My new torch

[dickymint]

chinnyman said:

Ha good point but yes a handtorch...

That Amazon one looks great.

Cheers all.
Olight ones do look nice but probably want something better value.

Bought Wifey this Olif as a stocking filler (recommend above) in red. A bundled deal with a smaller pencil torch - also had their UV giveaway one with it.

Problem she liked it too much and it’s ended up in her handbag!!!

https://www.olightstore.uk/olight-s1r-baton-ii.htm...

[The Mad Monk]

Nigel_O said:

The Mad Monk said:

P.S. What other sort of torch is there, other than a handheld one?

Head torch?

Of course I knew that.

I was just testing you all to make sure you hadn't fallen asleep after Christmas........

[chinnyman]

The Mad Monk said:

chinnyman said:

Also can anyone recommend a handheld torch which can be recharged by a plug in cable. I don't want to have a separate charger.

'ere you go, Saint

https://tinyurl.com/wr3sazw

Ticks all the boxes (whatever that means?)

Edit

P.S. What other sort of torch is there, other than a handheld one?

Perfect. I love it, does the job and pretty bright for a cheapo.

[Squadrone Rosso]

My current “EDC”. Nice little combo.

[2Btoo]

Chaps, a problemmo.

I think left my favourite torch turned on the other day. It's a Thorfire VG-15S. (I say I think I left it turned on as I left it on in an unusual place a few days back and when I returned to it today it was still in the unusual place but off. Had I turned it off then I doubt I would have left it there - I would have put it somewhere else. I therefore think that I left it turned on and it has run itself flat.)

Cell is a single 18650. NCR18650B by Panasonic, to be precise.

I've popped it into the charger (XTar VC2) which is showing 3.0V and 0A, and the mAh charge indicator is neither flashing nor counting up - it's showing '0000' and not changing. It's been like that for 10 minutes now.

Have I ruined the cell?

Thanks for your help.

(Incidentally, the torch is fine - I put another cell in it and it works as it always did. Lovely torch BTW).

[techguyone]

2Btoo said:

Chaps, a problemmo.

I think left my favourite torch turned on the other day. It's a Thorfire VG-15S. (I say I think I left it turned on as I left it on in an unusual place a few days back and when I returned to it today it was still in the unusual place but off. Had I turned it off then I doubt I would have left it there - I would have put it somewhere else. I therefore think that I left it turned on and it has run itself flat.)

Cell is a single 18650. NCR18650B by Panasonic, to be precise.

I've popped it into the charger (XTar VC2) which is showing 3.0V and 0A, and the mAh charge indicator is neither flashing nor counting up - it's showing '0000' and not changing. It's been like that for 10 minutes now.

Have I ruined the cell?

Thanks for your help.

(Incidentally, the torch is fine - I put another cell in it and it works as it always did. Lovely torch BTW).

The battery is not protected so the only thing that might protect it is the torch itself.

Which does not have any protection either.

It has a low battery warning flash on the beam but nothing more.

So yes, you over discharged it and the battery is very likely screwed.


I don't know how much space is inside the the torch but you should really try and get a short a protected battery as possible especially as the torch itself has none.

--

On the plus side, due to vaping being very popular 18650 batteries are plentiful and cheap too, even the good ones.

Edited by techguyone on Friday 10th January 10:00

[2Btoo]

TG1,

Thanks. It's been on the charger overnight and still says the same; 3.0V, 0A and 0000mAh charge delivered. I suspect you are right when you say it is screwed.

So, I need a replacement 18650. I'm not sure how much longer a protected cell is than an unprotected one but the torch is a little snug, and this is the first time this has happened to me. I'm therefore fairly happy to have another unprotected one. What would you recommend for that torch and charger?

Thanks for your help.

[techguyone]

2Btoo said:

TG1,

Thanks. It's been on the charger overnight and still says the same; 3.0V, 0A and 0000mAh charge delivered. I suspect you are right when you say it is screwed.

So, I need a replacement 18650. I'm not sure how much longer a protected cell is than an unprotected one but the torch is a little snug, and this is the first time this has happened to me. I'm therefore fairly happy to have another unprotected one. What would you recommend for that torch and charger?

