A little help for a poor Urbexer in need?

Hi guys,

So as you might have guessed from the title, i'm no specialist when it comes down to flashlights (I, god forbid, have to use my cellphone as a light quite often), and I'm looking for some specialist's advice on the matter.

I've spent quite a few hours doing my own research on the internet, but there's SO much information and different kinds of flashlights out there that I got pretty confused. It's also hard for an outsider like myself to determine wich flashlights actually fit my needs.

Now here's what I expect from the light; in my hobby (urbex, it's exploring abandonned buildings/structures and taking pictures) I often explore buildings/structures where there's absolutely NO light at all. That can go from small corridors to huge rooms. So what's not important for me is that the light has a narrow but really intense beam. More important is that the flashlight can light up an entire room, so that I can (more or less) see what is in the room and what i'm dealing with. A focussable beam is therefor a big advantage (so I can also focus the beam if I want to have a better look on a certain object).
Another little thing more in the direction of the photography in those dark places is the color of the light. A warm color can be used to "paint" the picture with a nice effect. So that would also be an andvantage, but certainly not a requirement (I can create the warmer color by just putting a little piece of orange plastic in front of the light). Size doesn't matter at all, the pricetag on the other hand is more of importance. I know that there are lights out there that do exactly as discribed above but cost over 300$... I don't want to pay that much for something that just produces light. I was more thinking in the 60€ range.

As I said, i've been reading a lot and for now i'm thinking in the direction of the Fenix TK11 or something like that. Not sure if that's the good light for me though, i'm hoping to learn more from you guys!

Thnx a bunch in advance and I hope to hear from you guys!

Some other things to consider are how long your adventures last, which will determine how to pick battery types and outputs. I suspect you'll need a good 2 or 3 hours of runtime. Do you want rechargables or not? Standard batteries (AAAA, AA, C, D, etc) or can you deal with $1/cell (online) CR123s? If you're in a pinch, CR123s in a store could cost $10-15 a pair. Warm colored LEDs and floody beams are not difficult to find, so really it'll come down to size and runtime/brightness.

First up, :welcome:

With photography, you'll probably want to stick to an incandescent. Based on your needs, it sounds like an ROP (Roar of the Pelican) is just what you need. Here is a thread that explains most aspects of an ROP build (don't worry, they are pretty easy to build; it's mainly just ordering a few parts online):
R.O.P. Roar of the Pelican mini-FAQ/master thread

It should be plenty bright, exhibit a decent runtime, and won't break the bank.

Robert

As usual, I'd suggest starting with something powered by AA batteries and around the Minimag in size.

What lights do you use now?
How big are the big rooms?
What size would you like?
How much runtime?
Throw, flood, or in between?

I'd say look at the Fenix L2D-CE Q5, LD20, L2T V2.0, TK20, Olight T25, Jetbeam Jet I EX, and probably a few more lights that fit too.

AA batteries are easy to find but you should use rechargeable or Lithium AAs for those lights because alkalines don't like the high draw that those lights need in the higher modes.

The LD10/L2D-CE,s low more is around the same output as minimag.

:welcome:

The size of the light itself doesn't matter AT ALL, so that's not an issue.

The runtime isn't really much of an issue either. 2-3 hours would last me for the entire exploration most of the time, but that's not really needed since it's mostly only part of a location that's entirely dark (i can still take pics if there's a little light), so say 1.5-2 hours runtime would do the trick just as good.

The rooms we're talking about here are an average of 10 meters on 7 meters or something like that. Couple exceptions, but that's not a big problem.

It also doesn't really matter how far the flashlight throws the light, anything over 50 meters is great.

Type of battery isn't an issue either. I'm more then willing to pay a few extra $$ for decent batteries with a longer lifespan and better preformance. I got a bunch of basic battery chargers at home, so rechargeable is great if the battery fits in a regular battery charger. Don't really wanna buy a new expensive charger just to charge the batteries of my flashlight though...

I have done my own share of exploration and a headlamp is really really good to have. There are all sorts of good ones but I just use the Petzl E+Lite because it is inexpensive and offers "enough" light.

Pair that with a light like the Nitecore D20 or a Fenix LD20 and you are good to go.

People keep telling me to get a headlight, but i still want an old fashioned flashlight... I can't really point out why, but i just do . Having my hands free is not needed in any way and i guess i just want to have something on hands while exploring ^^

I saw a decent "room lighting" pic of that Fenix LD20... added it to my list.
The Fenix TK11 is still on there too, what would you guys advice? Remember that batteries/runtime/size don't matter!

