Hi all BLF'ers!

Hi!
First, I want to thank the forum itself, staff and every member here at BLF for all the knowledge, comments, reviews and “beamshots”.
My interests is nature photography and nature sound recording. Since the animals (and some birds) is awake during the dark hours, I have to be out a lot the same time, you might understand my interest in flashlights…

I started to occasionally read this forum 1 1/2-2 years ago when I discovered that there were better flashlights out there than my 5 meter! throwing flashlight from my local store…
I found a store 1 1/2 year ago that was closing so they sold out everything they had at a good price, so I bought one Olight M21 Warrior at 1/4 of the retail price. I have used it a lot since and I’m happy with it.
I also wanted a thrower that wasn’t to expensive, so I bought a SR STL-V2 and I liked it. But then it stopped working so I picked it apart several times without finding anything that looked broken. I then read here at BLF that someone with the same problem said that the driver probably was toast, so I ordered a couple of drivers that drives it with more amp than the original. I haven’t found the original driver. I have also ordered a new STL-V2 just in case… But a couple of days ago I got some 18650 batteries I ordered from Intl.outdoors (panasonic? 3400mah). I put them in my old (broken) STL-V2 and it worked? :slight_smile:
My old batteries is Ultrafire 3000mah and Palight 3000mah, and none of them works in STL-V2 (they did for about 6 months), but they do work in my Olight.
So now I’m waiting for a new STL-V2, SR King, Ultrafire UF-H6 and a Ultrafire C12…
Since I’m getting another STL-V2 I probably have to become a DIY’er :slight_smile: and put in the new driver and maybe try to de-dome one of them…? :bigsmile: I’ve read the de-doming thread so I know that there is a risk of destroying the led. I might ask right away what led/emitter I should buy to the STL-V2 if I toast it? Is there a U2 version that fits in a STL-V2?
I’m also thinking about the Thrunite TN-31 $139 deal… but I have to convince myself that I really need it or that it have much better throw than STL-V2… I know the UI and quality is better, but I also need more throw to pull the trigger on it…

Sorry about the long post. :8)

Welcome to BLF, Sockan! You know you need the TN-31...

Very impressive collection of lights you have. Your experience with the CrapFire batteries is not unusual. I have 2 UF3000 left and they won't work in several of my lights. One won't even turn on, another won't go over medium mode. With good quality cells they light up fine.

Welcome to BLF, Sockan. We are glad you finally decided to come in from the cold.

Thanks.

Trying hard to resist TN-31… don’t tempt me… :smiley:

I thought the word “fire” on the ultrafire batteries meant “light”, but it probably means explosion. :open_mouth:

It means we’re flaming idiots for buying them.

welcome sockan. I'm also thinking about the tn31.

Welcome 8)

I hope you have fun here, Sockan!

Welcome,i should have thought about the TN31.Now ive got two :wink:

Have a goodn
DON…

Well, with that name I’m not surprised that you’re Swedish. :slight_smile:
And with that collection you’re more than welcome.

Welcome to the family, Sockan!!

Thank’s for the warm welcome!

Yes that is a strange name Volk :slight_smile:

I got a package today. It’s always fun. :slight_smile:
No real testing yet, but I did put a battery in the Ultrafire C12 and it looks promising. Nice throw for a 1x18650 light. Bigger and weaker hotspot than STL-V2, but that was expected.
I haven’t charged enough batteries yet so I can’t test the SR king yet.
Just briefly tried the Ultrafire UF-H6 and it seemed to be what I expected.

Now to the STL-V2… (I bought it from Lightmalls) It was completely different from my 1 1/2 year old STL-V2…
First, the quality was much worse. I actually started to bleed because of the sharp cut threads or close to it. Small pieces of sharp metal everywhere. :frowning:
When I got it open I noticed that it had what you call a “pill”? (The emitter and driver are soldered to each end of a aluminum “tube” that has threads). In my old version the led are by itself on a “star” fastened by 2 screws that you unscrew from the reflector side and the driver is also by itself and is just “fastened” by thermal compound and I can pick it out from the battery end of the head.
Which is best? A pill or separate components? Heat dissipating? It will probably be easier to mod my old version…
My old version was bought from Manafont.