creyc
Enlightened
I want a very bright 200+ lumen flashlight at least with a low power mode. It needs to tailstand and be very durable. I would also like it to be rechargeable. Any reccomendations?
Recommend a bright light for construction use?
- Thread starter creyc
- Start date
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PoliceScannerMan
Flashaholic
I would get a Malkoff (www.malkoffdevices.com) MD2 with a high/low ring, and a clip/tailshroud, then equip it with a M60 or M61. The M60 can run on 18650's for a long time.
creyc
Enlightened
As far as size, I'm looking for something small to fit in a tool belt but nothing super small. I have a surefire lumamax L4 which is two batteries and that's a pretty good size. Budget is around $50. As for batteries I don't really care as long as they're rechargeable and lasts a few hours.
Thanks!
Thanks!
fisk-king
Flashlight Enthusiast
quark 123 or 123/2
fenix pd30
I recommend these since I used them before (especially the pd30) when working construction. I now only use the quark aa/2 or Ra clicky. Both lights above can be purchased from 4sevens.
fenix pd30
I recommend these since I used them before (especially the pd30) when working construction. I now only use the quark aa/2 or Ra clicky. Both lights above can be purchased from 4sevens.
In your budget, I'd recommend looking at itp's latest 2xCR123 offering as well as some of the Romisen ones. You can use RCR123s in most of these lights which will boost the brightness a bit.
Note that 1 CR123 will not give enough runtime for your needs. Make sure to go with 2xCR123 or at least 1 18650. You also want a light that is pretty floody; you don't want a searing intense bright spot while you are trying to work.
If there was a decent BIG flood to throw option, I'd say go that route. But they are limited to CR123 or 1xAA.
I'd like to point you to the itp A6 Polestar. It uses 6 AAs, and you can use Eneloops for rechargable goodness. You have lots of battery life, it is floody, reasonably sized, and has 3 good brightness levels. It is 80 bucks though (minus any discount, plus batteries). I have one and it is great. If you really need a decent quality light, I would recommend you spring for it. (at goinggear, you can get it 10% off and free shipping).
You can get a pack of 8 AA, 2AAA eneloops with a charger for 30 bucks on Amazon with free shipping. Just a charger alone if you don't have one will cost 15-20 bucks, so this is a nice deal. Charger seems to work well based on my tests.
One final option is a P7 using 1x18650 from Deal Extreme. However, they are hit or miss, and shipping takes a while. Still, for 32 bucks you can get a multi-brightness mode light up to 300 real lumens (they claim 900 typically for the P7). They are floody and a good size. Runtime on medium is good (which you would likely use most of the time). The catch is that you have to buy a charger and specialty batteries that arent much good for anything else. A 2x18650 light costs almost double!
Note that 1 CR123 will not give enough runtime for your needs. Make sure to go with 2xCR123 or at least 1 18650. You also want a light that is pretty floody; you don't want a searing intense bright spot while you are trying to work.
If there was a decent BIG flood to throw option, I'd say go that route. But they are limited to CR123 or 1xAA.
I'd like to point you to the itp A6 Polestar. It uses 6 AAs, and you can use Eneloops for rechargable goodness. You have lots of battery life, it is floody, reasonably sized, and has 3 good brightness levels. It is 80 bucks though (minus any discount, plus batteries). I have one and it is great. If you really need a decent quality light, I would recommend you spring for it. (at goinggear, you can get it 10% off and free shipping).
You can get a pack of 8 AA, 2AAA eneloops with a charger for 30 bucks on Amazon with free shipping. Just a charger alone if you don't have one will cost 15-20 bucks, so this is a nice deal. Charger seems to work well based on my tests.
One final option is a P7 using 1x18650 from Deal Extreme. However, they are hit or miss, and shipping takes a while. Still, for 32 bucks you can get a multi-brightness mode light up to 300 real lumens (they claim 900 typically for the P7). They are floody and a good size. Runtime on medium is good (which you would likely use most of the time). The catch is that you have to buy a charger and specialty batteries that arent much good for anything else. A 2x18650 light costs almost double!
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UpChUcK
Enlightened
May I suggest a headlamp like the ZebraLight HL501 or HL31? A little over your $50 limit by $9 though.
I use headlamps all the time for home improvement projects. They are a godsend when you need both hands to work.
I use headlamps all the time for home improvement projects. They are a godsend when you need both hands to work.
Grubrunner
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2009
- Messages
- 39
Hell yes!!!
Forgot to mention. The A6 polestar does tailstand as well. It is one of the cheapest light you can get in the high lumen (300+ REAL lumen output) class. Check the reviews for beamshots, etc. I'd highly recommend you spring for the extra 20 bucks needed to get one from goinggear or similar (don't forget coupon code).
You don't want to pay 50 bucks for something so-so, when you can shell out a little bit more and get a quality product that will help you work. I think the 6xAA runtime will be valuable too.
Each AA is 1.2 volts, 2000mAh guaranteed minimum, for 2.4 Watt/hours times 6 batteries = 14.4 Watt*hours minimum.
In comparison, a 2xCR123 light will have about 4.0 volts * 750mAh = 3.0 x2 batteries = 6 Watt*hours maximum.
An 18650 will have 2600mAh x 4.0 volts (average) = 10.4 Watt*hours maximum.
If you will be using it often, you might also spring for a charger that can charge 6 batteries at the same time. The eneloop pack is nice, but its for light usage since you can only charge 4 batteries at a time.
You don't want to pay 50 bucks for something so-so, when you can shell out a little bit more and get a quality product that will help you work. I think the 6xAA runtime will be valuable too.
Each AA is 1.2 volts, 2000mAh guaranteed minimum, for 2.4 Watt/hours times 6 batteries = 14.4 Watt*hours minimum.
In comparison, a 2xCR123 light will have about 4.0 volts * 750mAh = 3.0 x2 batteries = 6 Watt*hours maximum.
An 18650 will have 2600mAh x 4.0 volts (average) = 10.4 Watt*hours maximum.
If you will be using it often, you might also spring for a charger that can charge 6 batteries at the same time. The eneloop pack is nice, but its for light usage since you can only charge 4 batteries at a time.
creyc
Enlightened
I like the fenix and quark lights. The polestar looks very nice but
with 6 AA's it's just a bit too big for me. Anything else that goes up against these two for less?
with 6 AA's it's just a bit too big for me. Anything else that goes up against these two for less?
