Good, Inexpensive Flashlights?

Bright_Mike · 2019-01-02T22:16:04.000Z

Wondered what is popular &/or good now?

Have some C8’s, are the wf502’s still around?

Got some nice lights on ebay a couple years ago, I think, for a few bucks, anything else there?

Interested in AA/AAA lights as well, if it’s OK to mention them here.

Any blf special edition out there I missed? Got D80 and AAA lights

polarweis · 2019-01-02T22:35:51.000Z

I like sofirn and convoy.
And dont know how long you have been gone but the BLF GT is pretty nice.

justanotherguy · 2019-01-02T23:01:15.000Z

First you’re going to have to define what you mean by inexpensive…
Second, it would be immensely helpful if you posted what exactly your needs are and what you expect these lights to do……

A good all around the house flashlight for $20, rechargeable 18650 battery?
Convoy S2

The blf GT was mentioned, but that’s about $200 and is useful if you intend to light up objects up to a mile away….AND is the size of a small plunger…

One light you did miss that might be useful is the blf q8, 4 18650 batteries… The light and batteries run about $65. It is the size of a pop can, lights up your entire backyard and your neighbors….

There’s quite a range of prices, and quite a range of purposes for some
these lights……

Bright_Mike · 2019-01-02T23:20:34.000Z

I’m thinking $10, maybe a bit more, or less?. Got some for $2-3 semi recently. Yeah that GT looks like it is pretty bright!!! Wondered about useful and or interesting lights. Nothing too specific, really.

For $20 I’d probably get a C8 from mtnelectronics or Simon at ShenZhen Convoy

Jack_Kellar · 2019-01-02T23:38:03.000Z

For that price, you can get an S2+ with a Nichia 219B and TK’s programmable Biscotti firmware from Simon, no fuss no muss. If you’re lucky, you can get a sale on a Lumintop Tool AA v2.0, nicest damn CRI on a Cree cool white LED that I’ve ever seen

Robert_Barr · 2019-01-02T23:39:36.000Z

This IS BLF, so: For a low-cost AA, I’m really pleased with my Lumintop Tool. I think there’s an updated version now, but I don’t see a need for any updates… I find that I’m usually more satisfied when I move at least slightly above the ‘dirt cheap’ category; you can find some good quality lights for a reasonable price.

It didn’t take long to tire of the “disposables”, no matter how inexpensive they were. Yep, that slippery slope toward addiction.

Jack_Kellar · 2019-01-02T23:47:46.000Z

Not gonna lie, I’d have bought a v2.0 anyway even if I hadn’t held out on the 1.0. The UI and mode distribution bothered me that much.

Sadly I can’t go for anything more expensive than the odd 1x18650 Convoy. 20 US dollars is a lot of money where I live.

BlueSwordM · 2019-01-02T23:50:17.000Z

IMO I would just go for the Convoy S2+ Nichia 219C with 6x7135 and Biscotti with the 15% BLF discount.

Excellent light

Jack_Kellar · 2019-01-02T23:51:59.000Z

BlueSwordM:

IMO I would just go for the Convoy S2+ Nichia 219C with 6x7135 and Biscotti with the 15% BLF discount.

Excellent light

Tight as my budget is, I just had to spring for one of those. Pretty sure mine ended up being 4*7135 as advertised by Simon, tho.

Bright_Mike · 2019-01-03T00:06:27.000Z

Yeah I was just looking at the S2+, I think. How’s the heat management?

I was thinking just get the 8* and leave it on the lower modes though. I don’t usually need really bright.

How does the Biscotti work? I like about 0.5 A, and I use the lowest mode on the D80 a lot, 0.1 A or something.

How do you get the discount? I just splurged & bought a C8, might be a while before s2+.

I was getting decent lights on ebay (if you don’t mind the cheapie tint ) for not much. I used them, and they actually light up, if something goes bad on your better lights, so a good battery case. Liked the body color but I’m bad at modding

Jack_Kellar · 2019-01-03T00:39:03.000Z

Bright_Mike:

Yeah I was just looking at the S2+, I think. How’s the heat management?

I was thinking just get the 8* and leave it on the lower modes though. I don’t usually need really bright.

How does the Biscotti work? I like about 0.5 A, and I use the lowest mode on the D80 a lot, 0.1 A or something.

How do you get the discount? I just splurged & bought a C8, might be a while before s2+.

I was getting decent lights on ebay (if you don’t mind the cheapie tint ) for not much. I used them, and they actually light up, if something goes bad on your better lights, so a good battery case. Liked the body color but I’m bad at modding

You gotta remember that, potted with a huge copper pill or not, in the end it’s a tube light. The main heat bleeder on it is the hand that holds it. It’s not a problem for me, since I rarely use the S2 I have on a mode above 20-ish lumens (1%).

