What do you use your flashlights for?

LED Flashlights – General Info
5

I don’t actually EDC my flashlights, only grab them at home or when doing DIY work at home.
So the typical use cases are vacuuming, cleaning, searching for stuff, car repair jobs, and general projects in the garage or “workshop” (which is a room that contains tools, not more).

But I also use flashlights to illuminate projects that are “small”, like working with electronics, soldering and stuff like that.

6

My flashlight collection is not just show, most of them are in use regularly.

- Although I work as a software developer, I also have to work with electronics and mechanics. That leads to situations where you work at places without light. Also a flashlight is handy when you drop something small and try to find it.

- I have dogs. Dogs don’t care about the illumination outside, but I tend to need some light when it is absolutely dark in the forest. Also it helps not to be shot by a hunter. One flashlight for near illumination (headlamp preferred, e.g. my H52Fw), one for the distance (e.g. C8) and one for visibility (e.g. S2 with custom firmware and diffuser).

- EDC: Something small like the BLF 348 or the Sofirn C01S. Use it almost every day for a few seconds to a few minutes for all kind of stuff. Dropped parts, looking inside small devices, trying to read part numbers on ICs or just the lost spinach between my teeth. During winter (in the northern hemisphere) I tend to carry an additional bigger light (e.g. SC63w) to find my way to the car or similar situations.

- Indoor illumination. I prefer to have just a slightly lit environment at the evening, so I ceiling bounce a flashlight at low level.

- Powerful flashlights can be used as a hand warmer. Not the greatest efficiency, but it works. Just make sure to stop before it burns a hole in your pocket.

- I’m not a fidget spinner or pen spinning person, so I play with flashlights.

7

Nice posts everyone :beer:

Regarding bike lights

I use this setup when biking in the dark.

Front: Convoy S2+ Red - XP-L U5 7A3 3000K with the “strip lens” optic. Creates a very wide beam. Stops it from blinding oncoming traffic.
Front: a mount that can take a D4S. for “high beam” situations. Mostly just SAG.
Back: UltraFire U-S2 Black - XP-E2 R2 Red 620nm. 60 degree optic. 4x7135 convoy driver. Usually runs at max 20%. That red led is redonkulous :smiley:



8

I can see we figured out similar things.

This is my basic “biking set”. From left to right:

  1. Convoy S2+ 3xLuxeon V2: 3000K, 4000K, 5000K, Carlco striped optics, with local 4,2A driver with unbelievable config possibilities
  2. Convoy S2+ 1xLuxeon V 4000K, Carclo striped optics, the same driver
  3. Convoy S2+ 1xXR-E red 620nm, Carclo round 60degree optics, the same driver (rear light)
  4. Emisar D4S 4xXP-L HI 4000K
  5. Armytek Wizard Warm [on head]
    The driver I use in Convoys has a temp. control so in many cases I just set it to max and go. The rear light I set to just one mode: pulsing. During daytime rides I use no. 2 and 3.

9

My usage:

Headlamps for night fishing (skilhunt h03, nitecore hc65, armytek wizard pro v3) etc
Headlamps for night trail run or hiking (Nitecore HC65 etc)
Camping: i use headlamps and handheld, i usually have a powerful light close to hand and a light headlamp for cooking and toilet.
Exploring buildings and day hikes: I have cheap 1000 lumen lights in backpack for caves etc (cheap thorfire, convoy s2 etc)
i have 3 lights in the car, and a few in each cupboard in the house for power cuts. also i have a few in the garage.

Also during winter i carry smaller lights EDC for morning walks so cr123 size stuff as im up and out walking at half five and in winter where i am its dark and places with no street lights and fields at times.

So nothing exciting flashlights are just tools like a knife or a car jack, and i LOVE them.

10

Lo-setting ceiling bounce lighting for dark conference room during PowerPoint presentations so folks can see well enough to take notes. Really.

Dogs at night.

Finding stuff in dark places.

Working under the sink, etc.

11

I carry an 18350 light in the shirt at work just to have something. Almost always a SolarForce L2P or L2T on the duty belt. I go from well light to pitch black areas in minutes at work. Old eyes like massive lumens for alleys and empty buildings.

12

Haha, true :smiley: :beer:

That is a sweet setup you got there.

That “local” driver sounds interesting :student:

13

The local driver

I hope you can manage to use some auto-translator. If there’s interest, I can help to acquire.

