Well, I've been lurking and reading for quite some time and finally joined up the other day. So this is a bit of an introduction thread as well as a review thread.
While browsing Advance Auto today I came across this "3W Tactical LED Flashlight" (as it is labeled). It is a 2-C, aluminum housing, single LED light. It has a crenellated bezel and tailcap and click type switch on the tailcap. It uses 3 o-rings throughout the body and all the threads came lubricated. Its a little over 7" long, the head is around 1.75" in diameter, and the body is around 1.25" in diameter. (I'll get more specific dimensions if anyone wants them)
Apparently, this is the same light that is/was sold by Northern Tool (Northern also sells/sold a smaller AAA light of the same design). So some of you might be familiar with it. I noticed that there were several threads on this light, but none were very in-depth, so I thought I'd take a crack at it.
Here is the full view of the light:
Head and tailcap:
Exploded view:
[From top left to bottom right-Head, lens, reflector, reflector retainer, LED/heatsink housing, LED/heatsink assembly, body, tailcap (with plastic switch housing pressed or epoxied inside, havent figured out which yet), negative battery contact, spring, switch assembly, and boot.]
And the individual parts:
Surefire G2L (with P60L) beamshot:
3W Tactical LED beamshot:
Side by side beamshots (4ft-ish), G2L on left...3W tactical on right:
Now my main reason for buying this light was due to the fact that it seemed like it would be a good candidate for modding. The switch seems to be the weak point for sure.
Overall for $20 it seems to be a decent light....I keep reading that people have had the boot not want to stay in, as well as the switch.
I think I will head over to the custom and modified forum and pick some of your brains on how to make this light a contender.
I wanted a good first project and I think that I found it. Let me know if you guys want or need anymore info and I'll see what I can do.
-DevilPig
While browsing Advance Auto today I came across this "3W Tactical LED Flashlight" (as it is labeled). It is a 2-C, aluminum housing, single LED light. It has a crenellated bezel and tailcap and click type switch on the tailcap. It uses 3 o-rings throughout the body and all the threads came lubricated. Its a little over 7" long, the head is around 1.75" in diameter, and the body is around 1.25" in diameter. (I'll get more specific dimensions if anyone wants them)
Apparently, this is the same light that is/was sold by Northern Tool (Northern also sells/sold a smaller AAA light of the same design). So some of you might be familiar with it. I noticed that there were several threads on this light, but none were very in-depth, so I thought I'd take a crack at it.
Here is the full view of the light:
Head and tailcap:
Exploded view:
[From top left to bottom right-Head, lens, reflector, reflector retainer, LED/heatsink housing, LED/heatsink assembly, body, tailcap (with plastic switch housing pressed or epoxied inside, havent figured out which yet), negative battery contact, spring, switch assembly, and boot.]
And the individual parts:
Surefire G2L (with P60L) beamshot:
3W Tactical LED beamshot:
Side by side beamshots (4ft-ish), G2L on left...3W tactical on right:
Now my main reason for buying this light was due to the fact that it seemed like it would be a good candidate for modding. The switch seems to be the weak point for sure.
Overall for $20 it seems to be a decent light....I keep reading that people have had the boot not want to stay in, as well as the switch.
I think I will head over to the custom and modified forum and pick some of your brains on how to make this light a contender.
I wanted a good first project and I think that I found it. Let me know if you guys want or need anymore info and I'll see what I can do.
-DevilPig