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Torch recommendations please

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Christoffee
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PostPosted: 21:01 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Torch recommendations please Reply with quote

Hello all

My torch is busted, and torch shopping has been hit and miss, so I'd like your recommendations please.

The last couple of years I've been using the Lenser L6. This was a decent torch: hardy, AA batteries, good battery life, and for the size I thought it was nice and bright. I used it for pottering about in the garden (checking on the chickens in the morning and at night), wandering about with the dog if we go for a night walk and usual DIY jazz.

Obviously I'd like a bright torch with a decent battery life. Apart from that I'm pretty easy to please. Rechargeable would be good (and I'd sacrifice battery life for this), not massive (although it doesn't need to be as compact as the old one), a long focused beam as well as a spread beam (we have a long garden and I like to see the end) and about the £50 mark.

Cheers guys
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arry
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PostPosted: 21:05 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://durite.co.uk/pdf/2014/8/08.04_Workshop_and_Test_Equipment-Inspection_and_hand_lamps.pdf

The red 699-79 one is really good. We take a couple away camping and they'll last realistically 5 hours before going flat. Has torch and light bar capability. Throws more than enough light to walk around the campsite. Not hellishly expensive.


Edit - balls, just realised that's not the one we use and they don't appear to stock it any more. The ones we have include a conventional torch end as well as the light bar - this one doesn't appear to have.

Doh


Last edited by arry on 21:07 - 10 Mar 2014; edited 1 time in total
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Wafer_Thin_Ham
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PostPosted: 21:06 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

A Maglite.

Great for blinding people, and they great for hitting the person you've just blinded. Thumbs Up






(If you twat a burgerler with it you can also claim it was just a torch mmmmm kay in the court. Cool )
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covent.gardens
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PostPosted: 21:15 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I did my "what torch?" request on another forum, I got many votes for a Lenser P7.2. Having bought it, I don't regret it either. If you were happy enough with the previous Lenser then why not upgrade to a better model?
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Ste
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PostPosted: 21:18 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.torchdirect.co.uk/head-torch-range/led-lenser-h14r-2-rechargeable-focusing-head-torch.html

Blind people with 850 lumens just by looking at them. Mr. Green
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defblade
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PostPosted: 21:29 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a good thread.

Lots of suggestions on there, these days I recommend Chinese all the way; lenser etc are OK, but massively overpriced for what they do. Investing in protected 18650 batteries and a decent charger will open a world of power Smile

See also www.candlepowerforums.com if your wallet can handle it!
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slowlydoesit
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PostPosted: 22:07 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Re: Torch recommendations please Reply with quote

Christoffee wrote:
My torch is busted, and torch shopping has been hit and miss, so I'd like your recommendations please.

My vote goes to the Petzl Tikka 2 head torch. Small light, cheap at ~£25, leaves both hands free.
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covent.gardens
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PostPosted: 22:08 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

defblade wrote:
Investing in protected 18650 batteries and a decent charger will open a world of power Smile

What would you recommend?

I've had my torch about 3 months and use it often. I'm about to buy new Duracell's for it, but good rechargeables might be better and work out cheaper in the long run?
Edit: Ahh, need a 'special' torch to accept 18650 batteries? Mine just takes normal AA.
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-Matt-
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PostPosted: 22:16 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Get by using my phones torch generally. Use a cheap 3 quid 12 l.e.d headtorch and rechargable AAA's for working in the garage. Good to have the hands free for working on the bikes/car.
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angryjonny
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PostPosted: 23:03 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Umbilical torch
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panrider_uk
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PostPosted: 23:05 - 10 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lenser p7. Great little torch with excellent build quality.
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pa_broon74
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PostPosted: 16:46 - 11 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got a CREE type torch (same as all those bullshit pseudo-military/police torches you get advertised around the internet for megabucks.)

£15 from Tesco. (DD type batteries, haven't tried rechargeables, but got a weeks worth of nightly use before having to change them.)
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Aff
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PostPosted: 16:52 - 11 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Heard good things about UltraFire torches, avoid the Chinese copies though.
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Christoffee
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PostPosted: 20:37 - 12 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Went for this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cvlife-Zoomable-Flashlight-2200mAh-battery/dp/B009DBEEPY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1394656382&sr=8-3&keywords=1000+lumens

Cheap, bright and rechargeable sold me.

