I’m sure that there are enough of these threads but here I go. I’m in the market for a good edc. I’m currently using an ultrafire wf-502b. Its a nice light but there are a few things that I would change. For the type of work that I do flood is more important than throw most of the time. The only time that I really need good throw is to look across a drop ceiling. I also don’t like those strobe functions. They seem pointless to me. I would like high-medium-low. Something pocket friendly is very important to me. I also love the clip on the 502b.
Have you tried a Sipik SK68 before?
Yeah, I just got one in the mail. Its better than the knock off that I got on ebay. I like that the beam is nice and consistent and isn’t blinding in the center. What I don’t like is that it doesn’t shine much outside of the actual beam. So I don’t think that I would be able to get away with using it like a drop light like I do with my 502b. I really like the output when you screw off the lens.
I haven’t taken it to work to see how it works out for me in day to day usage though.
Thanks for the recommendations. I really like the sound of that PD32 and the klaus xt2c. I really like the user interface on the pd32. Its great how it has a separate button to switch between modes and defaults to the last mode used when turned on. People keep describing the XT2C as floody which I like the sounds of. It sort of sucks that it defaults to high and the lack of a pocket clip kind of sucks. I’m hearing a lot of complaints about noise, that worries me a bit. Still, it sounds like a very nice light.
I am an HVAC Technician.
I have had many lights and my needs are similar to yours. I like big hotspost with lots of flood. Bright small hotspots are too intense when you are working on something 3 feet in front of you. Tight narrow spots and spills are not good when you are trying to illuminate a wide close area.
The suggestions above are good lights but the Convoy S3 is much better for our needs. Big wide spot and lots of spill. Get a natural white. You may want to go with the the 2100mA. T4. It will give you a neutral beam. They have a 2800mA which I have, but it get pretty hot after 5 minutes.
Here is a link:
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10002364/1195002
Another good thing about the S3 is it will accept any protected 18650. I’m using 70mm 3400mah Panasonic and there is still more room in both diameter and length than I need. A lot of the other lights in this size are too narrow and/or short for the large capacity protected 18650s’
The only “issue” I have with this light is when you turn it on “low” it will blink in about 4 seconds. After the blink you can do a partial press on the switch and that will change it to 5 mode with the blinky modes. I don’t have a problem with accidentally hitting the button and switching to 5 mode, but the blink every time you have it on low is annoying. Luckily, I rarely use Low.
+1! I was going to recommend the S3 as well but you saved me a lot of writing. Much obliged! :bigsmile:
Or just get a p60 dropin with no blinkies to put in your 502b
+1 on the convoy edc lights, although the two I have are not convoys per say, they are identical in function and form and are extremely useful.
For wider ranging illumination I would also look at a c8, keygos m10 or something similar of that head range. Convoy again has you covered here with the c8 and m1/m2 range. I work on both transport and commercial refrigeration, my lighting needs are covered by an 18650edc (just changed to an xm-l 4c tonight, nw is much easier on the eye) a clone of a shadow jm07 (26650 cell, 40mm reflector, again changed to xm-l 4c and two group 2.8a driver tonight) and a c8 in a niteize head strap. Between these three I have plenty of run time, plenty of flood and throw if required, all three can tailstand for room illumination. You can add a solatforce clip to the s3/edc18650 with a slight mod in the tail area or fit the intloutdoor screw on clip. I personally prefer a bayou clip and lanyard attached to my belt loop for the edc as I’m under vehicle’s a lot and can loose things in pockets, the bayou clip is easy to detach from the lanyard but prevents loss 
That convoy sounds like a really nice light. The blink on low does seem a bit annoying. I do use low a lot to look into panels and junction boxes which is also why I don’t like bright small hotspots. Either way, I can deal with that. The lack of a clip sucks. I need to look around at some mods.
How hard is the S3 to turn on by mistake? I’ve done that to my 502b a few times now.
I’ve been looking at AA/14500 for everyday carry but one thing I don’t like is they all seem to be much larger than necessary. In fact the convoy S3 mentioned above is not a lot larger than a lot of them and has xml emitter and 18650 battery to boot.
true about the 18650. Capacity and amperage output far surpass AA.
Fasttech is also a great place for batteries and charger, too.
The Nightcore I4 V2 is a very good charger along with a set of protected Panasonic 3100 or 3400’s and you will have a great set up.
Thats exactly what I ended up picking up. I Ended up going with a Convoy S3, and while I was at it a pair of panasonic 3400s and a nightcore i4.
I think you made an excellent choice. I thought you were looking for a light that had no hotspot. That is why I recommended the sipik.
I would have went with an XTAR charger but the i4 is a very nice charger too.
I really think you will enjoy that set-up.
Very good. Which S3 did you go with?
I went with the exact S3 that you linked to.
Thats one thing that I love about the sipik. I would love a light like that with more flood.