I just found this forum and wow this is a great site. This is my first post and I have a question that hopefully there is a flashlight out there that will satisfy my needs with the following criteria. I am looking for a light that uses Duracell Ultra 123 Lithium batteries(I have an endless supply) and can be handheld(flashlight) and has an extreme amount of candlepower so that it is burning in my hands. I am currently looking at getting the Surefire M6 Guardian and wondering if there is anything better? Thanks for any recommendations.:wave:
Looking for burning in my hands
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Gunner12
Flashaholic
What are you going to use the light for?
Do you want the light itself to get hot enough to burn your hands(easy, just get a tube that can short out the batteries)? Or do you just want a really bright light.
What's your price range? How do you define "better"?
:welcome:
Do you want the light itself to get hot enough to burn your hands(easy, just get a tube that can short out the batteries)? Or do you just want a really bright light.
What's your price range? How do you define "better"?
:welcome:
Hitthespot
Flashlight Enthusiast
I think I fainted. I'm OK now. I think that's better than a money tree in the back yard!
WELCOME TO CPF
Bill
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Rossymeister
Flashlight Enthusiast
Rossymeister
Flashlight Enthusiast
Have you seen the Surefire Arclights?
Thank you for the recommendations of the Beast and Arclights. I am a total noob to this and didn't realize that a flashlight could command 4900.00
I am diffinately in the wrong business. I bought the M6 with 500 lumens and would love to get something with 1000-1500 but in a price range under $500.00 Thanks again for the recommendations
I am diffinately in the wrong business. I bought the M6 with 500 lumens and would love to get something with 1000-1500 but in a price range under $500.00 Thanks again for the recommendations
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Rossymeister
Flashlight Enthusiast
Perhaps you should take a look at the MicroFire HID line of flashlights.
Microfire Warrior III K3500R 35W / 3500 Lumen HID Rechargable
Microfire Warrior III K3500R 35W / 3500 Lumen HID Rechargable
scottaw
Enlightened
Go check out the incan portion of our forums, there's plenty of ideas for "hotwire" builds. You can build a 4000 lumen light for a minimal investment, definately under $500.
RobertM
Flashlight Enthusiast
I personally think that an SF M6 with the high-output lamp would be pretty sweet if you have an endless supply of 123's.
If you don't mind me asking, how does one come into possession of a CR123-bearing tree?
If you don't mind me asking, how does one come into possession of a CR123-bearing tree
?
DM51
Flashaholic
Are these batteries completely new and unused, or have they been partly used?
Tomcat!
Enlightened
If you don't mind me asking, how does one come into possession of a CR123-bearing tree
I think it's a bush actually. Just plant the used 123s in the ground, give them plenty of light, and in a couple of months you'll get... currents!
abarth_1200
Flashlight Enthusiast
^^
^^
That was good
^^That was good
Gunner12
Flashaholic
The M6 isn't a bad choice for unlimited CR123 batteries.
If you don't mind LEDs, something from here could work too. Along with something here.
If you don't mind modding, you might be able to make a few hotwires with a Maglite.
:devil:
If you don't mind LEDs, something from here could work too. Along with something here.
If you don't mind modding, you might be able to make a few hotwires with a Maglite.
Thank you for the recommendations of the Beast and Arclights. I am a total noob to this and didn't realize that a flashlight could command 4900.00
:devil:
DM51
Flashaholic
The reason I asked in post #12 whether these batteries were new and unused is because some medical and scientific equipment uses CR123A cells, and the operators discard them after a short time to ensure they are always using fresh ones.
If these cells have been partly used in this way, they will probably have plenty of life left in them and they can certainly be used in lights, BUT great care should be taken to match them for capacity when using them in multi-cell lights.
A ZTS or similar pulse-discharge tester is a fairly good way to match Lithium primary cells, but it is not foolproof.
Circumstances could arise where one cell becomes completely discharged before the others and is then reverse-charged - and this can cause a violent reaction known as "venting with flame" (in other words, an explosion).
These events are fortunately rare, but they are dramatic and dangerous when they occur. People often talk about the danger of Li-Ion rechargeable cells, but there have actually been more incidents reported involving Lithium primaries, and all of them due to either poor-quality or mismatched cells. You say that your source is for Duracell Ultra cells, so poor quality can be ruled out, but if they are mismatched you could have a problem.
You will be absolutely fine using them in single-cell lights, but you should certainly get yourself a ZTS if you intend to use them in multi-cell applications. And there are some high-drain lights which push CR123A cells to the absolute limit, in which I would recommend you absolutely do NOT use them. The Surefire M6 is one such.
I think I will now move this thread to the batteries section, where it really belongs. If you could elaborate on the condition of these cells, it will help people to advise you.
Welcome to CPF!
If these cells have been partly used in this way, they will probably have plenty of life left in them and they can certainly be used in lights, BUT great care should be taken to match them for capacity when using them in multi-cell lights.
A ZTS or similar pulse-discharge tester is a fairly good way to match Lithium primary cells, but it is not foolproof.
Circumstances could arise where one cell becomes completely discharged before the others and is then reverse-charged - and this can cause a violent reaction known as "venting with flame" (in other words, an explosion).
These events are fortunately rare, but they are dramatic and dangerous when they occur. People often talk about the danger of Li-Ion rechargeable cells, but there have actually been more incidents reported involving Lithium primaries, and all of them due to either poor-quality or mismatched cells. You say that your source is for Duracell Ultra cells, so poor quality can be ruled out, but if they are mismatched you could have a problem.
You will be absolutely fine using them in single-cell lights, but you should certainly get yourself a ZTS if you intend to use them in multi-cell applications. And there are some high-drain lights which push CR123A cells to the absolute limit, in which I would recommend you absolutely do NOT use them. The Surefire M6 is one such.
I think I will now move this thread to the batteries section, where it really belongs. If you could elaborate on the condition of these cells, it will help people to advise you.
Welcome to CPF!
pulse-discharge tester?what is it or can you tell me where to get it?
DM51
Flashaholic
For some chemistries, (for example Li-Ion rechargeable) voltage is an accurate way to measure the state of charge, but not for Lithium Primaries. A CR123A cell can still read 3.0 volts even when it is practically empty.
The ZTS tester puts the cell under a brief pulsed load and tests the cell's output under that load, giving an approximate measurement. This is the most reliable way to test Lithium primaries and some other chemistries where a voltage reading by itself will tell you little. There are other testers which do much the same thing, but ZTS are well regarded here. This page at Lighthound shows the ZTS range.
