Noobie Needs Help!

"There are quite a few good thrower options that are pretty inexpensive. " Any of them in red?

I live in the very northeast corner of the state 10 minutes from the U.P. border. The deer are big here but there is not many around anymore. I am not against buying a different light at all, but what should a guy buy? Idealy I would like a light that will throw 10 miles on a single AA for about 300 hours on high, and of course be red. I just cant believe there isnt one out there. All kidding aside, I want the most powerful longest range light there is in red. However as always I want it cheap. Can I get anymore difficult? Anything as bright as mine or brighter in red would be excellent. Anymore suggestions?

Yes, still standing at my version but involves some DIY because of the RED requirement.

Pressure switch - http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-pressure-switch-tail-...

weapon mount - http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/y0004-flashlight-and-laser-univ...

FlashyLightey - http://www.priceangels.com/SKYRAY_1JC8_Cree_Q5-WC_230-Lumen_LED_Flashlig... Might be nice and easy to mount and dismount.

RED thing - http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1708 <- or something like it Might be a cree P4 rated max 700mA... But should be ok at 750

Decent driver - http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1708 but only 1 needed might be needed to kill one amc to get 750mA, Might as well get it elsewhere

Well under 40usd... and a bit of soldering to get exatly what you want but you perhaps don't know it yet. :P

For your needs i would go the DIY route. If you were my neighbor i would gladly make one for you if you provide the pieces. Time needed (without soldering iron heat up) 15min at most... and that with lubing and cleaning included.

Perhaps you can find some1 around who can make it if oyu don't want to go the DIY route.

I completely agree with what you say however, I have no idea what all this means exactly. "but only 1 needed might be needed to kill one amc to get 750mA, Might as well get it elsewhere" what are you talking about? Seriously talk to me like a child.......whats an amc or what is it that I need to kill? Is this the part that needs soldering? I can solder, I am a master diesel mechanic and can navigate though truck electrical systems with no problem, however this stuff kills me. Is there a flashlights for dummies video somewhere? I wanna build what you are saying but dont know how to begin even.

Naah it is me that needs to be more reasonable and stop assuming all understand those flashaholic terms. :)

You got almost all right.

Let me redo the list in english or close to it:

Pressure switch - http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-pressure-switch-tail-... Nothing to say here

weapon mount - http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/y0004-flashlight-and-laser-univ... Pretty self explanatory bu you might need another one and already know which one you need so here you're on your own

FlashyLightey - http://www.priceangels.com/SKYRAY_1JC8_Cree_Q5-WC_230-Lumen_LED_Flashlig... Might be nice and easy to mount and dismount.

RED thing - http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1708 <- or any other cree P4 whose are rated max 700mA... Those can be bought at other retailers too also on ebay if you like.

Decent driver - http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1708 <- this one sells 5pcs a pack. You need only one. If you get a cree emitter p4 red rated at 700mA you may unsolder one of the 4 AMC chips to drop the current to 700mA or get this instead: http://kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=9608 but i would advise to not since it is hard to ever use that many boards rated at 700mA...

As for "you might get those elsewhere" it does just mean you might get lucky at other retailers selling single drivers. I always buy in bulk those... :/

My english is what it is. Since i speak a handfull of languages i tend to mixup a bit. Also suffering from slight dyslexia by trying to type fast.

Yaaawn... i hope it sounds decent this time. :)

Now if you feel comfortable with a soldering iron in hand you can do it just easily. We will help you step by step if needed. :)

You may also need this:

thermal glue of some sort - http://www.dealextreme.com/p/fujik-silicone-thermal-glue-50ml-grease-like-4579

Oh the other hand you might need just this:

Pressure switch - http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-pressure-switch-tail-...

weapon mount - http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/y0004-flashlight-and-laser-univ...

FlashyLightey - http://www.priceangels.com/SKYRAY_1JC8_Cree_Q5-WC_230-Lumen_LED_Flashlig...

And cut some red cellophane like: http://www.enasco.com/product/9700879%28A%29

And try if the red is good enough since it would be hard to get sutable red lenses of that diamter.

Pretty cheesy way to do it but it may work. I suspect the cellophane will kill a fair amount of lumens too espacially if you need more layers. Might be tricky to do it as best a s possible. Perhaps painting it might do the trick.

I know astronomers use red lights to light up star maps or what ever they need to see as for reasons I can't quite remember red doesn't effect your night vision.

How well do red replacement lenses work? As that might work as an alternative to a red LED which would then give you a lot more choices, like a XM-L dropin from Manafont.

http://www.solarforce-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&s=27&id=143

I've no idea about gun stuff but it looks like Solarforce do suitable mounts and switches to go with their bodies.

XML drop in would give me about how amny more lumens than i currently have? This drop in is exactly what is says? Just drop it in place of the old one right? No mods needed? I am figuring this drop in and a red lense might work? And I wouldnt have to even know how to solder then right?

Oh and can I get it in a single mode?

