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
VFMaddict, what is the difference between the smooth versus OP reflectors?
I have over 40 Trustfire flames 18650s from DX I have only had 3 that were bad out of 40 and it was the protection circuit only that needed to be removed they all push over 3 amps all 40 of them the unprotected ones push 4.5 amps. I don't know how long ago you got the bad ones but they are safe to order now.
I have the Hobbyking Imax 6 charger to it is awesome love it but it is overkill if you are just starting out.
I have the TR-001 from DX almost a year old I still use it if i am in a rush I don't leave it unattended and I check the batteries with a DMM every time because I don't trust it but it works fine for 8 bucks it's a great deal and a good way to get started into Lions there is a thread on this charger and a lot of people on here use it as well as the Trustfire batteries a very cheap, successful and well tested combination.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-tr-001-multi-purpose-lithium-battery-charger-12594?r=43033281
I really don't think its good advice to tell someone to avoid P-60 hosts that is 90 percent of the lights people on this forum use day in and day out.
Seriously dude you melted two P-60 hosts I will assume they were direct drive and the Hi Max batteries delivering over 4 amps dedomed the LEDS that is the only way that could happen.
I have dozens of P-60 light they are the majority of my collection most of them are XML and I run them on high until they are to hot to touch not a single dedomed LED. I like the P-60s so much I started making my own p-60 drop in regulated at 2.8-3.5 amps so they won't dedome the LED no longer how long you leave them on.
I really think if there was a problem with P-60s dedoming you would see it here on this forum people love to complain far more than they like to compliment products especially cheap stuff.
You apparently got a couple bad products you did not say were you got them but this sounds like a CPF post.
I would not recommend avoiding P-60 hosts in fact I would recommend starting out with one same goes for the Trusfire flames and the TR-001 charger. I don't want to contradict you for the sake of it but it just seams like you are giving this guy some bad advice. He can go over to CPF and get really bad advice if he wants but I stand behind my advice on the products I trust and use everyday.