Fenix L2DCE security guard's review

Hi guys,

I've been using my L2DCE for a few months now on a daily basis at work as a security guard. I have been using the light about 50/50 indoors/outdoors.

My first impression was that the light was pretty bright, brighter than the 3D Mag's everyone else at work uses. It is small and light, the 3d mag is such a pain in the *** to carry for hours on your belt.

The holster that is supplied with the L2DCE is good, I have been using it every day for the last few months and it is not damaged in any way. It seems like it will last for a long time at the rate its going.

I have always ran the light on sanyo eneloops. I have had no problems whatsoever with this battery. The runtimes are the same as when the batteries are new. I would recommend them.

What I like about this light is the multi-modes. When I am indoors I can run the light on the lowest mode (9 lumens) and it performs well lighting up my path. If I need to see further outdoors or light up a room I just turn the bezel which activates turbo mode (135 lumens). I mostly use those two modes every night but if i need the light to be just a touch brighter I just tap the switch and it increases in brightness.

The beauty of the multi-mode setup is that you dont use much battery at all. You just use the appropriate amount of light for the situation. I can go through a week without recharging.

One main reason I chose this light as my main duty light was because it uses AA batteries. They are the cheapest and most common. If I was in an emergency it would not be hard to find some.

Some of you may dislike the fact that the L2DCE is small and light and cannot be used as a weapon. This didn't affect my decision because we are supplied batons at work which are much more effective as a weapon and are lighter too.

Overall I am pleased and impressed with my light and it does the job efficiently.


Robbie

Hi Robbie,

Sounds good! It's great to see other Melburnians on CPF!

Have you found any situations in which you've found the mag incandescent's beam to be better than the cree LED's?

By the way, I sent you a PM about our CPF meet on Saturday. Hope you can be there!

Honestly not for any situations I've come across. The mag is supposed to have heaps more throw than the L2DCE but I prefer the LED. It has pretty decent throw for a small light. The mag is a pain in the *** because you have to refocus it all the time for close range, medium range and long range. The fenix has good focus for everything. Well everything within about 50 metres.

robbied said:

Honestly not for any situations I've come across. The mag is supposed to have heaps more throw than the L2DCE but I prefer the LED. It has pretty decent throw for a small light. The mag is a pain in the *** because you have to refocus it all the time for close range, medium range and long range. The fenix has good focus for everything. Well everything within about 50 metres.

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A frequent criticism of LEDs, and something that I have noticed, is the way they tend to "flatten" scenery, making it harder to judge distance. I also find that colour rendition is better with incandescants. Have you had this problem Robbie? Your eyes are probably much better than mine at any rate :laughing:

Ty_Bower had a lovely explanation of why he liked incans here.

I would say it does make the landscape flatter than an incan but it doesn't take long to get used to. At least it didnt for me because I use it everynight. It also make the landscape whiter while incans make it yellow. I would agree that colour rendition is better with an incan. For me personally, runtime, performance and a budget outweighed colour rendition.
It is hard to find an incan with comparable runtimes, lumen output and price.

do u find the fenix slipery?

good review,,,i love my L2D ce

I would have loved to have my Fenix P1D CE 20 years ago working security.

One of the places I worked was an empty factory. There was NO electricity except for the tiny office we used, so after dark you had to use your flashlight constantly. A new set of batteries in the 4D mag would usually last 2 of the 4 rounds I would make in a night.

Russianesq said:

do u find the fenix slipery?

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Its a little slippery but I have never dropped it. It is a necessary tool of my trade so I take care not to drop it. I think because its small and light it just stays in your hand. I have been thinking of ways to improve its stickyness? but it would be difficult to get into the holster then i think.

Maybe you should use a 2*18650 or 3*18650 light,
6*16340 also OK.

REparsed said:

I would have loved to have my Fenix P1D CE 20 years ago working security.

One of the places I worked was an empty factory. There was NO electricity except for the tiny office we used, so after dark you had to use your flashlight constantly. A new set of batteries in the 4D mag would usually last 2 of the 4 rounds I would make in a night.

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Was personally thinking that a MRV would make an ideal security guard LED light. anyone tried that out for that type of application?

I don't remember about reviews but is the L2D CE a spot or flood?

I EDC my Amilite T5*2 for it's excellent floodability with 2 clicks of lumens. Every other LED light I own is on standby in a drawer.

Andy

The L2D is a great security flashlight, I use it every weekend for crowd control and occasional guard work.

One feature I've found wanting but not requiring is for a momentary-on, eg to ability to flash turbo instead of turbo->strobe->turbo->strobe (for spot checking, not signalling). Like you, I only use `low' and `turbo' frequently, although I twist from high to turbo to check whether I need to change batteries. Strobe has a cool factor, and I've been told it looks like a police car in a rear-view mirror

Another thing I'd like to see is roll prevention; when writing in a logbook in a dark room, laying it down to see what you're writing, it tends to roll around (candle mode ! work with high ceilings).
Other than that, nothing but recommendations- it sounds like it's better built than the new Rebel L2D's

mdocod said:

Was personally thinking that a MRV would make an ideal security guard LED light.

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The MRV is a throw specialist. I'd hate to use it to find a screw dropped in the carpet.

A better choice might be the LumaPower M1 Tactical. It does use 18650 batteries and not AA, but they are readily available and rechargeable - they can be recharged after every shift and a couple will have greater endurance than the operator...

I'm not sure how rain-resistant the M! tail cap is.

I have both an M1 and MRV, among other lights.

If you want to improve grip, try using some gaffer tape. It's strong and stick to anything, but comes off with no sticky residue. I wrapped the skinny portion of the body with two turns of gaffer tape and it helps immensely with grip.

as far as improving the grip, one cheap way is to use O-rings on the body.

one of my complaints with Fenix L2DCE is that the grip is slipery, i found the light hard to work with gloves or dirty hands. :mecry::mecry:

l1s125 said:

If you want to improve grip, try using some gaffer tape. It's strong and stick to anything, but comes off with no sticky residue. I wrapped the skinny portion of the body with two turns of gaffer tape and it helps immensely with grip.

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Some others have suggested skateboard tape, which feels like a kind of sandpaper.

Where are you getting your CR123s from?

robbied, Do you not think that a lithium based light like the P3D CE would be better? For security reasons i would want a light that will deal with extremes of hot and cold, which AA batteries cant do the same.

Glad to hear you like your fenix light!:thumbsup:

techwg said:

robbied, Do you not think that a lithium based light like the P3D CE would be better? For security reasons i would want a light that will deal with extremes of hot and cold, which AA batteries cant do the same.

Glad to hear you like your fenix light!:thumbsup:

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I dont know about what temperatures nimh and lithium can take as where I live it is not an issue. They make lithium AA's anyway dont they?

yes, but they are not cheap.