I had I protac. It’s an okay light. It is supposed to have more lumens than my Surefire. You wouldn’t know this having them side by side. The Surefire has 100 less lumens and appears twice as bright. It’s all about the quality of the reflector.

I now have multiple Surefire lights. I gave the protac away. It just didn’t cut the mustard after a couple Surefire lights.

LED Worklight @ Costco

Sometimes we just need more light. So I am breaking the mold and suggesting one of these. Lots bigger than a flashlight but output is way more too. Stands on it's own and you can angle the base to put light right where you need it. For $40 it's a solid performer and in reality it's about the size of maybe 3 of the older brick type 6v lanterns. 3 power settings and 24 hours on one charge is stellar performance if you ask me.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
I had I protac. It’s an okay light. It is supposed to have more lumens than my Surefire. You wouldn’t know this having them side by side. The Surefire has 100 less lumens and appears twice as bright. It’s all about the quality of the reflector.

I now have multiple Surefire lights. I gave the protac away. It just didn’t cut the mustard after a couple Surefire lights.

I agree completely about SureFire vs. Streamlight

But getting back to your observation, you're right about the reflector, but it's not the quality, it's the focus. You can make a tight focus and have a small hotspot and it will be brighter at a distance than one with a larger hotspot, and they can have the same amount of lumens of output. It's also possible to have a flashlight with half the lumens appear to be brighter. It's all in the focus.

Here's a pic of a flashlight beam showing the 3 elements:


And here's an explanation of the beams:
https://blog.nitecorestore.com...flashlight-beam.html

As you can probably tell, I'm something of a flashlight nut.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Flash-LB,

I have multiple SF and Streamlights.

The SF is the gold standard. Bulletproof and all that with a price tag to match. You pay for the quality but it's there.

So do you need that level of quality? Depends.

If you want one and done SF is the way to go. It's doesn't mean their products are free from warranty issues and things that have come up. I have several lights that need warranty work because they stopped working without abuse or negligence and in the past when I've asked, they are very good about taking care of my problems.

Is there a place for Streamlight in the conversation? No doubt about it. It's about 85% of a SF light but for general purposes and from some weapon light purposes, it's more than fine. Where they kick SF's ass is in the duel fuel/rechargeable department. SR only have a couple of lights that use rechargeable battery and Streamlight uses their own 18650 which is rock solid.

My current favorite GP light from Streamlight is the Polytec 90. Duel fuel, high and low and it's pretty durable. I used it yesterday to do house chores in the attic and it was dropped more than once. I nearly depleted the rechargeable battery and I popped a USB plug into the battery (SF is the same way on their 18650 batteries) and overnight it was charged is ready to go.

I really like the TLR 7A on my G19. Single 123a battery with 500 lumens. Easy controls.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky: After some surfing, I think I like the Protac HL3. The HL-X seems like a nice one too, in that it will take both CR123A cells and the USB-rechargeable battery pack.

The HL3, you are stuck using CR123 batteries, three of them. That's pretty costly. I'd stick with a flashlight that use a single 18650 size battery, so you can easily recharge it and not have any battery cost for ten years, at least.

Streamlight is good about including a Streamlight rechargeable 18650 battery in some packages. Its cheaper to just buy that flashlight with the rechargeable battery as a package deal than buy the flashlight and battery separate.

Fenix offers a bit more technology and brightness, for similar or less cost. Decent enough flashlights. Their warranty and service sucks nuts compared to Streamlight though.
https://www.fenixlighting.com/...rgeable-flashlights/

Look at the Fenix E28R or PD36R. Use the 20% off coupon to save money.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky: After some surfing, I think I like the Protac HL3. The HL-X seems like a nice one too, in that it will take both CR123A cells and the USB-rechargeable battery pack.

The HL3, you are stuck using CR123 batteries, three of them. That's pretty costly. I'd stick with a flashlight that use a single 18650 size battery, so you can easily recharge it and not have any battery cost for ten years, at least.

Streamlight is good about including a Streamlight rechargeable 18650 battery in some packages. Its cheaper to just buy that flashlight with the rechargeable battery as a package deal than buy the flashlight and battery separate.

