What's your latest flashlight?

[MadPlumbarian]

PIC

is there a second size? Or is this a modified pic? Since there's only five air cooling grooves on both that are diff sizes, the knurls are diff, and the name etching looks blacked out.. Kinda as if it got stretched and some one put a black box over the name area? JR

There are two sizes.... The One on the Right is the Sipik 68, The one on the left the Sipik 98

No way, cool iv only ever known of the one I have, what's the diff between the two? JR

The bigger one uses a special li-ion battery, a 18650 which allows for much higher output. I think the good battery might cost more than this flashlight.

EDIT: and I would be correct. $25 shipped for a AW 18650 battery.

Ok, so the larger one uses the 18650, and the other uses a 14500 which is the same size as a AA but 3.7v? I need a new one but want to bump up a notch from the one I'm using now, but want to stay the same size.. JR

[Dale]

Exactly..

[Dale]

18650 batteries are cheaper when ordered in lots. If you have never messed with lithium ions. Read up on them a bit. Make sure to use "protected" batteries. They have a built in Protective Circuitry Board ( PCB ) If the battery get to low the board shuts it down

[enki_ck]

Ok, so now that I have a new LED light, that uses one AAA, and makes my 3D Mag look like a lit match, I've been wondering about LED upgrades for it.  I've seen a few, but I'm not sure which is the best for the price.  I don't need something that's going to cost me $100, but I'd like to be able to make it at least equal to my new little light.

There was a thread on LED upgrades for maglites not to long ago. Maybe that might help.

LED Upgrades/Dropins

[Dale]

Decent mag lite "drop ins' are a bit pricey.

[MadPlumbarian]

Exactly..

Ok ok, do you know anything about the batteries? Like the mAh? Is the higher the # mean the better it is? Like the longer it will last? So if both are a 14500 but 900mAh vs 1200mAh? JR

[Dale]

Thats right. The higher the mah,  the longer tje battery lasts.

[MadPlumbarian]

Thats right. The higher the mah,  the longer tje battery lasts.

And of course then the higher the price.. JR

[Dale]

Thats right. The higher the mah,  the longer tje battery lasts.

And of course then the higher the price.. JR

U betcha

[MadPlumbarian]

Thats right. The higher the mah,  the longer tje battery lasts.

And of course then the higher the price.. JR

U betcha

Is there any other size that is equal to a AA that is rechargeable? And what's a decent # for mah? JR

[Dale]

Run dude run!!! You start down this road & then you wind up dropping big money into a highly customized light cannons like these...

My BTU  SHOCKER



or this...

Fenix TK75 with extender...


Left BTU Right TK75

[Aloha]

I really like the Gerber Infinity Ultra and finally got the original, neat little light.

[enki_ck]

I really like the Gerber Infinity Ultra and finally got the original, neat little light.

Congrats on the CMG. I'm a big 5mm fan and would love to get that battery vampire one day.

[MadPlumbarian]

Run dude run!!! You start down this road & then you wind up dropping big money into a highly customized  light cannon like this...

My BTU Shocker
(Image removed from quote.)

Oh heck NO! I ain't got $$ in the first place, I'm just after another one of those little flashlights, but rather then running a 1.5AA want to try out a rechargeable for it, but am curious what's out there, I'm sure the 3.7's going to give off a little more light then the 1.5AA? I have a few other flashlights but don't need anything like those cannons, wow those are nice! JR

[Aloha]

I really like the Gerber Infinity Ultra and finally got the original, neat little light.

Congrats on the CMG. I'm a big 5mm fan and would love to get that battery vampire one day.

thanks Enki, I was really stoked to find one.  This sucker was NOS in the original tin.

[Dale]

I honestly dont know... I have a few lights that take 14500's. But I mainly stick to 18650's. There are NI - MH rechargeables

[enki_ck]

Thats right. The higher the mah,  the longer tje battery lasts.

And of course then the higher the price.. JR

U betcha

Is there any other size that is equal to a AA that is rechargeable? And what's a decent # for mah? JR

It depends on your needs, the AA sized li-ion batteries are the mentioned 14500 ones. They will only work in some flashlights though which can handle them and nothing else. They will also fry many flashlights that are not capable of handling such power. While they will give you more power in some flashlights they will turn others to papre weights as they weren't made for them and even in those that can handle them, the li-ion come with smaller capacity compared to the same sized AA rechargeables.

If you're looking for good rechargeable AA batteries, get yourself a set of Eneloops, They don't require a special charger (the LI-ions do), hold the charge for years if not in use (low self discharge rate) and should work fine in temperatures as low as 20°C (manufacturer rated).

The come as 2000 mAh (milli Ampere hours) and can be recharged many hundreds of times, I have a set that I bought back in 2008 and it's still going strong. (I've bought a couple of dozen since then for other applications)

[Dale]

Thats right. The higher the mah,  the longer tje battery lasts.

And of course then the higher the price.. JR

U betcha

Is there any other size that is equal to a AA that is rechargeable? And what's a decent # for mah? JR

It depends on your needs, the AA sized li-ion batteries are the mentioned 14500 ones. They will only work in some flashlights though which can handle them and nothing else. They will also fry many flashlights that are not capable of handling such power. If you're looking for good rechargeable AA batteries, get yourself a set of Eneloops, They don't require a special charger (the LI-ions do), hold the charge for years if not in use (low self discharge rate) and should work fine in temperatures as low as 20°C (manufacturer rated).

