surefire question

[mr_dove]

I've only had my 6p for a few months and gone through 3 sets of batteries. Most flashlights get dimmer as the batteries run low. However my Surefire seems to just suddenly go out rather than getting dim.

Also run time seems to be very low although this could just be my perception. Do I need to load up some fresh batteries and let it run to see if I'm getting at least 60 minutes?

So, is it normal for the surefire lights to just go out when the batteries run down?

[648E]

Yes, it will grow dimmer for a short period then pretty suddenly go out. My first set of batteries in my 6P lasted about 8 months. Then again I'm pretty cheap and use it as little as possible.

[crofrog]

Yes they do get a little dimmer then just die.

And I go through about 1 set of battery's a week, although I use my light a lot

[Chindo18Z]

mr_dove: Your Surefire (and other brands of high lumen tactical light) will visibly suck the juice right out of the CR123 batteries which tend to power most lights.

This is normal. They are designed to provide a stupendous amount of light in a small package but only for a total of 20-60 minutes of continuous use (depending on brand, model, and number of batteries).

You should notice a rapid dimming and yellowing of light followed by an almost electronic version of candle fizzle.

The designers envision (correctly) that most use will be for only a minute or two if not merely seconds.

If you have need of a longer burning light, I'd suggest getting one of the many LED lights available. Whether powered by AAA, AA, CR123, watch batteries, etc, all will deliver many many hours of continuous light.

A really useful version is one of the Twintask Lights manufactured by Streamlight. Looks like a normal "Surefire" style model and can be had using any number and type of battery configurations. Has a click-button activation. 1st click turns on the light in Hi-power xenon bulb mode (like your 6P); next click switches to LED bulbs in lamp head. Next click turns light off. When utilizing LED mode, you could leave light on all night and still have good light when you wake up in morning. Costs for different models range around $30-$40.

Paraphrasing Rutger Hauer's android character in the film Blade Runner: "The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long...".

[mete]

The typical Surefire like my plastic one has a battery life of no more than 1 hour !!! Don't confuse this with the fact that lithium batteries have a SHELF life of ten years !! Picking a flashlight involves many considerations .To compliment my Surefire I have some long life LEDs.

[Zero_DgZ]

I just bought one of these (http://www.batteryjunction.com/4pcsrc368lib.html), and the problem was solved.

I have a Surefire G2, a Streamlight M3 knockoff on the Glock, and a cheapo knockoff on the rifle. They all take CR123A's, and I haven't been in a situation where I've had to use all three at the same time (the Glock's light doesn't get much use, so it still has primary cells in it) so it works well so far.

Extra cells are pretty cheap, anyway. Four bucks or so for a pair of halfway decent ones online if you shop around.

[NukemJim]

Four bucks or so for a pair of halfway decent ones online if you shop around.

If you buy the large box from Surefire 72 batteries for 126.00 it works out to $1.75 per battery. Up from the last time I bought a box then it was $1.25 battery.

I just bought one of these, and the problem was solved

Maybe, but from experience with nicads they are good but not perfect and have their own liabilities such as "memory". I always carry a set of regular batteries exclusive of nicad batteries with me if I am on the job for a piece of equipment that requires batteries.

I am a very firm believer in Mr. Murphy.

NukemJim

[pcf]

For a better price on batteries try Calvin Hall at Bright Flashlights. He doesn't have a web page yet so you'll have to order over the phone. He convinced me to take the "Pepsi Challenge" with the Battery Station CR123s... try a half-dozen, if I didn't like them he would give me full credit towards the Surefire CR123s. I've been using Battery Station CR123's since, there's no noticable difference between them and the Surefire. At $5 less per dozen they are worth a try.

http://brightflashlights.net/

Phone: 352-732-2156

[DragonRider]

1 note on the rechargeable's, they can exceed the voltage and damage LED Lights which use circitury to help control the output. PLEASE READ and RESEARCH before using.

John

[Zero_DgZ]

Maybe, but from experience with nicads they are good but not perfect and have their own liabilities such as "memory". I always carry a set of regular batteries exclusive of nicad batteries with me if I am on the job for a piece of equipment that requires batteries.

Those are Li-Ion cells. Also, NiMh and consumer NiCad batteries do not have "memory." That only happens with sintered plate NiCad batteries in very secific conditions, and has since turned into an urban legend that is simply not true.

What happens to NiCad cells if they are mistreated is called "voltage depression", and in fact the battery is delivering its rated capacity and current but at a lower voltage than it should. Deep cycling on a cell-by-cell basis (not the entire multi-cell pack!) can cure it to a certain extent.

1 note on the rechargeable's, they can exceed the voltage and damage LED Lights which use circitury to help control the output. PLEASE READ and RESEARCH before using.

Good point. In the Li-Ion department, there are two types of CR123A cell - 3.0 volt and 3.7 volt. For our purposes, the 3.0 is what we want.

[45crittergitter]

http://www.batterystation.com

[walking arsenal]

Look into buying one of the lower lumen lamps or a led head for your surefire if your not happy with battery consumption.

