For people who need a light to help get their job accomplished, flashlights are not toys but tools. I am a flashaholic but when it comes to my job, I just need a simple, reliable, compact light that works.
I am an elevator repairman so I spend a lot of time in pitch dark areas light the elevator pit or on top the car. Elevators are dark and dangerous. I need a light that will not leave me groping around in total darkness which could be deadly.
I have a ton of list but the one I carry and use at work is a Pelican 1920 penlight. It was about $20 but being small and slim with a clip, I can carry it in my pocket and not notice it. It has enough throw to see up the shaft when needed and has 67 lumins which is brighter than most penlights. The simple forward clicky is essential for quick peeks where you just need to check sometime for a second. It is lightweight enough that I can grab it in my mouth for a quick hands free light so I can work with both my hands when needed.
Using a light professionally has taught me a lot about lights and what is important for certain tasks. There seem to be certain lights best suited to certain trades. I remember the mini-mag was hugely popular among electricians and mechanics years ago. The funny thing is, I see very few people bother to carry a flashlight anymore. Most of the people I work with carry a cheap plastic penlight from the dollar store.
I work nights exclusively, so I use an ultrafire 501D XML I patrol a lot of dark lonely places, (car parks), so I need something thats light and not too bulky on the hip, and a good mixture of flood and throw, (single mode), and plenty of lumens, lol.
Ideally, I’d like a tube extension so it could double up as a small baton, but that don’t seem to be an option.
Just need the right drop-in . . here’s one that looks like it will take 2 cells up to 8.4 volts. Can’t vouch for the reliability, just posting from what they list.
I have used an Led lenser P7 for the last few years, but this week i started using a Solarforce L2M with an Oveready/Torchlab 3 mode triple xpe neutral. It’s 2.8A on high, and about 1A on medium, and something like 125mA on low.
I’m an Electrician, and the Neutral tint is much better than cool white for identifying cable colours.
I use a 980l on my belt…itp a1 in pocket with extra battery…work bag has a Dry and a uf-v2 as a thrower if I go for a call…these are all cheaper lights sin my collection and tend to get used more because they are easily replaced if they get broken/banged around…
I work at hardening process. I do a quick by-eye analysis from the line by this
The head has had the most of hits….
ATM it has 5-mode (4 of them useless) XM-L with 3C tint, 100% diffused.
I look at most to distance of 20 feet, so this is the for me, works every time. No eye burning hotspot if I happen to work to close range.
Has some signs of wear, bought it used (almost mint) but I have no heart to beat my “new” lights so I wanted a used one…
Has been on duty for about 2 years. Will carry ´til the end.
BTW I gave my 980L to my brother to farm work. He liked it pretty much but throws too much for generic use so he uses most the LOW mode
I gave him some diffuser also to try.
i carry a sipik sk68 clone i got from ebay for around $5, i use a 14500 battery in it which i also got on ebay for $2.50… it lasts around 45 minutes or so and if i loose it or it breaks i am only out a whopping $7.50 lol
with intermittent use i usually recharge once a week
respiratory therapist, nights since 1987. been through many lights. on my hip i have been through, minimags, R5-A3, 566 with AA extension, SF L2P, nitecore D-10.
my bag is currently rocking a shadow JM07 after a few years of a jetbeam BC-40, which seemed indestructable. we’ll see.
need multi mode with low that can check pupils without blinding. loved my xp-g s-mini, for overall usage but the low was still a bit high. high for general search, oxygen tank room work, and general help with near 60 year old eyes.
currently carrying a shiningbeam caveman, high is uninspiring but other modes work fine as this is a tool to use around people sleeping not flooding one’s backyard with daylight.
Im a plumbing and heating tech and use my light ALL day long. My criteria was something DURABLE, TAILSTANDING, and ANTI-ROLL that was easily carried in a belt holster. The Solarforce L2P meets all these needs and is my go to edc.
I now use a SWM c20 tomahawk,smallest 18650 light I own and lovin it.I switch between a c20 and a v10r ti,both great compact lights and worth the extra dough.
Lights that get the most use these days. JM07, SolarForce L2 with a single mode xm-l Solarforce 2.7v-9v dropin, SolarForce L2M with the Intl-outdoor 3-amp 3 mode dropin. All get run off the highest capacity battery possible so no recharging or battery swaps needed at work. All have also gotten extra waterproofing with grease, oversized O-rings and Teflon tape were it could be. I try to keep them small, larger lights get left in the car or at home.
Would like to get a solarforce light with a neutral white tint.
Outdoor store - is yours a T6/3C led (which size mcpcb for the solarforce light) or a complete neutral white drop in? Am totally unfamiliar with flashlight modding.
I’m an electronics engineer. Although I work in well lit lab space I always carry a Terralux Lightstar 80, a High CRI 2xAAA penlight. It has a good size and a bite grip. Very spotty beam is a bit harsh for close up though. The limited lumens compensate this good. Before this I were using a Fenix E10 for its neutral tint. It was a good piece but can’t find it sold any longer.
My other EDC is an EagleTac d25LC2 with XPG s2 led, and a spare 18650 for this light and my USB emergency charger. Eagletac give quite a strong beam for its size and give me long batt life or further than a hundred meters throw.
Forgot to mention, I also built a 501b with XPG R5 and single mode at 700mA. With its smooth reflector this light serves my everyday and blackout needs very well and still provide a decent bright light for longer than 3 hours, without heating. Even a single AMC 7135 driver plus an XPG led is a reliable and useful gadget as a workhorse. You can add almost any led instead of an XPG at this current. I plan to build a 1W Rebel light for its nice neutral tint, for instance.
