newbie to flashlight world / quetions about tk11 r5 & 18650s

[the_ferret]

new to the forums and the flashlight world and still wading through all the terminology

i am looking into buying a fenix tk11 r5 for all around flashlight duties around the house, outside, and what not. i just want something that is brighter than my LD20 and countless other cheapos i have and has the ability to use rechargeable batteries. Fenix are all i really know of besides surefire and i feel surefire are too expensive for my application. but i am good with the fenix prices.

i am looking at buying a pair of the AW 18650 protected 2600 mAh to power the light along with the ultrafire WF-139 charger and from what i can find in research the batteries seem to be highly recommended. but the charger not so much.

my questions are:
1) if the ultrafire is not recommended what would be a better choice for my application?
2) is there a better battery that i should be looking into?
3) is there a better light i should be looking at?


thank you for your help, any insight is appreciated.

 

[manitoe]

Hi the_ferret, and :welcome:

To answer your questions:

1) the Pila IBC charger is highly regarded on CPF, and is probably one of the better if not the best "standard" charger out there. You can find numerous threads about it on this forum if you want to read up on it.
2) You've made a geat choice with the AW 18650's, everyone on this forums seems to be using them. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but to my knowledge they're about the best you can get. I've never had an AW battery fail on me.
3) Fenix has a solid reputation for building durable, reliable and affordable lights. I have several of them and although they're not my favourite lights, they're certainly worth their asking price, and they're pretty hard to beat in their price range. The TK11 is a good choice imo. My first "real" flashlight was a Fenix TK12, and it's the one that started my interest in flashlights.

Good luck in your flashlight hunt, but make sure to keep a close eye on your wallet, as things can get out of hand quickly...

 

[entoptics]

Welcome to the zoo.

1) I have the WF-139 and have had zero issues with it. Cells have never come out over voltage, and they never get hot (or even very warm at all). For the price, it seems good to me. I also like the fact that it can charge a single battery at a time (or two different kinds of batteries at once).

2) No experience with AW cells, but from CPF reports, they are the best.

3) The EagleTac T20C2 MKII is an outstanding choice that is very similar to the Fenix TK11. It's slightly longer, but otherwise basically the same shape/size. The EagleTac is probably a bit brighter and has an additional low mode. It also has strobe, SOS, and beacon modes which can be hidden from the user interface, or activated with a double click. It has a nice accessory set included (quality diffuser, holster, lanyard, lube, and O-rings). The pocket clip is functional but a bit on the wimpy side. The EagleTac also has spring contacts on both ends of the battery which should provide a bit more reliability under hard impacts.

I won't go so far as to say the EagleTac is "better" than the Fenix, but it certainly warrants a look. I have the older version with a smooth reflector and warm white emitter, and it's been good for 10 months now. It's taken a fair beating and had no issues since the beginning when I had to have the switch replaced (shipped free without ever having to send the light in).

 

[vickers214]

Hi,

i cannot comment on the cells you are asking about as i use Eneloops, bt that brand AW in everything i have read seems to be the best thought of.

Not trying to muddy the water for you, the Fenix TK11 R5 is an excellent choice truely, but if you want the same kind of light as in form, UI, forward switch, battery type and similar output how about a EagleTac T100C2 Mk2?

I had the Mk1 and compared it to a friends TK11 R2 and the there was little to no difference in anything other than the price, the T100C2 is $34 dollars cheaper, and in my opinion no better or worse than the TK11, and it gets a neat little battery holder for CR123's so they dont rattle.

I personally also like the Q5 or R2 better than the R5 as what i have had through my hands have had nicer white/blue tints than the green hue off the both R5's i have had, and they tend to throw better, but with the reflector size on these lights i suspect that wouldn't be as noticable as in the AA format lights i buy.

her is a link to the different options on the T100C2 and also on the site is the TK11

http://flashlightconnection.com/EagleTac-Flashlights/EagleTac-Tactical-Series-Flashlights-c17/

Its something for you to think about and maybe save some money, and i know you noramlly get what you pay for, but here i think thats not the case,

Welcome buy the way:wave:

 

[the_ferret]

thank you for all the replies and information, this was exactly what i was looking for... information

i will be definitely checking out the eagletac now, the T20C2 MII looks very promising after a quick glance at its info on the website provided.

i will definitely be checking out the Pila IBC to read some more about it through the forums.


thank you again for all the information :twothumbs

 

[CPFBiology]

The EagleTac probably won't work with the new AW 2600mAh batteries that you described because these batteries lack the protruding top at the positive end. This will result in contact issues, and the light will not work properly.

 

[the_ferret]

The EagleTac probably won't work with the new AW 2600mAh batteries that you described because these batteries lack the protruding top at the positive end. This will result in contact issues, and the light will not work properly.

yea i read that when i was looking over the specs for the eagletac. are there any batteries that you would recommend that have the button top? i believe the AW 2200 mAh has a button top

 

[RepProdigious]

Well, i own an older tk11 so i cant speak for all the models but on mine the physical 'reverse polarity protection' is a bit of a laugh. The center connector in the head is about a full mm higher than the two little moon pieces on the sides so flattops work just perfect (ive been running flat cells from an ol laptop battery for a while now without any issues).

But if your afraid this will be an issue just get the 2200, they indeed have a button top!