Looking for a $50.00 or under decent 3 watt light..

I posted this is the WTB section also.. but thought I would post here too too see what kinda ideas you guys would have..

I am looking for a decent 3 watt luxeon flashlight with decent throw and aluminum body .. AA or AAA driven or compatible rechargeable options so he wont have to be spending change on cr123's .. This is for a buddy of mine and I am going to buy him one if i can keep it around the $50.00 mark.. I have been busy and haven't kept up with all the new style lights so thought this would make short work of looking for him one..

Thank you guys a bunch

Jeff

If you want to go with a full sized light (Mag 3D sized), the LEDBeam 3C is probably at the top of the heap for a LED light that can throw. And it looks like they're getting cleared out at $24 apiece shipped (or 3 for $66). I've inherited a couple of these lights and the construction is quite adequate for run of the mill consumer use, though probably not up to par for industrial or public safety usage. The body of the light is made from a cast aluminum rather than the turned aircraft aluminum found in American made lights. It can and does break in heavy usage (or abuse), but that shouldn't be a problem for a household light.

Another alternative might be to drop one of those Diamond modules into a 3 cell Mag, but there appear to be quite a few postings recently about these modules failing in a short time. This is probably close to being the higher cost option of all, but the module has received great praise and yielded good results at flashlightreviews.com. This is also probably the most expensive combination, and would require components from two different vendors.

And the one on the horizon that has a lot of people waiting ... it looks like Mag will be introducing Lux III based lights within the next few months along with consumer level replacement Lux III upgrade modules for existing Mag products.

So your friend has several options, all of which should be attainable for less than $50.

EDIT: Sorry, didn't notice the need for AA/AAA. That being the case, he should probably stay with a Luxeon. The Luxeon IIIs in the smaller lights don't seem to be as spectacular and are easily surpassed with Luxeon lights in about the same or slightly larger sizes. The Lux III would consume more power and put out less light, while something like the Streamlight 4AA ProPoly Lux stands heads and shoulders above anything in its price class and is well regarded amongst all Luxeon lights regardless of cost.

Well, the Fenix L2P has most of those, except it isn't a 3 watt Luxeon. It's only a 1 watt. But, it has an aluminum body and takes readily available AA cells. And it's well under your $50 price limit.

The JETBEAM sounds like a very close fit:

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/108505&highlight=JETBEAM

Isn't the Pacific a 3W?

A few weeks ago I picked up a Dorcy 3w3aaa side clickie at Sears during the "Craftsmans Club" deal$19.99 (half of $39.99 regular).

Very impressed so far. I like it for $40. I really like it for $20. I'll buy a couple more next time around.

(I haven't been around the forum much lately, so this light may already have been dealt with)

Electrolumens Blaster series in 3W is a fine light.
Comes is several configurations...one being 3AA.
I have the 3D version. Great light.

Hey Brighteyez......

I cannot seem to find any info on the Streamlight 4AA ProPoly Lux in a Luxeon. There only seems to be a 7 LED Version and a 3 LED Version. A little help here please, It sounds like a light I would like to check out.

Greetings DTA116!

You can purchase the Streamlight 4AA ProPolymer Luxeon from BrightGuy and I think Lighthound. It's a great and inexpensive light. But just in case you haven't seen this link located in the Dealer's Corner—

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/112056&highlight=Streamlight+ProPolymer+Luxeon

Also that Elektrolumens Blaster that WNG mentioned is another excellent one for the price!

Hope you find what you're looking for and Enjoy!

Jefff said:

I posted this is the WTB section also.. but thought I would post here too too see what kinda ideas you guys would have..

I am looking for a decent 3 watt luxeon flashlight with decent throw and aluminum body .. AA or AAA driven or compatible rechargeable options so he wont have to be spending change on cr123's .. This is for a buddy of mine and I am going to buy him one if i can keep it around the $50.00 mark.. I have been busy and haven't kept up with all the new style lights so thought this would make short work of looking for him one..

Thank you guys a bunch

Jeff

Click to expand...

Maglite will be introducing both a two aa and a three aa 3W Minimag, sometime this Spring.

I have been really happy with this light:
http://www.qualitychinagoods.com/swat-tactical-p-326.html?osCsid=86854d7cabf3f8ff4a0dfa5b9e449abb
(available a few bucks cheaper in the dealer's corner)

It gives about 3 hours of near full brightness light and another hour of dimmer but useable light. The included 2000mah DLG batteries tested at over 2100mah! The 18650s will give you the longest run time for a 3 watt that is pocketable.

