55 minutes
WE D26 3.7V: 8W, 116 - 77 lumen in 58 minutes
LF D26 EO-4: 9W, 129 - 85 lumen in 52 minutes
G&P D26 3.7V "DX 10W xenon": 7W, 121 - 80 lumen in 55 minutes

Body Options:
Leefbody 1x18650 w/C tail and head, +SF compatible tail-cap/bezel. +++
Wolf-Eyes 6 series sniper (non-turbo). +++
DX "JALL" ++
Pila GL2 ++
Huntlight FT-01 +

I got the "cell" part, and a few of the acronyms(lf??? wolf eyes i guess? what the hell is everything else), but do all the above bulbs go with all the above bodies, or am i missing something. Sorry to ask so many questions, but dang they didn't go over this in the police academy lol. Everyone said, "use a stinger."

 

[hwydopehound]

Then the Pelican 7060 is probably not going to be a good choice.

I'm guessing a floody light would be better?

Yes, more floody but also just a warmer tint. I'm looking for disturbed dirt on screws, I need something that I can shine on the screw and not blind me or "hide" the dirt in the white. One of the best lights iv'e used so far is a 34 dollar incan light from cabelas that uses 2 cr123a's.....