The come as 2000 mAh (milli Ampere hours) and can be recharged many hundreds of times, I have a set that I bought back in 2008 and it's still going strong. (I've bought a couple of dozen since then for other applications)

+1

[MadPlumbarian]

Well the kids have stolen all the rechargeable AA's mostly for there game controls, the flashlights say they will work with either the 1.5 or the 3.7 because there led, I have a few 123 rechargeable battery's with a charger but I have yet to use them cause I bought a huge bundle of the 123batterys long ago, and then on top of that don't really use those flashlights any more, don't really need anything as big, that's why I bought that one single AA flashlight, heck for $5, not to bad, perfect hand grip pretty bright, not the best light but heck for $5? So I kinda started looking for another one of those for an EDC, but this time with a charge unit and two battery's..  And there selling them with the 3.7v 14500 anywhere from 800-1200mah, of course there's always buying separate to get a better battery, but then your price just tripled. JR

[enki_ck]

Well the kids have stolen all the rechargeable AA's mostly for there game controls, the flashlights say they will work with either the 1.5 or the 3.7 because there led, I have a few 123 rechargeable battery's with a charger but I have yet to use them cause I bought a huge bundle of the 123batterys long ago, and then on top of that don't really use those flashlights any more, don't really need anything as big, that's why I bought that one single AA flashlight, heck for $5, not to bad, perfect hand grip pretty bright, not the best light but heck for $5? So I kinda started looking for another one of those for an EDC, but this time with a charge unit and two battery's..  And there selling them with the 3.7v 14500 anywhere from 800-1200mah, of course there's always buying separate to get a better battery, but then your price just tripled. JR

Be careful, not all LED flashlights can handle LI-ion rechargables, in fact there are very few AA flashlights that can. These Sipik's can but check the manufacturer specs first on everything else.

[MadPlumbarian]

Well the kids have stolen all the rechargeable AA's mostly for there game controls, the flashlights say they will work with either the 1.5 or the 3.7 because there led, I have a few 123 rechargeable battery's with a charger but I have yet to use them cause I bought a huge bundle of the 123batterys long ago, and then on top of that don't really use those flashlights any more, don't really need anything as big, that's why I bought that one single AA flashlight, heck for $5, not to bad, perfect hand grip pretty bright, not the best light but heck for $5? So I kinda started looking for another one of those for an EDC, but this time with a charge unit and two battery's..  And there selling them with the 3.7v 14500 anywhere from 800-1200mah, of course there's always buying separate to get a better battery, but then your price just tripled. JR

Be careful, not all LED flashlights can handle LI-ion rechargables, in fact there are very few AA flashlights that can. These Sipik's can but check the manufacturer specs first on everything else.

This is pretty much what I'm looking at, JR
http://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-Adjustable-Rechagable-Batteries-Charger/dp/B00GY0DNRC/ref=sr_1_41?ie=UTF8&qid=1390949010&sr=8-41&keywords=led+flashlight+with+charger

[dks]

For 18650 you can use panasonics, available in 2900-3400mAh versions. Also Sanyos.
These can be had for about $10 or less (I posted some sites in the deals section a few weeks ago) and they are the cells most other brands use to build their "own" batteries. They can be found in protected (lets say safer.. for lights using multiple batteries in series) or normal versions. In general lights that can take both AAs (or AAAs) and the Li-Ion similarly sized ones will produce more light with the Li-Ions, though how much depends. You can also get Li-Ions from old laptop battery packs, with some knowledge.

Check the reviews and the gadget sub-forums here where there is a wealth of information available on the Li-ions and chargers (search "chargers, li-ions, 18650 etc.")
Also check Battery University, BLF CPF...

[ducttapetech]

This just came in the mail.
My new Mag-Lite Mag-tac.




that's us mobile

[MadPlumbarian]

This just came in the mail.
My new Mag-Lite Mag-tac.
(Image removed from quote.)
that's us mobile

thats pretty cool, ill have to look that one up.. JR

[ducttapetech]

Mag-lite has seemed to up there game. I always loved mag-lite and carried a mini mag for years. But for the sime size about the same weight, I could have a way brighter lite. Now they seem to have some lights on par with Surefire and other companies. And a lot cheaper.

that's us mobile

[Gareth]

I'd almost forgotten about that maglite, you'll have to let us know how you get along with it.

[enki_ck]

My local Vic/Maglite/CS/Spydie ... dealer just started advertising those yesterday. Looking forward to your forward to your thoughts on it when you've had some time to play with it.

[ducttapetech]

will do. so far i like it. When nightfall hits, it on! The torch that is.

[MadPlumbarian]

Mag-lite has seemed to up there game. I always loved mag-lite and carried a mini mag for years. But for the sime size about the same weight, I could have a way brighter lite. Now they seem to have some lights on par with Surefire and other companies. And a lot cheaper.

that's us mobile

Yeah i looked that one up but its a little to big for what im after,, ive always loved maglite, one of my first was a 6D cell, i loved that one, I used to keep that on in the car, must say that came in handy a few times, and not due to light, lol! the other is the simple double AA, i think i have at least five of them, but one i changed out the bulb and put in a LED, and the other thing i switched out is the bezel, put on a defensive one, came out nice, supper bright, some reason i cant get on photobucket to post a pic.. only other one i found is a double AAA, that fit perfect in my maxpedition pocket carry! JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Ah, I got in, hers a pic of a norm AA maglite next to the one I customized,

And here's the custom next to a custom surefire, I also put a defensive bezel and LED on that surefire too.. JR