Need suggestion on LED light supporting 18650

[hughjay]

I need suggestions on 2 different types of LED lights powered by 18650 or 123a cells, first is a pocketable version like a M1-T (small head) and the second is a more powerful but bigger head version like a Tiable (big head). I would perfer a light that has knurled grips with a tatical clicky or one than I can swap the tail for a tatical. I prefer not to have a flared tail either as it does not suit my application (flared like the Rapidfire). Light output with decent spill is what i'm looking for primarly and secondly a light with a good driver for a 18650 cell (platau style illumination graph). Costs need to be sub 300. Please fell free to add to my suggested list below and the reason behind your suggestions.

Pockable
luma M1 SE Q5 Bin
Rapidfire spear
Regalight wt1
-no knurled grip

Large
Luma MVR Q5
Deree DBS
Tiablo A9
-I believe these have poor 18650 drivers

 

[Marduke]

http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.940

 

[hughjay]

I perfer not to buy from DX and the specs on those lights did not outperform the ones I mentioned.

 

[kavvika]

Surefire 6P bored for a 18650 + DX #1343. Perfect regulation according to Quickbeams graphs.

 

[hughjay]

I would prefer not to mod either and I would like to have a warranty for at least the 1st year so the surefire idea wouldn't suit me, but thank you.

 

[da.gee]

I would look at both Dereelight models (CL1H v3 and DBS). I think both of them are optimized for 18650 using the digital pills and give some good runtimes. Some of the pills run on 123s as well. The CL1H is an excellent all around light about the size of a SF 6P. The DBS is a super thrower with large head. Both have OP or smooth reflector options and are upgradeable. The CL1H is based on the P60 standard so lots of options for upgrades out there in addition to the fine and reasonably priced upgrades from Dereelight. The DBS is also upgradeable with pills from Dereelight. Nice lights. I have both.

You can find them in the Marketplace:

Dereelight DBS

Dereelight CL1H

 

[hughjay]

How do the deree lights tat you mentioned stack up to the other lights I mentioned?

 

[KeeperSD]

Another option is a Wolf Eyes Sniper, small bezel, tail clicky, good spill and spot and will take a 18650 with ease.

http://www.pts-flashlights.com/products/product.aspx?pid=1-99-103-113-6314

 

[hughjay]

Problem is that those wolf eyes lux ratings don't come close to even the M1-R, does anyone own these specific lights i mentioned including the deree and have an opinion on what I should get?

 

[Sgt. LED]

Wolfeyes Q5's coming next week though!

 

[hughjay]

Hmm... Intresting, i'll see how they stack up when the Q5's are benched

 

[hughjay]

Well, neways, after some more research, I'm liking the Deree DBS and the Lumihunter M1 SE, opinions?

 

[Greg G]

Large
Luma MVR Q5
Tiablo A9
-I believe these have poor 18650 drivers

My Tiablo A9 runs great on a single 18650. That's what's in it right now. I'm happy with the driver it has. I don't know what it is, but it works well on 123's or a 18650.

I just tonight (that's why I'm up late posting :devil put a Sandwich Shoppe SOB 1000 into my Surefire L5 that I had already modded with a Seoul P4 USWOH emitter and bored out for a 18650 rechargeable. Wow! 1 amp of current really perked this light up. I like both lights, but the Surefire is better for me. Although it does not have the super bright hot spot and throw of the A9, it has SO MUCH spill. Really lights up things. It's now the REAL WALL OF LIGHT. I'm expecting a cell extender from Leef tomorrow so I can run 2 18650's in it and get a really long runtime. It's too bad Surefire doesn't sell the L5 Lumamax light in this configuration already. I think it would be a hot seller.


But IMHO there is nothing wrong with the driver in the Tiablo. I can't think of anything I'd do to change that light. Super bright thrower. It has that job covered well, and does it just as well by my eyes with 123's or a 18650.

 

[selfbuilt]

Tiablo A8 Q5 has flat regulation on both 18650 and primaries (unlike A9, which accepts a wider voltage range, so less regulated on 18650). See my thrower review in sig for a comparison with the Q2 version of the A8.

 

[Greg G]

Thanks for the information. It's funny, I also read in another thread this morning where the A8 has a buck/boost driver, and the A9 has a buck only driver. I keep my 18650's topped off, so I guess that's why I haven't seen a difference between them and the 123's.

Oh well! That gives me a reason to mod a GD 1000 buck/boost driver into my A9, hey? :naughty: I already have one in my stash of parts.

 

[hughjay]

Well, after reading selfbuilt's review, It looks like the DBS might have too narrow of a spill to be of use to me, I think the tiablo might be better suited for the job, has anyone compared the new MVRs with the Q5 bin vs. the A9 tiablos?

 

[woodrow]

Stay away from the M1 SE if you want a 18650 light. Mine is very dim on one. The rebel version is brighter, but still not as bright as running on primaries. I just bought some Ultrafire 3.6 v rcr123a's to use in the M1 SE...should be pretty bright on that.

For a good 18650 light, I would have to recomend the Cl1H Q5. Should be as (or within 10%+/-) of the LP M1, but have great regulation (in the 18650 only light anyway)

The Tiablo A8Q5 (buy from batteryjunction in case yours has flickering problem (or pts) so you do not have to send it overseas to get fixed) has a wide spill and is bright.

Also Lumapower will make an extension 18650 tube for the MRV. On 2x18650's you should have a bright light with flat regulation and 2 hours of use. (guessing on time)