I have been really happy with this light:
http://www.qualitychinagoods.com/sw...a0dfa5b9e449abb
(available a few bucks cheaper in the dealer's corner)

It gives about 3 hours of near full brightness light and another hour of dimmer but useable light. The included 2000mah DLG batteries tested at over 2100mah! The 18650s will give you the longest run time for a 3 watt that is pocketable.

Click to expand...

This one looks like the one.. do you happen to have a link to it in the dealers corner.. I want to buy one asap.. and how do I get a 18650s for it? Thank all of you guys .. great lights.. the run time on this one is looking the best.. and it looks alot broghter than my twoj @4.2 in my Q3.. that really impressed him .. so this should really impress him .. Thank ya again

Solidly built in the USA.
Electrolumens Blaster 3P (3D) or Blaster Jr, (3AA)
http://elektrolumens.com/4_SALE/For_Sale.html
Review
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/elektrolumens_blaster3p.htm

Pocketable light made in the USA.
Peak Pacific. (1AAA)
http://www.peakledsolutions.net/Pacific.html
Review:
Beta Tester Impressions of the Pacific
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=108067
My Quick Peak Pacific Review
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=112315
Pacific Tech Notes
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=109192

The problem with the Chinese lights made for Chinese Dealers is the lack of quality control. Get a good one and you are very happy. Get a bad one OUCH.
2 of 4 7X7mm I got arrived DOA. Gave the 2 good ones as Christmas presents (very impressed). Kept the bad ones for myself after I fixed them. Not lights to have if your life depended on them.

Many 3 watt lights are not much brighter than 1 watt. Should also consider an L1P/L0P GIFT BOX VERSION with the price war going on. Countrycomm units no longer has Fenix warranty support.

Jefff said:

This one looks like the one.. do you happen to have a link to it in the dealers corner.. I want to buy one asap.. and how do I get a 18650s for it? Thank all of you guys .. great lights.. the run time on this one is looking the best.. and it looks alot broghter than my twoj @4.2 in my Q3.. that really impressed him .. so this should really impress him .. Thank ya again

Click to expand...

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=92304
The 18650s come with it. The star in this is a fake one like most chinese lights, but the quality is very good. The star is easily replaceable with a real Luxeon though, and I'm sure it would be an improvement.

LEDninja said:

The problem with the Chinese lights made for Chinese Dealers is the lack of quality control.

Click to expand...

This is why we pay with PayPal, if it's broke they fix it.

LEDninja said:

Many 3 watt lights are not much brighter than 1 watt.

Click to expand...

That's why I like this particular light so much, it's one of the few chinese lights that actually does output about 3 watts of light.

Nerdgineer is selling off a Blaster Jr clone right now for $25. You might want to check him out.

A Nuwai Q3 and a couple R123 rechargables and a charger can be had for about $50.

I also think the JetBeam sounds like exactly what you're looking for
(Under Manufacturers)

Specs can be found at http://www.streamlight.com/4aapropoly_lux.htm
A review can be found at http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/streamlight_propolyluxeon.htm

And the light can be found on various web resources, though it's not very common in brick and mortar stores. Many uniform supply stores that cater to public safety agencies do carry it though. It lists for $50, though it is available from online various online resources in the $23-$30 range.

The Streamlight 4AA Propoly is available in incandescent, 7 LED, or Luxeon configurations. They all use the same main body, the incandescent and 7LED use the same bezel; the Luxeon uses a longer bezel and has a longer lamp assembly. I'm not aware of a 3 LED version.

dta116 said:

Hey Brighteyez......

I cannot seem to find any info on the Streamlight 4AA ProPoly Lux in a Luxeon. There only seems to be a 7 LED Version and a 3 LED Version. A little help here please, It sounds like a light I would like to check out.

Click to expand...

dta116 said:

Hey Brighteyez......

I cannot seem to find any info on the Streamlight 4AA ProPoly Lux in a Luxeon. There only seems to be a 7 LED Version and a 3 LED Version. A little help here please, It sounds like a light I would like to check out.

Click to expand...

Don't have to leave CPF to get one.
STREAMLIGHT ProPolymer 4AA Luxeon LED $22.95

Review
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/streamlight_propolyluxeon.htm
Note the Luxeon version is rated ***** but the 7 led is downgraded to ** due to high led failure rate.
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/streamlight_4aaled.htm