What essentials should every flashaholic own? (Other than flashlights)

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

I’ve been collecting flashlights for a little over 6 months now. I am starting to scratch the surface of modding, but I haven’t really gotten too deep into it yet. I am curious what essentials every flashaholic should own? I think there are different levels of flashaholic-ism, such as beginner, casual, advanced, and modder. Other than flashlights themselves, what essentials do you think each level of user should own?

Here’s my thoughts. Bulleted items are options.

Beginner:
Charger

  • Nitecore Intellicharger i2
  • Nitecore Intellicharger i4

Batteries

  • 2-4 Protected Sanyo UR18650FM or Panasonic NCR18650A
  • 4-8 Sanyo Eneloop AA
  • 4-8 Sanyo Eneloop AAA

Multimeter

  • El-Cheapo Digital from Amazon, Harbor Freight, Fasttech ($20 range)

Thread Lube

  • Super Lube dielectric silicone grease

Casual:
Charger

  • Nitecore Intellicharger i4
  • Tenergy T-9688

Batteries

  • 2-4 Solarforce 880mAh 16340
  • 2-4 Protected Sanyo UR14500P
  • 2-8 Protected Sanyo UR18650FM
  • 2-8 Protected Panasonic NCR18650A or NCR18650B
  • 4-8 Sanyo Eneloop AA
  • 4-8 Sanyo Eneloop AAA
  • 4 Tenergy Centura C
  • 4 Tenergy Centura D

Digital Multimeter

  • Extech EX320 ($50 range, up to 10 amps)

Thread Lube

  • Super Lube dielectric silicone grease

Advanced:
Charger

  • Nitecore Intellicharger i4
  • Tenergy T-9688
  • Thunder AC680 hobby charger

Batteries

  • 2-4 Solarforce Protected 880mAh 16340 (~720mAh @ .2C actual)
  • 2-4 AW IMR 16340
  • 2-4 Protected Sanyo UR14500P
  • 2-4 Unprotected Sanyo UR14500P
  • 4-8 Protected Sanyo UR18650FM
  • 4-8 Protected Panasonic NCR18650A or NCR18650B
  • 4-8 Samsung 20R INR18650-20R
  • 4-8 King Kong or MNKE IMR 26650’s
  • 8-16 Sanyo Eneloop AA
  • 8-16 Sanyo Eneloop AAA
  • 4-8 Tenergy Centura C
  • 4-8 Tenergy Centura D

Digital Multimeter

  • Extech EX320 ($50 range, up to 10 amps)

Digital Caliper

  • $10-$15 generic Chinese digital caliper

Odds and Ends

  • Magnets for flat top cells
  • Larger magnets for hobby charger
  • Label printer to keep track of batteries
  • Lux meter

Thread Lube

  • NyoGel 760G synthetic silicone lubricant grease
  • Super Lube synthetic dielectric silicone grease

Modder:

No idea as I am not to this point yet :slight_smile:

2

Well I should buy a lux meter but for now I just trust my eyes.

3

Owning some color filters to have green, blue, yellow, red lights, just for fun.

4

$$$

5

+1!

6

Integrating sphere if modding? So you can take accurate measurements. May or may not be necessary though. Soldering equipment isn’t essential either. It depends really…

Everyone should have an eneloopy though.

7

A good woman

8

I am loopy, does that qualify?

I don't think you could make a list that would fit. It's all going to depend on each individual's desires. Some may want only very expensive batteries, some may want a hobby charger, some may want a Fluke meter. I think there's too many possibilities, depending on the person.

9

A sense of humor.

10

+1
And just as important . . . an understanding spouse with a sense of humor.

11

Some patience too… (waiting for those packages!)

12

Modder: iCharger 106B+, Soldering iron, oscilloscope (overkill?), patience (suggested by Chloe :)), variable bench power supply, good thermal paste, etc.

13

+1
.
I have seen some amazing work by individuals that don’t have all those expensive tools. They do things with simple hand tools and a $5 soldering iron that are simply amazing. What tools are needed depends on the individuals skill level. Ma_sha1 comes to mind with his human lathe method with making shorty maglites.

14

Definitely. Old_Lumens and Chicago-X come into mind. (Although CX does have a gigantic lathe. :))

15

You forgot one important thing. A healthy bank account.
If you don’t have an understanding spouce, no spouce at all can be helpful.
Actually, having a non understanding spouce can lead to having no spouce at all.
After you get the lawyer paid off, you might have more money to spend on lights.

16

:beer: and more :beer: and some :beer:

17

I'd like to think that I'm at a beginner level, so that I can buy more stuff.

But I think there are levels of modder.

There's a pill modder with soldering iron, straight tweezers, pliers and the other essentials. (like me)

But then there's modders with lathes, and similar large machinery. And that's just a whole other level. Probably should be labelled 'makers'.

18

I think a DMM, even a very inexpensive one, should be at the top of the beginner's list.

19

An extremely hard working wife that makes lots off money. Unfortunately my wife is only one off these.

20

Modder:
a lathe that can handle up to 10 cm thick aluminum rod :stuck_out_tongue:
(I wish I had one, I have so much ideas which I can not realize without the lathe) :frowning: