New mini LED light

[SneakyCyber]

(Don't worry about all the questions, just the ones you feel strongly about!)

Short Essay Question: What do you intend to use this light for?
Since I am a delivery driver I need a small compact VERY bright led flashlight to take with me to the house when delivering in poorly lit areas. I have a 3d MAG p7 that is currently filling the roll. I am currently gathering parts for a 4D 3p7 to use for looking up addresses and for personal safety to be kept in the vehicle.








0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?

__X__I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.

1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!

____I only want to pay $1-10.
____I can spend $15-30.
____I could spend $40-60.
__X__I am willing to spend $80-$120.
____I have no limit!

2) Format:

__X__I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a portable spotlight.

3) Length:

____I don't care.
__X__1-2 inches. (Keychain sized)
__X__2-4 inches. (Pocket carry)
____4-9 inches. (Holster carry)

4) Width: If at all possible I would like to use a MAG D body since I already have a heatsink for one.

____I don't care.
____I prefer a long narrow light.
__X__I prefer a short wide light.

5) What batteries do you want to use?

____I want common Alkaline batteries. (AA, AAA, C, D)
____I want lithium batteries. (coin cells, CR123, AAA, AA...)
__X__I want a rechargeable system. (an investment, but best for everyday use)

6) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).

____I want to read a map, or find a light switch, in a dark room. (5-10 lumens)
____I want to walk around a generally paved area. (15-20 lumens)
____I want to walk unpaved trails. (40 lumens)
____I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
__X__I want to light an entire campground or dazzle an intruder. (100+ lumens)

7) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that "throw" with a tightly focused beam? Place an "X" on the line below.

Throw (distance)--------------X--------|----------------------Flood/close-up

8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.

____20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
__X__60-240 min. (1-2 hours)
____240-360 min. (4-6 hours)
____360+ min. (More than 6 hours)

9) Durability: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.

____Not Important (A "night-stand" light.)
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood.)
__X__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)

8) Switch Type:

____I don't care.
____I want a sliding switch. (Stays on until slid back.)
__X__I want a "clickie" switch. (Stays on until pressed again.)
____I want a momentary switch. (Only stays on while held down.)

9) Switch Location:

____I don't care.
__X__I want a push or sliding switch on the body near the head.
__X__I want a push switch on the back end of the body.
____I want a rotating head switch.
____I want a rotating end-cap switch.
____I want a remote control.

10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.

__X__A simple on-off is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
____I want multiple light levels. (some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a strobe mode. (blinks to show location.)
____I want a tactical strobe. (Flashes rapidly to disorient an opponent.)

11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?

____I don't care.
__X__I want a metal-bodied light.
____I want a plastic/composite light.

12) Special Needs: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Circle any below or write in your own comment(s).
Possibly a defense ring for the head.

Now that I read over my list seems a 1d mag would match most of my criteria. However what LED, How many, and What type of batteries?

 

[hyperloop]

the length would limit your choices to 1xAA/14500 or 1xCR123/16340. As your emphasis is on throw, you'd want a pocket rocket but single cell lights with enough power to throw won't last all that long hence your requirement for runtime may not be able to be met.

For single cell throwers, i'd check out Jetbeam Jet I Pro IBS v3.0 for 1xAA/14500 (though i'd use it with 14500s for more power and carry spares) it can be programmed for max 240 lumens, so you have the capability too program each of its 3 modes for a different light level. You could say, start off with medium, high, then max so that you don't necessarily need to use max if med or high would suffice.

For CR123/RCR123, you might want to look at the Nitecore SR3, light levels are controlled using a control ring, OR, you could look at the Jet II Pro IBS which is also quite a powerful thrower. i own both the jetbeam lights above and can recommend them with one qualifier, carry spare cells. If you're in a truck, you can get a 12v adaptor and charge on the go so that may not be such a huge concern but i'd strongly recommend at least 2-3 sets of spare cells as it takes quite a few hours to charge cells.

 

[Dan FO]

I would choose a NiteCore Extreme which can be used as a simple 2 stage light, the low can be set to any brightness you want and saved. the high will reach out to read those house numbers and it will run on a rechargeable battery. Under $100

 

[TooManyGizmos]

.
Since your thread title is a " statement " ...........


I came here to see what "New mini LED light" ........ you had .


I was deceived ................. and disappointed !



Please don't do that again.

.

 

[jhc37013]

1-4 inches emphasis on throw and rechargeable. Do you mean you are willing to use rechargeable batterys or do you want to be a charger itself?

I would suggest if you can find one a MG Mini II with the turbo head. Shiningbeam.com sells them when in stock, its a 18650 powered light smallest that I know of. A good cradle charged light would be a Inova T4.

 

[yellow]

... feeling a bit like TooManyGizmos ...

change to a slightly bigger light --> 1*18650

Shiningbeam L-mini II, or (better as You put some emphrasis on rugged and such) a Jetbeam Jet III Pro Ultra.
also offers the plus of being able to set ones individual levels.
but those are multilevel-lights - which I do recommend

single level, rugged, end clicky, good runtime, brightness as typed:
http://www.lighthound.com/XTAR-CREE-LED-18650-Rechargeable-Flashlight_p_2381.html
+ get some protected cells and multiformat-doublecell Li-Ion charger

 

[SneakyCyber]

Looks like the 18650 would be the way to go. (cheaper and brighter then a surefire 6p I looked at too). Thanks for the recommendations so far. keep them coming.

 

[Gunner12]

A 18650 light would be around the same size as a Surefire 6P. As for output, that depends on the drive level of the LED. It can easily be dimmer then the 6P, and brighter at a higher mode.

Check out the Jetbeam Jet-III, it could be what you are looking for.

 

[flatline]

A 18650 light would be around the same size as a Surefire 6P. As for output, that depends on the drive level of the LED. It can easily be dimmer then the 6P, and brighter at a higher mode.

Check out the Jetbeam Jet-III, it could be what you are looking for.

While it is true that some, maybe most, 18650 lights are about the size of a Surefire 6P, the MG L-mini II without turbo head is noticeably smaller than the 6P.

--flatline

 

[Gunner12]

You are right, there are some smaller 18650 lights, and I personally like those more then the larger ones, but haven't had the money to buy one yet.

In general though, they are around the same size as a 6P.

 

[SneakyCyber]

hmm I have an older Dorcy light that uses two Cr123 batteries its an incandescent. I think it may be p60 drop in compatible but I am not sure what the exact dimensions are of a p60.

 

[SneakyCyber]

Bump Any Ideas on that light engine?

 

[Gunner12]

If you want, you can buy a cheaper P60 drop-in to try, but shipping from DX is slow.

It might work, but it might take some tweaking.