As others have mentioned, a quality rechargeable cell can make all the difference. I would stick with a good Panasonic or Sanyo-based protected cell from a trusted seller.
Welcome to the forum !
Before I add my two cents to this subject, I want to say hi to all the regulars, as this is my first post. I’ve been lurking here for a year of so and you’ve help me spend a lot of money but the results have been a lot of fun too. Thanks.
It’s been my experience (admittedly brief but combined with an EE design background) that anytime a light switches from high to some lower intensity mode after a few minutes of operation, that the pill is overheating and the IC used to control the light has chosen to save itself by reducing the operating current. If it just shuts off then that can be caused by any one of several things, including the protection circuit in the battery. I have an entire group of protected 3100 Panasonics that will immediately shut off if their output current exceeds 3 Amps.
The pill in some budget lights is positioned to snug down on the reflector and in that position it may have very little thread surface in contact with the body, and therefore the heat sink, of the light. Imitations of imitations are often not put together with perfectly compatible parts. A good look inside can tell a lot, it takes good physical contact to transfer heat.
Strud
My UF C8 shorted out on me as well. I liked the light for the week or so that it worked. I wouldn’t consider it for police duty however. It is too cheaply made for serious use.
A nice 18650 that is duty tough is the Shining Beam Blaze for $30 (was $60) or a Solarforce L2P (or any Solarforce model really). Either of these lights will make a Ultrafire C8 look like a toy.
The question is… do you want to use it JUST as a source of light, and nothing else? Meaning do you care if other people around you have a brighter light?
If you don’t care, then a solarforce L2M with a $11drop in from KD is good, all up it’s like $22, uses XML U2 (highest bin) and has like 800 lumens from one cell. The only problem is that is doesn’t throw very far, but has really great spill, but that’s probably what you want as a police officer anyway.
If you DO care about what lights other people carry… then strap yourself in, because you’re going to be here for a looong time!
P.S. PM me if you want the links for the L2M and the drop in, I’m on my phone at the moment so it’s kind of troublesome.
My guess would be battery too ..i'm assuming it's a cheap cell.
Big difference in output and runtime ..
Easiest and cheapest way to improve the lights output is a good cell
Thank you for all your input and it has given me more to think about.
Would I be best buying a HD2010 as the throw seems fantastic
or should I be going with http://www.ebay.com/itm/1600-Lum-26650-18650-CREE-XM-L-XML-T6-LED-Flashlight-Torch-Lamp-KEYGOS-M10-/300682325805?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item46021 or http://www.intl-outdoor.com/xintd-c8-v3-xml-u2-910lumens-flashlight-p-308.html
which one would you buy?
I should not that I would probably prefer 2 or 3 modes instead of the blinky modes
Dan
Hd2010 or the xintd c8 or both :bigsmile:
does the hd2010 come with 2 or 3 modes only rather than the 5 modes?
Hi Dan
I have the HD2010, the XinTD C8, and a light very similar to the M10 (UF2200).
The HD2010 is too big for belt carry, if that’s what you want, and the other two are not, if you can find a suitable holster. It’s “the V8 of torches”.
The M10 (or UF2200) is a nice size in the hand, and has great runtime with a 26650 battery, and mine is my best all around yard light. It’s the landcruiser of lights and would be my choice if I was on the beat.
The XinTD V3 C8 with a NW LED my favorite for walks, it’s a bit smaller (smaller battery 18650) and has a nice NW tint. Beam is similar to the UF2200. It’s like driving an MX5. Fun.
I sold a couple of Skyray M10 and a Trustfire A8 to several friends that (2) are state troopers in FLORIDA and one is a county sheriff. The sheriff got the A8 and loves it… Fits his leather holster and is a baton style torch lots of flood and spill… The M10 throws better… 2 different style lights for 2 different styles of police work… Not all officers work the same routine style……. I have an A8 if interested… Pm me …
As Manny says, the A8 is very interesting.
A 26650 in tube style.
Would be a good EDC I suspect. I’ve been considering retiring my EDC (Ultrafire C303) for one.
A trooper and sheriffs usually stop in highways and wooded dark zones, this means they need flood and in case the suspect flees into the woods you need throw.
The m10 is good for this style, a city officer might be in a well lit district with plenty of available light or ambient light so the A8 has a good low mode of about 50 lumens perfect for writting tickets and reading bolos and maps. A turbo of 850 true lumens plus, it can run on both 18650 and King Kongs. It doesn’t get hot and is WELL made an m10 cannot hold the abuse an A8 can !!! A COP abuses his lights ….
From constantly dropping on cement, from rain to mud and rolling in the car… The light has to be tough and dependable, an officers life depends on it !!! And it must handle 8 to 14 hours of abuse every day !
By the way, welcome to BLF Dan ……
One place has it with High-Strobe-SOS. :P
I have most of the lights mentioned above, and I still think the UF-980L is the best all round option. I have some nice EDC lights but still cannot bear to leave my 980L at home, so it rides in my jacket pocket. That’s never further away then the back seat of my car at least.
It is small enough to fit a front jeans pocket with my wallet and some other stuff and gives most compact throwers a run for their money. Good useable spill too. 3 modes High-Mid-Low only, with last mode used memory. It fits long Panasonic protected cells or standard unprotected ones.
It is still my favourite light and the one I would keep if there could only be one. The Highlander of torches.
Hmmmm, maybe I shouldn’t be giving such good information to my uniformed brother, in case it is used against me.
Have you thought about a box of matches? Small, lightweight easy to carry … 
Foy and POK own A8’s and love them. They got top reviews… I took an A8 threw it 5 times against cement floor and broke a concrete block on it and still worked…… If I hit anyone on the head meaning me harm with the A8 bezel, or the solid butt tail cap, he will remember it all his life. That light build is amazing…… I’m tired and going to bed ……
I ma now starting to think that the UF-980L might be the best option from here http://www.lightmalls.com/ultrafire-uf-980l-980lm-cree-xm-l-t6-3-mode-memory-led-flashlight-1-18650
The LightMalls one looks like a cheap (and overpriced) copy mate. There are lots of knockoffs around. The Manafont one is the only genuine one I know of. I have several clones but the original is still better.
If you are happy with a clone, there are cheaper options on ebay. The clones are decent lights, but not the same quality as the Manafont original. Maybe 90% as good though.
Choose wisely gothebroncos. The lightmall version has a different type driver yielding high, low, fast strobe.
The tried and true UF980L Driver from Manafont yields hi ,med, low with MODE MEMORY. There have been rumors of “knock-offs” out there.
Not saying the LighMall is inferior…just check it out thoroughly.
Foy reviewed the UF980L from Manafont…it’s the real deal.
Hey there!
I am police officer too, so my experiences could be interesting for you.
After serveral other lights I bought this one here:
http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-113/Romisen-RC-dsh-T601-II-XM-dsh-L/Detail
It was the best I have so far. Very good qualitiy, very nice beam and not that big.
I like, that it only has 2 modes (High and Mid).
It has a very nice throw with a nice floody spill.
Since I got this light I never had another one on my belt.
(Except the Sipik-Clone in my pocket and the Crelant5g7 in my bag)
Just my 2 Cents…
Toppel
Any beamshots or youtube vids of this in action?