Full size LED 4000k flashlight

t9alejandro · Mar 6, 2019

Hello

I'm part of a forensic team that needs a certain type of flashlight and was wondering if you guys could help me out.
What I need is a full size flashlight light like this one
Streamlight SL-20L
It has to be rechargeable
And here comes the very important part that I cant seem to find.. It needs to be soft white around 4000k

Can anyone here point me in the right direction?

archimedes · Mar 6, 2019

Hello and welcome to CPF

Your post above has been approved, and thread moved to the Recommend Me a Light... forum

archimedes · Mar 6, 2019

There is a checklist "sticky" at the top of this particular forum which may be useful to "copy-paste" along with your responses here, which will help CPF to help you.

Your budget is perhaps the most important piece of info to add.

Other details might include more info on how you plan to use this light (do you care about tint and/or color rendering, as well as just color temp) and whether you only want a standard "out-of-the-box" production item or whether something custom / modded might be considered.

Good luck !

xxo · Mar 6, 2019

The Streamlight Ultra Stinger LED, Maglite Magcharger LED and ML150 should be around that tint ball park, though there is some variation from light to light.

You could probably fine tune the tint with something like a Lee filter.

defloyd77 · Mar 6, 2019

If it's for forensic use, you may want something with a high color rendering index (CRI) LED. This gives a more accurate color representation over a standard LED.

t9alejandro · Mar 7, 2019

It is mainly for searching for fingerprints via black powder. We have found that warm light from a non led flashlight works the best. However battery life is not ideal. So we are wondering if LED in that range would be better

t9alejandro · Mar 7, 2019

1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

____I would like to purchase the light in person from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.

_X__This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).

2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!

____I don't know yet
____Up to $25.
____Up to $50.
____Up to $100.
____Up to $200.
__X__Up to $300.
____Essentially unlimited.

3) Format:

____I am not sure, please help me decide.
__X__I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
____I want a self-contained headlamp.
____I want a headlamp with an external pack/power source.
____I want a mounted light (typically for a bicycle or vehicle)
____I want a lantern/area light.
____I want a portable spotlight (it may have an external power source).
____Other ____________________________________________

4) Size:

____MICRO - Keychain size.
____TINY - Every day carry (2-4 inches).
____SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
__X__MEDIUM - Holster/belt ring carry. (>7 inches)
____LARGE - Big enough to need its own travel case.
____I don't know/I don't care.

5) Emitter/Light source:

__X__LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
____I don't know.

6) Manufacturer:

__X__I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
____I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
__X__I am interested in assembling my own components. (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source).

7) What power source do you want to use?

____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable
Alkaline
batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable
Lithium
batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D and CR123 sized cells common to most stores (often a cold weather or long storage choice).
__X__I intend to use
Rechargeable cells
(NiMH or NiCD) based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
__X__I intend to use
Rechargeable cells
based on less common formats (18500 or 18650 Li-Ion, RCR123, et-al).
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery pack.
____I don't know/I need more information on power sources.

7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option

____I want a light that plugs directly into the wall (literally with prongs built into the light)
____I want a light that has a recharging adapter (your typical "wall wart")
____I want a light that snaps into a cradle (usually mounted on a wall)
____I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
__X__I don't care

8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need?
Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is not a happy experience).

____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (1-10 lumens).
__X__I want an indoor "blackout" light (15-50 lumens)
____I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
____I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
____I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
____I want search and rescue type illumination (800+ lumens).

____
SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category
- There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.

9)
Flood vs Throw:
Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.

_X___All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
__X__Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
_X___Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
____Narrow Throw: I want a beam with a very tight "hot center" and minimal "side-spill". Good for distance viewing, fog, and looking through dense undergrowth.
____Turbohead: I want a far-distance projector with a sharply focused spot of light and minimal or zero side-spill. Good for extreme distance and impressing your friends.

9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light
(check all that apply)
__X__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
__X__Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I am searching from a helicopter)

10) Runtime:
Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).

____Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
_X___3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).

11) Durability/Usage:
Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.

____Not Important (A "night-stand" light).
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
__X__Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
____I don't know.

12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):

_X___Any size switch will do.
____I need a BIG switch (I'll be using gloves or have very large hands or coordination issues).
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a twisty switch (Tighten the head/tailcap to activate, and the light will stay on until the head/tailcap is loosened).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
____I want a remote switch (usually found on high-end bicycle headlights)
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________________.

