We lost power this weekend in an ice storm from dinner time saturday night to about 9pm sunday night. First time I've had a real need for my Fenix T1. Boy does that work great. So much brighter than all my other flashlights. Provided enough light for all of the wiring the generator into the furnace in the pitch black basement and also provided a surprising "flood" when standing on the counter in the dark kitchen so I could make supper!
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Fenix T1 to the rescue
- Thread starter Shann
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2007
- Messages
- 69
Glad it worked for you! We lost power one time, and we were all upstairs getting ready to eat. It was pitch black, and nobody except me had a flashlight - at the time, I was carrying a Surefire G2. It allowed us to move around without killing ourselves on anything, and me and my dad went out and started up the generator.
Now I carry a T1. I used it at the theater recently to find someplace to sit; I had my siblings with me and it was completely dark, couldn't see my hand in front of my face. I flicked on my T1 and lit up the place : D
The T1 is a really great flashlight, I bought it as a Christmas present for my dad after reading UnknownVT's great comparisons and reviews, and then he bought it for me as a B-Day present. My favorite thing about the flashlight is that it lasts for 10 hours on the normal setting - my lower lumen incan surefire lasts for 50-60 minutes, which doesn't work out so well.
Go T1!
-David
Now I carry a T1. I used it at the theater recently to find someplace to sit; I had my siblings with me and it was completely dark, couldn't see my hand in front of my face. I flicked on my T1 and lit up the place : D
The T1 is a really great flashlight, I bought it as a Christmas present for my dad after reading UnknownVT's great comparisons and reviews, and then he bought it for me as a B-Day present. My favorite thing about the flashlight is that it lasts for 10 hours on the normal setting - my lower lumen incan surefire lasts for 50-60 minutes, which doesn't work out so well.
Go T1!
-David
Thank you for the compliment -
not to take anything away from the Fenix T1 - which is indeed a very good flashlight.......
For home use especially for situations like power outages -
although any light is better than no light -
an area light is much more suitable than almost any flashlight.
Flashlights tend to have pretty narrow beams - they're good for seeing where you're going or anything you point the light at -
but not that great for lighting up a room/area.
Consider these inexpensive purpose built lights
which can be used as either area or flashlights -
Energizer 3-in-1 LED flashlight (WRTWL41E) -360deg area light - nightlight with amber LED - 100hrs on flashlight mode. About $13.48 at WalMart.
Energizer Spot/Area Light (CFL420WBE) - Two lights in one – Nichia LED spot light and compact fluorescent area light.
Runs up to 100 hours on 1 set of 4 alkaline AAs.
I've seen these at Target for $12.99.
These both have long runtimes another useful feature for home use in power outages.
Think of it this way -
buy a couple of these to leave around the house -
and the expenditure is not that high -
one can then with quite clear conscience buy any other flashlight that takes the whim/fancy....
But it is important to actually have a flashlight on you - to be able to locate these emergency lights - something like a Photon or a clone (can be had for <$1) would do nicely, and they can reside "almost not there" on a keyring - so are almost always with you.......
--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
not to take anything away from the Fenix T1 - which is indeed a very good flashlight.......
For home use especially for situations like power outages -
although any light is better than no light -
an area light is much more suitable than almost any flashlight.
Flashlights tend to have pretty narrow beams - they're good for seeing where you're going or anything you point the light at -
but not that great for lighting up a room/area.
Consider these inexpensive purpose built lights
which can be used as either area or flashlights -
Energizer 3-in-1 LED flashlight (WRTWL41E) -360deg area light - nightlight with amber LED - 100hrs on flashlight mode. About $13.48 at WalMart.
Energizer Spot/Area Light (CFL420WBE) - Two lights in one – Nichia LED spot light and compact fluorescent area light.
Runs up to 100 hours on 1 set of 4 alkaline AAs.
I've seen these at Target for $12.99.
These both have long runtimes another useful feature for home use in power outages.
Think of it this way -
buy a couple of these to leave around the house -
and the expenditure is not that high -
one can then with quite clear conscience buy any other flashlight that takes the whim/fancy....
But it is important to actually have a flashlight on you - to be able to locate these emergency lights - something like a Photon or a clone (can be had for <$1) would do nicely, and they can reside "almost not there" on a keyring - so are almost always with you.......
