Alright, I had an older Inova X3 (I think) and an aircraft emergency light that was stolen out of my car last night. I can only really replace the aircraft light with another aircraft light, but I need recommendations for a new main light. I'm leaning towards a Quark. I'm not stuck to a battery format because mine were stolen with the light. I'd like to go with Lithium cells in some format.

Damn, that sucks!

What sort of light are you after? The standout feature of the Quarks for me is the really low low, which is great for the recreational trespasser.


Some thoughts:

- should it fit easily into a pocket?
- does it need to be super bright, or just really bright?
- for lithiums, 18650 or RCR batteries? or something else again?
- is runtime an issue, or is swapping batteries fine?
- any budget in mind?

I plan on investing in new cells, so something pretty ubiquitous would be best. I like lights that have a super mega set things on fire setting, but that's more for showing off than for use. I love moonlight mode. Not required, but it WILL see use.

The light needs to be pocketable, but it can stick out of my pocket a bit.

Something with an uber great runtime would be nice, but I always keep a set of batteries charged up and ready to go. As long as I can get 4 hours of run time on 2 sets of batteries on a reasonable setting (around 80-100 lumens), I'll be very happy.

Budget on the light is around $60. I'd like to spend less than $100 on the total package, but I want that to include a quality charger and cells that I can use in lots of other lights. I'm leaning toward 18650's instead of RCRs. It seems like better lights are moving to that format.

I'm just glad I didn't order the Preon for the car, because that would be gone, too.

The police officer told me that she fully expected to see my Inova duct taped to someone's bike. Joke's on them because I depleted the cells and didn't switch to the other ones I had in the car that they didn't take.

We were talking in chat about the JetBeam Jet III M, because we're awesome and cool like that, and I mentioned that it wasn't flat-regulated on 18650. Here's a graph from CPF showing the drop off.

Orange line is 18650:




I could live with that, I think, but maybe I'm biased because I've wanted a Jet III M since I lost my Jet III Pro IBS*

_{*though that had flat regulation on 18650 : P}

Did you end up getting something, otaku?

Not yet. I modded those Dorcy Metal Gears, and they're okay for now. I plan on getting something a lot nicer when I can afford it better. Tires for the car are more important than a flashlight.

Posted by wannabeotaku Tires for the car are more important than a flashlight.

Blasphemy!

Posted by bonnie&clyde Blasphemy!

Shameful!

My wife is the real breadwinner in my house. Her car needs to be in good condition for her commute.

Since I have access to a lathe now, I'm really considering making a light. The lathe owner is interested learning how to REALLY use it. We can turn down suspension bushings, but we all want to learn metal.

Posted by wannabeotaku My wife is the real breadwinner in my house. Her car needs to be in good condition for her commute. Since I have access to a lathe now, I'm really considering making a light. The lathe owner is interested learning how to REALLY use it. We can turn down suspension bushings, but we all want to learn metal.

I'd say start small - then make a better one. Once you've got a proper body it's easy to install switch, electronics, LED, optic/reflector, and so on. O-rings are key.

I think we're going to start by modifying old MagLite bodies. Learn how to shorten and cut threads first. Then we're going to try to make a new head. Because of the price of a dead Mag, it's the best way for us to go.