I’ve made a spreadsheet roughly estimating the current, lumens and runtime on a 3400mAh battery, but can’t post it right now that I’m on mobile. What I can tell you for sure is that the 35% mode on a 4*7135 will be a pleasant surprise for you at 0.49A or so. For 0.1A, you’d have to spring for a 3*7135 and put it on the 10% output.

Biscotti is exceptionally flexible - you have a variety of mode groups in all flavors to pick from, with “moonlight”-ish or so (0.1) reaching 50 at most, to full blast every time, to down-ramping. Memory and blinkies are equally optional. A flowchart can be found in the Desert Tan S2+ thread. I myself haven’t had much use for anything but mode group 8 (0.1%›1%›10%›50%) on a 7135*8 M1 and a 7135*6 S2, but I don’t use either too too much. On a thrower, for example, an overall more powerful mode might be preferable – maybe once I get off my ass and learn soldering, a driver swap on my C8 might tell me the answer

For the discount, just shoot Simon a message through the Ali system and he’ll adjust the price. I often do it because I pay him through PayPal, going around the AliExpress route.

I’m completely inexperienced with messing around with electronics in general, let alone flashlight modding, so I feel your pain. lol

Bright_Mike · 2019-01-03T02:51:59.000Z

Jack Kellar:

You gotta remember that, potted with a huge copper pill or not, in the end it’s a tube light. The main heat bleeder on it is the hand that holds it. It’s not a problem for me, since I rarely use the S2 I have on a mode above 20-ish lumens (1%).

I’ve made a spreadsheet roughly estimating the current, lumens and runtime on a 3400mAh battery, but can’t post it right now that I’m on mobile. What I can tell you for sure is that the 35% mode on a 4*7135 will be a pleasant surprise for you at 0.49A or so. For 0.1A, you’d have to spring for a 3*7135 and put it on the 10% output.

Biscotti is exceptionally flexible - you have a variety of mode groups in all flavors to pick from, with “moonlight”-ish or so (0.1) reaching 50 at most, to full blast every time, to down-ramping. Memory and blinkies are equally optional. A flowchart can be found in the Desert Tan S2+ thread. I myself haven’t had much use for anything but mode group 8 (0.1%›1%›10%›50%) on a 7135*8 M1 and a 7135*6 S2, but I don’t use either too too much. On a thrower, for example, an overall more powerful mode might be preferable – maybe once I get off my ass and learn soldering, a driver swap on my C8 might tell me the answer

For the discount, just shoot Simon a message through the Ali system and he’ll adjust the price. I often do it because I pay him through PayPal, going around the AliExpress route.

I’m completely inexperienced with messing around with electronics in general, let alone flashlight modding, so I feel your pain. lol

Yeah, I don’t think I’m going to attempt “fixing” a good light. It’d be fixed, alright lol.

I tried messaging him, hopefully I can upgrade to the C8+ with XPL hi and the biscotti firmware, thanks to this thread. That looks pretty sweet If not, the regular C8 isn’t bad. With the discount, might only be a few bucks extra.

The S2 looks pretty good, too, is that a thrower? or more wide? Seems like a really good deal with the nichia, only $15. I like the WW, but 4000K might work just fine.

I guess 0.5 A with a 3400 mah should be close to 7 hours. I dont really use the higher levels usuallyso 1600-2000 mah works for me

Jack_Kellar · 2019-01-03T05:14:21.000Z

Bright_Mike:

Yeah, I don’t think I’m going to attempt “fixing” a good light. It’d be fixed, alright lol.

I tried messaging him, hopefully I can upgrade to the C8+ with XPL hi and the biscotti firmware, thanks to this thread. That looks pretty sweet If not, the regular C8 isn’t bad. With the discount, might only be a few bucks extra.

The S2 looks pretty good, too, is that a thrower? or more wide? Seems like a really good deal with the nichia, only $15. I like the WW, but 4000K might work just fine.

I guess 0.5 A with a 3400 mah should be close to 7 hours. I dont really use the higher levels usuallyso 1600-2000 mah works for me

I don’t see why not. I’m fairly sure all of his 1*18650 hosts can accept all drivers and emitters. I even asked once about putting the new Nichia on an M2, and he said “of course”, so I’m happy.

That’s a lovely combo, and I don’t see how it wouldn’t work. Did you ask for a smooth or OP reflector?

The wording on the third point confused me a bit, so I feel I should make it clear: there’s a pretty big difference between the S2 and the S2+.
· The former is an older design, longer and with a very deep reflector. The beam is tight but floody, almost as uniform as a low-angle TIR optic.
· The latter has a much shallower reflector, and is very floody as a result. Folks around here have tried putting an XP-L HI flat dome on it, and with a smooth reflector, it throws pretty damn far. Simon also has a gamut of optics for it, with different angles to pick from.