Orchidius said:

People keep telling me to get a headlight, but i still want an old fashioned flashlight... I can't really point out why, but i just do . Having my hands free is not needed in any way and i guess i just want to have something on hands while exploring ^^

I saw a decent "room lighting" pic of that Fenix LD20... added it to my list.
The Fenix TK11 is still on there too, what would you guys advice? Remember that batteries/runtime/size don't matter!

Click to expand...

Did you check out the ROP thread I suggested? Thoughts/comments?

There are some indoor beamshots of an ROP that Strauss posted a few years back in this thread:

Strauss said:

I have a 2D ROP high and a 2C ROP low. I run 2x18650's in both lights, so it isn't exactly the same as your set-up, but here are some shots of the two.

ROP low heavy stipple reflector:

ROP high heavy stipple reflector:

The HOLA is MUCH brighter. I get ~650 lumens on fresh batteries in my lightbox with the HOLA. The LOLA comes in at ~275 lumens with the same set-up.

Click to expand...

-Robert

I think you should go with the LD20 and see if you need anymore from there. 50m shouldn't be too hard for the light, especially in darkness.

The TK11 will have much more throw.

The TK11 will have much more throw.

Click to expand...

TK11 has over 200 yards throw, but that's not really what i'm looking for, i need a light that can light bigger spaces... not just 1 bright beam that goes 6314738754354 yards far... Can the TK11 do that?

LD20 looks pretty ok, but to say

and see if you need anymore from there

Click to expand...

.... I want the right light for me from the first time so that i don't have to buy another one for 5 times... 70$/flashlight is a lot harder to make then to spend you know

Robert, I ofcourse did look at the ROP posts and even did some additional research... But to me it seems that it's really expensive to make and the results aren't allways as good as they should be (read that some ppl made one with a mag 3D and barely noticed the difference). Plus it's a lot of hussle and work to get one together, a lot easier just to buy a ready made light. AND ofc those lights weren't made to be modified like that... that has to result in some sort of trouble sooner or later, no?

that second picture (ROP Hi) looks veryveryvery nice btw... warm light, lights the entire room, looks like it has plenty throw too... almost seems perfect...

What am i looking at here? How much work? How reliable? Runtime? Can i even do it myself being new to all this? What would it cost me? Heat problems? Focusable beam? Will the beam center disappear when you move the focus (like with a Mag)? Is the first picture and the second picture the same flashlight on a different power mode or is it a different light?

Sorry for all the questions, but one has to be well informed before making a purchase
Really appreciate the help btw guys!!!

no, they are very sturdy and most of the bad results were from using alkaline batteries instead of NiMH or LiIon batteries. to put things in perspective the LD20 puts out 180 lumen max V 750-825 lumens from an ROP high.

Orchidius said:

that second picture (ROP Hi) looks veryveryvery nice btw... warm light, lights the entire room, looks like it has plenty throw too... almost seems perfect...

What am i looking at here? How much work? How reliable? Runtime? Can i even do it myself being new to all this? What would it cost me? Heat problems? Focusable beam? Will the beam center disappear when you move the focus (like with a Mag)? Is the first picture and the second picture the same flashlight on a different power mode or is it a different light?

Sorry for all the questions, but one has to be well informed before making a purchase
Really appreciate the help btw guys!!!

Click to expand...

I would imagine that you should be able to perform this semi-mod just fine. To my knowledge, ROPs tend to be pretty reliable. Keep in mind though, ANY flashlight (ranging from $0.50 to $5000) could fail. It is always a good idea to have a small backup light with you.

Runtime will vary with what setup you go with. For example, it can be built with a 2D or 2C Mag on 2xLi-ion cells or a 2D with 6xNiMH cells (recommended). As far as cost goes, I think it should probably be pretty close to your budget (maybe just a bit over). I have no idea as to what county you live in and availably/shipping costs though.

The pictures above are the same light with different lamps. When you buy the ROP lamps, they come in a two-pack with a high and a low.

