The All Purpose Flashlight CHAT Thread

[NT2C]

Yes, we are pretty attached to that holster, especially in the vehicles because it covers and protects the activation switch.  These things get really hot if left on and I'd rather not have one activate in a closed glovebox.

The holsters really are kinda nice, very durable, and allow the light to be charged while in the holster using the magnetic charger.

I just took some photos to show what I mean, if you want to see them.

Sure. 

See how it has that little shallowed out area for the switch to go into?  The light very gently friction fits into the holder.  There's an opening and recess on the bottom to attach the magnetic charger.

[Anianna]

I don't remember what they are called, but you can get tiny little stick on dots for grip you can probably put a few lines of down that strip that doesn't touch the holster.  My dad use to use them, but I've never bought them myself. 

[NT2C]

So, about my new Sofirn Q8 Plus...



I have been blessed by Ra, God of the Sun, to wield His Mighty Power on Earth!

Or something like that. 

[majorhavoc]

So, about my new Sofirn Q8 Plus...



I have been blessed by Ra, God of the Sun, to wield His Mighty Power on Earth!

Or something like that. 

That Olight Archer is oh so yesterday

[NT2C]

So, about my new Sofirn Q8 Plus...



I have been blessed by Ra, God of the Sun, to wield His Mighty Power on Earth!

Or something like that. 

That Olight Archer is oh so yesterday

16,000 lumens!  I'm loving it. 

And on their website, in the description, they tell you that with the right batteries it's capable of 24,000.  CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

Except... those batteries are extremely rare and hard to get, and three of them would be more than twice what I paid for the light. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

What kind of batteries will bump that new light up to 24,000 lumens ?

[NT2C]

What kind of batteries will bump that new light up to 24,000 lumens ?

21700 Li-Ion button tops with a 10C rating.  More likely to find IMR21700 35A or 45A but those are rare in a BT version.  Might have to have them made.  ~$50 ea.

[majorhavoc]

16-24 thousand lumens? Does that beast come with water cooling?

[EBuff75]

What kind of batteries will bump that new light up to 24,000 lumens ?

21700 Li-Ion button tops with a 10C rating.  More likely to find IMR21700 35A or 45A but those are rare in a BT version.  Might have to have them made.  ~$50 ea.

Would these work?  https://www.zebralight.com/ZebraLight-INR21700-40T-21700-size-Li-ion-Flat-Top-Unprotected-Battery-for-SC700-Flashlights_p_234.html

Edit:  Ah, just saw that you need button top.  Although I've heard of people using small neodymium magnets on batteries to turn flat tops into button tops.  Not sure that I'd want to risk it with such high power draws though!

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

What kind of batteries will bump that new light up to 24,000 lumens ?

21700 Li-Ion button tops with a 10C rating.  More likely to find IMR21700 35A or 45A but those are rare in a BT version.  Might have to have them made.  ~$50 ea.

That's an expensive battery.  

And here I thought I was getting reamed for buying CR123A's at 8 bucks a pair.

[tirls]

What kind of batteries will bump that new light up to 24,000 lumens ?

21700 Li-Ion button tops with a 10C rating.  More likely to find IMR21700 35A or 45A but those are rare in a BT version.  Might have to have them made.  ~$50 ea.

https://www.nkon.nl/de/rechargeable/li-ion/21700-20700-size/molicel-inr21700-p42a-4000mah-45a-button-top.html
Would those work? 7.50€ in Europe, but there Taiwanese so should be available in the US.

[NT2C]

What kind of batteries will bump that new light up to 24,000 lumens ?

21700 Li-Ion button tops with a 10C rating.  More likely to find IMR21700 35A or 45A but those are rare in a BT version.  Might have to have them made.  ~$50 ea.

https://www.nkon.nl/de/rechargeable/li-ion/21700-20700-size/molicel-inr21700-p42a-4000mah-45a-button-top.html
Would those work? 7.50€ in Europe, but there Taiwanese so should be available in the US.

Yes, those would work but I'd be a little worried about using them since they're unprotected.

[NT2C]

What kind of batteries will bump that new light up to 24,000 lumens ?

21700 Li-Ion button tops with a 10C rating.  More likely to find IMR21700 35A or 45A but those are rare in a BT version.  Might have to have them made.  ~$50 ea.

Would these work?  https://www.zebralight.com/ZebraLight-INR21700-40T-21700-size-Li-ion-Flat-Top-Unprotected-Battery-for-SC700-Flashlights_p_234.html

Edit:  Ah, just saw that you need button top.  Although I've heard of people using small neodymium magnets on batteries to turn flat tops into button tops.  Not sure that I'd want to risk it with such high power draws though!

