Need advice on quality light w/ 18650!
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Glock27
Enlightened
JetBeam Jet-III Military Warm tint. OR Olight M20 WH tint.
G27
G27
Policetacteam
Enlightened
I am by no means an expert in lights but I own quite a few. I'm sort of a new comer to the 18650 area but I have been using the EagleTac T10LC2 with AW 18650's and I'm very impressed so far! I have almost 2 solid months of using this light every night as my duty light and this thing is AWESOME! I talked it up so much that my roommate ordered one as well and he has the same impression! Excellent run times, super quality, incredible throw, and just an all around cool light! I have yet to actually burn through one battery in an 8 hour shift! Pretty amazing. I also like the flexibility of being able to switch from 18650 or using 123 primaries. That's a nice function that not all lights have. Shop around and keep your options open but this light is a performer!
Here is my advice.
Do not put a rechargeable light in your vehicle because the extreme temperature range that goes on inside a vehicle are not optimal for the rechargeable cells.
You should choose a 2xCR123 light for your car because those cells handle the wider temperature changes better.
Do not put a rechargeable light in your vehicle because the extreme temperature range that goes on inside a vehicle are not optimal for the rechargeable cells.
You should choose a 2xCR123 light for your car because those cells handle the wider temperature changes better.
Tekno_Cowboy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Slash5
Newly Enlightened
A lot of people here seem to like the Solarforce.
With both bodies you can have CR123, RCR123, and 18650 in a decent sized package. Meets your criteria of "some weight to it".
$29 off Ebay or better selection from the Solarforce store.
I've got one on it's way from Solarforce.
Lots of threads:
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/posts/2907180
With both bodies you can have CR123, RCR123, and 18650 in a decent sized package. Meets your criteria of "some weight to it".
$29 off Ebay or better selection from the Solarforce store.
I've got one on it's way from Solarforce.
Lots of threads:
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/posts/2907180
Gunner12
Flashaholic
There's the Fenix TK11, Eagletac T10L, Wolfeye Sniper, Jetbeam Jet III, Olight M20, Lumapower Encore, Darktort DT, Dereelight CL1H and DBS, iTP C6, and the Tiablo A8, A9, A10, ACE.
For a normal use light, one of the Jetbeam Jet IIIs(programmable if IBS), Lumapower Encore(smaller) or the Olight M20(good throw but not too big) might be a good choice.
For a normal use light, one of the Jetbeam Jet IIIs(programmable if IBS), Lumapower Encore(smaller) or the Olight M20(good throw but not too big) might be a good choice.
kramer5150
Flashaholic
Skip multi mode lights if dependability/reliability is desired. They can fail from time to time.
My suggestion would be to stick with single mode types...
Option 1 (primary cells) => SF-6P + malkoff M60 + SF Primaries
Option 2 (Lithium Ion rechargable) => SF-6P Modded for 18650 + malkoff M30 + AW18650
My suggestion would be to stick with single mode types...
Option 1 (primary cells) => SF-6P + malkoff M60 + SF Primaries
Option 2 (Lithium Ion rechargable) => SF-6P Modded for 18650 + malkoff M30 + AW18650
kyhunter1
Flashlight Enthusiast
Second the 6P Malkoff option. I would reccomend the M60 with a rechargeable AW17670 cell myself. You get around an hour of regulation with full brightness, then a period of dimming before the protection circuit in the battery kicks in. You can still use primaries anytime you want. If you go with a M30, you get high brightness till the end, then the light cuts out with no warning because of the pc in the cell when the voltage drops too low. All of a sudden.....darkness.......with no warning. Primaries would be better because of the temp extremes.
First of all, as other members said, it's not a good idea to leave a flashlight with rechargeable batteries inside. I guess 2X123A would be better.
I have one Ultrafire C1 and one L2 in hands. I've carried the C1 with me everyday for couple of weeks. So far the C1 works pretty well. It is with Cree R2 5-mode head and a strike bezel.
