skip skyrays, skip any P60 drop in styles with XM-Ls
while cheap and tempting, the heat sinking isnt there.
I love these i got at DX
c2 and c8 are a little smaller, but dont throw quite as much as that fandyfire C10.
all 3 will fit on the weapon mounts too if your wondering lol
hi-max on ebay are the BEST Bang for buck ive found (through people on here)
great cells, charger id go with an Accucell from hobbyking.com
dont bother with the garbage chargers out there, a hobby charger will charge it perfect EVERYtime.
dont get trustfire flame 18650s, I have had bad luck with those. 2 out of 8 cells owned are worth anything.
+1
Thanks, xP.1337! I appreciate your help!
The KD C8 XM-L is a light that pretty much everyone here that has one loves. Can't go wrong with it.
http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=11278
never bought that one but ive only heard great things. i have a DX c8, not as tight of a thrower as the C10.
Hmm... I couldn't find the Hi-Max batteries on eBay. Nor could I find the accucell charger on hobbyking.
I kind of like the looks of this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-a9-t60-cree-xm-l-t6-5-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-flashlight-with-strap-black-1-x-18650-90602?r=4303328
Does anyone know how it would do compared to the FandyFire C10?
This could be the cheapest but good performance 18650 batts and charger
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-tr-001-multi-purpose-lithium-battery-charger-12594?r=43033281
(there are other cheaper, but not worth)
I haven't used it, but I can tell you that XM-L doesn't produce 1200L at 3A or at higher. That's how it is with some flashlights, are rated higher than they really are.
Skip anything that takes p60? LOL, that wipes out about 90% of the XM-L market. I have about 9 of them and have never had a heat issue as long as you use them sensibly. And I LOVE my SkyRay with an XM-L in it, one of the nicest lights to hold on the market, IMO.
XM-L P60 style are the hottest commodity on the budget light markets right now. I would never tell a newbie to skip them....
sorry but those are not good combos AT ALL
Hikelite, thanks for the link! and make sure to make an offer, he should counter offer but it will be worth trying
also this is the charger i have
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7028
i use that, powered by a power supply stolen from a Energizer 15 min charger (capable of 14amps) and a stack of magnets that you can find on DX.
the combo is a hair more expensive than trustfires, but WAYYYY better quality
i ordered a total of 6 TF flames. had 2 duds, so they sent 4 more (this was over time, so ordered 2, 1 dud, they sent 2 more lol)
so after totalling 10 batteries (i know i said 8 before, messed up) i had
2 duds
2 perfect
and the rest all were not capable of drawings 2.8 amps from them. some of them were bad.
used the SAME flashlight to test them all. then tried on a weaker one with the same results.
2.8 amps out of 2. something like 2 amps out of another 2. and the rest the flashlight could barely draw 1.5 amps!!!!
that means they have super poor quality control on those.
dont waste the money
the hi-max however.... i have 6. all work 100% correct capacities, draw 2.8amps no problem, and charge no problem
that charger can over charge the batteries too. people have lost fingers thanks to that charger....
cant do that as easy with the accucell.
they are. BUT, they wont have the life that a properly heat sinked LED will.
I USE my XM-Ls on HIGH for hours at a time.
try that with most p60s (without adding stupid things like aluminum foil to help with heat) and see if they last at the same 3 amp draw.....
XM-Ls are tough leds, but any led is susceptible to heat. ive blown 2 already, one with aluminum foil, one without
dont take the risk.
also, skyray is an acquired taste to begin with. gotta like star trek to like that flashlight lol
at least get a nice solarforce L series lol
What exactly are P60s?
Easiest way to describe it is that a P60 is a kind of cartridge that includes the reflector, emitter and controlling circuit board all together as a single module.
Many lights take these modules and so are described as P60 hosts.
Naturally you can buy them as a complete flashlight (i.e. both P60 drop-in and the host).
Hope that helps.
The drawback of P60 drop-ins is that the drop-in design is not ideal for conducting the heat away from the emitter to the body of the light. So folks often wrap aluminum foil around the drop-in or strips cut from a drinks can to improve the contact (i.e. heatsinking) I'll try to find a link to a thread on how to do this and post it here later.
EDIT - Here you go the foil approach.
Ah! Thanks VFMaddict. That clears things up. So lights like the one I listed above (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-a9-t60-cree-xm-l-t6-5-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-flashlight-with-strap-black-1-x-18650-90602?r=4303328) aren't P60, right?
I like my KD C8 XM-L T6 with OP reflector. Here's the post by E1320 that sealed the deal:
Quite correct, Getemer, that is not a P60 host. Its probably a good light from the specs but with no reviews I cannot guarantee that. Personally in that class (i.e. lights with a 44-to-46mm head) I think that in the absence of a review I'd be inclined to go instead for this light. As JohnnyMac says most folks around here have one of these in either the Smooth reflector that he linked to or the OP (orange peel) reflector that I just linked to.
that A9 looks pretty nice, but i dont have one so i cant say anything.
the C8 has plenty of reviews, and ive had two FandyFire C10s, very good flashlights for the money.
BTW i sold both c10s to friends for more than i payed for them, and have more on order.... so i can sell more!
Im sure the A9 isnt bad either, but who knows. It is China lol