13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection.
Select all that apply.

__X__A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
____I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
____I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
____I want SOS mode. (blinks in ...---... emergency pattern)
____I want a beacon mode. (Regular flashes at full power to show location.)
____I don't care.
____I don't know.

14)Material/Finish/Coating

____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's higher end flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
__X__I don't care.
____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________.

15) Water resistance

____None needed
_X___IPX4 (Splash resistant)
____IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
____IPX8 (Submersible to greater than 1 meter for 4 hours)

16) Storage conditions

____In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
____Emergency kit (long standby periods)
__X__Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
____Other_________________________________________ ____

17) Special Needs/extras:
Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.

____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking, Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments

Melissa2007 · Jan 10, 2020

archimedes said:
There is a checklist "sticky" at the top of this particular forum which may be useful to "copy-paste" along with your responses here, which will help CPF to help you.

Your budget is perhaps the most important piece of info to add.

Other details might include more info on how you plan to use this light (do you care about tint and/or color rendering, as well as just color temp) and whether you only want a standard "out-of-the-box" production item or whether something custom / modded might be considered.

Good luck !

I'm missing the "sticky".

I've been looking for a full sized LED flashlight, myself, which was how I eventually found this thread. All the well-recommended LED flashlights seem to be only 4" long.

I want to replace my old halogen Mag-lite, with something lighter and more lumens, but 4000K and rechargeable with a similar dock as the Mag-lite, for under $100.

peter yetman · Jan 10, 2020

Melissa, it's considered bad form to hijack other people's threads. Best to start your own.

t9alejandro said:
Hello I'm part of a forensic team ...........
Can anyone here point me in the right direction?

With that sort of budget you could get an HDS.
They do an HDS Executive with an SS40 High Cri 225 lumen emitter. You can get it with a CR123 battery compartment, which also takes Li-Ion cells but is about 4 inches long. For an extra 60 dollars you can get a longer 18650 compartment which will also give you extra runtime. Although at the levels you are using it, the batteries will last forever.
The light is fully programmable with output varying from sublumen to full output.
It has 3 modes, plus a momentary which can all be programmed to the same level or any other that you choose.
My HDS is one of the toughest lights that I own and also it carries a no quibble warranty for life.
There's a "custom page" on the HDS site, which isn't easy to find, I have PM'd you the link. You can configure the exact light that you need. I ended up with this just now...
Custom EDC Executive: $296.00
Part number: CExSS40BsbLg123FCno
Description: exec, Hcri 225 lm SS40, svr bzl, blk bdy, uc glass, 123, flush btn, no clip

P

wicky998 · Jan 12, 2020

peter yetman said:
Melissa, it's considered bad form to hijack other people's threads. Best to start your own.

With that sort of budget you could get an HDS.
They do an HDS Executive with an SS40 High Cri 225 lumen emitter. You can get it with a CR123 battery compartment, which also takes Li-Ion cells but is about 4 inches long. For an extra 60 dollars you can get a longer 18650 compartment which will also give you extra runtime. Although at the levels you are using it, the batteries will last forever.
The light is fully programmable with output varying from sublumen to full output.
It has 3 modes, plus a momentary which can all be programmed to the same level or any other that you choose.
My HDS is one of the toughest lights that I own and also it carries a no quibble warranty for life.
There's a "custom page" on the HDS site, which isn't easy to find, I have PM'd you the link. You can configure the exact light that you need. I ended up with this just now...
Custom EDC Executive: $296.00
Part number: CExSS40BsbLg123FCno
Description: exec, Hcri 225 lm SS40, svr bzl, blk bdy, uc glass, 123, flush btn, no clip

P

good one P

to add..

you can get 18650 that can be recharged with a phone cable if buying a charger isnt what you want.

also a malkoff md3/4 with a neutral or nichia 219b dropin would last you forever as well .

the hds P mentioned is more pocketable if size is an issue

Full size LED 4000k flashlight

t9alejandro

Newly Enlightened

archimedes

Flashaholic

archimedes

Flashaholic

xxo

Flashlight Enthusiast

defloyd77

Flashlight Enthusiast

t9alejandro

Newly Enlightened

t9alejandro

Newly Enlightened

Melissa2007

Newly Enlightened

peter yetman

Flashlight Enthusiast

wicky998

Flashlight Enthusiast

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