Hi from California

hank · 2019-07-08T04:13:22.000Z

The first rule of using lithium-ion batteries is —- if it starts to smoke, don’t inhale.
Second rule, never leave the charger operating unattended.

CalvinIS · 2019-07-08T15:12:12.000Z

Welcome to BLF! Are you in Northern or Southern California, if it's the former we have a show-room you can visit and check out lights in person!

e39_540i · 2019-07-08T15:14:04.000Z

CalvinIS:

Welcome to BLF! Are you in Northern or Southern California, if it’s the former we have a show-room you can visit and check out lights in person!

Thanks for the welcome! Bummer, though, as I’m down in Socal. Would have really liked to have gone to the show-room. Next time I’m up north I’m definitely going to have to swing by. Where is the show-room?

wstrachan · 2019-07-08T15:51:57.000Z

Hello from CA. I am here as well.
For the EDC there are countless options but I can recommend lights I own and use regularly:
the Wuben E05. at 900 lumens it’s very bright for a AA/14500 light. Coupon codes will get you that for around $23. The included diffuser is nice.
If you’re looking for a larger EDC 18650 light with more output, the Nitecore EDC23 is nice though pretty spendy. There are also options like the fitorch P20rgt.
One of my personal favorite lights is the Sofirn SP32A V1 and V2. They can be had for under $20 with discount code.

A flooder is more difficult to recommend because there are MANY options. I recently bought the Fireflies E07. Its a 7000 lumen multi-emitter light running a 21700 cell. It’s very well made and functions flawlessly.

A searchlight is also opening pandora’s box of options. In mid-sized searchlights I like the Lumintop ODL20C a lot. The Astrolux FT02 and FT03 lights are good economical options. I own all three of these and they are great lights. All three have beam throw ratings over 700 meters.

Pete7874 · 2019-07-08T15:47:37.000Z

Welcome to BLF!

The e39 is a classic. I am still holding onto mine.

e39_540i · 2019-07-08T16:10:43.000Z

wstrachan:

Hello from CA. I am here as well.
For the EDC there are countless options but I can recommend lights I own and use regularly:
the Wuben E05. at 900 lumens it’s very bright for a AA/14500 light. Coupon codes will get you that for around $23. The included diffuser is nice.
If you’re looking for a larger EDC 18650 light with more output, the Nitecore EDC23 is nice though pretty spendy. There are also options like the fitorch P20rgt.
One of my personal favorite lights is the Sofirn SP32A V1 and V2. They can be had for under $20 with discount code.

A flooder is more difficult to recommend because there are MANY options. I recently bought the Fireflies E07. Its a 7000 lumen multi-emitter light running a 21700 cell. It’s very well made and functions flawlessly.

A searchlight is also opening pandora’s box of options. In mid-sized searchlights I like the Lumintop ODL20C a lot. The Astrolux FT02 and FT03 lights are good economical options. I own all three of these and they are great lights. All three have beam throw ratings over 700 meters.

Lots of options to look at. Thanks for the reply! Hope you weren’t affected by that recent earthquake. That’s whats prompted me to start building a kit with a couple of lights and basically how I found this forum. Everyone has already been extremely helpful in looking at various options out there. So much to choose from…

e39_540i · 2019-07-08T16:13:56.000Z

Pete7874:

Welcome to BLF!

The e39 is a classic. I am still holding onto mine.

Agreed! I picked this one up last year as its been a long time dream of mine to own. They’re nearly 20 years old by now but its definitely one of the best (imo) body styles BMW has ever produced. Its such a pleasure to drive as well. I came from a 1995 Acura Integra so this was a huge upgrade for me.

Is yours the 6 or 8cyl? I took a risk with the V8 given the known timing chain guide issues but I really enjoy the driving experience so I’m willing to do everything I can to keep it running in tip-top shape. I also went with the 6spd to really maintain the driving experience. Its such a great car.

wstrachan · 2019-07-08T16:18:45.000Z

I’m in Northern CA, between Sacramento and the bay. Didn’t feel a thing.
Earlier in the thread Illumn posted they have a showroom in San Jose. I’ve been to it. They have good pricing and decent selection. visit their site at Illumn.com.