I will recommend Ultrafire C1 with 2 X123A equipped. It's bright enough to blind the intruder and it is also heavy enough to cause reasonable damages with the stainless strike head.
Oh, it's cheap. It's only $23 at DX.
I have one Ultrafire C1 and one L2 in hands. I've carried the C1 with me everyday for couple of weeks. So far the C1 works pretty well. It is with Cree R2 5-mode head and a strike bezel.
I will recommend Ultrafire C1 with 2 X123A equipped. It's bright enough to blind the intruder and it is also heavy enough to cause reasonable damages with the stainless strike head.
Oh, it's cheap. It's only $23 at DX.
Mjolnir
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2008
- Messages
- 1,711
I don't think that multi mode lights like the Eagletacs or TK11 (where the mode is changed by loosening the head) are more likely to fail than single mode lights. They are basically single mode lights with 2 different circuits, so there isn't really much that can fail.
Tekno_Cowboy
Flashlight Enthusiast
I definitely don't think that saying "multi-mode lights are less reliable" is anywhere near accurate. What would be more accurate is "cheap lights are less reliable than expensive lights"
With cheap lights, especially those with multiple modes, the components used are cheaper, and the quality is usually not that great.
While a light from a more respected brand (Surefire, Streamlight, Wolf-Eyes, Pila, Etc...) may cost more, the light you get is going to be a much better light, one that you can rely on. With a quality light, I see no reason for a multi-mode light to be more susceptable to failure than a single-mode light.
As far as the "twist to change levels" lights, there are actually more parts to fail, since very similar circuitry is used. These lights typically use a ring to switch levels, which adds at least 2 extra components to the circuit. While that in itself doesn't mean that the light is more likely to fail, it just means that there are more parts that could break.
With cheap lights, especially those with multiple modes, the components used are cheaper, and the quality is usually not that great.
While a light from a more respected brand (Surefire, Streamlight, Wolf-Eyes, Pila, Etc...) may cost more, the light you get is going to be a much better light, one that you can rely on. With a quality light, I see no reason for a multi-mode light to be more susceptable to failure than a single-mode light.
As far as the "twist to change levels" lights, there are actually more parts to fail, since very similar circuitry is used. These lights typically use a ring to switch levels, which adds at least 2 extra components to the circuit. While that in itself doesn't mean that the light is more likely to fail, it just means that there are more parts that could break.
kramer5150
Flashaholic
Actualy I should clarify that I agree with the above statement completely. My L1T (a very robust bezel-twist switching mechanism) has been very reliable and its one of my most used and dropped lights. Its the EPROM programmable type multi mode lights that (IMHO) are more prone to fail.
My posts and commentary are largely speculative, since manufacturers do not publish failure/RMA rate data... so when discussions of reliability surface all we have to go on are rough, ball park assumptions.
However, I ask all of you this... Have you ever heard of a Malkoff M30/60 failing on the job, arriving DOA or experienced a failure first hand? (this is the primary reason for my recommendation above).
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kicken_bright
Newly Enlightened
Check out Dereelight Clh4! they are great quality and are easily upgraded! I actually just bought the older Clh3 from dereelight directly for 45 bucks! AWESOME BUY!
I would suggest the Fenix Tk11 18650. It is dual mode and is plenty tough enough for just about anything.
andylondon
Newly Enlightened
If you require a well regulated 18650 torch then i would suggest a Dereelight CL1H. You can choose a 3 mode pill or a single light level along with either a SMO or OP reflector, or, you can buy both reflectors. That way you can decide which beam profile you prefer. You can also choose to have this with the R2 Q5 or Q3 5A LED. I think this would be a good choice due to its different options and good regulation using a 18650 battery.
Closet_Flashaholic
Enlightened
+1 on the Olight M20:
- smooth/op reflector options (flood/throw)
- 18650/CR123/RCR123 battery flexibility
- 3 light levels + strobe
- lanyard
- tactical forward clicky
- decent quality, good value 240 lumens for $99
- weapons mount/remote switch options
