Starting A New Job, Flashlight Selection Assistance Requested

[BigBen]

Hi there HyperLoop.
I hope all is well.
Thanks for the reminder post.

I've been working from about 7AM or so to all hours of the evening, so I haven't had a chance to do more research.
But, I DO want a few more lighting solutions.

I should have some time to look further at 'em either tonight or on Sunday.

A nice low or no hot-spot light is DEFINITELY needed, for close-up work.

I think that clip-on light would be a great choice too, as I agree that trying to hold a light while trying to read a label on a boiler (or what ever piece of equipment), and then trying to write up a survey, is not the easiest thing to do.

BigBen

 

[hyperloop]

im still plumping for the H501 (either the cool white or warm) it comes with a rubber sleeve with a clip so it can be configured like a mini L-shaped light and clipped to your collar, sideways in your shirt etc.

The light has NO hotspot and 3 modes so its perfect for your close up needs, its also barely larger than an AA cell so even with the headband, you can safely tuck it in a pocket and use it only when you need to.

 

[BigBen]

Re: Question About My New Fenix Sheath Falling Apart

Hi Everyone,
I got the Fenix TK20 Yellow and I'm very happy with the light.

HOWEVER, I'm very disappointed in the nylon holster that came with it.
After just a couple of months of use, it's falling apart!
The Velcro is almost all off of it (the holster doesn't even stay closed any longer), and there is now actually a hole in the bottom of it, and the light sticks out!

Is there a Fenix Representative aboard that I can ask, or maybe I should send the holster back to Fenix???


Thank You All Again For Your Help,
BigBen

 

[Rocketman]

Re: Question About My New Fenix Sheath Falling Apart

Hi Everyone,
I got the Fenix TK20 Yellow and I'm very happy with the light.

HOWEVER, I'm very disappointed in the nylon holster that came with it.
After just a couple of months of use, it's falling apart!
The Velcro is almost all off of it (the holster doesn't even stay closed any longer), and there is now actually a hole in the bottom of it, and the light sticks out!

Is there a Fenix Representative aboard that I can ask, or maybe I should send the holster back to Fenix???


Thank You All Again For Your Help,
BigBen

What I have done is I have measured my lights and went to http://www.ripoffs.com/toolandflashdimensions.htm and I chose holsters that fit my lights. These are nice holsters however I recommend a leather holster. I just ordered three from http://www.copquest.com/index.htm, I ordered holsters made by Aker leather. They are made from leather and use snaps. Like you, I like to carry my lights in holsters, I work in a prison and carry two lights to work each day, a Streamlight Polystinger LED and a Surefire 6P with a Malkoff M60LL. I don't know which leather holster I should recommend to you because I have not done a size check for the TK20, but I'm sure there is one made that will fit. I have found that my holsters are as important, day to day, as my lights are.

 

[BigBen]

Thank you Rocketman!
I'll check 'em out right now.

BigBen

 

[Kestrel]

Re: Question About My New Fenix Sheath Falling Apart

HOWEVER, I'm very disappointed in the nylon holster that came with it. After just a couple of months of use, it's falling apart!

I use the two nylon fixed-loop (not the clip-able or the detachable) SureFire holsters for my SF 6P & C3 (V20 & V10) and I'm very impressed with them, very stiff and stout. They've been on a few hunting trips, including a week-long elk-hunting trip, I've had zero issues with them & like them a lot.

Perhaps you might find one of those to be the proper fit for your uses? :shrug:

 

[BigBen]

Thanks Kestrel.

I have a Police supply store near my home, so I want to stop in there sometime tomorrow if I get a chance, and see what they have too.

 

[BigBen]

Hi All,

First Off: A Healthy, Happy, Prosperous, and Light-Filled New Year to Everyone!

It's been a while... LOL... I know: :shakehead 🙂

I HAVE been lurking a bit lately though.