Pete7874 · 2019-07-08T16:23:33.000Z

e39_540i:

Is yours the 6 or 8cyl?

Mine is a 2002 530i manual. I’ve had it since 2006.

raccoon · 2019-07-08T18:22:43.000Z

It's a pleasure to know you, e39_540i!

For an EDC, I also think the FW3A is an excellent choice.

raccoon · 2019-07-08T18:31:39.000Z

The RovyVon A3 is kinda expensive for what it is, but it's a great light if you don't mind spending the money.

I have one and the amount of light that it outputs is impressive for such a small flashlight.

Henk4U2 · 2019-07-08T23:03:07.000Z

Hello e39_540i, welcome to BLF.

I hate to be a spoilsport, but wouldn’t it be wise to add a shock resistant dive light to your search?

e39_540i · 2019-07-09T01:08:56.000Z

raccoon city:

The RovyVon A3 is kinda expensive for what it is, but it’s a great light if you don’t mind spending the money.

I have one and the amount of light that it outputs is impressive for such a small flashlight.

Thanks for the welcome. I actually went ahead and ordered the A3 for my SO. I thought I bought her a SureFire G9X awhile back but I think she misplaced it. I’ll probably end up throwing this on her keychain. The light looks good and versatile for something so small.

e39_540i · 2019-07-09T01:09:36.000Z

Henk4U2:

Hello e39_540i, welcome to BLF.

I hate to be a spoilsport, but wouldn’t it be wise to add a shock resistant dive light to your search?

Something I should definitely consider. Do you have any recommendations?

sabre_cat · 2019-07-19T01:03:56.000Z

@wstrachan, I’m in Napa. How close to Napa are you?

e39_540i · 2019-07-19T01:06:54.000Z

sabre cat:

@wstrachan, I’m in Napa. How close to Napa are you?

Hah! I wish I were up in wine country! I’m down in SoCal. Visited Napa a couple years back and really enjoyed it up there. I envy you.

raccoon · 2019-07-19T01:14:41.000Z

I wish I were in Napa as well.

Living in the desert is not so great in the summer.

e39_540i · 2019-07-19T01:22:28.000Z

raccoon city:

I wish I were in Napa as well.

Living in the desert is not so great in the summer.

Oof… yeah, it was pretty hot last week but this weekend looks a little cooler. Hopefully its not too bad out there for you.

deleted-200707 · 2019-07-19T01:35:08.000Z

very few safe places in Northern Baja any more
we were in SF Valley for 2 quakes, rebuilt our home from the bones last time 1994
actually very few safe places anywhere any more
moved a bit above the border and suffered a 100 year flood on our creek frontage
Belfor redid our house and drilled pylons for our foundation to stop slippage
so we are pretty good for the faultline off our coast not shaking us to bits
’course the resulting tsunami is still problematic.

(do not let your insurance lapse)

sabre_cat · 2019-07-20T00:55:33.000Z

chinooker:

very few safe places in Northern Baja any more
we were in SF Valley for 2 quakes, rebuilt our home from the bones last time 1994
actually very few safe places anywhere any more
moved a bit above the border and suffered a 100 year flood on our creek frontage
Belfor redid our house and drilled pylons for our foundation to stop slippage
so we are pretty good for the faultline off our coast not shaking us to bits
’course the resulting tsunami is still problematic.

(do not let your insurance lapse)

Yep. You should have seen the damage from the Oct.’17 fires! We still have a huge housing problem because of that. That’s on top of the earthquake problems just a few years ago.

I was recently talking with someone that had lost his home during 2017 fires and I ask if he had considered moving out of the area. Take the money and run, so to speak. He said if the insurance did a cash payment so that you could relocate, there would be a minimum of a 20% reduction in the payout!