Luckily it’s not a zoomie so I can say “Nice light but no zoomie.” instead of “I’m to stingy for such a light.”
I’ve seen one or two similar flashlights for divers. One had a dimmer switch. (stepless light output). They advised to remove the battery because (magnetic?) sliding switches have a small power leak….?
So they do exist. Perhaps only in the (somewhat) more expensive price range.
I’m preferring the around $20 but if a light meets most of my wishes I’m willing to at least double that.
General question: If the specs state “18650 battery” without more detail does that mean all 18650’s fit? Protected, unprotected, flat top, button top or a combination.
No. 18650 means the battery is nominally 18mm diameter x 65mm height, But in practice there is quite a bit of variation, & the protection circuit adds an additional 2-3mm approx.
And if they are button top, then that adds to the length as well.
Thus unfortunately, there often is an issue fitting a particular battery into a particular flashlight. So always check before buying either one.
Take a look at this thread I started recently, I have a list with links to zoomies I’ve been looking at recently:
Although it’s way over your budget for this the Fenix FD40 may be the only zoomie with a side switch, at least I can’t think of any other.
And there aren’t many low price zoomies without blinky modes.
_
I agree with Alcius, I think the Convoy BD04 may be the best option for you:
Price under $21 (with 15% BLF discount)
No strobe or SOS if you chose 3-mode (mode option 2)
You can choose your preferred tint color
Looks like a metal on/off mode switch on the tail
Fits protected or unprotected batteries (flattops)
Has built in USB charging, if that’s something you could use.
The Convoy BD04 looks nice. Zoomie, clip, no blinky, good memory, price is ok.
I have flattop 18650 batteries. Diameter 18mm, length 64mm. I’m wondering they will work in that flashlight. Not because of the size, which is very close to keengeorge’s numbers, but because the flattop may not make electrical contact.
Unfortunately the batteries are unbranded red without anything on it. They come from a Dell laptop battery pack which had ‘Made in Japan’ on it,
My current light is a Outlite A100 Cree XML-T6 LED Bulb,Adjustable focus, Zoom out 500-700 Lumen,Zoom in 700-900 Lumen.
The BD04 is 600 Lumen.
In theory it looks the Outlite is a little brighter. But is that really so? The advertised numbers quite often seem to be overly positive, not to say a scam.
I really like the option of USB charging because I have lots op USB cables and chargers, also in my car. That adds a lot of flexibility which is good.
It worries me a bit that USB charging thingy gets misplaced. Anyone knows I can leave it permanently on the flashlight with it falling off. That’s likely how I would use it because after every (short) use I’ll likely put it my car charger. That means I have to have that thing with me at all times.
Why not just leave the cable in the car since that’s where it’ll be used. You have a glove box, yes? Or maybe a center console?
But I’m considering my ordered life. Maybe your’s isn’t like mine.
Too, there are solutions for flat top cells if they don’t work; dabs of solder, magnets, but possibly the best solution I’ve seen are some flat top battery connectors. The link is somewhere on the forum, but can I find it now? No.
I understand completely ZoomieFan!! :money_mouth_face: … :money_mouth_face: … I’d just have to say I was to stingy……. :money_mouth_face: :money_mouth_face:
I should have made it clear I was just using it as an example of a “sliding switch” for the member who said he “had not seen one in years”.
My how the sliding switch has evolved since the days of the old chrome Rayovac……….
My life is chaos. And that’s reflected everywhere I go!
Seriously, I have chargers/cables about everywhere. Car, office, several rooms at home and even at places I frequently.
visit. My only concern is the that charging cap that clicked on the flashlight. I have only one of that.
Now I even more hope to find a zoomie with a sliding switch. I was just looking for a 3 settings + off but a dimmer switch is ideal if it works as advertised.
The tech exists but I have yet to find it all combined into one flashlight.
There are quite a few diving zoomies (for filming) but they zoom only from 15 to 45 degrees. 140 when a cap is taken off.
Many of those lights are around 200 lumen. The search goes on……
I have an inexpensive diving light that has a simple sliding on/off switch, but the problem is that they use water for heat management* and doesn’t work so well in the air. I didn’t bring it up because it didn’t meet your specs.
Yep, it would have; if 500 lumens were even possible back then.
Somewhere, I still have my old Rayovac like the one below. If I can locate it I may try to “spice it up” a little.
I think that would be hilarious to use it as a “host” and make it a more “modern” light.
Looks like you have a good start on the ‘sliding switch zoomie’ hunt…. I’m betting you’ll track one down before the hunt ends. :+1:
I theory it can be souped up. But I think it requires a lot of work. The reflector likely is plastic that melts with a bright led. Less likely, but possible is that the switch doesn’t handle the current very well.
On the bright size there is a lot of space for batteries. An easier way would be to insert a small flashlight with a remote switch.
Makes me think of my idiot math teacher. He had a Porsche engine in his VW Beetle. Just for fun and to outrun luxury cars
I’m no a proud Convoy BD04 owner!
I really like it’s compact but still powerful. Ok at 650 lm it’s not the brightest light but there are always some trade offs.
I wonder why it uses a U2 LED in stead of the more efficient U3 or U4 LEDs.
I used the zoom function a few times. But that was nothing more that testing (impressive). So ZoomieFan didn’t zoom very much
I really like the wide flood. When the lens and ring is removed the flood is even wider but I don’t like a unprotected LED.
I’ve tried to do some studying on the various types of LEDs and figured out some excel at a wide flood while other excel at long throw.
Which LED is the best flooder?
Comparing specs on Gearbest confuses me.
Convoy BD04
Luminous Flux 650 Lumens
Lumens Range 500-1000 Lumens
Convoy S2+
Luminous Flux 960 Lumens
Lumens Range 500-1000 Lumens
How can the range exceed the flux. How can the range be the same for all models?
Revisiting my own thread.
I still very much like this flashlight but perhaps I’m going to buy another flashlight.
Spec sheets vary greatly: 270, 600, 650, 1000 lumen
I really would like to know which is the correct output of Low, Medium and High.
That would make it much easier to select my next flashlight.
The wattage of the bulb varies greatly too. 5-10 Watt.
Not claiming to be an expert but most specsheets seem to agree the max. draw is 1A.
A cell is 3.6v. Doesn’t that mean the LED is 3.6 Watt.
I don’t care if your answers are a few percent wrong. I just want to read the specs of a flashlight and be able to conclude it’s 40-50% brighter than my little friend BD04.