Steve, thanks for the info. I added to my wishlist on deal extreme. Is over my budget.
And I have been on candlepowerforums looking up stuff... if you dont buy a $900 flashlight you arent in the club.. I dont think I phrased this right but you probably understand it. when i saw budgetlightforum I said this is the place to post.
I am in Texas, too and will IM you and you will understand that I use my lights. They dont sit on the shelf.
Hmm, seems I've read here that the newer versions of the TR-1200 are poorly driven. Do you think I could get a good one from Manafont? They sell the body and head separately.
Thanks for your help. Added to my dealextreme wishlist. Is too large for my needs or would buy one like this since I have sooo many batteries to run thru it.
You definitely want to stay with single cell lights when using cells that are unprotected and of various brands/capacities/"states of decay".
I recently got a Trustfire USA168 (from Manafont) and the "R2 pill for the HS-801" and I'm getting lux readings that damn near up to the level of my Fandyfire STL-V6 (same as the Skyray STL-V2), albeit a much smaller hotspot. Not bad for $28. :)
48mm front bezel....and you got pretty near to the STL-V6. Yes that's about right. The Solarforce Masterpiece Pro-1 (57mm bezel) is slightly above the STL-V6.
I get around 44k from the Fandy and almost 40k from the USA168. Now that’s at unreasonable currents for an XR-E (1.8A)and no regulation, so its not exactly an even comparison. Both measurements taken 15 seconds after turn-on.
I'd like a MPP-1 but I already have a bunch of throwers I never use. I'm a flood guy... these things are just toys I use to see how big of numbers I can get. :)
Thats what I thought after reading about the 2 or 3 18650s in the longer flashlights. stay single cell... but that is what i wanted to buy anyway so it works out.
I don't know about the newer ones. Budgetworks off ebay sells some good ones. That's where I bought my last one I believe for my son. He loves it. But I have bought 3 of them off of ebay from different sellers and all have been about the same. These lights throw a lot better than people would think. A matter of fact if they made the reflector surrounding each led deeper it would only throw farther. That's what they did with the Fenix TK70. And it will come very close I would say to the Olight SR90. Now it may not beat it, but for less than half the price, the TK70 is bad to the bone for throw. I plan on getting one soon. Maybe even for Christmas if I'm good.
I took this one one day last week I believe off the deck from the back of my house. This is my neighbors shed. It's about 85yds away. Even my bright Keygos KE-5 won't light it up this well. This light really is a great thower. Probably one of my best right now. But I have a Olight SR51 coming this week hopefully and a Thru-Nite Catapult V3 as well. I guess I'll be able to find out how the Trustfire TR-1200 compares to some real throwers.
Thanks for the help everyone. I have learned a lot on this forum about battery safety (I was already doing the right stuff) and different options. Will let you know what happens and how it works and how my 'free' batteries work (which is why I am buying this). Reviews have been helpful, too.
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I just made myself get one. I over research everything and just have stop and do something else. Paid $8 more than from dealextreme so I can get in one week instead of 4 to 6 (first time I have done this). Will be using asap.
UniqueFire HS-801 CREE R2 18650 LED Flashlight Torch
will buy this from dealextreme. in no hurry. need cheap charger for the 'free' batteries. I always monitor and never charge without me being home or awake.
Surprised no-one suggested this. Comes with an L2i tube and switch so will take AAA's, 16340's or 18650's. A real bargain ant $44. Versatile and the lego-ability of Solarforce.
At the true low cost end nothing out-throws this for $15.