One site had a link to an AliBaba listing for stamped metal buttons you could add to a flat-top

[NT2C]

What kind of batteries will bump that new light up to 24,000 lumens ?

21700 Li-Ion button tops with a 10C rating.  More likely to find IMR21700 35A or 45A but those are rare in a BT version.  Might have to have them made.  ~$50 ea.

That's an expensive battery.  

And here I thought I was getting reamed for buying CR123A's at 8 bucks a pair.

You're getting reamed on those.  I'll send you some of my stash in with your Xmas gift but here's a good price for you, as cheap as under $3 a pair if you buy two dozen. https://a.co/4VKqAT8

Also, you should read this: https://photonphreaks.com/exploding-flashlights-and-how-to-prevent-it/

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Well, crap. Looks like I need to check where my CR123A's come from now.

ETA: Just checked all my CR123A batteries and they all say "Made in USA" on them.

Still, I'm now looking for alternatives for my weapon lights since most of them use CR123A batteries (at least my TLR-1s, PolyTac and the Bushnell light on my shotgun do. The light on my AK uses regular AAA batteries.)

ETA 2: Did a little digging and apparently Panasonic makes the CR123A batteries for Streamlight and SureFire. They just mark them with each brand name sort of like how Sears or Western Auto did with guns back in the day.

So I'm probably in clear regarding using those batteries,  but I'll still check them every so often to make sure they're in good working order.

[NT2C]

Well, crap. Looks like I need to check where my CR123A's come from now.

ETA: Just checked all my CR123A batteries and they all say "Made in USA" on them.

Still, I'm now looking for alternatives for my weapon lights since most of them use CR123A batteries (at least my TLR-1s, PolyTac and the Bushnell light on my shotgun do. The light on my AK uses regular AAA batteries.)

ETA 2: Did a little digging and apparently Panasonic makes the CR123A batteries for Streamlight and SureFire. They just mark them with each brand name sort of like how Sears or Western Auto did with guns back in the day.

So I'm probably in clear regarding using those batteries,  but I'll still check them every so often to make sure they're in good working order.

Just a few little safety rules, as outlined in the article, will go a long way to reducing the danger.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

After experiencing a bunch of failures with Duracell batteries leaking, I'm always checking my batteries and making sure they're in good shape.

That reminds me, I need to check the little touch light in my gun safe and make sure those batteries are still good. Probably wouldn't hurt to swap them out just in case.

[NT2C]

I'll be damned if I can get this Sofirn Q8 Plus to go into the advanced UI mode.  It uses Andúril 2 and to get to the advanced UI from the simple UI is supposed to be 10 clicks and keep holding on the tenth until it enters the advanced mode, but how the hell do you know when that happens?  The manual is pretty sketchy on a lot of the details about this light, like what the colors and blinks of the power button mean, but the worst is that nowhere do they say how long to hold the button when what you're doing requires a certain number of clicks and then hold the button down.  How bloody long?!?

I know with other lights that I have they'll tell you things like "hold for 1 second for this mode or hold for 5 seconds for this other mode" and that's clear and easy to understand.  This thing is gonna drive me to drink.

[majorhavoc]

I'll be damned if I can get this Sofirn Q8 Plus to go into the advanced UI mode.  It uses Andúril 2 and to get to the advanced UI from the simple UI is supposed to be 10 clicks and keep holding on the tenth until it enters the advanced mode, but how the hell do you know when that happens?  The manual is pretty sketchy on a lot of the details about this light, like what the colors and blinks of the power button mean, but the worst is that nowhere do they say how long to hold the button when what you're doing requires a certain number of clicks and then hold the button down.  How bloody long?!?

I know with other lights that I have they'll tell you things like "hold for 1 second for this mode or hold for 5 seconds for this other mode" and that's clear and easy to understand.  This thing is gonna drive me to drink.

My flashlight has 2 settings: "on" and "off". It functions flawlessly.   

[NT2C]

I'll be damned if I can get this Sofirn Q8 Plus to go into the advanced UI mode.  It uses Andúril 2 and to get to the advanced UI from the simple UI is supposed to be 10 clicks and keep holding on the tenth until it enters the advanced mode, but how the hell do you know when that happens?  The manual is pretty sketchy on a lot of the details about this light, like what the colors and blinks of the power button mean, but the worst is that nowhere do they say how long to hold the button when what you're doing requires a certain number of clicks and then hold the button down.  How bloody long?!?

I know with other lights that I have they'll tell you things like "hold for 1 second for this mode or hold for 5 seconds for this other mode" and that's clear and easy to understand.  This thing is gonna drive me to drink.

My flashlight has 2 settings: "on" and "off". It functions flawlessly.