Hi BLF someone mentioned on here a few months ago that Fenix no longer lists the TK70 on their main web site. I have also noticed a few new sellers not listing it on their sites either, even though they stock all the other Fenix lights. This makes me wonder if it is available from Fenix any more…
Does anyone have any more info they can share regarding this? Could it be discontinued, considering the TK75 is out now? Could it be that it will be re-released with upgraded emitters, like they did for the TK41? (Did the TK41 disappear for a while until the new model was released?)
I have always admired and desired the TK70 as a killer NiMH light but the cost (including cells and charger) so far has stopped me from buying one. Could this be my last chance though?
Thanks infinitusequitas, I feel the same as you. Also, I understand why you would consider it outdated, but it is still the brightest NiMH light available for people that aren’t comfortable with li-ion lights!
“Compete”, it still beats most of them. Very few Lights have the Throw and Flood combined that the TK70 has, even current Models. Definitely nothing on NIMH. It’s still used by many as a Benchmark.
It would probably be the last Light in My Collection that I would sell.
Thanks Toph I know a lot of people feel the same as you. Its such a great light and I would love to own one. I am hesitant to buy one just in case they are going to release a newer TK70 with upgraded emitters, although considering an upgraded TK70 would eat into the new TK75s market, I am starting to doubt it…
If battery safety is a concern, go for RC40 instead if I were you. Safety wise will be similar with TK70 because it uses battery and charger from Fenix. Those flashlights using standard 18650 batteries depends on knowledge of users. BTU price is ok right now especially with AR lens included.
But if you just want to collect flashlight, TK70 is definitely the one to go since it was the only LED flashlight compete with SR90 then. I am still thinking to get SR90 if price is right.
Thanks for the comment about the shocker, but the best thing about the TK70 for me is that it doesnt need li-ions! So I dont see the shocker as an alternative.
Ya, I let my wife uses TK70 and other non li-ions light only. Now I have too many li-ions flashlights in my house, she occasionally just pick up one and use them. And I will remind her not to use them.
Thanks for the suggestion of the RC40 DENGOH. It is still a li-ion powered light, but I can see how it might be safer/easier to charge and use than a light that uses multiple single 18650 cells. It is almost double the cost of a TK70, but I would also need to buy D cells and a charger so the total cost would probably work out around the same!
Lithium-ion is simply superior to NIMH batteries. No worrying about the batteries losing up to 2% of their charge per day. You can always buy the low self-discharge batteries. But D NIMH batteries weigh like a ton of bricks especially when you put 4 of them in the TK70 tube. I’ll take lithium anyday.
I don’t see it that way. The way I see it, any battery that NEEDS protection circuitry to give it some semblance of safety is flawed technology. Not to mention that NiMH D cells give you insane capacity, stable voltage (with Li-Ion, only LiFePO4 can do that, and nobody wants it), and the ability to push amps that LiCo could only dream of. Not to mention a calendar life that’s more than 2-3 years. Heavy? Maybe so. But I would rather carry a nice, long TK70 than a short, stubby TK75 that’s going to be head-heavy and not balance well in my hand. Li-Ion superior technology? At least not LiCo in its current form.
If you take care of your cells the protection should never trip except low voltage cut off.
Saying something is flawed because it needs a protection circuit is in itself flawed. Is everything you use intrinsically safe? Are all your knives fixed blades without sheaths? Does your hot water system not have a safety valve in case of catastrophic failure?
Shit happens, and when it does the protection circuit is there to protect you. Having protection doesn’t mean it is dangerous. I’ve never once had any of my protection circuits in my batteries trip in more than a year of this hobby.
I have no problems with lending Li ion lights either, the light isn’t going to blow up. My cells are protected. My phone and laptop both use protected Li ion batteries too. I feel perfect try safe sleeping with them charging 10 cm from my head.
Laptop batteries actually use 18650 batteries. If anything individually protected cells should be safer than one big pack of unprotected cells with one protection circuit. Hybrid cars also use thousands of 18650s due to their incredibly high energy density.
Li ions are safe. You should feel safe using them. Only reason to pick NiMhs over like ions performance wise is the LSD factor.
Laptops and most cellphones are using li-ion cells nowadays. I even let my parents to use the C8 with protected 18650 inside, but I told them not to try charging by themselves, I will charge for them instead.
It was in Melbourne that a fellow Aussie just recently burnt down half his house while charging Lithium Batteries in his Bedroom, and if you watch the news in Australia, there has been a few instances of Laptops (Batteries) and Mobile Phones catching fire while Charging in recent times. One of the Mobile Phone incidents near burnt the young guys hand off as he picked it up to answer it when it was still plugged into the wall socket and the Battery Exploded. They are Dangerous if mishandled or Faulty or Your Charger is not working Properly, the PCB fails, they become out of balance in a Multi Cell Light, or for a Great many more reasons. Why do you think that most Airlines are refusing to carry them anymore.
Knowing this I still have a Cupboard full of them, but I definitely don’t consider them intrinsically Safe, they are as safe as the amount of Quality Control the Factory who made them has in Place (China), also by the amount of care I put into understanding and Handling them, and as such I will not lend them to Children and I ensure that anyone I do loan them to understands the cautions involved in using them.
One more thing, if Shit Happens, I sincerely hope that the Cells at issue aren’t in your Hand, in a Torch or unattended in your Charger while your Family Sleeps. For that matter, anywhere near your other Batteries or House Period. A venting Lithium could change your life for good.