Hello, I'm Gun

Dont forget some decent batteries and charger as well if you dont have them yet.

Welcome to BLF! 15 and already looking to jump right in on an SRK - Wow! I got mine from WallBuys. FlashPilot can vouch for the one from WallBuys too. It's currently $38. Description says "warm white" buts its the typical cool white. I've sworn off buying any more from Wallbuys but its an option and apparently they sell a "good" one. Do be sure to get good batteries and a charger. Learn up on using a multimeter too for monitoring your cells.

-Garry

welcome to BLF Sean…
although SRK or fandyfire is very popular… unfortunately it’s not a light that you can hold for long.
it gets to unbearable hot in just 15 mins. depend on what you need… you might want to get TR-J12 or TR-J18 and then change the driver with this driver
guarantee will blind everybody around you J)

Hey Gun, Welcome to BLF. We actually have quite a few from Down-Under, in here, and one is a kick-ass machinist. I think that you will find some of the best people in here, quite a friendly and helpful group. You may be one of the youngest members, though, not all indicate their age. I have a lot of torches, and just ordered the SRK. Most measure the performance with and amp reading taken at the tailcap… Most seem to agree, that 6 amps or better, indicate a good SRK, also having the three teroid driver. The least expensive single emitter, that is getting a lot of attention, is this C8 from Lightmalls that has the XM-L2 emitter, and is hard driven. One must us a very good battery with this torch, because of the current draw.

http://www.lightmalls.com/ultrafire-c8-cree-xm-l2-5-mode-led-flashlight-torch-1x18650

Thanks for the welcomes everyone!

MRsDNF, I live in the western suburbs :slight_smile:

Does the SRK actually get too hot to touch in 15 minutes? That doesn’t sound good…

If I was getting the SRK, I was planning on buying THESE batteries and THIS charger, are they good?

I’m actually highly re-considering getting the SRK, purely because of price; including charger and batteries it’s going to cost me about $100. Can anyone recommend me a light that will cost around $70 including batteries and charger? If it’s a little bit over $70, that is fine.

Excellent choice! Very cool light & a lot of bang for your buck! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!!!

SRK @ 100 FEET

You’re gonna need charger either way… so not sure you can hold that against the SRK really. Its the four cells that do it. I get that.

For a bit cheaper - less cell count - everyone needs a good C8 (or 5). Seems lately the convoys at fasttech are best. Can’t really go wrong with a XinTD C8 from international outdoor.

Both have options… fasttech has different tints and power levels. Intloutdoor let’s you specify mode config and tints. Both have good build. Believe fasttech has a OP reflector option or smooth. The xinTD from IO has smooth reflector and is a bit deeper too, so its more throwy than the convoy but not a huge margin.

Man, if I started this hobby at fifteen…….you’re going to have more lights than all of us. Get the king and at least you’ll have that compact, bright, cheap light checked off your probable growing list of lights you will end up buying. I own a king. I’m looking at the terminator even though I never use my king. Why? Because that is what I do.

You’ll love it. Enjoy and welcome!

It’s just that when I chose the SRK, I wasn’t expecting batteries and a charger to cost that much. Unfortunately, I am no longer getting the SRK :weary:

So you think a XinTD C8 would be a cheaper alternative?
I’ll look into that light now. Any other suggestions?

Welcome to the forum, Sean.

The cells are the one thing with which you don't want to go too budget - you probably would be best served sticking to a quality protected Panasonic- or Sanyo-based brand.

Most of the {insert name}-Fire cells are of dubious quality and overrated capacity.

Budgeting between $9-$12 per cell should score you the good stuff from any one of several recommended vendors.

Another $20 or so for a decent 4-cell charger, and you are off to the races.

I paid $36 for my SRK…. $32 For my XinTD.

Great Advice…

I recommend this if you’re not going to get SRK:

Sun ZY-T08

BLF Review

+1

Okay thanks for the recommendations :slight_smile:

Is the Sun ZY-T08 a throwy light? I’m not looking for a particularly throwy or floody light, just sort of an all-round torch. If I had to choose, I’d rather flood over throw.

2 votes for the Sun ZY-T08!

the small sun will be a throwy light. the c8 is a good all around light in my opinion. a good mix of flood and throw, leaning slightly on the throwy side but not far

Hi Sean, welcome to BLF! :slight_smile:

You can get a black SRK, a Nitecore I2 Charger, and four Sanyo 2600mah protected batteries from Fasttech for $71.02 (US) if you use coupon code BLF.

This is the only SRK I have so can’t compare to others but I’m very happy with it. I also have these batteries; note that they’re sold in pairs. Don’t have the charger but HKJ called it “a good multi chemistry charger” in his review, so it should be OK as your first. You can get the I4 version (with four bays) for about $6 more.
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10003058/1234001-sky-ray-king-3-cree-xm-l-u2-3-mode-2500-lumen-led-
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1421/10001637/1119500
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10001901/1143802-sanyo-ur18650f-18650-2600mah-protected-rechargeabl

ZY-T08 is a thrower. It is XML and has some flood. But it has a big head. Also takes two cells… so you start back toward the SRK in that respect.

BTW totally agreement with statements on batteries and chargers. Buy quality the first time. Totally worth it in the long run. I use a Pila IBC and highly recommend it, but there are cheaper options many around here recommend.

The C8’s I mentioned are good all-arounder type lights. 1x18650, some have 2xCR123A capability - that comes down to the driver. There are MANY brands and variations of the C8 design. (Too many if you ask me!) But for good reason, it works well. The Convoy brand ones from Fasttech are supposedly great quality, but I don’t have one [yet?]. The XinTD has been the standard for quality C8’s for a while now. I DO have one of those, T6 3C NW, 3 mode. Love it. One of my go-to lights when things go bump in the night.

The XinTD V3 C8 has a slightly deeper smooth reflector [than the Convoy and most ‘normal’ C8’s] for a bit more throw, but there is still good spill/flood. I wouldn’t call it a dedicated thrower really. It’s all relative… The Convoys from Fasttech can be had with orange peel [OP] type reflector for more even spill and flood, less throw. That might be best “all-around” beam for you, but I like the mix of throw and flood from my XinTD.

hope that helps. I was going to give you a friendly :beer: but I aint trying to catch charges LOL

Okay thanks Pulsar :slight_smile:

Thanks a lot luvlites! Didn’t actually think I could find everything that cheap. Does everyone agree with luvlites, should I go for the three things he/she linked? What’s the main difference between the gold and black SkyRay King? Also, does it actually get too hot to touch in 15 minutes, because I don’t like the sound of that. Personally I’ve got used to the fact that I’m not getting the SkyRay and it’s got some pros to it. If I don’t get the SkyRay I can get a light like THIS or THIS that will only take 1 or 2 batteries, that would be much more conveniant.

Sorry that I’m asking so many questions, it’s just that I really want to buy the right light—hope you guys can understand.

Just saw your post Haterade, thanks very much! These are all things to think about, however I just notcied that the Small Sun ZY-T08 is only about 635lm, that’s not very much is it?

If you want cheaper batteries you cant go past these.