Your kind Suggestions Please

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

Dear All

This is my first post and I would like to say a big hello to all of you guys.

Nice to find you :)

I need your expert help in finding a budget solution to a problem of mine.

I need a multimode 5 (preferably) 2x 18650 or 3x18650 LED Flashlight (I don't mind, but I think 2x18650 would be nice)

I currently own a

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-ssc-p7-c-900-lumen-led-flashlight-2-18650-17670-12761

and I am quite happy with it, but I need more modes (since the SSC-P7 single mode eats up the 2500mAH batteries pretty fast and you don't always need the full power of it) and I also need more lumens and more throw than this.

I also noticed that this one exists

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/5-cree-r2-5-mode-1200-lumen-white-light-drop-in-led-module-52-7mm-42mm-8-4v-max-35242

and I thought I could just drop it in my Trustfire SSC P7 body.

The problem is that I don't know whether there is a better module (than the SKU.35242, a nice

guy in the DX forum gave me some information) in terms of throw

and lumens than this one. I really need this to be a good thrower, and surely better

in lumens and throw than my SSC P7 :)

Shall I go to an XML one maybe ?

Or is there a ready solution to my problem (i.e. no Drop-in just a complete system)?

Additionally buying a drop-in will render my old SSC unused which would be a pitty

so I thought of getting one of these

http://www.lightake.com/detail.do/sku.TrustFire_TR_1200_Flashlight_Body_Tube_Black-29261

and throw the new drop-in inside while still keeping the SSC P7 in its body

but I will then be using it with 2x16340 (spacer?) since I would not like to carry a Big SSC P7

and my SSC P7 doesn't run on a single 18650 cell :(

So please, any suggestion on the subject?

See (Read) you all later :)

PS: Sorry for the long post guys! :)

PS: And I think at some point in the future I will get one of these :)

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-x6-sst-90-5-mode-2300-lumen-memory-led-flashlight-with-batteries-set-3-18650-47754 (is this any good?)

2

The last light you listed is sick but I can't imagine a need for a light with that much throw aside from a flashlight measuring contest. HAHAHAHAHA "mine is bigger than yours." Welcome. I in fact can't offer you much help I really have no idea whats going on here. I buy what looks good and when a the guys here give it a good review.

3

Simple answer is to just get the 5xR2 drop-in you listed. It will be brighter than both the P7 and XM-L, and offer a lot more throw.

Btw, Welcome to BLF!

4

Not even close.... and I award you one spam point. If somehow you're not a spammer, then sincerely accept the spam point instead for bad reading and comprehension of the OP's question Tongue out

5

If you have $50, you can try getting the Sky Ray here: http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/sky-ray-stlv2-cree-t6-adjustable-or-modes-led-flashlight-2186503163403cr123a-p-7191, before they crappify it like the 3800 3*t6 one.

6

Thank you all for your help people! :)

OK I will take the 5xR2 as a good candidate :)

Having a follow through various subjects on this FANTASTIC flashlight forum

I came accross these ones...

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/sky-ray-3xt6-3800lumen-3led-5mode-memory-flashlight-218650-p-7016

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/HI-MAX-3xCREE-XM-L-T6-LED-3000Lm-Flashlight-Torch-/220815900388?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item3369a73ee4#ht_6067wt_952

Wouldn't those be even better in terms of throw and light output from the 5*R2?

I apologize in putting all of you in this terrible mess of mine :( :)

All the best

7

Hi there Felix, sorry I'm not much of an expert on the big shooters, but I just wanted to say welcome to BLF! Glad you joined.

8

oops! :) I saw your post right after I posted mine...

And what would be the difference between the one you mentioned

1. http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/sky-ray-stlv2-cree-t6-adjustable-or-modes-led-flashlight-2186503163403cr123a-p-7191

and

2. http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/sky-ray-3xt6-3800lumen-3led-5mode-memory-flashlight-218650-p-7016

and

3. http://cgi.ebay.com/HI-MAX-3xCREE-XM-L-T6-LED-3000Lm-Flashlight-Torch-/220815900388?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item3369a73ee4#ht_6067wt_952

and even

4. http://www.shenzhen-wholesale.com/SZOBM-ZY-2400-3xXM-L-T6-LED-Aluminum-CREE-Flashlight_sku4235.html

JESUS CHRIST!!! THEY ARE SO MANY OF THEM AND THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE!!! :) (sorry for the capital letters I was just trying to make a point of how confused I am getting :))

So which one would be better then (gosh this is starting to mess with my head lol :)

PS: Thank you sb56637 I am glad I joined in order to be "enlightened" :)

9

The 3*xml was a really good light for brightness, but throw was very mediocre due to small reflectors. If you want one, might as well try your luck with the DX fandyfire as the MF ones are now drop-in design which is questionable for that much heat.

