Flashlights

I have all the lights you are talking about except the Maratac, and I exclusively use RCR123. AW is considered the "gold" standard and their IMR 16340 are awesome. I also use Kinoko and Efest IMR 16340 with good results. Be wary with some of these batteries cause anyone can put a wrapping on batteries and sell them as their own or other brand.

And yes they do make a difference, some not visually, but the composition of RCR allows better performance.
 
Thanks meluck, what kind of charger do you use? I'm looking for a reliable charger, that is safe and automatic, a battery refresh feature wouldn't hurt either... Have you used the AW IMR 16340 in an HDS? and how does it perform compared to a quality cr123?
 
wowcoop said:
Thanks meluck, what kind of charger do you use? I'm looking for a reliable charger, that is safe and automatic, a battery refresh feature wouldn't hurt either... Have you used the AW IMR 16340 in an HDS? and how does it perform compared to a quality cr123?
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I've run RCR123s and throwaway CR123s in the HDS 200-R and notice very little difference. But now that I'm often running wide-open and running the disposable cells out quickly; I think I'll just go RCRs with swap every 3-4 days or as needed---Much like Final mentioned.
 
I've got a few chargers. Unsure exact models but I look for those with options...like charging multiple cells (both variety and potential to charge a pair of RCR123s, etc. simultaneously). I also like those with car kits that plug into cig. lighter /accessory ports w/out need for additional power inverters/converters.
 
meluck said:
I have all the lights you are talking about except the Maratac, and I exclusively use RCR123. AW is considered the "gold" standard and their IMR 16340 are awesome. I also use Kinoko and Efest IMR 16340 with good results. Be wary with some of these batteries cause anyone can put a wrapping on batteries and sell them as their own or other brand.

And yes they do make a difference, some not visually, but the composition of RCR allows better performance.
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I'll be picking up at least 4 of the IMR 18350s and/or 16340s if I decide to order a Mac. The recommended charger is only $12-13 so I'll likely grab one of those too.
 
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WowCoop I think Luck and N2K have done a a great job answering your questions. I use Ultra Fire protected with their charger, and With rechargeables comes the extra voltage and added lumens. However in some of my research I came across an interesting tidbit that says the human eye sees very little difference in say from 500 to three hundred lumens, experimenting with this premise, there is indeed some validity. BTW Maratac says repeatedly no rechargeables.
Depending on what I do governs my choice of light, most of the time I need it for close work with say 80 to 100 lumen range max with orange peel reflector of medium depth. Outdoors I like a torch that is a thrower, deep smooth reflector with over 500 lumens. Right tool for the right job.
 
Okay, been carrying my HDS for a week now. LOVE the light. HATE the clip. :) On the hunt for an aftermarket clip now :) It bent soooo easily removing it from my belt on day 3. Bent it back, then it bent again. Used to the tank of a clip on the Hinderers. ;)
 
DPRICHARD said:
Okay, been carrying my HDS for a week now. LOVE the light. HATE the clip. :) On the hunt for an aftermarket clip now :) It bent soooo easily removing it from my belt on day 3. Bent it back, then it bent again. Used to the tank of a clip on the Hinderers. ;)
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I'm not sure if this would work on your HDS, but I had the same issue with my RA EDC. I unscrewed the bezel and put a Novatac clip on it. It made a world of difference. I don't like the light (UI) is a little fussy for me, but the clip certainly makes it carry nicely.

38cb2a1c1d45a8486e4fa4f7c8daa40b.jpg
 
Need2Know said:
UT34...can we get some beam shots? I'm very curious about the pattern from the Tri-EDC at reasonable distance in both medium and high outputs.


ETA...found a few images on the Web and esp. CPF....but I'm still hoping for better images if you (or anyone) can snap a few.
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Quick and dirty down a 50 isn foot long corridor at a warehouse. Pillars are every 5 feet.


low:


medium:


high:
 
Thanks for the pics.

@wowcoop- I use an xtar vp1, it's a little more than some others but has a digital display and volt meter built in. It gets rave reviews. I use them in my HDS and can only tell difference in side by side comparison, but there is difference.
 
FWIW to anyone asking about RCR's in MARATAC's, I havent run anything BUT RCR's. I have the AAA and 123 Copper versions. The output on the AAA is simply astonishing!
 
@UT34 thanks for the indoor shots. Hopeful for outside images too, because that's where lights give me most want for more.

@Luck, I haven't looked into that charging system. But I think I may.

Perception of output is subject to a lot. Side by side, even two exact lights may have LEDs that differ a bit, the cells used may operate / release at a slightly different rate and so on...
 
I'm saving my pennies for a "Cool Fall - SPY" light. It pretty much fits the criteria discussed in this thread, with the exception of 2 x CR123's.
 
Bit too large for "small as possible" and dual CR123s /18650 can produce A LOT of light. Looking for that type output from one CR123.
 
One day I'll get a try spy, just got to win the lottery or maybe sell a kidney.

The limitation of one cr123 vs 2 cr123 or 1 18650 is that the single cr123 will never have the performance of the later and that's just base on the science of batteries and electronics. Will we get a 300 OTF lumen single cr123 with moderate run time....not with the current battery chemistry. I've come to believe that a compact 18650 might have become the light I'm personally searching for.
 
meluck said:
One day I'll get a try spy, just got to win the lottery or maybe sell a kidney.

The limitation of one cr123 vs 2 cr123 or 1 18650 is that the single cr123 will never have the performance of the later and that's just base on the science of batteries and electronics. Will we get a 300 OTF lumen single cr123 with moderate run time....not with the current battery chemistry. I've come to believe that a compact 18650 might have become the light I'm personally searching for.
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The Spy in my opinion --for me---is just not a shape I'm interested in carrying around. May be a great item, it's just not for me.

As for current power and LED, electronics technologies---I have said many times in this thread that what I seek may not exist yet. But technology advances, so with more efficiency in power and LEDs, we may see some very awesome offerings over say a 3-5 year timeframe.

As it stands, if say...HDS would step up to brighter offerings like other makers...it may create a nice bridge between present day and what's very likely to come in the near future.

Now, I don't trust claims on paper from mass-production foreign makers....but, there are lights out there with current RCR123 /16340 setups putting out a lot of light...all be it for a very short runtime.

The Macs have my attention as a run on medium as default but have a high for when it's needed. If HDS did something similar with a rotary...I'd be all over it. By the way...as to texture on current HDS...if they'd use the rotary texture on the body; it's be more grippy.
 
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