Torches

@StuartH, I meant to ask, how long did delivery take in the end? I notice my order today is also showing as "1-3 days for Prime".
 
I was working with an ex-copper recently, and if there's one thing coppers know it's torches and boots :p
Anyway, he invested in an LED Lenser (Might have been the P7, can't remember), £70ish quid. Too much for me, so I did a bit of reading and went the cheaper route.

I got an UltraFire XML-T6.
However, what I *did* read was steering clear of any batteries regarding the ****fire stuff.
Apparently they can often be stuffed with non-rechargable watch batteries etc etc. Fire being a very operative word. Just google for some of the results.

So I went "legit" with the battery and charger and shopped at torchdirect.co.uk
I got the MC1 Charger and the XT18650 Battery
 
Marcel said:
I was working with an ex-copper recently, and if there's one thing coppers know it's torches and boots :p
Anyway, he invested in an LED Lenser (Might have been the P7, can't remember), £70ish quid. Too much for me, so I did a bit of reading and went the cheaper route.

I got an UltraFire XML-T6.
However, what I *did* read was steering clear of any batteries regarding the ****fire stuff.
Apparently they can often be stuffed with non-rechargable watch batteries etc etc. Fire being a very operative word. Just google for some of the results.

So I went "legit" with the battery and charger and shopped at torchdirect.co.uk
I got the MC1 Charger and the XT18650 Battery
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I nearly went for the lenser p7.2 the newer version of the p7 but although similar quality some of the reviews I read many people seemed underwhelmed by it.Certainly looked built well and quite liked the look of the zoom focus feature.
 
I have two torches. Both led lenser, the 8314 which you'll never need another, takes 4 aa batteries, so bright, adjustable, controllable, of usable as point or wide, just brilliant. The second is the single aa version. So small yet so bright, perfect in the pocket for dog walking in the night, keeping in the car, even light painting
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Nice picture and I like the colours in the sky.
 
Martyn, you can buy rechargeable CR123 batteries, the 18650 is the same width as a cr123 and double the length, still 3.7 volts but much more storage capacity.
 
I've an infra red converted torch with 18650 battery. They seem to last for ages compared to the normal batteries it replaced. Definitely worthwhile.
 
MartynK said:
I've been thinking about converting one of mine, mainly because the CR123 batteries are so expensive. What replacement head did you use? Did you bore the flashlight out for the 18650 yourself?

Thanks.
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I just bought LED drop-ins for them, the G2, M2 and 6P (and others) have plenty of alternatives.

I've had from Lighthound in the past.
http://www.lighthound.com/Lighthoun...for-SureFire-and-other-Flashlights_p_965.html

I had someone else bore them out, you can always just buy 17670 batteries which will fit into an unconverted Surefire.

http://www.cloud9vaping.co.uk/B63-04
http://www.lighthound.com/AW-17670-Protected-Rechargeable-Lithium-Battery_p_101.html
 
StuartH said:
Good news if your planning on getting a thrunite they have just boosted their replacement warranty term from 1 year to 2.No quibble replacement given.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw4obI8rRTM
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That is good news, I've had confirmation that my torch has been dispatched, but from Germany!

Delivery date changed from Sat-Mon to next Wednesday, pretty poor from Amazon, they should be more upfront on the page.
 
Always good to hear when companies extend there warranties. You buggers have me looking at flashlights again.
 
Dave , good things come to them who wait but I do agree Amazon are out of order a little there.
 
Steep said:
Martyn, you can buy rechargeable CR123 batteries, the 18650 is the same width as a cr123 and double the length, still 3.7 volts but much more storage capacity.
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Thanks Hugh, but I think it's a bit more complicated than that. The rechargeable CR123s are normally around 3.6 - 4.0 volts which will fry the incandescent bulb in a 6P or G2, which is only rated for 6 volts, but they'll work if you replace the head with a higher rated one. The battery fit is about tolerances, and the Surefires are just too tight for an 18650, unless you bore them out slightly.
 
Dave1 said:
I just bought LED drop-ins for them, the G2, M2 and 6P (and others) have plenty of alternatives.