Fenix offers a bit more technology and brightness, for similar or less cost. Decent enough flashlights. Their warranty and service sucks nuts compared to Streamlight though.
https://www.fenixlighting.com/...rgeable-flashlights/

Look at the Fenix E28R or PD36R. Use the 20% off coupon to save money.

I have pretty extensive experience using rechargeable batteries for communications and unless it's something that has a meter showing me remaining battery life, I'll stick with primary cells instead.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky: After some surfing, I think I like the Protac HL3. The HL-X seems like a nice one too, in that it will take both CR123A cells and the USB-rechargeable battery pack.

The HL3, you are stuck using CR123 batteries, three of them. That's pretty costly. I'd stick with a flashlight that use a single 18650 size battery, so you can easily recharge it and not have any battery cost for ten years, at least.

Streamlight is good about including a Streamlight rechargeable 18650 battery in some packages. Its cheaper to just buy that flashlight with the rechargeable battery as a package deal than buy the flashlight and battery separate.

Fenix offers a bit more technology and brightness, for similar or less cost. Decent enough flashlights. Their warranty and service sucks nuts compared to Streamlight though.
https://www.fenixlighting.com/...rgeable-flashlights/

Look at the Fenix E28R or PD36R. Use the 20% off coupon to save money.

I have pretty extensive experience using rechargeable batteries for communications and unless it's something that has a meter showing me remaining battery life, I'll stick with primary cells instead.

I'm not following the logic on this. Your primary cells have no fuel gauge on them and when they start to die out you replace them. The rechargeable is no different and the ones for SF and Streamlight have the green/red lights in the top and are USB rechargeable. Today's 18650 batteries put out longer run times at higher output than primaries, with a couple of exceptions.

Streamlight is cleaning SF's clock on 18650 although the SF has a higher capacity and can handle a much higher rate of discharge this powering brighter lights than Streamlight. SF batteries will run in a Streamlight but Streamlight batteries won't run in an SF because of the LED draw.

Keep the 18650 spare batteries in a holder and swap as necessary.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky: After some surfing, I think I like the Protac HL3. The HL-X seems like a nice one too, in that it will take both CR123A cells and the USB-rechargeable battery pack.

The HL3, you are stuck using CR123 batteries, three of them. That's pretty costly. I'd stick with a flashlight that use a single 18650 size battery, so you can easily recharge it and not have any battery cost for ten years, at least.

Streamlight is good about including a Streamlight rechargeable 18650 battery in some packages. Its cheaper to just buy that flashlight with the rechargeable battery as a package deal than buy the flashlight and battery separate.

Fenix offers a bit more technology and brightness, for similar or less cost. Decent enough flashlights. Their warranty and service sucks nuts compared to Streamlight though.
https://www.fenixlighting.com/...rgeable-flashlights/

Look at the Fenix E28R or PD36R. Use the 20% off coupon to save money.

I have pretty extensive experience using rechargeable batteries for communications and unless it's something that has a meter showing me remaining battery life, I'll stick with primary cells instead.

Most newer flashlights do actually have a voltage readout these days. All of the ones I use on a daily basis do. 4.2V is full, then use it down to 3.whatever you are comfortable with. You can carry spare rechargeables just as easily as you can carry spare primaries though, so I don't really see the difference.

I highly recommend the Nitecore smlsig linked to.
I picked up a used HC30 and it has really impressed me. It is a great light for not a ton of $. It has given me no impression that I cannot rely on it. Has been as good as any light I own. And I have a few.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:

Look at the Fenix E28R or PD36R. Use the 20% off coupon to save money.

I have the PD36R and so far I’m very happy with it but it’s only been a couple months. The 21700 rechargeable battery really puts out and lasts a long time between charges.

Well worth $80 after the 20% coupon if you ask me.

quote:

Originally posted by Flashlightboy:
I'm not following the logic on this. Your primary cells have no fuel gauge on them and when they start to die out you replace them. The rechargeable is no different and the ones for SF and Streamlight have the green/red lights in the top and are USB rechargeable. Today's 18650 batteries put out longer run times at higher output than primaries, with a couple of exceptions.

Streamlight is cleaning SF's clock on 18650 although the SF has a higher capacity and can handle a much higher rate of discharge this powering brighter lights than Streamlight. SF batteries will run in a Streamlight but Streamlight batteries won't run in an SF because of the LED draw.