Thanks for your help.

Protected cells add another 5mm or so to total height.

One of my torches needs protected cells, because the shorter ones don't fit rather than the torch not having protection.

I use these for my unprotected batteries: LG MJ1

https://batterybro.com/blogs/18650-wholesale-batte...

They are 65.4mm tall (possibly 65.2, according to the review)

Your old battery is 65.1mm tall, so it's .3mm (possible .1mm) difference, probably ok to give them a go.

Edited by techguyone on Friday 10th January 10:59

[FurballS2000]

Thought i would gather mine together for a photo on an unused shelf... although I now realise that there is another one in the car!

IMG_20200111_232823

[Some Guy]

Ha! A full on Jamie.

[dickymint]

Some Guy said:

Ha! A full on Jamie.

He gets a free torch with every watch he buys

[FurballS2000]

If that were the case i'd have even more of both!

[techguyone]

I can see I have a way to go!





From L to R

Lumintop Tool AA v2.0 can run on AA or 14500 Li Ion (gives 650 Lumens on Li Ion)

Nitecore MT1A (AA) it looks old and battered because it is, had it as EDC for around 5 years, retired by the Tool as smaller and brighter. This one does 130 Lumen

Convoy S2+ (Li Ion 18650) another 650 lumen albeit with a longer run time due to the larger battery, this one whas a warmer colour so reprodiuces colours correctly in the dark rather than the washed out colours that colder lights give.

Lumintop ED20-T (Li Ion 18650) this one goes to 750 lumens neutral white, this is my go to for dog walking etc in the dark etc.

[Jonny_]

My Nitecore Tiki arrived today. The normal version, not the LE.

https://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/tiki

Really impressed with it. This thing is absolutely tiny! It makes my old A3 EOS seem unnecessarily large. Four modes, none of which are flashing (hurrah!). High is incredibly bright for such a diminutive torch. Ultralow is indeed very low. Low and Medium likely to be most useful, along with the white "auxiliary" LED - a surprisingly powerful high CRI LED built into the side of the transparent casing, which produces a nice even spread of light. Ideal as a little work light or as a miniature lantern. It also has an auxiliary UV LED which I doubt I'll ever actually need to use.

Only negative so far is that the auxiliary LED could do with a "low" setting. The beam pattern and high CRI would be ideal for reading if only it wasn't quite so bright.

[Diplomatico]

Olight have the Seeker 2 with approx 40% off. So it’s £80. Is that a good deal/torch?

[silverthorn2151]

It's a fantastic torch. Saw that offer, and was tempted, but I have 2 already.

[V8RX7]

Diplomatico said:

Olight have the Seeker 2 with approx 40% off. So it’s £80. Is that a good deal/torch?

No Olight is good VFM - they are ridiculously overpriced

Google alternatives or take a look at

https://www.banggood.com/Sofirn-C8F-21700-Version-...

[S11Steve]

Diplomatico said:

Olight have the Seeker 2 with approx 40% off. So it’s £80. Is that a good deal/torch?

It's a great torch - this review came up on my YT feed yesterday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzXRCbL-xvI&t=...
Brighter than car headlamps.
I just can't justify the price when similar BLFs are 95% of the quality but half the price.

I do have a Olight S1R baton which is impressively engineered and stupidly bright for a torch so small. I can see where the money goes, but I have too many other expensive hobbies to fund!

[untakenname]

I've got a couple of Olights and they are very well made but very expensive for the price per lumen compared with some of the cheaper brands, the smaller ones make good EDC's but the larger ones unless you use them daily may as well get a competitor using the same emitter for half the price.

I've had my eye on the Acebeam W30 laser torch due to the outstanding throw distance and nearly bought one as a Christmas present to myself but thought I'd wait a bit for the price to drop or a competitor to bring out a similar product, having a look online it seems like it's been withdrawn from the market?

http://www.acebeam.com/w30

Wonder if there was a QC issue or even a flaw in the overall tech used as usually a company will bring something out and within 6 months there will be dozens of similar products.

[S11Steve]

The BLF GT "Giga Throw" is still available.
I can't think of any reason that it may be useful or needed, other than the usual "watch this" moments.

But I still want one.