Here is what you would need for a common ROP build (I've included some links too):

2D Maglite
Pelican Big D Rechargeable lamp set
6AA>2D Adapter (currently sold out, but I believe Eric will be doing a second run soon)
Metal reflector (the standard plastic one will melt)
52.1mm glass lens (again, the stardard plastic one will melt)
6x AA Sanyo Eneloops with charger

Here is a good thread on where to buy the parts

Basically, here is all that the mod entails:
Put your Eneloop batteries in the holder and put them in the flashlight. Unscrew the bezel of the Maglite and swap out the bulb, the lens, and the reflector. Screw everything back together and enjoy your ROP. It is barely even a "mod" compared to what guys build on here. :laughing:

Hopefully this has helped you understand it a bit more. I do have to admit though, I have not personally built one my self (but may in the near future). I currently enjoy my SureFire M6 (the ROP is kind of a poor-mans, rechargeable M6). :laughing:

-Robert

Going in abandoned buildings sounds a little dangerous so I would definitely want enough light for any occasion. When I was a teenager I went exploring in an old abandoned mansion and didn't have a light and fell through a hole in the floor about 15 feet into the basement. It was pitch black and I felt myself fall end over end and land on my back and somehow, by the grace of god I wasn't hurt. I would recommend two or three lights one decent light and a couple of cheap ones if you don't have much money. Maybe a Surefire G2, a Maglite 2D LED Rebel, and a cheap Everready Energizer 1AA with a clip so you can clip it on to your hat. Ive had several head lamps and for some reason never used them.

Welcome Orchidius,

Seeing as I am new here, I can sympathize with your troubles. There are hundreds of lights out there, if not thousands. It is a difficult first decision. I have tried to make it myself and through my trials and errors, I can tell you what I have learned.

There isn't one flashlight that will do everything you want. You may end up with one that's OK, but it will fall short somewhere.

Some things that come to mind are size, weight, power, lifespan, batteries, etc. It's difficult, so just be prepared that for less than a hundred dollars, you will probably not find everything you want.

A ROP is great and is very bright. It is a Maglite, so it is big and heavy. It's harder to lug around, but it's very bright.

Many of the lights like fenix and others offer a much smaller light and very easy to carry, but less light.

I would suggest you keep looking in the forums and look for as many beamshots as you can find and look for comparison shots. Then you might find out if there's anyone close to you that might have a couple lights that you could see first hand. That's the real test and that's the best way to help you spend less money at first.

I know the frustration. I have built a Mag P7, a ROP, a Mag using 30w bulbs and I'm still looking for what I want. The closest thing to what I found is a small "chinese" light that I modified myself to use a SSC P7 LED. It's light, easy to carry and ridiculously bright with a big spot and a huge overflow. It's a "mod" but in the long run, you might just be well off to think about a Mod made by one of the excellent and very skilled members here.

I wish you the best....

A ROP high in a 2C size can have around 40 minutes of runtime. In a 2D light if you are using rechargeable AA batteries, around 20 minutes, with Li-ion D cells, up to 1 hour runtime(more like 50 minutes). It's still an incan light so is still much more succeptable to shock then LEDs. The Low bulb will give you much more runtime. You'll need the bulbs, a glass window, and a metal reflector.

For a bit less output but more runtime, look at the quad die LED lights. Lights with the Cree MC-E LED or Seoul P7. I wouldn't recommend the lower priced ones though($30-50) and the better ones cost more then $100.

The Tk series of lights all have a low mode.

The only single mode Fenix lights right now are the E01, P1-CE, and E20.

if you have a really friendy CPFer in your area, maybe he or she can let you see a few of their lights.

I'd say something with a SSC P7.

By the way, I'm extremely interested in urbexing (urbing?) - I always found abandoned buildings extremely fascinating, but I've never had the guts to go exploring them by myself - not for fear of the building itself, but of, er, not very kind people who might already be holed up in there (read: druggies, thugs and such).

Do you have any site, photobucket or anything of the sort about your adventures?

I think purchasing a P7 light would be a little more reliable than modding a flashlight with one. I like my Aurora AK-P7 pretty sturdy design and 2-mode high low, low is plenty bright for just regular use and is about as bright as any of those generic 3w led lights but with an astounding 10 hour runtime. On high it's just about the best light to have around almost as much output as a car headlight. Nice smooth hotspot no artifacts and absolutely tons of flood. And it's direct drive, it can't really get more reliable than that, no electronics to ever possibly burn out.

ROP battery adapters are also available from our legendary Fivemega: https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/182370

There are often enough used ROPs available on the Marketplace, though they don't always follow best practices - that one's made with battery adapters that will fail sooner or later, heat up, and make your nice new light dim.

Last point for now, incandescent lights are better for photography, since LEDs have a weird spectrum that doesn't look quite right to some cameras.

Since you started off talking about a relatively small light with 2x123 power then asked for something that will light up a whole room, I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned a Milky Room Sweeper (https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/209239). The run time is somewhat short, but you've said it's not a problem to carry spare batteries. Take a look at that thread to see if it looks like what you need. The photos in post 43 are very impressive. Scott (milkyspit) can build one for you.

Hope that helps,
Steve