It may well be that an XM-L dropin with a red filter will give you more light than a red LED. My brightest one measures at a peak 850 lumens. Swapping a dropin is a matter of unscrewing the head, taking out the dropin and putting a new one in. It is a good idea to wrap high-output ones in heavy aluminium foil until they are a tight fit in the throat of the light to allow for better heat transmission to the light body. It's no harder than changing a battery. You may want to take a spare battery though - at full output you are only going to get around 40 minutes till the battery needs charging.

Very true, question is whether you want to preserve your night vision, in which case you would need to use a dim light anyway, or rely on artificial light. If you choose to rely on artificial light then green is a better choice than red.

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/qa/nightvision.htm

^ This page explains the effects on the eye for different kinds of light.

Has anyone tried a XM-L in a 502B and how does my lens come out? Does the collar turn out? Where can I buy an additional head for mine? That way I will have one with a red lens installed and a clear lens installed.

Just tried it - the 502b needs a lot of aluminium foil to make the dropin a tight fit.

Just unscrew the head. The lens is held in by the lighter coloured ring you can see inside. There are two notches 180 degrees apart that you can use to unscrew the retaining ring. The cheapest way to get another head would be to buy a 502B body which shouldn't cost very much - certainly under $10.

XM-L dropin going in.

Then just screw the head back on.

Thanks for the pictures! Unfortunately I Dont have the two grooves in the ring that holds the lens in. It may be fun getting it apart. Where would I find the parts I need? Is there an extension for this light to add another battery?

They might well have changed the design a bit - that one is about 4 years old I think. You won't get an extension for it - the only one I know of that does this is Solarforce.

http://www.solarforce-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&amp;s=16&amp;id=59

http://www.solarforce-sales.com/product_detail.php?t=FA&amp;s=16&amp;id=60

Their extension will also work with the Uniquefire L2 and the old-style Ultrafire WF-504B - but not the new, more rounded 504 body.

However, Manafont will sell you the WF-502D body which takes 2 18650 cells and costs less than $10. Sounds worth a try to me.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-wf502d-flashlight-tube-no-led-emitter-p-4295

From the photos there, it would seem to use the same sort of lens retention as mine.

I hope it's ok to invade this thread.

If you want a budget red-light torch with longer running times, are there any other alternatives to this setup, especially some running on a 14500 or even AAA? The Ultrafire seems ok price-wise, but something more efficient would be nice.

by the way, you got a really, really great site going on here!

Onlyother thing I can think of is this red Cree dropin - should work fine in a Solarforce R2

Cree XLamp XP-C-R2 5-Mode 90-Lumen Memory Red Light Drop-in LED Module (38mm*26mm/8.4V Max)

Welcome to BLF, Hokum.

I couldn't have said it any better. There are only two forums that I enthusiastically check daily; BLF is one of them.

Hi there Hokum, thanks for saying so, we're glad to have you here! Enjoy your time.

Aloha and welcome to BLF Hokum!

Thank you for the warm welcome!

I did a lot of research and couldn't find anything more suited to my needs. If you plan to use a red light for camping and such, the red Ultrafire is way to bright and will kill your night vision anyway.

With all those great budget lights out there, it's sad that there is no cheapish red-LED 14500/AAA available.

Best way is probably a DIY red filter on one of the 14500/AAAs. Or does the Fenix Red filter at DE maybe fit on of these? I wouldn't be afraid do some more profound modding, but I have the feeling that a filter would be waaay more time and money efficient.

edit: mhm the small fenix filter (52402, $3.30) fits a 21,5mm diameter. So it would just be a matter of finding a fitting budget 14500-torch!

just hold on there a g-darn minute ! :) you can compare northern Wisconsin people with people from say Minneapolis , maybe to Milwaukee - apples to apples. God bless em maybe they have had a few extra bottles of Jack than the average man while in the womb but thats how they were made man !

Common Farve ! he sweated GreenBay sweat in a Viks uniform ( shutter) , he did good last year with protection .... , all joking aside the talent they have wasted over the past decade ,

thx for wasting half my day typing/responding lol

btw nice options Match , doesnt anyone provide lens covers with tint - obviously a cheap choice depends how red it needs to be

MY BEST SUGGESTION i'd say a multi led , 2*18650 , why ? red and colored light dont show there ouput as well . not to mention there are 3,5,6 leds lights

your biggest cost would be replacing the leds couldnt find that link but they were 4 dollars , kinda pricey , you are limiting the light to red also ...

n/m here it is

red cree led- http://www.dealextreme.com/p/red-cree-led-emitter-20mm-1-9-2-2v-1776

cheapest 3 led Warning check the breakdown pics and output per led -http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-tr-500-3-q2-wc-3-mode-500-lumen-3-led-flashlight-2-18650-14029

DIY for a mag light etc -http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-led-cree-3-mode-regulator-reflector-2x18650-module-set-3-6v-9v-9358

filter 39mm?? - http://www.dealextreme.com/p/fenix-red-filter-adaptor-cap-flashlight-sig...

dropin - http://www.dealextreme.com/p/cree-xlamp-xp-c-r2-5-mode-90-lumen-memory-r...