--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
Yes, Vincent's great reviews also got me to buy the T1. I found the T1 was particulary good when I was in the basement pitch black trying to work with the plumber in a foot of water to rewire the sump pump and the furnace into the generator. It was really bright and made it very easy to see what you were doing. Much brighter than his really large flashlight of indeterminate origin. I will say that a slimmer, softer and lighter flashlight would be better for gripping between your teeth so both hands are free!
I'll have to check out the flood type lights. I was suprised by how well the T1 lit up the whole room when it was standing on its endcap. Surely not like a flood, but better than I expected due to the overall brightness.
Also, my wife lit a couple of her "partylite" triple wick barrel candles. They actually gave off a good amount of light. enough to navigate around the downstairs without any problem.
I'll have to check out the flood type lights. I was suprised by how well the T1 lit up the whole room when it was standing on its endcap. Surely not like a flood, but better than I expected due to the overall brightness.
Also, my wife lit a couple of her "partylite" triple wick barrel candles. They actually gave off a good amount of light. enough to navigate around the downstairs without any problem.
Again thank you for the kind words -
getting back to the Fenix T1 - like I said I wasn't trying to take anything away from it - its rating are -
Turbo Mode: Constant 225 Lumens, 1.5 hours
General Mode: Constant 60 Lumens, 10 hours.
225 lumens is a huge amount of light - tail standing and pointing at a white ceiling - would give off a lot of light in a room/area - but it would run out of power in about 1.5 hours and may also get pretty hot - may not be so good for the light.
In the lower general mode it is still pretty bright at 60 lumens - about the same ballpark figure as the 2x lithium CR123 Xenon lights like the SureFire 6P, G2, and Streamlight Scorpion - so in any power outage - tail-standing pointing at the ceiling would still give off a lot of useful light - relatively speaking - and 10 hours is a pretty realistic runtime for outages.
So having the Fenix T1 actually on you was exactly the saving ticket for this outage.
My suggestions for the low priced purpose built emergency lights - was merely for "preparedness" for such situations with affordable and more suitable lights that would serve the purpose at reasonably economical cost and one probably should have around the house......
and don't forget the Photon or clone to have on the person at almost all times........
--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
getting back to the Fenix T1 - like I said I wasn't trying to take anything away from it - its rating are -
Turbo Mode: Constant 225 Lumens, 1.5 hours
General Mode: Constant 60 Lumens, 10 hours.
225 lumens is a huge amount of light - tail standing and pointing at a white ceiling - would give off a lot of light in a room/area - but it would run out of power in about 1.5 hours and may also get pretty hot - may not be so good for the light.
In the lower general mode it is still pretty bright at 60 lumens - about the same ballpark figure as the 2x lithium CR123 Xenon lights like the SureFire 6P, G2, and Streamlight Scorpion - so in any power outage - tail-standing pointing at the ceiling would still give off a lot of useful light - relatively speaking - and 10 hours is a pretty realistic runtime for outages.
So having the Fenix T1 actually on you was exactly the saving ticket for this outage.
My suggestions for the low priced purpose built emergency lights - was merely for "preparedness" for such situations with affordable and more suitable lights that would serve the purpose at reasonably economical cost and one probably should have around the house......
and don't forget the Photon or clone to have on the person at almost all times........
--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
It was nice to have a flashlight that actually worked when I needed it, another benefit of the batteries that have a long shelf life. Even my wife had her keychain light and her minimag in her purse, so we all had adequate personal light.
I just clipped the T1 to my sweatpants and had it with me at all times during the night.
I keep micro lights on all my keychains and even though I didn't have it on me when the power went out, I keep the keys in the same spot and they were easy to find (since its my own house, if I was in a strange place, I'd probably keep them right beside me).
My wife and I are now considering a generator, maybe the topic of another gadgets and gear thread!
I just clipped the T1 to my sweatpants and had it with me at all times during the night.
I keep micro lights on all my keychains and even though I didn't have it on me when the power went out, I keep the keys in the same spot and they were easy to find (since its my own house, if I was in a strange place, I'd probably keep them right beside me).
My wife and I are now considering a generator, maybe the topic of another gadgets and gear thread!
The clip is pretty strong - and not supposed to be removable -
so the broken one may have been deliberately broken off
as the person may have wanted a clipless light.
Some Fenix T1 heads can be unscrewed to remove the clip -
but on my sample of one, I could not unscrew it to remove the clip.