14

I use them to replace what I’m missing in my life. Kids are too busy for me, i buy a light. Job ticks me off i buy a light. Wife ignores me, i buy a light. Not taking my medication, i buy a light. Taking my medication…waaaaiiiittttt!!! I’m seeing a pattern

15

I carry a quad Samsung LH351D W6 in 5000K on my belt all the time, I made it from scratch out of Titanium with a Tellurium Copper head finned for heat displacement. It uses an 18500 cell. That said, I also have the Texas Poker around my neck, designed by me and made for me by Photon Fanatic over 6 years ago. Yes, except for bathing the little 10440 light is with me always.

My 230+ collection is used as needed, all are on standby with charged cells.

But my primary use for flashlights is to keep me busy. :smiley: Modifying them is my hobby and pastime and getting the absolute most out of a light is rewarding. A few of my friends think so too. lol I’ve been here what 6 years? And have built some 1000 lights. I learned how because I was a photographer and needed easy portable light for Macro images on location, rings, invitations, like that at weddings usually. Once I learned how, I quickly became addicted and the rest is history. :wink:

Edit: By the way, while I DO talk too much I got the tremendously high post count by helping with multiple group buys here, testing prototypes and building/testing prototype drivers while also answering the tons of questions on the lights from the folks in the forum wanting to join in the group buy. I have had physical issues for a couple of decades, which means I tend to have more free time than some… or no life, however you want to look at it. lol

My EDC

16

I edc a single sw45k in a Ti Stepless Rotary
I also have triples in Rotaries, 3500k by the bed, 4500k on the desk…
all are High CRI

I resemble those remarks…

I also use my light to find stuff I drop, to see inside my other flashlights, to walk through a dark house, illuminate a keyhole, before bed to reset my brain to warm white w low blue stimulus, to read labels, scan the back yard and driveway for homeless people that want to spend the night

and a lot of beam color photo comparisons to post on flashlight forums… lol

17

I work in an auto plant and photos are a huge no-no so I don’t have any action shots (I have only ever snuck about 6 photos out and one video of the place to show close friends / family) but I mostly use my light to locate dropped nuts, bolts & clips in the engine bay / bodies. I also use it to shine into the back glass to check if the defrost coupler has broken off the glass (it looks like a shiny spec in the glass if it has). Also to get peoples attention.

At home, since I work 2nd shift (4p-1a) I use my lights for all sorts of stuff cause I’m up at night. Mainly sneaking around to not wake up my wife lol. I also walk the dogs when I get home at 2am and do my vehicle maintenance at 3 in the morning. My main doing stuff time is 2a-5a so I’m always using a light!

18

Mostly I play with mine. They're cheaper than guns and knives and you can use them almost anywhere. I'm currently swapping different LEDs, reflectors and optics in and out of my platoon of S2+. A SST-20 behind a 20deg optic hits that sweet spot between flood and throw.

I ran a family (6) of trash bandits out of the yard the other night. A pair of C8 lights made them uncomfortable I guess.

EDIT: Did you know that racoon eyes reflect blue green when illuminated by a flashlight? Kinda surreal when there's a group of them.

19

I have a guess as to which plant you work in. :smiley:

Keep up the good work! :+1:

20

Headlamps

  • Boruit EHL0628; Rovyvon E300s; Acebeam H20 - I use them while fixing some stuff at home, namely electric parts, windows, … Sometimes I use them when cleaning as well! Are not the most used lights I have, but they surely are handy when needed

Cleaning lights

  • Wuben TO46R and others - used when I am cleaning the house, to check if the floor is well cleaned :smiley:

Bathroom light

  • Convoy S2+ w/ XML2 T6-4C & diffuser on the lens - I figured I needed to have a flashlight there for the times I want to go to WC without needing the ceiling light of juts to inspect the tubes or walls, or whatever needed there :stuck_out_tongue:

Closet light

  • Wuben TO10R - it sits in a closet in my kitchen above my sink and near the water cylinder. I use it often to check things in the kitchen and once it has magnetic tailcap and good runtime, I used to use it as a “sink light” while I was doing washing my dishes. Then I installed an LED strip and the TO10R got some rest :wink:

UV Light

  • Tool AA w/ Nichia UV 365nm: I use it when cleaning near the stove, to see the grease and to clean it! Also when making reviews and to distinguish some LEDs (CW from NW and WW) :wink:

Keychain lights

- RovyVon A5R - almost everyday when I enter my home’s building, instead of lighting the stairs!

  • Led Lensed K2 - in my “work” keychain, I normally like to play with it. Just use it for second to really light something!

Neck light

  • RovyVon A8U - use it almost everyday when I don’t have another lights around. I put it on when I get dressed and take it out when I go to bed! So during that time, it gets used a few times!

