In search of 2 different lights. 1. large high output keep around the house like to replace a 3d maglite and 1. pocket light

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

I’ve read, and read, and read… I’ve looked at thousands of flashlights… and I’ve reached the point of asking for help.

I’m looking for 2 lights for myself. On light that’s comparable to a maglite only brighter… I see a lot of xm-l lights on banggood with almost unbelievable numbers like the one right below this paragraph… are they legit? am I looking too cheap?

or http://www.banggood.com/Ultrafire-CREE-XM-L-T6-2000lm-Zoomable-LED-Flashlight-Suit-p-918679.html

For the pocket light i’m thinking that rights in my pocket next to my phone. Nothing to sharp I’ve got a gun for self defense I need something I can use when I don’t have a big light with me and I need to find a lost screw under my desk or keep from busting my face at night.

Extra Credit: My father has a small farm and could use a very bright light for checking cows. I’d like to update him from the walmart black and decker spot light but I’ve not even begun to look at what that might cost me. Suggestions are welcome.

P.S. This is my first post on this forum but i’ve been lurking and scouring for info for a few days and I’ve got to say this is one of the more positive forums i’ve visited.

2

Those lights you listed are cheapies, probably 200-300 lumens max. You also didn't say what your budget was for all the lights. Best light deal you could probaby get for your father right now is the Sunwayman D40A for $50 shipped, as it takes AA batteries, and you can just buy him some eneloops for it. As for your other lights, we need to know your budget.

3

I was afraid those numbers on banggood might be bogus. I’d like to stay under $50 for both but I’m a fan of buy right the first time and only buy once so if another $20 gets me twice the light I’d rather wait and set back the extra. So my budget is good bright light that will last as cheap as I can get… $50 probably won’t put me on the couch… I’d have to explain $100… which I’d do be convincing her that the light helps me keep her safe.

4

For the big light, you can't go wrong with the SupFire M6 that is at RMM's store. It takes 4 18650 and makes a ton of light with a nice beam profile, will last quite a while on cells in the lower modes. It's about $40 in stock form, if Richard modifies it for you (highly recommended) it will have a better user interface (easier modes, more of em, with protections) and be about $30-40 more. For the level 2 mod it's around 5000 actual out the front lumens and unbelievable! With 7 modes, it's easy to use without having to resort to a too bright or too low mode, but the low is like a cheap keychain, making the light usable for many different tasks.

For the smaller light, wow there's a ton of choices. And a ton of arguments for many of them. Again though, you can get a cheap Convoy S6 at Richards that will surprise you in it's capabilities, a simple tube style with a clicky tail switch, very easy to pocket. He's got it for a little over $10 for the host, it'd need a $4 driver and $6 copper star/emitter that's pretty easily assembled. If you can't solder a couple of simple connections, myself or others here would be happy to do it for you.

So, right there are 2 lights that will easily satisfy your needs, with both probably going beyond your expectations. About $130 for both, with batteries. That being with the M6 set up nicely. Self defensive in it's own right with sheer force of maximum lumens. ;)

About $60 for both in stock form (without batteries) but still excellent performers.

Welcome to the forum! Bolt down that billfold, easy to spend money when you get addicted! :)

5

I would start with some good batteries, and a nitecore I2 charger. never,ever,ever,eeveeerrrrr touch any batteries with fire in the name (ultrafire, etc.) use the search bar at the top left to find out why.

I recommend a sipik sk68 or clone, you can find them for under 6 dollars. , or one of the convoy s series lights. another good light is a C8 style light.

The HD2010 is great for cow checking, it is a good long range light. After a few modifications, it is an excellent light. Although, you will have to educate him on the potential dangers of li-ion.

check out mountain electronics, a usa based seller (FAST shipping).

edit:
(all from mnt electronics) 2 sanyo batteries, an I2, a S2 host, a xml-2 t6 4c on a noctigon, and a qlite

price breakdown (in order): $11.50, $13.99, $9.15, $6.79, $4.20, plus $4.95 for him to build it for you.

TOTAL: $50.13, not including shipping. (probably around 5 bucks)

it looks expensive, but all his prices are fair, and the end result will be a light you can enjoy for a long while.

this is just a example, you might like a different host, led or firmware for your driver.

6

Is that checking, are all the cows in the barn before closing the door for the night or checking, as when you want to find a particular cow in a herd spread over 20 acres or checking, like a prostate exam?


If you and your Dad are familiar with handling Li-ion cells a Yezl Y3 is a good light. With 2-3 cells it should have good runtime, brightness and throw.

http://wallbuys.com/Product/YEZL-Y3-Type-C-CREE-XM-L2-T6-1100LM-4-Mode-Memory-White-LED-Flashlight-with-2-Extension-Tubes-Black-1-2-3x26650--12116

If you'd rather stay with easier NiMH, get a Defiant Armormax 3D at Home Depot.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-ArmorMax-3D-Tactical-Flashlight-809-3731-D/203657321

Others here are much more EDC enthusiasts than I am.