4000K was my choice for the S2+, too. I like my flooders on the warmer side. I’ll pick the 5700K for the M2 in the future.

Indeed, it’d be very close to 7 hours on a fatter battery. I just like the crazy long runtime, hence the high capacity of mine.

ValuseekeR · 2019-01-03T12:35:27.000Z

Decided to bite on the S2+ w/ 4k Nichia myself last night, great price.

Bright_Mike · 2019-01-04T04:58:40.000Z

Yeah, and Simon’s C8+ with XPL hi, copper DTP board, AR coated inside, and new firmware, which I think is biscotti, seems like a really good deal at $21.06 with 15% BLF discount.

Wouldn’t mind getting a good 502, either, under $10 using discount.

Macka17 · 2019-01-04T07:15:01.000Z

I’ve got S2/S2+ with a few C8’s, A Sofurn C8T, and Simons C8+.
The C8’s are fine (XPL-Hi). The Sofurn C8T , is better.
The Convoy C8+ is better again.

The S2/+, I only use in home and round the garden. ANY further.
the C8T and C8+ are in a different league.
And I try to get 5000k ish in all my torches. Lovely shade of light.

Nowadays. with the quality of Simon. Sofurn. Astrolux etc.
There’s not really any NEED to buy named units at triple and more the prices.
Thank you Simon……
Just pot your drivers on the ones that may need it.

If You financial, fine.
If Like me and others like me (old age pension) all money spent and gone.
Almost, We NEED BLF and their pointers to the “budget” items with quality
to give us decent torches etc at our prices.

Bright Mike.
that $21 US works out at $32 AUD nowadays. and around 7/8 yrs ago our $ was worth more than yours. We pay a lot more for everything nowadays.
bloody Politicians.

lightboks · 2019-01-04T09:37:05.000Z

Jack Kellar:

For that price, you can get an S2+ with a Nichia 219B and TK’s programmable Biscotti firmware from Simon, no fuss no muss. If you’re lucky, you can get a sale on a Lumintop Tool AA v2.0, nicest damn CRI on a Cree cool white LED that I’ve ever seen :laughing:

You can get a stock S2+ Biscotti with 219c, not with the 219b. Correct me if I am wrong. Still a great deal for under 20 bucks.

If money is tight, get a BLF a6 with Q8 battery bundled for 20$.

Astrolux s43 might also be interesting, multiple 219c leds, short tube and USB charging for around 25$

For AA, the convoy T2 costs around 10-12$ and is a solid bright light with clear reflector, so quite throwy for AA and can be had in 4000k, too.

For a new AAA with nice CRI and under 10$, check out the sofirn c01, there is a thread about it.

peg_matite · 2019-01-04T17:00:34.000Z

Jack Kellar:

For that price, you can get an S2+ with a Nichia 219B and TK’s programmable Biscotti firmware from Simon, no fuss no muss. If you’re lucky, you can get a sale on a Lumintop Tool AA v2.0, nicest damn CRI on a Cree cool white LED that I’ve ever seen :laughing:

Yes I agree on the Tool 2.0. Matter of fact, I was comparing with some of my Nichia b and c and XP-L Hi 5000K lights just last night and thought, “geez, it is cooler/whiter but still a nice beam, better than the other CWs I have.”

It is a solid little light.

wstrachan · 2019-01-04T18:17:38.000Z

Compact Tube lights:
Sofirn Sp32A can be had for around $18 and they run 1300+ lumens on an 18650.
Nitefox UT20 is an awesome little light. If you PM Nitefox on here you’re likely to get an Amazon code. They have built in charging and are quite nicely made. Output is close to 1200 lumen.
My favorite small tube light is the Thrunite TC15 running over 2000 lumen with the XHP35 emitter and a good high drain cell. I love mine!

Slightly bigger C8 size:
Klarus St15 can be had for around $29. Dual switches and nicely made running the XP-L HI emitter, they are great all around quality light.
KD Litker (Kaidomain) C8.2 running the XHP35 HI emitter are advertused at 2,000 lumen though in testing they are really about 1800. Still an extremely well made C8 for $28.

Ever so slightly larger reflector than a C8, you have to try the BLF GT Mini. Ramping UI and awesome throw, they are very nice lights! Around $35 with a coupon code from Fin17

Don’t overlook the 21700 cell lights like the Rofis MR30 and Wuben A21!

mmalive · 2019-01-04T22:52:13.000Z

Harbor Freight 220 lumen rechargeable. Surprisingly decent output with very little light artifacts in beam.