My new torch

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Discussion

silverthorn2151

Original Poster:

6,299 posts

181 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
quotequote all
Nigel_O said:
are they REALLY that good?
Yes, yes they are. Its quite amazing to be frank and a disproportionate amount of fun!

The recommendations above are sound and a flick back through just a few pages will show up all sorts of options.

Since starting this thread showing off my new torch I find myself with many others, none of them as expensive as the first one.

A lot of them come from far across the world, yet when they arrive belie the reputation that such goods often have. The newcomer is well advised to try the regularly suggested suppliers, but beware the casual Google search for you will find yourself with torches in every pocket!

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

192 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
quotequote all
Nigel_O said:
I was looking at a couple of torch modding sites, where they've used a sleeve in the Maglite to allow use of 18650 in series. My only worry is that the spec on the XPG-R5 LED I've bought from thetorchsite says it runs best at 4v+ and at "up to 9V". Five D cells in series gives about 7.5 volts, but five 18650s is going to be nearly 20v - surely this will fry the LED?.
Personally I'd just run normal D cells in a Mag like this. I have a couple of the torch site drop ins and they work well for their intended purpose. The only time to look at li-ion in Mag like this is if you have a custom build. Then you match the battery voltage with that of the driver you are using. For example I have a 2D cell Mag that runs on 2x 26650 li-ion batteries.

Sammitch

2,993 posts

178 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
quotequote all
Nigel_O said:
defblade said:
I wouldn't bother with the AA to D adaptors though, just go (protected) lithium. 18650s pack soooo much more voltage and amp/hours into the space there's no contest.
I was looking at a couple of torch modding sites, where they've used a sleeve in the Maglite to allow use of 18650 in series. My only worry is that the spec on the XPG-R5 LED I've bought from thetorchsite says it runs best at 4v+ and at "up to 9V". Five D cells in series gives about 7.5 volts, but five 18650s is going to be nearly 20v - surely this will fry the LED?.
Correct.

Those sleeves work best on 2D Maglites, so 2 x 3.7v = 7.4v.

So it looks like you're stuck with D cells.

How about a modern version of the Maglite like this:



http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/fenix/fenix-tk41.htm...

abbotsmike

1,033 posts

147 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
quotequote all
Sammitch said:
So it looks like you're stuck with D cells.
I have a 4D maglite with the terralux tle310 drop in. Very bright on alkalines, but some testing with a bench supply showed that they can't supply nearly enough current.

I'm looking at a decent 4D charger and a set of 4 ansmann cells to solve it, but that's nearly £60!! Some sort of lithium setup would probably be better and cheaper.

defblade

7,484 posts

215 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
Whoops.

After going on DX to provide the links in my post above, I accidentally ordered this and this, along with a few more 18650s wink
(And I stuck this in my wish list, in case the Darth isn't bright enough!)

Don't do it, folks. Lumens, just say NO!

Sammitch

2,993 posts

178 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
defblade said:
Whoops.

After going on DX to provide the links in my post above, I accidentally ordered this and this, along with a few more 18650s wink
(And I stuck this in my wish list, in case the Darth isn't bright enough!)

Don't do it, folks. Lumens, just say NO!
Jesus Christ! 5 x Cree XM-L U2!

Like that headlamp - I'm off to do some man maths.

DoubleSix

11,750 posts

178 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
Not sure how I feel about having 18650s strapped to my head. A little unnerved perhaps.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

192 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
abbotsmike said:
Sammitch said:
So it looks like you're stuck with D cells.
I have a 4D maglite with the terralux tle310 drop in. Very bright on alkalines, but some testing with a bench supply showed that they can't supply nearly enough current.

I'm looking at a decent 4D charger and a set of 4 ansmann cells to solve it, but that's nearly £60!! Some sort of lithium setup would probably be better and cheaper.
Suspect with a mod to the tail cap you might be able to run 5 x C cells in a 4D. Should help a little.
Or there are some 1xD cell extenders you can get if you want to stick with the D cells.

Another options would be to use some AA to D cell converters and run some AA Eneloops. But the trouble with the big Mags is there size. With Li-ion you'd only want to run 1 or 2 batteries. Which means in a 4D you'll need to use some spacers, but you then end up with a big torch and tubing not really doing much.

cuneus

5,963 posts

244 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all

tenohfive

6,276 posts

184 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
I was having a chat with a friend of mine who has a Lenser T7 and he's getting itchy for something new. He was asking about something with a bit more throw. Budget is flexible, as long as the new torch is value for money he's happy.

