Choosing a first 18650 flashlight

I understand. I am not a fan of that firmware either. The Biscotti driver is quite good.

I don’t own a bunch of multi thousand lumen lights. I like simple, 3 or 4 modes, hidden blinkies, less than 1000 lumen lights for the most part. Hence my favorite lights aren’t exactly everyone else’s favorites nor are they the newest latest and greatest. Hope you find the perfect light for you. The deluge of hot rod triple and quad suggestions are sure to come. Enjoy. :slight_smile:

Thanks for all the suggestions! You gave me a good amount of review reading to do.

So far, the SP40 is still in the lead for me due to practicality of the wide beam angle, ability to “tail stand” with it pointing at something I’m working on, the bonus of the magnetic tail cap, ability to go probably as bright or brighter than I need, plus the great convenience of the built-in USB charging, which means I wouldn’t even need to get a charger right now.

I’d like to stick with single cell lights and I’m shying away from “hot rods” (literally haha) because although fun, I probably wouldn’t use those capabilities much.

Kilroy toddcshoe Bearbreeder LeftWing Great suggestions! The BLF A6 seems nice with moonlight and regulated output, though the lack of USB charging makes it hard to justify over the SP40. Similarly for the S2+. Both seem pretty refined though.

What have you done, @toddcshoe ?! Now I’m also tempted by the C01S. I dislike clutter and carry very little on me (sometimes not even a wallet). So a tiny AAA keychain light to go with my tiny 1.5” bladed pocket/keychain knife might be very useful and still satisfy the minimalism.

@jon_slider The C01S follows your advice of high CRI, but I’ll pass on the flamethrowers for now. :wink:

@Lightbringer The price per lumen on the Teslacom is pretty fantastic. But aside from the points already mentioned, it seems to require button top cells, and my laptop pulls are flat tops, so that’s a non-starter.

In summary, SP40 is still in the lead (with a C01S trying to sneak into the order :S ). I appreciate learning of what’s out there and what others like/dislike in them. I’ll probably wait until 11/11 or BF sales before buying anything, so I’ll still be reading and rereading your suggestions and researching reviews.

If you want to try the Teslacom, its very easy to turn some flat tops into button tops if you have a soldering iron. Just search “solder blob 18650” on google.

I’ve soldered to NiMH batteries and it wasn’t pretty with my non-temperature-adjustable soldering iron. I’m definitely not keen on that idea with LiIon cells.

For indoor use and close work, I have a strong preference for smooth, wide beams. My favorite is a zoomie set to flood, but some sort of triple or quad LED using lenses, or perhaps a "mule" (i.e., a light with neither reflector nor lens) would do just as well.

Working on electronics and around the car screams headlamp. Hands-free is a big deal.

For almost any application, you can now get lights that have a good user interface, negligible power drain when off, high-CRI, neutral tint, and minimal or no PWM ("pulse width modulation"), so I tend to hold out for those as well.

Yes, I currently use the SK68 on flood for everything. Sometimes at close very close range it’s almost too bright, while a bit further away I occasionally wish it were wider and brighter. Longer run-time and not noticeably losing brightness after 30 minutes would be my other desired improvements compared to it. Otherwise I’ve generally been quite pleased with it, especially for $7 ?

Hands-free and roll-free are a big deal too, yes! I’ve held the SK68 in my mouth and that was neither comfortable nor tasty.

There are lots of great lights for different applications, but I am trying to be disciplined and get one great generalist. Or was that two? :stuck_out_tongue:

That's how it starts... just one or two.

Coupla thoughts on the C01S…

The standard UI with High then Low isn’t my favorite. Missed the BLF version that starts on Low.

The beam is very tight with little spill compared to my other 1xAAA lights. My preference is for wider, floodier profiles on the little guys.

Still a nice light, and of course these factors could be positives or negatives depending on what you need.

I’m just a couple weeks into my flashlight adventure, and I ended up getting the following as my first flashlights.

BLF A6 - fantastic little light.
Convoy S2+ - also a great little light. I would suggest the biscotti ui though.
Convoy C8+ - amazing throw
Emisar D4Sv2 - wow. That’s all I can say about this one.

For edc I like the s2+ and A6 the best (in regards to what I own so far)

Holding a flashlight in your mouth is never a good idea.

Exploding flashlight kills man

One more vote for the S2+. With the smooth reflector, it’s a general purpose beauty of just the right size, moreso if you pick a smaller LED like the 219C or (I figure) the SST-20. Just avoid the horribly outdated 3/5 firmware, that one is pants-on-head.

If you want a tube flashlight for indoor use then the S2+ with Biscotti, 4000k hi CRI led and 60° TIR for a clean wide even beam is perfect, and for using it with laptop pulls i'd go for 4x 7135 (1.4A max) that will give 400-500lm wich is imho far enough for that kind of use

Simon from Convoy flashlight Store will customize it for you if asked to.

A 90 angled light might be fine too but i have yet to see one with all these features and such low price out of the store (on the other hand an X1R Eagle Eye is cheap enough and can be modded easily)

Edit : BLF A6 and all the other hotrods are very nice and all but i would not use them with laptop batteries

Heres a reviewer using dollar store power bank battery pulls for BLF A6 testing, he even uses turbo

If you dont use the higher modes constantly itll work fine

Here is a BLF member a few days ago having a mode locked s2+ from biscotti. notice how folks are quick to recommend biscotti but dont answer if you get one of the problematic ones?

Its an issue that shows up every now and then

https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/bymyt3/beware_convoysimon_is_still_selling_drivers_with/

https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/c83fsz/convoy_s2_memory_mode_stuck/

If you are one of the unlucky ones then youll need to reflash or replace the driver. Which means soldering or more hardware, and on the 6/8x7135 versions even more soldering

Which might be fine for a DIY flashaholic, but maybe not for an average consummer

If you like the sofirn SP40 or SC31b just go with those

I have both, the SP40 is on my desk right now … its a good value light

When you’re pulling spot-welded tabs/strips off cells like that, you’re almost always going to have a tailing left over. Either sharp that’ll cut up your thumb when you try feeling if anything’s there, or the leftover weld that may just be a raised bump, or anything in-between.

Either way, it’ll all but never be a perfectly flat top unless you take a jeweler’s file to it or something.

Sure, it won’t have a great contact area, but it’ll be under pretty high pressure over such a concentrated area that it will make solid contact. And with current shared across 4 cells, no single cell is going to be traumatised too much by current draw.

It sounds like you might like the YLP Panda 2M CRI The beam is so wide, smooth, bright, and beautiful that it’s my EDC right now. I need a headlamp every morning to unlock my bike, and since I rarely go back in the house after that, it just stays in my pocket.

Warm tint and high CRI are extremely valuable to me (YMMV), especially for electronics. The only thing I don’t like about this particular headlamp is that if I don’t twist the cap to lock it out, it does occasionally turn on in my pocket. It’s extremely unlikely to catch on fire, I just don’t want an unexpected dead battery.

Please, you make it sound so much harder than it actually is. Doing a driver swap on two Convoys was literally my first solder job ever and it turned out fine.

the C01s pocket clip is reversible, so it also works as a hatlamp
I use Eneloops, so the charger I suggested meets that need for me

the 18650 lights I suggested were to meet your criteria of 18650 power, they are inexpensive and capable of very low modes, which I find very useful

I would throttle them down so they never get too hot to hold,
by setting the thermal sensor to its minimum value
they can also be set to muggle mode, which similarly will prevent high heat

I have Zero interest in more than 600 lumens, more than that is not sustainable anyway.
I usually use less than 200 lumens and have no 18650 lights, they are too heavy for my EDC…

my criteria are,

  1. High CRI
  2. Low Weight (less than 100 grams with battery installed)
  3. aaa and 16340 are my battery choices… no AA, and no 18650 for me

I do think you are on the right track by specifying what battery size you want to use, that really helps focus your options, and adding a High CRI criteria, shortens the list significantly.

enjoy whatever you choose, youre getting plenty of suggestions
I hope you share your impressions once you have tried some lights

Please …

You make it seem like you need to fix your own brand new light

Now you need a soldering iron just to get a s2+ with biscotti issues to work properly now

I mean a normal consumer is looking for a light that works out of the box properly. Not a DIY fix it upper :wink:

Or you could buy a light without that issue, or one where they actually have actual warranty beyond sending a new driver

Perfect first 18650 light. Low cost, how quality and very customizable if you message the Convoy Store. I have one with an OP reflector and SST-20 which I love. I actually want to build a S2+ host, just need to find a driver I like which would be compatible with 18650 or 2xCR123 operation.

There is no temperature setting on an adjustable iron that is lithium chemistry safe. I run as hot as possible to reduce solder time.

Won’t claim it’s advisable either way.