Keep the 18650 spare batteries in a holder and swap as necessary.

Okay, I'll put it in different terms.

If you're out and about and need a flashlight to stay on for a long period of time and your rechargeable isn't topped off, you're hosed.

With primary cells you pull out your spares, put them in and away you go.

quote:

Originally posted by P210:

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:

Look at the Fenix E28R or PD36R. Use the 20% off coupon to save money.

I have the PD36R and so far I’m very happy with it but it’s only been a couple months. The 21700 rechargeable battery really puts out and lasts a long time between charges.

Well worth $80 after the 20% coupon if you ask me.

On a quick look, I'm kinda liking that.
* The two-way clip is a neat thing -- could turn it into a head lamp if appropriate.
* Where does one find this 20% coupon?
* It looks like this is not a dual-fuel light. So far I haven't found the cost of a backup battery.


- - - -
Edit: I see the 20% offer at the top of the page.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

quote:

Originally posted by Flashlightboy:
I'm not following the logic on this. Your primary cells have no fuel gauge on them and when they start to die out you replace them. The rechargeable is no different and the ones for SF and Streamlight have the green/red lights in the top and are USB rechargeable. Today's 18650 batteries put out longer run times at higher output than primaries, with a couple of exceptions.

Streamlight is cleaning SF's clock on 18650 although the SF has a higher capacity and can handle a much higher rate of discharge this powering brighter lights than Streamlight. SF batteries will run in a Streamlight but Streamlight batteries won't run in an SF because of the LED draw.

Keep the 18650 spare batteries in a holder and swap as necessary.

Okay, I'll put it in different terms.

If you're out and about and need a flashlight to stay on for a long period of time and your rechargeable isn't topped off, you're hosed.

With primary cells you pull out your spares, put them in and away you go.

That's the dumbest shit I've read all day but maybe that's my fault for not being clearer early on.

Let's start off with two 18650 batteries. Right from the start they will outperform two 123A batteries from any company. This isn't open to any reasonable disagreement in terms of runtime and more often 5han not, output.

Quite a few flashlights have a fuel gauge on the body that tell how charged the rechargeable battery is. Some higher end batteries have green/red LEDs to tell you if it's charged or not.

18650 batteries hold their charge for a very long time, up to a year. Even a 123A loses 1% a month.

Two 123A batteries take up as much physical space as a single 18650 hence the name Duel Fuel.

Take a flashlight such as the SF 6P. It's not duel fuel but we'll use it as an example.

You need four batteries for it - two for the light and two as spares but with the 18650 you need only two batteries.

Unless you're in BFE and can't recharge, you can always use your primaries.

18650 or other removeable rechargeable batteries are a game changer.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Okay, I'll put it in different terms.

If you're out and about and need a flashlight to stay on for a long period of time and your rechargeable isn't topped off, you're hosed.

With primary cells you pull out your spares, put them in and away you go.

The logic your slinging in this thread, makes sense. To you. I'm a little confused here.

You only have spares if you you use CR123 batteries, but you don't carry any spares if your light uses 18650 batteries? Huh?

Every 18650 flashlight can also use CR123 batteries as spares. If its a critical light, for critical task, you ARE going to have spare batteries. Either a couple spare charged up 18650 batteries, or a couple CR123 batteries.

Also, most new 18650 batteries on the market are fast rechargeable with a Micro USB cord. So if you have your car, truck, or a portable power supply, you can charge the battery for about 15 minutes and get 1-4 hours worth of light... with just a quick 15 minute charge.

Primary CR123 batteries have their place... but a modern 18650 battery is generally superior in most cases.

I have 18650 batteries that are a decade old at this point, still used daily, still hold a great charge, and still work fine. My newer batteries are in reserve for when my really old batteries finally take a dump.

One single 18650 battery can save hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars vs using replaceable CR123 lithium batteries, over the life of a single 18650 battery.

quote:

Originally posted by Perception:
Most newer flashlights do actually have a voltage readout these days.

I have probably $4000 worth of flashlights in my house, and not a single one of them has a voltage readout???

What kind of flashlight is that? Interested in maybe checking one out. (and expanding my knowledge of flashlights, since I like them)