Been on the job for over 2 years now.
I still have my Yellow TK20 and lovin' it. Yesterday I ordered 5 replacement Yellow Grips for it. :nana:
Also have 2 EO1's, a few crappy cheapo home-center lights, an MH-C9000 charger, and a bunch of AA's.


Now, it's FINALLY time to buy another light or ten.


Probably going to go with the Zebra clip-on light for closeup work.


But I'm also looking for AA powered flood options for basement/attic work, and another AA EDC to give the TK20 a well deserved break.



I looked at the Malkoff's & McGizmo Sundrop but I'm stil leary about moving away from the AA packs.
However I DO see that McGizmo (Don) is building 'em with AA options now, but IMHO $480 is a bit much for a knock-around work light. Personally speaking, for in home use ABSOLUTELY, but for work use where I can lose it in someone's disgusting raw sewage flooded basement/crawl space, or in their attic??? Naaa...


Being that everyone was so helpful to me when I first got here, I figured I'd ask again, I REALLY appreciate all of your help...

Got any updated ideas on some nice AA powered units for good 'ole BigBen?


BigBen

 

[Vortus]

Malkoff does have the little twisty VME set up. Combine that with a M31 of your choice for roughly $110 with Malkoff durability and customer service added. Surefire E2L Outdoorsman. Or the Zebralights headlights are all nice since they can do so much. Or the pretty much indestructible Peak lights. Or move up to a the big dog AA lights like the Fenix TK40 or TK45 or ITP Polestar. Jetbeam, Sunwayman, Eagletac, 4/7s, Nitecore, Klarus, Lumapower and alot of others have nice AA lights. Many also have the option to move up to 14500 lithium rechargeable for some serious light out of small packages.

 

[BigBen]

Thanks Vortus, there are some good choices there.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

Thanks Again,
BB

 

[BigBen]

I'm still looking for a couple more EDC's and a quality Floody for basement/attic/crawl space boiler/furnace/ac work, I scoped out "The Big Bruiser"!
WOW what a light, and as much as I want one, along with a Malkoff, I'm still not sure about straying from AA's, as I have no experience with any other power sources. (well, YET anyway 😗).

I'm doing more research on different power sources, so maybe I'll stop being a chicken! :shakehead LOL...
Am I being too overly cautious???

Thanks Again All,
BB

 

[Rokron]

Take a look at Sunwayman products. They have a V10A which is a AA light. It's one well made light.

 

[BigBen]

Thank you Rokron, some of the Sunwayman units look awesome too.
I'm looking at the V10A & the M20A, amongst others.

If I find a couple that have beamshots for what I'm looking for, I'll pull the trigger today on 2 or 3 new lights.
I want to ask Gene Malkoff if he can build one for me too, maybe a Clicky AA Floody.

I'm not big on twisty on/off units


Thanks Again,
BB

 

[BigBen]

Hi Everyone,
First thanks again for all of your help.

I'm ordering a couple of more 2AA lights tonight. 🙂

And now after reading "Battery University" and TONS of other battery info here, I'm not as "scared" as I once was about using some Li-Ions.
It seems that as long as you use Protected Cells from a reputable company, get a good charger like the PILA and don't do anything stupid, all should be OK.
As it is now, when I'm charging my AA's in my MH-C9000 charger, I watch 'em like a hawk and take them out of the charger as soon as they're finished charging. So I think I'll be OK wiht the Li-Ions.


So now I'm also wanting to expand my possibilities by ordering a couple of 18650 powered units.

I'm thinking a "Floody" and a "Floody/Thrower" in Neutral for those basements etc. that I go into and look at wiring/ductwork etc..

As I was looking on the AW website for 18650's, I noticed that the Protected Li-Ion 18650's come in 2200, 2600, 2900, and 3100 mAh versions, but the voltages are all 3.2 Volts.

So now my question is, when ordering a 18650 powered light, will all 18650 powered lights accept all of the battery amperages listed above, or do I need to take into consideration the voltage of the LED etc. of the light???

