Just need a cheap light
comes with the 18650, yes I know the capacity might be dubious
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_176964.html
The UKing is listed plenty at the low end
http://www.gearbest.com/cree-xm^^l2-\_gear/?odr=low2high&odr_value=1
The xm-l with the c8 seems to be a rather old emitter which is the only thing which puts me off that one.
Well you can’t be sure of the amperage or what led will be in either light.
I expect that both lights have fake (latticebright) emitter.
Because of this, it is a crapshoot as to which one will be better.
If these are your only 2 choices, then simply decide if you want a zoomie or not.
$12 Convoy S2 Cree XM-L U2-1B 2-Group 3/5-Mode EDC LED Flashlight
https://www.fasttech.com/product/1173302-convoy-s2-cree-xm-l-u2-1b-2-group-3-5-mode-edc
You can choose the tint and amperage of the driver. Get the 2800mA and you will be proud of it.
For the difference of only $5 or so I’d get the Convoy S2.
Under 10 dollars at gearbest. Maybe there is also a discount code somewhere:
Thanks, Looks interesting
I guess the others are likely fake crees on further research so I’ll probably go convoy instead.
Interesting, but only 2.1A driver seems to be the catch.
This has some additional protection circuitry for the battery? Or do I just have to guess when the cell is too low if unprotected?
Yes, even with unprotected cells, the (Convoy) light will start to flicker when the battery is low, and will cut off afterwards.
Good to know for the gifting option.
In real use is the 2.8A vs the 2.1 noticeably brighter if not using top of the line cells?
@OP, NO not a light with dubious cell
A decent cell and single bay charger cost ~$8-$10
Here get this:
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_5496.html
it is not a supergood flashlght, but cheap and still great fun.
or in nice red:
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_149860.html
uses AA
the 2.8Ais noticeably hotter for sure.
I find 4*7135 chips ideal for the S2+ for it will not get hot, 6 is brighter and hotter so I removed 2 chips from the driver on my red S2+
The lumen rating for both lights you listed are highly overstated. To reach 1300 Lm you would need direct drive/FET to reach at least 5 A, a good led and good heat sinking to prevent degradation of the led (as well as heat resistant hands if you keep it on for a long time).
The zooming flashligh most likely is 300 to 500 lumens. If you are in the USA and want a zoomie the Thorfire TA13 may be an option Amazon.com
For the Ultrafire C8 one review claims that the maximum current is only 800 mA so you will be disappointed. If you want a cheap thrower (a thrower is a fixed focus flashlight that concentrates the light in a small hotspot to reach distant objects, while a flooder iluminates a wide area at expenses of reach), the kaidomain C8-L2 is on sale at $10 http://www.kaidomain.com/p/S024706.KDLIGHT-C8-L2-Cree-XM-L2-5000K-Neutral-White-1000-Lumens-3-Mode-LED-Flashlight-Black , also available in cool white. It won’t reach as far as the XP-L HI model (reviewed here) but the quality should still be reasonable.
For a flooder the Convoy S2+ is your best option. Choose one with XM-L2 led. If the description says XM-L either the description is outdated or it’s old stock. You can choose between 4 or 5 tints, 1A (cool white), 3B (neutral white), 4C and 5B (neutral to warm white) and 7A (warm white). You can find a tint chart here
Or buy an Eagle Eye X2R and it won’t be very hot. Same size, led as a Convoy S2+ but with built in charger. If you search for coupons you can go below 14$.
I’m a bit new but not that new;)
I have several q5’s and “supfire” xm-l2’s from past dabbles into flashoholism.
Have smart chargers which handle 18650’s just fine liitokala and opus, I just never had to replace the cheap chinese cells which came with my original flash light set.
Thanks for the help guys. I ended up buying one of each type, 2.8 and 2.1A.
Interesting site if a bit confusing. The 16850’s tested for “actual capacity” was nice, except they won’t ship to the US for any reasonable price which hurts.
I found the belt clip for these lights, no longer have to buy 5, just 2 per order.
Now I just have to find reasonably priced batteries, ack.
so much gamble…
Pinttenen “liitokala”?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4PCS-100-Original-protected-18650-battery-3-7V-2600-mAh-rechargeable-battery-for-Samsung-batteries-ICR18650/32797957412.html
2 x US18650VTC6 3120mAh 30A 3.6V 18650 Li-ion Battery - 2PCS GREEN
http://www.gearbest.com/batteries/pp_571929.html
ICR18650 - 28A 3.7V 18650 2800mAh Rechargeable Lithium - ion Battery - 4 pcs
http://www.gearbest.com/batteries/pp_190734.html
Thanks, panasonic ordered, will report with the final capacity values…in a month or two lol
If you are in the US, order from imrbatteries, illumn, mtn etc batteries will be there in 3-4 days
Received the 2.8A convoy from fast tech today, so they are certainly faster than gearbest. Build quality is excellent, more retail than the cheap chinese junk, even the threads are anodized, very nice.
Don’t have a quality cell to test it with yet, still in the mail, but my laptop salvage cells still are able to drive it a bit brighter than my old supfire’s.
Upside of the low capacity of those old cells is i’ll be able to test the low voltage behavior soon.
