Mini CREE LED from Amazon for $3....What are BETTER Alternatives??

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Hey all,

A couple weeks ago when I started getting interested in getting some decent lights I came across a couple posts on another forum about these cheap lights from Amazon that had unreal output. I checked them out and ended up buying 2 of them. One of them is a MINI CREE that shipped from China and was $3.35 or so. It suggests 1 18650 or 1xAA battery, which is what I have in it now. This little light is a neat light. It’s a zoom light. For the money, its hard not to like it.

The thing is that it’s NOT 300 LUMENS like it was claimed, but I knew it wasn’t going to be so that’s ok. I know a lot of people have these little lights as I have seen talk on them on all kinds of forums so they must be pretty popular.

When you zoom it to get the max lumen you see a square beam and it looks like a circuit board or something similar. I’d rather have a light like this that wasn’t zoomable and just gave the power right when you turned it on. I wouldn’t mind some lower power modes to save battery life though.

So, I thought I’d ask for suggestions on what would be a really good alternative to this MINI that would actually have some serious power and be nearly the same size. It’s hard to beat a little light like this that can go just about anywhere. Lets say I would spend $30 on one. What would you recommend? I know that ain’t much in the flashlight world, but that’s good enough for me right now.

What other little MINI CREE lights are out there in that price range that has the POWER it actually claims to have? I’d like to have a little light like this one that had crazy lumen power that would make someone that wasn’t familiar with these lights and technology in them to say “my GOD….what is that thing and where can I get one?” when you turned it on in front of them.

Thanks for the help.

Nalajr

2

We-needa-link? Mini CREE is a pretty common generic name.

I've modded a few "Mini CREE's" that are AA zoomies, and they turn out great with either an XM-L2 or XP-G2 running a 14500 cell. The stock emitter is pretty bad - weak and blue.

"Chinese" lumens is the rule - it's the wild, wild west - they can get away with saying anything when it comes to lumens.

There are some decent AA lights in the $25-30 range - the ThruNite T10 running a 14500 is one example - I have it and really like it - smaller than the Mini CREE, maybe 200-300 lumens on a 14500.

3

Check out the Unique Fire C3. There are a few “different” models out there. If you get a authentic one, they are awesome for the $$$. I would suggest a high quality clip. They can also run primaries or if you want a hand held torch slap some 14500’s in her. I have a few of them and love them. I guess I got lucky on the first one I ordered. It has super smooth threads, and is build like a tank. I usually go in and trim the rubber tail cap boot so they are harder to turn on or change modes. The modes are not my style, but that too can be modified is so desired. Following are a few links.

http://www.amazon.com/UniqueFire-5-Modes-Lumen-Flashlight-Silver/dp/B00JBXPEI0

This is the one I ordered. Can’t go wrong for the price!!! Unless you are in a hurry, check these out.

http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10000598/1105000-ultrafire-c3-cree-xr-e-q5-5-mode-190-lumen-led-fla

Also got this one. They are very much alike, But I prefer the aforementioned one.

http://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10003894/1278200-c3-cree-xp-e-r2-248-lumen-3-mode-white-led-flashli

EDIT< you can order both of these from Fast, for the same price as one of those from Amazon. Just sayin

4

He is talking about the SK68 I would bet

I really like the Convoy S2 and S5 (my EDC)

But I also really like the SK98 (I have a SH98 clone from fasttech)

But I always have my SK68 in my pocket everywhere I go

You can actually do a cheap MOD on the SK68, just swap out the XP-E emitter and 16mm board with a XP-G or a XM-L on a 16 mm board…it really does increase the output quite a bit (heat too unfortunately)

But to really get oomph out of a flashlight, throw a Li Ion in it. Boost circuits can only squeeze so much out of a 1.5vdc battery, when the battery starts ABOVE the LED Vf, things get MUCH MUCH brighter :wink:

5

Ohhh - this is my favorite Mini CREE: http://wallbuys.com/Product/Mini-CREE-XPE-20LM-3-Mode-Cool-White-LED-Flashlight-with-Clip-Black-1xAA--9836

Sold out right now... But I see at Amazon, a "Mini CREE" is a SK68 clone.

6

Yep definitely talking about a sk68 clone xpe/xre. They’re always accompanied by 300lm claim or 7W. I think I’m up to 10 of the little boogers. For the price of ~$2.50 each (through various deal alerts) it’s tough to beat as a little junker to have in every corner of the house. Puts those cheapie 9led lights to shame.

7

Sorry….

Here is the one I have.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006E0QAFY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks all

Nalajr

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I’m going to get the better battery for it soon. What do I need to drop in or change on this one?

Now that I think about it, the output is rather bluish in color and not at all like the $10 Wally World 150 Lumen cheapo that is pretty white.

I’ve also got an S2 coming and some batteries and a charger soon to run it with. Then I need to get a sweet NUCLEAR powered drop in for my 6P.

The only thing I’ll need then is this little booger being better. I’ll end up getting more of them no doubt, but I’d prefer it to NOT be a zoom.

Nalajr

9

It should run on 14500 without any modification. Though in some cases using 14500 can remove the ability to use AA in the light.

They do occasionally have a cheap emitter that have bluish tint. Only way to fix that is by replacing the emitter.

10

I just got 3 of the color sk68’s from amazon. I now have color emitters in them (they’re toys for the kids) but before I did that, just screwin around I took the coolest (bluest) one and dedomed the emitter and that made it (a) throw a lot better and (b) a fair amount warmer- still “cool white” but a lot less blue and almost neutral, much less hard on the eyes than stock and it was a free mod.

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but not the mode-3 version!! :P

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The one deal around $2.20 from MyLed was a 3 mode. And their second deal was ~$3 for a 3mode. I haven’t seen any others though.

13

A few things:

  • It is 1xAA/1x14500 compatible, not 1x18650 a stated in op
  • You actually get the max number of lumens out of a zoom flashlight when it is zoomed out, not in
  • If you are looking for a true hotrod, get some 14500s and a xml-2, from mtnelectronics.com and stuff ’em in there (thermal paste under led!)
  • I hope you are getting name brand lithium batteries, and not anything with the word fire in them.
14

I have ordered another set of 6 from Amazon for $19~ (I have ordered a total of 24 so far…keep giving em away :D)

These are great “bic lighter” generic throw aways…much brighter than anything people have seen and even the single mode off/on ones people seem to enjoy. (someone called non-cree folks muggles :P)

15

They are 15mm drivers

I believe Mattaus is working on a 15mm 5*7135 nanjg style 14500 only regulator driver for these (but he has been crazy busy lately)

I really want to get one of those…go with 4*7135’s at 1400 mA and throw a XP-G(G2) on a copper sinkpad in it…

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whoops. I was thinking of the 18650 variant. edited post.

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18650 variant uses 20mm driver

Just got thru rebuilding mine…not sure what I did wrong with TexasPyro’s 20mm Nanjg compatible build but it quit working on me…bleh

So I got a regular 17mm Nanjg, flashed it with STAR V1.1 (flipped) [I did a custom static build in reverse], and soldered it on a 20mm partition adapter board, and put a XM-L2 on 20mm sinkpad and epoxied it to the star…voila runs like champ now (again)…and is CRAZY bright! [wish I knew what I did wrong on the Texas Pyro build…not sure if the diode or what??