Bedside light

- Sofirn SP32 (v1.0) - I have this light on my bedside with a Convoy cone diffuser and use it every night instead of the bedside lamp. Either on Moon or Low, just before going to sleep so that I don’t have to deal with a brighter light before bedtime. It have it inside a foam ring so that it tailstands well.

  • Jetbeam RRT-01 (CRX version with tritium in the tail) - It is used when I got to my parents home and I need to use it during the night. Tritium vial helps locating it in the dark and the loooooow levels it has are very helpful so that I don’t wake up anybody :wink:

Backpack light

  • Olight M1T Raider - I have it outside the backpack that I carry when I got to work. It doesn’t get used so often but it is handy specially when I get out later. It is on the backpack strap easily accessible to pick when needed.

Indoor lights

- Convoy S2+ Desert Tan Triple; Sofirn SF10 w/ Luxeon V - these have lighted tailcaps, one sits in my living room and the other in my bedroom. These are used everyday before I go to bed. Having drivers with low moonlight levels, they are ideal for the eyes starting adapting to bedtime !

  • Wuben T70 - with a homemade diffuser, it is useful when I don’t want to use my electrical lights :smiley: The lowest levels are quite good for ambient light.

Wallet light

  • Olight i3T EOS - Used less time than the others, but I carry it in my Arc wallet along with a Sanremu knife and a Lamy Pico pen. Ideal for being small and thin, fits well in the pockets. I see it more as a backup light than as a principal light, so I only use it from time to time.

EDC lights

  • Acebeam TK16 ALU Osram, Klarus XT1C, OTR M1 w/ Triple XP-G2, Convoy T2 w/ Luxeon V, Jaxman w/ Triple XP-G2 - there are my EDC lights. I pick one in the beginning of the day and that light will be used according to the needs. Lately the Acebeam is my chosen one, but the others get to be used as well.

Walking lights

- Olight M2R Warrior, Klarus XT1C - When I go for a night walk, alone or with my girlfriend, I normally pick one of these lights to go out. Both have immediate access to Turbo and Strobe, so they are useful to signaling my position on crosswalks of darker places. They’ve been useful as sometimes drivers are looking to the moon instead of the road…

  • Odepro TM08 - also has instant strobe, so it is useful to be used as walking light with a Convoy M2 diffuser. It helps signaling my position in a very dark road. Normally I carry it + the Amutorch AM30 :smiley:

Countryside light

  • Amutorch AM30 - My beast light used in my parents home. I use it on weekends when I go there, to check the yard, the back yard, the river, and everything around in a 200-300m ray! I also use it to check around my aunts’ home that is close. It is my little beast!!!

Special Lights

  • FW3A and Emisar D4 (v1) - These are my specials. I carry them from time to time, but not everyday! I pick them in specific occasions mostly when I now I may need burst modes for some moments but not for continued use. These have a special place in my collection, though.

OTHERs
Well, many other lights are just sitting in the box, waiting for a new light to come to help on the comparison. I try to use them every month so they don’t get lonely, but it’s not always possible. I normally use them when I want to compare or show something.

And this is how I use my lights! Am I sick? :smiley:

21

My throwers for the nightly perimeter check - we live on 20 acres - and don’t mind carrying 26650 lights for that. Plus the D4S for when more flood is needed or to show off to my wife.
The 18650 lights are for coming home late at night (and to support BLF group buys). I use whatever light has a battery that needs discharging, but like the FW3’s and BLF A6 most. In fact that A6 is my favorite even though it is said to be “an old design and there are better choices now,” but it is perfect for me, like an old friend. Maybe the FW3 titanium/copper will change that when it arrives.
The BLF LT1 lanterns will be for power outages and will get a lot of use.
Backpacking (true confession here), I just cannot leave without my cat v6. But use a headlight around camp.
Whatever provides good use and is fun!

22

I use my lights to be able see things like I did when I was twenty-something… lithium-ion revenge upon the calendar… had to say it…

23

photography
finding tiny things on floor [lay light down, shine across floor]
illuminating magnifiers
avoiding finding unfamiliar light switches in rooms i will not be in long
inspecting under a car in daylight [need lots of lumens]
reading close up things in the dark [need very few lumens]

also if the light is too bright, i will point it away from the actual subject
[like kids trying to sleep]
or tailstand it to light the room but not go bright in a face
or close my hand around it to block some of the light

wle

24

Basics, mainly. Lighting up things when dark, tailstanding as a small nightlight when leaving a room vs turning on a light, lighting up a room vs turning on a light (eg, haven’t turned on the basement lights in years).