Root Access

Bob

5:00 PM

I have a XM-L U2-3C light and a couple XM-L2 T6-4C.

They're fairly similar.

I chose the T6-4C over a U2-1A and T6-3B.

Decent chart here: flashlightwiki.com/images/c/cb/Ansi-white.jpg

@Psycogeek Guessing AAs so they don't have to bother with Li-ion chargers?

I like the Convoy S2+ for a cheap Li-ion light :P

bertieb

Hurray, connections/ping/etc to phone works again! All it took was having the power interrupted for several hours!

Bob

Single-AA are mostly XP-E

> XP-G

Same size package as the XP-E, but with a larger die. Therefore the resulting beam has a little more flood.

Psycogeek

@Bob right now i am trying to figure all that, I like a standard 18650, but for usual consumer , it would be best if 18650 had a simple in light charge method. dx.com/p/… this is power bank + actual usable led flashlight. bought as rechargable flashlight primarily. got one in and it makes a good dog walker.

Bob

@Psycogeek I wouldn't trust a cheap built-in charger.

Good way to blow someone's hand off.

Oh, a permanent battery?

Hm. Could work, if the charger were designed properly.

And if the battery were reasonable quality.

Psycogeek

On the other hand, anything lightweight, and small 123 sized is easy to have anywhere. so i am testing 6 different cheap models

Bob

5:10 PM

AAs still might be a better idea, especially if you don't need the sheer power of the XM-L.

There's also models that take 3xAA.

You could chuck a couple cheap NiMH batteries in there - most people have a charger for those, and they aren't that dangerous.

Psycogeek

AA much better than (completely rejected) 3X aaa which sucks for power. 3Xaaa with less power than a single 123.

Bob

@Psycogeek 123 primary are pretty expensive, though

and they don't even last all that long

with an XM-L you might get one hour at full 3A blast?

you'll get longer with a modest XP-G... I'm guessing 5 hours tops

Psycogeek

Got some panasonic 123s for 1.25$ at batteryspace, test out at 1250ma, which is realtive to $5 store bought energyser.

Bob

@Psycogeek huh. AU$11 if you want an energiser-branded one here :P

Psycogeek

@Bob in the tiny lights cheap knockoff clones, i have the current usage. one is .17 one .36 and the 2 real cree .91 the 2 Stainless steel running at .91 are not capable of cooling.

Bob

5:14 PM

but NiMH can be had for ~AU$1.50 ea, and last basically forever (recharged)

3xAA NiMH should last about twice as long as 1xCR123

@Psycogeek tiny are usually XP-G or XP-E with a shitty driver

Psycogeek

so everything is Wildly different, and could be purposed to different style of humans.

Bob

and yea running an XM-L at full blast is only sustainable for ~5 mins before you burn yourself with a Convoy S2-sized host

@Psycogeek yea, just saying if they're gonna use it a lot they're gonna want rechargeable. unless they want to learn proper li-ion handling and charging, AA is easier

depends who you give it to

I could teach my brother to handle li-ion without much trouble. Maybe my father. My mother is better off with nimh or primaries.

Psycogeek

@Bob problem with that DX model, well problem or solutions :-) it only has a 1800, which is a robust but low capacity type, but the dam thing is glue pressfit or something. so 2 years , and i either figure out how to break into it, or it is trash. They have a LOT of power bank lights, but this is the only one found so far that has any sort of water resistant covering.

Bob

@Psycogeek not sure how I feel about sealed lights... the more sealed it is, the bigger the explosion :P

and a high-powered LED they might leave on for a long time would cook the battery too

some people drill holes in their multicell hosts for an emergency vent

Psycogeek

@Bob and the WHO is probably the biggest issue. One person will properly use a mini light as a on call , there when you need it, and another person might try and think it is an EDC they can run on high non-stop. But i am going to write up Common simple instructions/preferances for use .

Bob

5:22 PM

@Psycogeek if it were me, I'd probably consider something like this: fasttech.com/products/1601/10000619/1057209

lots of clones of those too (sipik is supposedly the original)

decent light with an AA

Psycogeek

@Bob i am checking out a few "zoom" types as i find that both a spotter and a path light are usefull. like a Wide headlight (path light) and a hand held very tight spot light are actual dark needs. so a zoomer, even at less than 700lm servers purpose.