My first thought was the Fenix TK35 but I'm not sure there's that much throw from looking at some beam shots. I did also stumble across (in a CPF TK35 review) an EagleTac M3C4 XM-L which seems more throwy. Any ideas which was I should point him?

Sammitch said:
defblade said:
Whoops.

After going on DX to provide the links in my post above, I accidentally ordered this and this, along with a few more 18650s wink
(And I stuck this in my wish list, in case the Darth isn't bright enough!)

Don't do it, folks. Lumens, just say NO!
Jesus Christ! 5 x Cree XM-L U2!

Like that headlamp - I'm off to do some man maths.
That Tangpower has just hit my wish list too. Let us know how you get on with that headlamp - I'm toying with getting something with a bit more throw than my Alpkit Manta for night time running.

Sammitch

2,993 posts

178 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
tenohfive said:
I was having a chat with a friend of mine who has a Lenser T7 and he's getting itchy for something new. He was asking about something with a bit more throw. Budget is flexible, as long as the new torch is value for money he's happy
Good thrower here:

http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/dereelight/dbs-v3.ht...

You can choose which LED you want, I'd go for the 3SD XR-E Q3

Not the brightest in that list but definitely the best throwing LED.

audi321

5,318 posts

215 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
Sammitch said:
defblade said:
Whoops.

After going on DX to provide the links in my post above, I accidentally ordered this and this, along with a few more 18650s wink
(And I stuck this in my wish list, in case the Darth isn't bright enough!)

Don't do it, folks. Lumens, just say NO!
Jesus Christ! 5 x Cree XM-L U2!

Like that headlamp - I'm off to do some man maths.
Right, I'm going to order one of the 5 LED ones for $36 ( these), so before I do, is there anything else from DX which would tickle my fancy!

silverthorn2151

Original Poster:

6,299 posts

181 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
audi321 said:
Right, I'm going to order one of the 5 LED ones for $36 ( these), so before I do, is there anything else from DX which would tickle my fancy!
Ah bugger. I think I may actually need one of those too.

Well she will go shopping and leave me playing with the internet unsupervised!

buzzer

3,544 posts

242 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
well how sad is this... I bought two of the little torches posted earlier (the green ones, but I chose red) and when they came I realised the quality control is not too good. excellent little torch, but one of them, the body had been machined with the thread too big, so the end cap would not hold in... As it was only £3 its not worth sending it back to china...

So, I machined the body to accept a single CR123A and turned a thread in the end that is a nice fit for the end cap. It makes a nice chunky little torch! Please don't ask how long this took...


silverthorn2151

Original Poster:

6,299 posts

181 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
Not sad.....impressive!

Many many man points.

giblet

8,884 posts

179 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
What is the performance like with the Ikea AA? I ordered one from Amazon a few days ago, will be using it with a Eneloop. Currently own a L2D CE Q5 which I rarely use so will be interesting to see how it compares in terms of output and build quality.

stemll

4,144 posts

202 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
Succumbed once more to this thread.

Just ordered this and this.

Really don't need either one to go with the Fenix E05, Fenix PD32 UE, Lenser B7 and a couple of old Maglites. Why on earth do I think I need 7 torches smile

Pesty

42,655 posts

258 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
tenohfive said:
I was having a chat with a friend of mine who has a Lenser T7 and he's getting itchy for something new. He was asking about something with a bit more throw. Budget is flexible, as long as the new torch is value for money he's happy.

My first thought was the Fenix TK35 but I'm not sure there's that much throw from looking at some beam shots. I did also stumble across (in a CPF TK35 review) an EagleTac M3C4 XM-L which seems more throwy. Any ideas which was I should point him?

Sammitch said:
defblade said:
Whoops.

After going on DX to provide the links in my post above, I accidentally ordered this and this, along with a few more 18650s wink
(And I stuck this in my wish list, in case the Darth isn't bright enough!)

Don't do it, folks. Lumens, just say NO!
Jesus Christ! 5 x Cree XM-L U2!

Like that headlamp - I'm off to do some man maths.
That Tangpower has just hit my wish list too. Let us know how you get on with that headlamp - I'm toying with getting something with a bit more throw than my Alpkit Manta for night time running.
The tk35 has a throw of 350 meters or there abouts. How far is eagletac

Sammitch

2,993 posts

178 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
stemll said:
Why on earth do I think I need 7 torches smile
Get a dog, dog walks and torches are made for each other (well, when it's dark they are)


silverthorn2151

Original Poster:

6,299 posts

181 months

Friday 20th December 2013
quotequote all
Sammitch said:
stemll said:
Why on earth do I think I need 7 torches smile
Get a dog, dog walks and torches are made for each other (well, when it's dark they are)
Or wait until it's dark and then walk the dog.