If you want throw, get the STL/v2, or the equivalent fandyfire from dx. Less bright overall but much more focused. I'm waiting on 2100's review of the fandyfire since he's getting one in.

Someone here got the szobm and it's good on 3-4 cells, but IMO that's too many.

10

Yes Agenthex I am looking for throw more than flood. So if the

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/sky-ray-stlv2-cree-t6-adjustable-or-modes-led-flashlight-2186503163403cr123a-p-7191

is more powerful and better thrower at the same time than the

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/5-cree-r2-5-mode-1200-lumen-white-light-drop-in-led-module-52-7mm-42mm-8-4v-max-35242I

will get it no questions asked.

So is it?

And let the light be with us! :)

11

Yes, play with the search and look for review of that. It's head and shoulders above anything in that price range if you get the same quality on yours, basically the same thing as the olight m3x. You might want to wait a few days for 2100 to see if you can save a few dollar from dx, or not, but it's <$10 diff.

12

And I suppose

the

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/sky-ray-stlv2-cree-t6-adjustable-or-modes-led-flashlight-2186503163403cr123a-p-7191

and the

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/fandyfire-stl-v6-cree-xm-lt6-2-mode-1000-lumen-white-led-flashlight-2x18650-3x16340-3x123a-91137

are identical?

13

I can wait, but I am sorry I didn't understand what you wrote :)

14

Nobody knows if they're the same until 2100 or someone gets theirs. I just suggested that if you don't mind a few bucks difference and want one we know is ok right now, just get the MF one. I'm waiting for the fandy.

We already see the problem in the stl-v2 thread where the first person got pcb's attached w/ screws and a few days later someone got one that's just glued on, but it's still same good construction over. If the MF 3800 3*xml shows anything, it's that the longer you wait, the more likely they change it up on you, and usually not for the better. Or it could be the same a year from now, we just don't know.

15

I totally agree and understand agenthex I will wait for the review then :)

And of course the MF 3800 3*xml could be a good choice as well (not as a thrower) after all the reviews I read.

Thank you very much guys! You are doing a great work.

16

Have you seen this one? http://www.cnqualitygoods.com/goods.php?id=1177

17

I just did, it seems very nice but I don't really like the fact that the body becomes too thick

to accommodate the three 18650 (although they are placed side-by-side they must be in series right?)

And I also like the direct driven mode it must be insanely bright

However, I will wait for the 2100 go give me some "intel" for the DX one I have been waiting for.

This is really a big mess-up in my mind, wish I had the bucks to get them all :)

18

have you given up on modding it ? 53mm*30mm Aluminum Textured/OP Reflector

what you really want is the reflector out of this SacredFire NF-009 it thows great with an xml but i cant find it for sale by itself . i think a P7 has a lambertian light pattern ( 120 degrees) maybe 140

then a driver maybe this

course the easy mod is this single xml , but how does this throw ? , seems shallow. reviews seems positive on hot spot but you need 2 18650s. yours reads 1 battery - if correct neither this nor the R2 drop-in will work. course xml is much more efficient than r2 , r2 will likely be brighter

here is a comparison between a triple xml , R2 and Moby dick lol here are they driven right ? dunno

easy fix TrustFire TR-3T6 Triple XM-L T6 5 Modes this look more promising than the sky ray to me

if you want one battery Trustfire X9 XM-L T6 White LED Flashlight - Gray (1*18650)

good luck
19

Thanks for the idea and the information but I don't know about modding it since the best thing I ever did in terms of electrical soldering was to change a faulty driver on a TR-801 once and I don't trust myself (although I am very good in machining parts) in "serious" electronic mods that much.

Why is the TrustFire TR-3T6 Triple XM-L T6 5 Modes more trusted than the

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/sky-ray-stlv2-cree-t6-adjustable-or-modes-led-flashlight-2186503163403cr123a-p-7191

in your opinion df2dot?

@ agenthex

Do we have any idea then Mr. 2100 will have the results from the

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/sky-ray-stlv2-cree-t6-adjustable-or-modes-led-flashlight-2186503163403cr123a-p-7191

and the

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/fandyfire-stl-v6-cree-xm-lt6-2-mode-1000-lumen-white-led-flashlight-2x18650-3x16340-3x123a-91137

comparison ?

20

I would suggest to go for the 5xR2 dropin.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/5-cree-r2-5-mode-1200-lumen-white-light-drop-in-led-module-52-7mm-42mm-8-4v-max-35242

It's definitely brighter than any of the single XM-L lights and it also throws further. The 3 x XM-L lights have more total light output but less throw than that one.