For a very short while Fenix-Store.com did have a clipless version.
--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
You don't have to worry about the clip's strength. Unless for some odd reason the metal is brittle, it won't snap. The pictures that I have seen of broken clips have been from people working to remove them.
The clip was kind of stiff and difficult to use clipping over the band of my sweatpants; would not be a problem with jeans or something.
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2007
- Messages
- 19
the T1 is really simlar in size... the head is a b it bigger than the C2 but that is a benefit because of added throw capabilities... I can tell you this though, I own both of these lights and stock format the T1 blows the C2 out f the water...
I of course have modded my C2 to make it a much brighter light... (320 lumens)
I of course have modded my C2 to make it a much brighter light... (320 lumens)
According to the respective specs -
Fenix T1 - 136.5mm (Length) x 35mm (Diameter) = ~5.37" x 1.38"
SureFire C2 - Length: 5.20 inches
So the T1 is a shade longer, and I think a bit wider at the head.....
--
Vincent
http://picasaweb.com/UnknownVincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2007
- Messages
- 19
As far as the mods go for the C2 it is really easy... you just need to find a drop-in type bulb/reflector assembly...
Since the Surefire setup is rated for a constant 6v (2 cr123a batteries) that is all the output you can get from them... The secret is to get rechargeable lithium ion batteries(unprotected cells, the protected version regulate the output and then you are bak to square one)... they are rated at 3.7v each but with a peak charge they are actually 4.2v each... 2 of those and that gets you what!? 8.4v
BUT WAIT! dont just stop there because if you do that with the stock bulb you will flash it instantly... then there will be darkness
so whats the solution? go to a 9v rated lamp assembly
Surefire makes the p90 and the p91 lamps for their three cell lights. but they are not all that bright and i have found that they arent all that efficient either...
the best thing to do is go to www.lumensfactory.com and get their ho-9 bulb... (d26 size is what you need) and viola! a much brighter lamp!
ok... just fair warning... you will be tempted to order the EO-9 (380 lumens) lamp but please refrain... it pulls too many amps for the batteries and you will most definitely be creating a bomb out of your flashlight... Take it from me lithium ion batteries catching on fire is not a good thing...
any other questions... just ask!
~Jadon
Since the Surefire setup is rated for a constant 6v (2 cr123a batteries) that is all the output you can get from them... The secret is to get rechargeable lithium ion batteries(unprotected cells, the protected version regulate the output and then you are bak to square one)... they are rated at 3.7v each but with a peak charge they are actually 4.2v each... 2 of those and that gets you what!? 8.4v
BUT WAIT! dont just stop there because if you do that with the stock bulb you will flash it instantly... then there will be darkness
so whats the solution? go to a 9v rated lamp assembly
Surefire makes the p90 and the p91 lamps for their three cell lights. but they are not all that bright and i have found that they arent all that efficient either...
the best thing to do is go to www.lumensfactory.com and get their ho-9 bulb... (d26 size is what you need) and viola! a much brighter lamp!
ok... just fair warning... you will be tempted to order the EO-9 (380 lumens) lamp but please refrain... it pulls too many amps for the batteries and you will most definitely be creating a bomb out of your flashlight... Take it from me lithium ion batteries catching on fire is not a good thing...
any other questions... just ask!
~Jadon
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2003
- Messages
- 5,337
I use the Osram 3 Led bulb/3 AAA battery touch switch liberally placed around the house. They come with adhesive backing which is great until it comes time to change the batteries (100hrs comes fast in Africa) and used it to affix magnitic strip from the kid's art shop. Steel door frames are always a good location. I also have a 4Dcell flourescent engeriser from 8years back.
There is always a torch in a pocket. Our office did an emergency drill and simulation. They evacuated everyone to the basement as the building powered down. So much for that, the best excape route became a dark trap with access systems off line and no lights. The engineers came and made suitable adjustments the following week to extend emergency lighting to the basement and access systems. 200 + angry people trapped in a dark basement, some with cell phones for light, was impressive when I turned on my minimag.
There is always a torch in a pocket. Our office did an emergency drill and simulation. They evacuated everyone to the basement as the building powered down. So much for that, the best excape route became a dark trap with access systems off line and no lights. The engineers came and made suitable adjustments the following week to extend emergency lighting to the basement and access systems. 200 + angry people trapped in a dark basement, some with cell phones for light, was impressive when I turned on my minimag.