Hope that's not a dumb-*** questions, but I didn't see that specific info anywhere that I've looked (YET)...
And rather than start another thread, I figured I'd keep all of my "stuff" here in one thread...

Thanks Again,
BigBen

 

[OCD]

As I was looking on the AW website for 18650's, I noticed that the Protected Li-Ion 18650's come in 2200, 2600, 2900, and 3100 mAh versions, but the voltages are all 3.2 Volts.

So now my question is, when ordering a 18650 powered light, will all 18650 powered lights accept all of the battery amperages listed above, or do I need to take into consideration the voltage of the LED etc. of the light???

The 2200, 2600 mAh, etc it the capacity of the cell. Theoretically, the higher the capacity, the more run time you should get from that cell. However, many manufactures exaggerate their capacities and are really much less than claimed. AW is not one of these manufaturers...these cells are rated among, if not, the best rechargeable Li-ion's. Any light that accepts 18650's and an input voltage of 3.7V (nominal voltage, 4.2 fully chargerd) can take any of AW's cells.

 

[BigBen]

Thank you OCD, that's what I thought.

Any rec on a 18650 Floody?

 

[127.0.0.1]

I think a headlamp would be uber helpful if you have to crawl around in confined spaces.

Check out Zebralights or Petzl.

I used to install low voltage (this means fiber optic and data cables) and have been in a number of attics,
ceilings, walls, basements, crawl spaces, nasty holes....

anything 200 lumens+ with cool tint and long throw. you want throw to be able to inspect deep, far away corners
for cracks/infestations well before you get closer. that, and one little zebralight h501w AA powered headlamp tucked
away for odd jobs

 

[OCD]

What size are you looking at and what's your price range? I've heard a lot of good things about the link removed. The only 18650 lights I own are Solarforce L2P's. They are great hosts and allow a ton of flexibility for finding the drop-in that's best for your use (or have multiple drop-ins for different situations. Link removed. See banner at top of page. looks like a nice pocketable 18650 light. Others may be more help to you that have these and other lights to give you their thoughts.

Let us know what you decide on and how you like it!

 

[BigBen]

Thanks 127.0.0.1 & ODC.

That SC600 looks intersting indeed.
I'll check-ut the Solarforce when I get home tonight.

Being that I'm always dressed in slacks & a collared shirt, I'll leave the headlamps out of the equasion (that's my vain side showing :shakehead 🙂).

I don't really have a budget set in stone.

Also, is it OK to store fully charged batteries in one of those "Tupperware-like" special battery containers with the lid closed, or do the batteries need to breathe somewhat???
This rechargeable battery stuff is all still new to me, so sorry if that sounded like a dumb question.

BigBen

 

[BigBen]

Thanks again everyone for all of your help, I really appreciate it.

I got busy at work with lots of HVAC equipment to sell (Thank God), so I just now got time to pull the trigger on these goodies:

1 - 4Sevens High CRI Preon 2AAA Flashlight - Satin Titanium Black Edition
1 - Spark SL6S-740NW XM-L T5 Neutral White 18650 740 Lumen Flashlight
1 - 4Sevens Neutral White Quark "X" AA² CREE XM-L LED Flashlight

2 - AW 18650 Protected 3100 mAh Rechargeable Lithium Battery
1 - Pila IBC Charger for 14500 / 17500 / 18500 / 18650 3.7 volt Lithium Battery Charger
3 - Ultrafire Clear Plastic Battery Case 18650

Yup, I also finally decided to also get into the 18650 word of illumination, hence the Spark SL6S, the 18650's, & the Pila IBC.

Can hardly wait to get the new goodies home...

What's next? Probably more 18650 powered units.... :naughty:
OK... YEA, I'M HOOKED!!! THERE, I said it! LOL... :devil: 🙂 lovecpf

BigBen