Initial impression is bright, sturdy, nice focus mechanism and and good switch. When fully focused the illumination is square, which us new to me. So far I'm pleased.
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smegballs
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PostPosted: 21:26 - 12 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd recommend the Varta Indestructible Torch

High and Low modes, works on my AA eneloops fine, and is really nice heavy construction. I can take some pics if you want, of the beam and the torch.

I have another tacticool torch which is more powerful, but needs 18650 batteries (and associated charger) and had 5 gay annoying modes, and though tough hasn't got the same level of ruggedness.

For anyone buying 18650 batteries, the ebay user big_f_d_d sells awesome ones. As I'm sure some of you know, most of the chinese 18650s are totally shit with capacities far below their nominal value. Often the chinese ones are reclaimed laptop cells with a new label attached! The above user tests his batteries to the point of even supplying graphs of discharge voltages and tested capacity vs nominal capacity.

I get all my 18650s from him and they all perform excellently.
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angryjonny
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PostPosted: 22:43 - 12 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

smegballs wrote:
I have another tacticool torch which is more powerful, but needs 18650 batteries

That's a lot of batteries. I had a 3D superwoofer stereo in the early nineties that only took 8.
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G
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PostPosted: 09:16 - 13 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

defblade wrote:

Lots of suggestions on there, these days I recommend Chinese all the way; lenser etc are OK, but massively overpriced for what they do. Investing in protected 18650 batteries and a decent charger will open a world of power Smile

This.

T6 generally offers the best value/light output.

This will provide a hell of a light or an ok battery life on the lower mode:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221373992142

I've got a head torch with two T6s in.

Also got a normal torch with 12 in. Takes bigger batteries, but brighter than my truck headlights by a fair bit (not quite as wide beam, however) - can turn most situations in to day light just fine ... and can be upgraded to pump out a fair bit more.
However, best to stick to the 'ak47' which is cheaper with less LEDs, but has more potential for plug-in upgrades and generally you're limited by battery life anyway.
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The999Kid
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PostPosted: 16:35 - 15 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I use this one at work.
Picks out a house number at 150yards and small enough to fit in it's little belt pouch and not get in my way while driving...

Used it at a festival and had it robbed, replaced with the same model as I was so impressed with it!
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smegballs
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PostPosted: 17:00 - 15 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

mpd72 wrote:
Another recommendation for the Chinese Cree LED's.

I've got 2 like this and had the oldest one for over 3 years now. I think the batteries make a lot of difference and this one is under a tenner and comes with a spare rechargeable battery. Anyone still buying Maglites is a nutter - the power of these are retina burning! Smile

£9.09 delivered....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-1800LM-C8-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Rechargable-Flashlight-Torch-18650-Charger-/291039815389?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item43c35326dd


Good old chinese lumens Laughing

From reading about a bit, apparently the state of play is that while the Cree LEDS in the torches could put out 1000 or so lumens with enough current, the driver boards that ship with the torches in 99% of cases don't chuck enough current into the LEDs to get anywhere near that amount out. Which is probably a good thing as heatsinking isn't great in these torches.

https://i.imgur.com/yFABBYz.png

Looking at the Cree datasheet, it looks as though a T6 running at anything less than 2A is highly unlikely to be producing 1000 lumens. Anyone fancy measuring the current on their torch??

I'll probably measure mine in a sec as I'm bored and it's more fun than coursework.
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bladerunner
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PostPosted: 00:40 - 16 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just about any of the Cree zoom able torches that take 18650 or 3 battery's are going to do the job....zoom head adds the ability to throw a beam 1500 feet with ease or wide enough to use as a work light whilst working on something.....mag lights are pathetic light output compared to modern LED output levels.....I still have several that I've owned for decades and still work....but the 6 cell D size battery that is the weapon of choice should I find someone in my garage in the middle of the night! As far as battery's go.......cheap Chinese 18650's do tend to be crap so ignore the quoted ma/hr rating as fact! But if going AA or AAA then look at the low self discharge cells as whilst they don't have the outright capacity of std cells....they actually work out lasting longer between charges as they don't lose capacity on a daily basis even if not used! And in an emergency you know it'll work ........after 9 months of being stored in a freezing winter at worst -10'C mine returned 85-87% of capacity at 0.5C discharge rate......after that I use them in everything from high power flash guns.....torches and radio gear for my RC planes!
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Chalky.
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PostPosted: 10:35 - 16 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.avalon-guns.com/avalon/Lightforce-Pred9x-Wireless-Hunting-Lamp.html

Should be good enough for lamping the badger in your avatar. Thumbs Up
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