It all began when...

Off-topic Chatter
1

I was 13 years old. My mother had bought a dry cell lantern much like this one:

At any rate we had recently moved out to the country, and there was a hill behind the farmhouse. This lantern could throw a beam like a search light, illuminating the hillside about 600 feet way, and I loved it!

Over the last few years I have re-discovered the magic. It started at costco, where I purchased a 2 flashlight pack for $11. It was a really cheap light, but it had an LED and I thought it would be cool to try. Was I right! After trying it out I went back and purchased 3 more packs and gave them away to my family and friends.

Well I found out that this light had a flaw. It had a high parasitic draw while turned off, and it ate batteries like a fiend. So I went began researching chargers for flashlights. A retired policeman friend turned me on to the "other" sight, where I found out about the MH-C9000 charger.

My next purchase was a RockRiver headlamp to use while out on hiking with a good buddy.

We would go each year and my friend would show off all of his cool ultralight backpacking gear. That Rock River headlamp was much more powerful than his Petzl. I became the teacher.

More recently I have been selling those budget AAA and 18650 lights at my job, managing a small tool and repair store on the other side of the world, in Guam, where we have moved.

Then 2 weeks ago I found BLF, and I realized that flashlights could be a relatively do-able collecting hobby in these hard times. Needless to say I had underestimated you guys ability to sell....

That is how I got here. I have since, at the advice of several great folks here, purchased 3 new lights, several bodies, a couple of drop ins, a new charger etc... I'll leave out the pics, I don't want this turning into a slide show. I'm waiting for them to arrive and hanging around here. That is it, my flashlight story.

Forgive me if this subject has been gone over before, I'm a newb here, but what about you? What kindled your desire to become a member of BLF? Are we all the same?

Ron

2

I like that headlamp

3

It cost $29 at Target a few years back. A fair light output for the times.

Ron

4

I have always had an interest on flashlights but I only really started getting into it about October last year. I was lurking on ebay doing random searches in my local area and found a bloke selling a new led flashlight. I googled it for more info and found dx. I had no idea what I was doing but by reading customer feedback I managed to purchase a few good lights. I soon found CPF and soon after BLF. I now have 30+ lights.

5

Yeah, I've had the bug for a long time too, but it's only ramped up to high beam lately! I'm on my way to making them and I'm sure I'll be probramming them soon.

Ron

6

I like your purpose!

I'm a former programmer... I can solder too. Been building things and repairing things for years.

Had several careers and probably on the way to another, which may include flashlights.

7

still running great but cost a mint at the time

-8W Dual Output LED Tactical Flashlight Super Bright Luxeon LED 8 Watt - Min $30

with a snazy POLICE print on the side- well i thought its was very cool in 06- currently sporting an xml

look familiar

-MaxStar5 - 5 Watt Luxeon K2 LED -dropin for mag light $30

i was amazed at the efficiency and output - currentl has a P4 but think ing of an XML , dont know if it will make a huge difference running at such a low current

8

Yeah, efficient.

I realize that the newer lights are way more efficient than that big old lantern, and that the HID's of today are way brighter, but can anybody tell me how the LED's will compare in lumens to that old lantern?

I've got 4 lights on the way and I'm wondering how the XL-M will compare? The lantern was more like a car headlight focused to the max.

Ron

9

Always had a thing for flashlights and then went many years without a decent one since I didn't know any better. All the cheapy incans I bought died quickly. Then I tried the wind-up ones and they were crap that didn't last. I then one day went into Big Lots and they were selling a Duracell 3xaaa daylite for $9 and I got my first exposure to modern LED tech. I was so impressed that I went online to find more info and discovered the other site and realized I was only at the tip of the iceberg. The rest, they say is history.

10

..when I got into geocaching, needed strong light so I bought a led lenser headlamp -still very satisfied with it (will be more with xp-g q2 cri90)

11

Ever since i was a kid and went camping, i've enjoyed flashlights. They let you do things in the dark you otherwise couldn't. :)

But with modern flashlights, i was googling looking for an R4 card probably 2 years ago, and i stumbled across DX. I did some more searching to make sure DX was a legitimate site and while i was looking around i noticed the ultrafire c3 with extension and decided to give it a try. So many people were saying how bright it was, i figured for $10 what the hell. Having never seen a modern LED light, needless to say, i was WOW'd when i turned it on. Eventually i found CPF, fortunately, i am a frugal person, and the only thing the other site convinced me to buy was a PILA charger. After being there for a couple months, and having absolutely NO luck finding parts or repair information for budget lights, i got lucky enough to find BLF in a search. You guys have a fantastic attitude!

12

i dont know if i understand completely but here it goes

according to the experts XML is the current model of brightness and efficiency , i think its 20% or more efficient than the predecessor XPG

run at 1.5 amps XPG is hotter- well here is the quote from this post ( more at the bottom )

XPG vs. XML

An XPG @1.5A produces about as much (a bit more) heat as an XML @1.5A, an XML @3A (a bit more than) twice as much. An XML T6 @1.5A gives about 17% more light than an XPG R5 @1.5A, two XPGs @1.5A each give slightly more light than one XML T6 @3A though. All calculated from the data sheets, and at 25 degC, so no thermal sag is taken into account (of which the XML will probably suffer more, as it produces more heat @3A).
------ FROM HERE ON IS MY CONTINUED RESPONSE LOL
the light that you see in my post if i recall runs at 800mA and 400mA and i would venture that it would blow away the old lanter. will recheck that one day but that was literally my second mod could be 500/300 , i need to write stuff down : D
and you didnt list you lights on the way lol , what are you getting ???
How does XML compare xml is new , costs a bit of a premium but i think even older Cree LEDs are good. dollar for dollar maybe on par, dare i say with ...na BUT still good
does it compare with a head light , well head light is blocked in the front if youlook , the front is shaded , blacked out - not the high beams
my SacredFire NF-009 is brighter than my headlights stock , meaning its small hot spot is very bright its doesnt flood as much light
replacing the Q2 with an xml is defiantly brighter
hope that helps
13

I think you understand well and thanks for joining in.

That lantern I had as a child had a very powerful bulb. It was about the size of an automobile headlight, but more concentrated. The beam was a lot like the ones I see on the beam shots, but more orange in color and really tight.

The brightest LED light I have seen in person so far is probably only about 250 lumens. The super inexpensive zoomable lights. They are pretty bright for what they are I guess.

I have ordered an L2 Body with 2 extensions and a Cree q2 drop in. I have also ordered an XM-L drop in, another CREE Q5 clone flashlight, another body the name of which escapes me but it was recommended here as an L2 alternative, 18650 Trustfire flame batteries, a TR001 charger, and a couple of items which I can't remember! I know there's at least one more flashlight in there...

I don't have much time in the evenings, and the order inquiry systems at some of the sights like DX are not very informative.

Ron