I've had from Lighthound in the past.
http://www.lighthound.com/Lighthoun...for-SureFire-and-other-Flashlights_p_965.html

I had someone else bore them out, you can always just buy 17670 batteries which will fit into an unconverted Surefire.

http://www.cloud9vaping.co.uk/B63-04
http://www.lighthound.com/AW-17670-Protected-Rechargeable-Lithium-Battery_p_101.html
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Thanks Dave. I still trust my Surefires more than most flashlights, and the only downsides are the runtime and costs with the incandescent head and CR123s. Hadn't thought about the 17680. Sounds good.
 
MartynK said:
Thanks Dave. I still trust my Surefires more than most flashlights, and the only downsides are the runtime and costs with the incandescent head and CR123s. Hadn't thought about the 17680. Sounds good.
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It isn't difficult to bore out if you decide to go with 18650 (I was just being lazy), it's only about 1mm to remove, it was done with sandpaper wrapped around a slightly smaller drill bit, it's probably more accurate to describe it as polishing than boring. But TBH, I haven't noticed a huge difference in runtime between 18650 and 17670, and both charge in the same charger.
 
Dave1 said:
That is good news, I've had confirmation that my torch has been dispatched, but from Germany!

Delivery date changed from Sat-Mon to next Wednesday, pretty poor from Amazon, they should be more upfront on the page.
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Yep I wasnt impressed being a prime customer!..But glad I waited as its a cracking torch. Weird that when we spoke to amazon they said it shouldnt be prime listed yet it still is.Think mine came from Germany as well Dave.
 
Being a total newbie to the world of torches I thought that rechargeable batteries were not recommended for higher power torches due to the way they discharge. Although I may have misunderstood ?
 
taxboy said:
Being a total newbie to the world of torches I thought that rechargeable batteries were not recommended for higher power torches due to the way they discharge. Although I may have misunderstood ?
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A lot of the higher powered torches don't work well with cheap old alkalines, they need the steady power curve offered by a good rechargeable, remember with the advent of LEDs the actual voltage required isn't as big a deal as it used to be with incandescent.
 
Can confirm the thrunite tn4a is now a prime item as ordered one for a friend yesterday and it arrived first thing today..maybe amazon ordered a few in when they got mine shipped over lol.
 
Dave1 said:
A lot of the higher powered torches don't work well with cheap old alkalines, they need the steady power curve offered by a good rechargeable, remember with the advent of LEDs the actual voltage required isn't as big a deal as it used to be with incandescent.
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Any idea what brands qualify as being "good" rechargeable batteries, Dave ? I could be interested in going down the rechargeable route.
 
arclight said:
Any idea what brands qualify as being "good" rechargeable batteries, Dave ? I could be interested in going down the rechargeable route.
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I mostly use the Eneloop style batteries, so Sanyo, Panasonic, Duracell, Energiser, Uniross. I've found the newer Tronix 'ready to use' eneloops from Aldi or LIDL (I can't remember which) to also be very good.
 
I have a Jetbeam SRA40 which is a nice little 4xaa torch, bear in mind some of the smaller aa torches don't stay on full power for long before they go to the next power setting down.
My favourite is my Fenix TK41 8xaa which stays on full power for as long as you want, Fenix customer service is without doubt the best I have come across, when I had an issue with the power switch being iffy they just sent a new head with no questions asked.
For batteries I use eneloops or duracells and for a charger I use an OPUS BT-C2400
 
Just picked up the new thrunite th10 headlamp for my fishing trips and have to say very impressed! Build quality is superb just like their full size torches and its very bright at 750 lumens!!Not bad at all for just £29 and its also totally waterproof.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgcz1WGWeAs
 
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I'm a bit sad when it comes to torches, and end up with more torches than I know what to do with!

As others seem to have here as well; I have fallen in love with the Led Lenser range of torches.

I've recently purchased the Led Lenser X21R.2 - which has 3200 lumens! It's seriously stupidly amazingly good... but not particularly cheap.

I'm currently working out how to start light painting with it- no clue where to begin though!

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The headlamp looks nice.
 
Daviebroon said:
I'm a bit sad when it comes to torches, and end up with more torches than I know what to do with!

As others seem to have here as well; I have fallen in love with the Led Lenser range of torches.

I've recently purchased the Led Lenser X21R.2 - which has 3200 lumens! It's seriously stupidly amazingly good... but not particularly cheap.

I'm currently working out how to start light painting with it- no clue where to begin though!

View attachment 39520
View attachment 39522
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Thats a beast!!
Andrew the headlamp is very nice,great value and super bright.Off fishing for 3 days now so will get a good testing over next few nights!
 
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