Difficult Low Cost Choice. 3AAA and 18650 compatible.

I already have a torch that can use 3 X AAA cells or a single 18650 cell and I like the ability to choose either option in the same torch ... The torch is a Saik SA-8 and I was thinking of buying a slightly more expensive one up to about £20 ... Below are five possibilities chosen from Ebay.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130354059181&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £20-54.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250436849522&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £18-46



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380196418733&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £14-86




http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250477615816&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £11-62



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330350042748&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £19-12




I have no experience in the above torches and I am hoping that some of you will point me to the best of the cheapish bunch.

The prices include postage to the UK ... If there are any others that you can suggest that are in this price range, please let me know ... I cannot justify spending more than this.

I would like the torch to use either 3 X AAA in a cassette or a single 18650 cell ... I would like two or three modes ... I am not worried about the strobe effect as I doubt whether I would use the facility ... A nice high of perhaps 150 to 200 lumens plus a lower level ... Sorry I haven't included any of the top makes of torch, but the old age pension mainly goes on other things.

Sorry about the blue colour print ... I can't seem to change it to black.

I hope you can help.
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march.brown said:

I already have a torch that can use 3 X AAA cells or a single 18650 cell and I like the ability to choose either option in the same torch ... The torch is a Saik SA-8 and I was thinking of buying a slightly more expensive one up to about £20 ... Below are five possibilities chosen from Ebay.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130354059181&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £20-54.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250436849522&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £18-46



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380196418733&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £14-86




http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250477615816&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £11-62



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330350042748&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT £19-12




I have no experience in the above torches and I am hoping that some of you will point me to the best of the cheapish bunch.

The prices include postage to the UK ... If there are any others that you can suggest that are in this price range, please let me know ... I cannot justify spending more than this.

I would like the torch to use either 3 X AAA in a cassette or a single 18650 cell ... I would like two or three modes ... I am not worried about the strobe effect as I doubt whether I would use the facility ... A nice high of perhaps 150 to 200 lumens plus a lower level ... Sorry I haven't included any of the top makes of torch, but the old age pension mainly goes on other things.

Sorry about the blue colour print ... I can't seem to change it to black.

I hope you can help.
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Click to expand...

I was hoping that someone out there could give some guidance as to the reliability and quality of construction of these torches ... I realise they are not going to be the same quality as say a Fenix, but any help would be appreciated ... They are all of a roughly similar size and specification ... Perhaps there is one whose qualities "outshines" the rest of the bunch.

Many Thanks.
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Of those three brands, the one I consistently hear the best things about is Romisen, so I suggestion going with that one.

If you want I think you might also be able to save a little money getting this light off dealextreme.com, where I believe it is also available. There are also some user reviews of the light which are all quite positive.

I have the UltrafFire U4-MCU and its a very nice versatile torch that can run on anything you stuff in it. If you need a good thrower i would recommend it so far. The romisen seems to be identical so i believe you won't be disappointed with either of those two for the price.

Its not a very pocket friendly light though, with its 4+cm head width

There won't be much difference really, but the Romisens are generally considered to be the top end of the budget lights, so go with that.

Its not worth 30% more then the identical UF, and im 99% sure that the laser print is the only difference between the lights.

Do Romisen buy "First Quality" components from their suppliers and do the Romisen (lookalikes/clones) buy "Second Quality" components ? ... This would explain the reason for the large price difference ... It can't just be the silk-screen-printing that is the only difference, can it ?
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Well, in the end I went for this one at $22 ... It's a Romisen and the price is right.

http://www.bestofferbuy.com/romisen-rcu4-3mode-cree-led-flashlight-3aaa2cr123a186503v8v-p-13427.html

Many Thanks for all your help, you swayed me to the Romisen.
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hope you like it. Post a review when you get it.

Yep for that price romisen is a good choice i think. I picked up the MC-U from bestofferbuy, identical product, 40 cents price difference... Just check if theres good contact between the pill and the head, i stuffed some thin aluminum sheet in between... it has good contact now for sure, but i doubt ill ever get it out again haha

I will post a reply when I get it (eventually, from the Far East) ... As a Romisen, it should be OK as they do seem to get good reviews for a cheaper torch ... I'll check if it needs the aluminium sheet modification too ... For $22 including postage to the UK, I think it is great ... I do like the idea of a torch that will take three AAA cells plus the option to use a 18650.

It might be marginally too big for pocket carry but I will try it ... I have quite big jacket pockets ... My Saik SA-8 with the 18650 is OK ... My Trustfire F20 (Nkoray K106 lookalike) is even better ... I might be forced to carry two torches just to be certain !

In another of my threads, I find that I can use a 18650 in the Solarforce L2i ( 3AAA) ... This makes a great single mode torch for the house and gives three times the run-time.

I might get another single AA torch, just to have a spare one round the house ... Probably the Nkoray K106 or Trustfire F20, though I fancy a stainless one instead.

I can't really understand why I need/like to have more torches than I really do need ... It is not logical ... I even worry that the ones I leave in the car are too good for the job ... It is definitely not logical.
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