[psyopspec]

A really useful version is one of the Twintask Lights manufactured by Streamlight. Looks like a normal "Surefire" style model and can be had using any number and type of battery configurations. Has a click-button activation. 1st click turns on the light in Hi-power xenon bulb mode (like your 6P); next click switches to LED bulbs in lamp head. Next click turns light off. When utilizing LED mode, you could leave light on all night and still have good light when you wake up in morning. Costs for different models range around $30-$40.

For the record, the flashlight goes from "off" to one mode, then "off" to the other mode. Unless of course I have an older model.

When I deployed I didn't bring a tactical flashlight, but but I've been happy since having discovered them. A friend of mine who deployed to Afghanistan put it best: Surefire's are great if you're kicking in doors, but if you're writing a letter to your mom get an angleneck.

[TonkinTwentyMil]

It sounds like that old SF 6P is not the ideal ILLUMINATION TOOL for your specific lighting needs -- kinda like using a ball-peen hammer where a tack-hammer is a better fit. So...

1. Replace that 6P incan with a SF E2L (LED) that runs for 2 1/2-3 hrs FLAT (regulated, not declining), followed by a gradually-diminishing "tail." Tough, smaller than the 6P, very pocketable, and no lamp (bulb) to burn out. Only question is: will its tight beam be too narrow for your needs?

2. Use only good quality 123s. Duracell Ultra, Surefire, Streamlight, and Sanyo Jap (not Sanyo Chinese) are the best/longest runtimes @ 1 amp draw. See the 123 tests at CandlePowerForum.com.

3. Buy your 123s on-line in bulk ($18-22 per doz.). Only "flashlight illiterates" pay $7-10 ea. at drug/grocery stores. Keep extra/back-up batts handy at work, car, jacket pocket, etc. NEVER mix different brand or age batts.

4. Battery Station 123s are a bargain (at about $1.25 ea.) but their quality has been demonstrated to be widely variable via reports at CandlePowerforum.com. High-draw lights like certain Surefires tend to not always like 'em. Ya get whatcha pay for.

5. Buy a battery tester. Test your batts frequently, and ditch 'em when they run down to 50%. Any remaining juice will only provide low-quality light. Not worth the risks.

6. Buy an Inova X5T light (a noted "battery drainer") and use it to drain those 123s that are too weak to run your 6P (or even the SF E2L). Makes a nice in/around-the-house light for short-range lighting.

7. Try to avoid using any flashlight in long, sustained slices of "on." Instead, try to go with short, 3-5 second bursts, with rest in between. Long runs generate heat, and heat diminishes battery life.

8. If your spouse/significant-other whines about your spending $120 for a SF E2L and $40 for 2 dozen 123 batteries: (a) ask her about all the big-bucks she spends on trendy shoes, (b) drop-kick her to the curb... where some weapons-illiterate/flashlight-illiterate/zero-Street-Sense/daisy-sniffin'/Phil Donahue liberal can help her get in touch with his/her feelings (*cough*)... while the Demons Of Darkness move in for the kill.

[Sharpdogs]

6. Buy an Inova X5T light (a noted "battery drainer") and use it to drain those 123s that are too weak to run your 6P (or even the SF E2L). Makes a nice in/around-the-house light for short-range lighting.

Terrific advice, I use my X5T to eat up the drained batteries from my XO3 or Pelican M6. The X5T makes a great all around the house light.

[CraigJS]

CR 123 Lith batteries along with all other Lith batteries will give full power almost to the end of their life.. They are a high drain (almost like a deep cycle car/boat battery) design. As far as shelf life, I believe they lose aprox. 5% of their charge per year. Surefire 6P's with the 65 lumen bulb are to give aprox. 60min. per set of batteries. Twenty mins. with the 120 lumen bulb..
Not really your use it everyday flashlight, but great when you need to have a STRONG light to temporaryly (sp) blind a BG at night or in any dark location!

[LAK]

I have a SureFire E2 and a Streamlight Scorpion. I carry the Scorpion at work; it is at the ready for the times when I really need to really light someone or something up. For every other mundane task I use one of several small LEDs or lights with dollar store batteries.

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[gunsmith]

I never let other people use my surefires because they treat them like regular flashlights, people turn on flashlights way to early, leave them on while their on the phone etc.
I replace the batteries way before they need replacement and store them for SHTF scenarios

[Optical Serenity]

You may want to look at their LED lights. I love my Surefire L2. Great runtime, and no bulb to ever replace.

[pete f]

amondotech.com has batteries for a $1.00 each. Batterystation does too, if you are a member of CPF. aka candlepowerforums.com/

If you are using the light as a GP light then try one of the newer LED's..

Looking around at CPF you will see them talking about a few newer lights that are running on AA and AAA and getting nearly the light output that cr123's are doing. I personally carry a 123 light for the uberbright needs, either tactical or just when i need to see something a bit far away and I carry a little single AA light in LED (a Fennix P1T) for seeing the doorlock, checking on positions of parts in little spaces etc. The New streamlight TL-2Gen 2 LED is almost as bright in real life as my xenon bulb model. this maybe a route to take.

Battery station cells in my experience have been really good, I am on my 15th dozen. Others say the the Titanium brand sold by amondotech are just as good.

[JMusic]

We use a bunch of surefire's. I have seen some of the bulbs be faulty and never reach their full potential. Use a voltmeter and make sure your batteries are down if not you may have a bad bulb that is draining your system.
Jim