7

I live my life by this principle. Buy a quality flashlight once, or a cheap one 10x over in the same amount of time. After many years of spending my money on cheap junk, you really come to appreciate solid products. One thing, that still remains true is "you get what you pay for" and that still ring true for 95% of the products on the market nowadays. But there are some real budget bargains to be had, or else you wouldn't be here! That being said, it's always worth it to pay a little and get something thats going to last, and not break a year from now.

One thing to really think about is where the flashlight switch is located. I use to think I would loved the rear tactical clicky lights (like I would imagine having it mounted on my m16 if I was a soldier in Iraq, but in reality I'm just a regular guy in the US of A), but honestly, I have come to find that side switch flashlights are the most comfortable to hold, turn on, and switch modes with.

You can try to stick under $50 for both flashlights, But I say live a little, splurge on something that exuberate's quality and top notch performance. Maybe the best of both worlds its to buy a brand name, quality product, and also buy a budget quality product, then go from there.

That being said there are really good deals to be had. The SupFire M6 is on my list of lights I want for myself, and its $45 shipped. The Convoy L4 is a hot budget quality flashlight right now for under $25 shipped, as well as the Sunwayman D40A thats $50 shipped, which I qould classify as Quality and budget friendly, as it's normally $60-$70 for the past year. It's really hard to not like any one of these because they all have side switches which will feel really good in the hand.

There are other's out there, but If I had to buy 2 lights for myself, I would get me the SupFire M6 and Convoy L4, and for my father, I would definitely get him a Sunwayman D40A. It's just an all around good light, that everyone seems to love. I feel like I got caught up and wrote too much, but I hope this helps.

8

It sure is hard to beat that Olight i6 for a friendly light with a great beam.

9

that’s checking cows in the middle of a 20 acre pasture… maybe setting the light on the back of the truck bed while he cuts bale strings in the winter. and “cough” looking at “cough” coyotes when they venture to close to the house.

10

looks like a good light but for the money I’ll probably go for the xm-l2 emitters

11

xml 2 vs t6 xmls is really a mute point

one is less than 100 lumens from the other and at close to 1000 lumens you can't tell one from another .

are you asking for lithium ion/ 18650 light options? or non lithium ion ??

I'm guessing that the solarstorm lights sc01 /sc02 sc03 everyone is so amped about would be a great choice . (banggood or fasttech ) if you want straight tube lights than the convoy lights have been recommended again and again and again ..convoy s2 with a 5c tint rocks for a 15~16$ light

12

I've been giving thought to the light for your Dad. I mean, he's your Dad so you don't want to cheap out on that one! And he's gonna be using it, so it needs to be tough, right? Maybe tossing it in the bed of the truck, whatever. So, being able to take a lickin and keep on tickin while also putting out a lot of light for a long ways is narrowing down the options quite a bit. I think the MAXToch SN6X-2X would be a good choice. Excellent anodizing so it'll hold up to some abuse, takes 2 cells and makes a LOT of light in stock form, while having great run time. It doesn't have a very low low, it's a working man's light. Comes on in Hi every time, low is more like a high medium. Medium is like a good normal high. and High is a throwing 96Kcd coyote illuminating .30-06 lovers dream! :) (mine's modded, of course, and makes 365Kcd)

About $60 complete with a nice case and lanyard.

13

You understand… though, I think his weapon of choice at the moment is his mini 14 rancher. the 30.06 makes too big of an exit wound if he wants to sell the pelts.

could you send me a link to a thread that would help me understand how to mod something like this?

I’m quite experienced with electronics from RC planes and cars. My soldering isn’t perfect but I’ll use the excuse to buy a nicer iron and start with one of mine first. I appreciate that there are guys who will mod for me but there’s nothing like taking something stock and making it better with your own hands.

lastly, how does Kilocandles convert to Lumens?

14

I've been here and there and modding lights for a couple 2 or 3 years now and that's a new term! Lux, candella, lumens...but Kilocandles? Hope someone has a clue what you're talking about cause I'm "in the dark" on that one, sorry.

Give Dr. Jones a holler, he'll know.

Modifying some of these lights is as easy as stacking a resistor on top of another. Others require stacking 7135 regulator chips, 4 solder points on each of those and it can get a bit tricky, but isn't really that bad. The MAXToch SN6X-2X is a simple resistor addition. And a new copper star for the thermal characteristics.

When you decide on a light, most anyone here will be more than happy to direct you as to how to modify it. There's probably already threads with pics showing you just what to do. ;)

15

(Hint: Kcd is an abbreviation for kilocandle)

16

Duh! lmao

17

Not directly convertible, two different things like water flow vs water pressure. Picture a candle producing 1 lumen, at 1 foot the light intensity is 1 candle. At 2 feet intensity is .25 candle, output is still 1 lumen.

18

I think that is too cheap for batteries but not for flashlights. Not sure about chargers.

19

That’s a good analogy, makes sense.