Hey guys, first post on here although I’ve been lurking here for a little while. I need everyone’s help building my next flashlight. I put together a Solarforce L2 with a LC-XML U2 drop in and it rocks. 550 lumens out of something as long as your hand and its pretty impressive (first flashlight build so-to-speak).
Long story short, I need a handheld flashlight that is zoom-able. The one I have now is bright as crap close up, but there’s nothing long range. I’m a Flight Instructor by day, and use a multitude of flashlights on night flights; red, blue, white, key chain LED, mini-mag incandescent… but I don’t have one that can reach across the airport to read a tail number off of an airplane with a super bright, focused beam. So this is where I need your guy’s help.
Requirements:
Pocket sized
Focus-able/zoom-able
MAX LUMENS. 500+ minimum, the brighter the better.
Minimum Modes - High and Low only would be perfect. CANNOT have strobe in the cockpit.
Costs less than 50 bucks. I’ll go above this limit if there is one that is truly worth it but I would rather have something I can drop out of the airplane at altitude and not worry too much about it.
If you guys have any recommendations please post a link so I know where to get it at. Thanks for the help!
Hmm. Your only real choice would be an XM_L based flood to throw. It should provide enough throw in order to do what you need it to, plus is a great worklight since it has no glaring hotspot.
As for which one, I recommend you search this forum for “flood throw XM-L” and see what you come up with. The big problem is that so many of the XM-Ls are underdriven. Another problem is that many have the strobe mode.
If you were very lucky like me, you might find someone here that can assist you with a Custom driver that provides your High/Med/Low or whatever you want with no Strobe, and driving the light decently.
And lights are important stuff. Shouldn’t think it dropping out of plane, should have something to secure if it’s important.
EDIT: Sipik Sk-68. Cost less than $10, can find easily. Use 14500 batteries to be brighter, but might not be enough bright for “across the airport”. You may need a more powerful thrower like Thrunite TN-31, but that is above $100.
HAHA I don’t intend on just tossing it out of the airplane! All I was implying was that I don’t want a flashlight like a Surefire (underpowered and overpriced). If I could get a tight beam with as much brightness as possible at say, +2000ft that would be sweet. I have a feeling that the technology isn’t out there yet, but we shall see.
joe1512, I’m doing some searches and I’m finding a ton of these flood to throw flashlights. Any recommendations?
Find someone to build you a p60 drop-in with a de-domed XP-G2, XML reflector, and 3 amp Qlite driver set to moonlight-low-mid-high modes. You do not need it 'zoomable' if it's set up correctly.
I was thinking uf-v3, send it to tom e, ask him to fit a qlite driver and xp-g2 on a sink pad, very very good single cell pocket thrower. 2000+ feet is pushing it though for anything “pocket” sized tbh. Your next step up would be a zy-t08, again modded, that would fit in any jacket pocket.
For throw I truly believe your far better off with xp-g2 than xm-l/l2 from my own experiences, in any reflector the xp-g2 will destroy the xm-l in throw, and built right, you won’t lose too much brightness either.
Do you know the difference between zoomable and regular flashlights?
Zoomies put out a wall of light but only for a very short distance and can be adjusted to put out a pencil beam of light.
Regular flashlights do both, throw and short distance, but can’t do either singularly as brightly as a zoomie, and i may be wrong not being a pilot but i would think you need a regular light with good throw instead of a zoomie, you would overdrive the flood almost instantly and the zoom would light up a very small spot.
Bort, I’m still learning the lingo bud. I need something that I can focus into a very small beam at great distance. I have one that works just fine in flood, I need one that can reach out and touch something.
Outside of getting a degree in flashlights and having to buy tools just to put the thing together, what is the best pocket sized flashlight that I can buy and put together myself OR just buy fully assembled?
my instinct says to try a C8 light, you could look up reviews on BLF for them (fasttech has one), otherwise you could look at a light that has been dedomed, the silicone removed to give the sharpest pencil beam (though i assume you also want reliability so that may not be the best idea)
2,000 ft / 650-700 yds is a long way for current technology. That is dedicated-thrower territory like a Thrunite TN31 or something.
Sipik SK68 zoomie might be worth a try. They can be had cheap enough to buy for giggles. Can have heat issues though.
Totally agree with others here that XPG2 would be better emitter than XML or XML2. They have a much tighter hotspot that throws much father. An XPG2 drop-in for your Solarforce L2 would definitely have more range than your current setup.
I am not knowledgeable of any XPG2 zoomies out yet… but I admit zoomies are not really my thing. Hopefully someone else will know.
The XPG2 is better than XML for throw, but doesn't really come to life unless it's had the dome removed. And once de-domed, it doesn't work nice in the small-hole XPG-specific reflectors anymore, it has to be in the bigger XML reflector. I don't know why that is, but it is. I've tried all combinations of XML/XPG/domed/de-domed/big reflector/small reflector. The only combination that makes you go "WOW!!" is the de-domed XPG2, in the XML reflector.
(XML with dome intact in the XPG reflector gives a very very nice smooth floody beam, just FYI)
An XPE2 has better throw than an xpg2. Even a dedomed xpe2 p60 made by VinhNyugen won’t break the 20k lux mark. You’ll need something that can but reasonably priced. I’d look at Dereelight xsearcher, nightmaster or similar aspherical light.
Yes, that is all very true. XPE2 will have better throw than XPG2. I was just comparing XML2 to XPG2. And dedomed definitely throws, but how useable is the beam/spot?
Personally, I think XPG2 has the best compromise of throw/flood spot/spill. It is a great all-around emitter. I think of XPE as more for throwers (or tiny keychain lights). OP needs a multi-task light for close and far distance. XPG2 could fit that role (to an extent) if he wanted to stay with the Solarforce he has.
BUT he clearly wants a flood-to-throw zoomie. I think that is the only way he will get anywhere close to the throw distance he wants, while still being useful up close.
Aspherics definitely throw like crazy and would be good for reading markings from distance. Utterly useless for close-up use though.
It’s a tall order the OP is trying to fill here. Might actually need TWO lights. SK68 for close-to-mid range… some kind of dedicated thrower, perhaps aspheric, for superlong range.
I’d have to vote for two options, both under $50 excluding batteries and charger.
Step1 buy sk-68 zoomie on 14500
Step 2 pick between Ultrafire uf-v3 or 980l Both are easily pocketable and are going to throw about as far as anything else, excluding an expensive dedicated or modded thrower.
There was an aspheric xxxxxFIRE something or other that was supposedly really awesome for the money. Can’t remember of find the model number now though. dammit
I really think a trustfire z5 with a NW xml-t6 would be perfect for you. It was actually the very first flashlight I ever ordered and what started my collection. It is a a little big for a EDC as its 2x18650 but its still small enough to be carried in your pocket the extra cell really makes the flashlight stand out and even now with my collection of 40+ flashlights its still one of my best zoomies.
IF you want a little smaller you can get the z3 witch is the single 18650 version(which i also have but it doesn’t seem nearly as bright but still a very nice light).
I haven’t modded mine but i think with a high quality lens and a higher amp driver(also to get rid of the strobe mode) this thing would be a beast!
I used mine at work for over 2years during that time it took 3 falls off a 8ft stepladder while on and its still kicking! Not to mention all the time it spent rolling around the truck floor and in my toolboxes getting bashed by other tools while offroading.