Bob

brb just stabbed my fingernail with a staple o.O

allquixotic

oh no

Psycogeek

But the one thing i am avoiding completely (like 3xaa) is anything tacky tactical head bashing huge , or not easy to pocket. AKA shelf-trophy is not the need. I prefer much battery , much versitility and small size, future will eventually also be small and powerfull, for all tech crap people carry around.

Bob

@Psycogeek ok I take that back the one I have is much weaker than I remember

weird

though this is a clone

Boris_yo

5:27 PM

@Bob @JourneymanGeek Were you aware of erasable gel refills?

Bob

@allquixotic ?

allquixotic

@Bob staple through fingernail is what I was oh no'ing about

Bob

@allquixotic oh, not through. next to

wasn't out of a stapler. shitty packaging I pushed into while searching for batteries

if it were though I wouldn't be posting a "brb" here

I'd be running off looking for antiseptic cream and maybe pliers :\

@Psycogeek Ok just tested another one - it's fairly bright

there's something wrong with the weak one...

@Boris_yo ...I know of the two concepts separately.

Psycogeek

@Bob right give a high-powered mini-light to the person with no led and battery skill, and they will cook the emitter, and the battery, and complain that it gets hot. so the instructions (i write) will help that some, and some little nefews would be better off with a light that is not omnipotent, and roars through battery.

so far all of them are 3mode, which the "low" goes to ~ .08amp that means so far all of them would run for 10 hours on 123 if they will learn to use the low as the constant, and the high as the intermittant.

@Bob how the freak bob types with a staple in his fingernail, is yet to be explored.

@Bob i am testing them all (hey they are used :-( before they get them, but there is longevity that i cant test. but on the other hand, a $5 light could be given 2 times, one to break & fail and the other to use.

Psycogeek

6:08 PM

@Bob convoy, uhh there is 170 models of convoy, and at least 10 S2+ models? so your picking your drive current and tint also?

Bob

@Psycogeek ya, I went for the full 2800mA option with the warmest tint (4C)

though, I'm using it on low most of the time.

I ordered this one: fasttech.com/products/1826900

not sure I'd recommend it for a beginner, though. li-ion and all.

(of course, I'm more-or-less a beginner, but at least I researched and understand battery safety, etc.)

Psycogeek

@Bob what method is used to switch "mode Groups" ?

Bob

@Psycogeek It comes in 3-mode IIRC. To switch, you go to low mode, wait a few (8?) seconds - it'll blink off and on once. If you switch just after that blink, you'll switch groups.

IMO it's fairly pointless but I guess if you ever want to use SOS or flashing...

@Psycogeek Oh it says on the right side :P

> To switch mode group: Switch to low mode and wait for 5-10 seconds. As soon as you notice the flashlight automatic blinking, turn off and then turn on, the mode group is then toggled

Psycogeek

For the usal simple person SOS is obnoxious , unneeded 98% of the time, and has no real value to an emergency situation. it is only good for flagging down your gilrfriend in the mall. For these consumers i am thinking 3 mode without the freaking flashing would be better. Turbo - highest output , ripps through battery , use to find stuff, see long distances , short times. . Normal - within the cooling capability of the package, and can run like that till the battery dies

Low- either a reall low run forever read a book end of the world , last forever, or a medium low that just runs for 24 hours

Bob

@Psycogeek I think low usually draws 0.15A

or was that 0.08A

...I'll go measure it brb

0.08A on low, 1A on med and 2.5-2.6A on high. That's on my 2.8A variant.

Psycogeek

6:26 PM

so on a 18650, you got 1 hour, 2hour and 2 day modes :-)

Bob

in theory it should last about 32 hours on low with my 2600mAh battery

in practice it cuts out a bit early (to protect the battery?) but I never really tested properly

I'd estimate maybe 24h?

maybe a bit longer

28h? 30h? who knows

@Psycogeek nah, you get 5 min, 20 min and 1 day :P

the high power modes get hot

the low mode is still pretty damn bright

enough for a city/suburban walk

med is pretty crazy

high is just to blind people and burn your hand :P

If you want something practical, I'd say go for the 2100mA or even 1400mA variants

oh yea they have a T5-5B

I think I chose 4C as more neutral... 5B is a bit too warm (maybe)

Psycogeek

Ohh that is one thing that i do not have in my own cheap mod lights, the Cut-Out. using direct drive methods on my own lights, they literally never cut off in the middle of the person using it. eventually the battery voltage goes down the current use drops too, and it just run for freaking ever. I will instead be handing them lights with Primary cells , problem being they never really know when it will die. cheap curcuits that will flat out fail and maybe give them a few minor bursts after.

