Please help me find an Ultra Lumen Flashlight $40 budget

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

I need to get an Ultra Lumen Flashlight for security use, to blind interlopers/perps and the other important requirement being able to turn a large area/yard from night into day - to spot lurkers behind bushes etc.

$40 budget and must be able to use 18650 cells(even if its just in a 26550 holder as with the Thorfire), Thorfire S70s is within that range and apparently very well made and is true to its 3800lm light output claim.

Before I go ahead and order one is there anything else anyone can recommend near my budget, some of the Convoy lights seem to be excellent value for money with great price to build ratio?

Also what kind of things do I need to know/keep in mind about Ultra-lumen lights?

One thing I've noticed that gets brought up is run time, all very well to have 5kLM on tap but if it can only run for 2min at max output and needs hugely expensive 26550 high current batteries perhaps not so attractive as a working light.

2

To blind someone in the dark a 1000 lumens light is enough

If you aim a Convoy C8 with XPL HI at 2.8A to someones eyes he will be blinded as hell, as the hotspot is even brighter as the Thorfire S70

3

You will be happy with the s70, it will blind anything you want it to and can be used as a bat. Probably wouldn’t even turn off after cracking a skull. I brought one with 26650 cells for extra weight with me on Halloween for trick or treating with my 2 year old and 4 month old

4

But the Convoy C8 won't have much flood though, also it's not a whole lot cheaper than the Thorfire S70s at $40(granted that's the price only when on sale)?

The other requirement is I also need to turn the whole area/yard from night into day, forgot to mention that, have updated the op

5

If you can wait, BLF’s very own Q8 fits that bill nicely. check out the thread, expected cost is $40 delivered, will deliver a wall of light, turbo woill blind a whole football team. I would recommend reading the first page of posts and last to see a description of the light and expected delivery date. most likely months now.

ken

6

That sounds great, thanks Ken, excuse my laziness but do you perhaps have a link to the thread please?

7

This one, I think Q8, PMS SEND TO THOSE WITH ISSUES BLF soda can light

8

Thanks, that does look good, also 4 x 18650 cells so the run time will be great, also looks like the design should have better cooling than most and will allow longer run times at max lumens. I've subscribed to the thread!

In the meantime I do still need a light asap, I'm going to order one this week so guys please keep the recommendations coming

9

Thorfire S70S fits the bill on price and output.
Store elfeland on AliExpress

10

You won’t find a better deal for $40. Won’t get any better the the s70s for right now on that budget.

Usually lights like the s70 are around 60+ dollars. I paid $70 for the original s70 when it came out first manufactering batch

11

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ThorFire-S70S-Waterproof-XHP70-LED-Flashlight-3960-lm-6-modes-Long-Distance-Searchlight-for-Camping-S70/32791830137.html

Don’t forget to click on the $2 off coupon. :wink:

12

One thing with the Thorfire S70 is there are more than a few negative rating's on Amazon about outright failures, seems the quality control may be a bit spotty, were a few for the newer S70s as well, is that cause for concern?

I am pretty handy though so when things break I normally can take them apart solder/refit fiddle etc and get them working again.

13

A lot of the Amazon reviewers don’t know shit from shinola about flashlights. Got to take many with a grain of salt, like the ones that say “I load the batteries and nothing happens”. They don’t realize the cells have to make contact with each other. By using a magnet between them, or putting a solder blob on top of one, solves that problem. The new S70S is a wonderful light.

Here’s my quick review and links to others

14

Not to input unwanted information….but in my humble opinion, 26650’s aren’t that much more than 18650’s…good one’s at least. May want to consider something like these….IF you’re going with a light that can use them…and IF importation into your country isn’t prohibitive.
Liitokala 26650’s

15

The S70S comes with a pair of carriers for the 18650s

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Obviously 26550's would be the answer but from what I understand good 18650 cells with decent current drain capabilities will be well within the requirement of the S70s at full power, 26550's will just give more runtime. I've got plenty good 18650 cells and it comes with adaptors so I'm going to stick with 18650's for now.

17

The new S70S has a new UI
So clicking the tail only lights up the switch led
From there
Moon is accessed by long press
Normal modes (with memory) with normal press
This might confuse buyers for it ia not the most standard.
I like to click it on (so the side switch lights ) at night since it hangs next to the front door and can be easy found and turned on rapidly, in the morning I click it off again.

18

So essentially if Turbo was the last mode used with 2 clicks you can go from off to turbo.

Is there any dedicated failsafe way to go from off to turbo if the last mode is unknown?

Sometimes you need extra stealth and fiddling with modes and the light flashing on and off to get to turbo will lose me the element of surprise.

19
  1. Use the S70S in Standby (or don’t be afraid of leaving it in Standby).

2. Make a habit of turning off in Turbo.

20

Are there any other lights that can be recommended that use 4 18650 cells, ie parallel, seems this the S70s without high current cells may be a little lame or won't be able to run for longer than a min or 2 at turbo before the voltage sagging. Of the 18650's I have at the moment the ones with the max current is 6A. I have too many cells as it is, I don't want to buy more cell especially seeing no one will ship them to me down in South Africa and they charge a hideous premuim for them locally.