DragonLord

My primary light is a Nitecore SRT7 Revenger

Bob

@Psycogeek I never ran it long enough to completely cut out. Actually, I'm not actively using this light - I'm using a similar one. It starts flashing when it's low.

DragonLord

18650, does some 900 lm with continuously variable brightness.

XM-L2, T6 bin.

Bob

6:31 PM

@DragonLord any idea what the tint is?

DragonLord

Don't know. It's cold to neutral on mine.

Psycogeek

@Bob telling you it is about to fail, designed into it (not just because it cant work) come with lights that costs money, not cheap knock-offs :-)

Bob

@Psycogeek The Convoy lights are decent :P

and great for the price

pretty solidly built too

I've got a couple Ultrafire clones and they feel really flimsy

end of the day though, the Convoy bodies are still mostly clones of the more expensive brands

Psycogeek

@Bob looks like, all the design of a $$$ light with china prices still.

Bob

@DragonLord Fancy functionality and nice mode selection, but $87 is a tad steep for me :P

@Psycogeek Well, you get a basic light with good build. Not a particularly expensive brand or fancy functions.

there's also a couple coupons floating around for fasttech and banggood if you're buying lights... I think "blf" and "cpf"?

(guess which forums they're related to :P)

Psycogeek

6:37 PM

That was funny. The dog got locked behind the door in the other room, the other dog which they Do Not get along together, tried to break him out of the room. For all the love between em, guess they would still both participate in a jail break.

Bob

o.O

Psycogeek

@Bob and the coupons are for 5% (why bother) or 20% (show me the money)

Bob

@Psycogeek it's more if you're buying them anyway a tad cheaper is better than nothing - if you're not buying them anyway then obviously it means nothing

not sure what you'd do with an 18650 light as a gift, though. would need charger, batteries and lots of instructions and warnings

Psycogeek

@Bob and like you said, head of housold type technically inclined, raises price needing charger, could become possible gift plague .

$5 knockoff light , you can toss in the trash after the 5 minute X-mas gift thrill wears off , not a gift plauge. more like promotional giveaway items.

and people are all sooo different. gave one employee a crappy ultrafire light that uses AA, and 2 years later it is some Treasure he uses every day. I was therin embaraased that i had given him crappy ultrafire. Give a relative a $350 Dvd player (long ago) and they pawned it for $10 in less than 1 year.

Yea it IS the thought that counts :-)

Bob

employee? o.o

Psycogeek

6:52 PM

Sub-contracter , employee part time. Helper, valuable ally , friend who is good worker ?

Bob

heh, valuable ally sounds good

Psycogeek

allies, hmm i did spell it right

not alley cat

Psycogeek

7:05 PM

i do run a business you know, have had a max of 14 people put into labor, less at many other times. everysingle one of them hated me, so i think i was quite sucessfull ceo :-)

allquixotic

major.io/2015/03/26/…

Psycogeek

This fasttech is cool, i found a coupon for free shipping (they dont charge for shipping) and a coupon for 25-50% off sale items (sale items are already reduced) and cheap lights for like $3

Bob

@Psycogeek I actually didn't know, but ok :P

Psycogeek

7:22 PM

fan for a mod fasttech.com/p/1486413 now the hard part, how to get 4500,000 volts to it ?

Bob

O_O

Psycogeek

at 40amps :-)

But i am guessing it will work good in my flying automobile.

Stack Exchange

7:44 PM

Stack Exchange Network Status: Router Maintenance - 9/9/2015

posted on September 08, 2015

Start Time: 9/9/2015 @ 8:00PM EDT (2015-09-10 @ 00:00 UTC) End Time: 9/9/2015 @ 10PM EDT (2015-09-10 @ 02:00 UTC) We will be doing router maintenance in our Jersey City Data Center tomorrow 9/9/15. We will be upgrading the memory on the routers that handle traffic that is not handled by CloudFlare. We will also be transitioning to full BGP tables at the same time. You may see some brief c…

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