Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Finix P1D CE--thoughts?

I'm interested in getting this small Fenix flashlight (https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_51&products_id=158) but there's no mention of it in teh forums. I would like to use one of their mounts to mount it to my bike, and to use it as a pocket flashlight when running or camping. You all have much more experience with lights than I do--what are your thoughts?

Run your same search over at candlepowerforums.com and you'll get a ton of hits.

I don't have such a flashlight. One thing to keep in mind against the light is that it runs off the nonrechargeable CR123 cell. If you're going to be doing any significant amount of riding, that is a big minus. Consider the other Fenix lights that take AAs, where you can get rechargeables for.

I don't have such a flashlight. One thing to keep in mind against the light is that it runs off the nonrechargeable CR123 cell. If you're going to be doing any significant amount of riding, that is a big minus. Consider the other Fenix lights that take AAs, where you can get rechargeables for.

Why couldn't one just throw in a rechargeable cr123a and have it work just fine?

Why couldn't one just throw in a rechargeable cr123a and have it work just fine?

Do those exist? IIRC the CR123A puts out 3V. The Li-ion cells that are sold as rechargeable CR123As specifically warn against being used for various lights, since they put out 3.7 V or so. The overvoltage can kill the light. Also, NiMH cells being 1.2 V each cannot get the desired 3 V either.

I bought the p2d over the P1d because of a few factors..

The p1d changes modes by rotating the head back and forth.. The clickie on the p2d is easier..

There were some issues with some p1d's with sloppy threads after some useage..

The P1d does havea keychain hole while the p2d has a lanyard.. You will find the p1d and p2d almost the same size..

RCR123's work fine in both the P1d and P2d.. The lights have a Buck circuit which works up to 4.2v..
This is one of the reasons why the fenix lights are popular because some earlier LED flashlights, you could harm them if you used higher power rechargeables.. This is not the case with the fenix lights.. I have used 3.7v rcr's in my P2D and P3D with no issues..

If you use the 3.7v batteries in the P2d you will be limited to Turbo and strobe until the batteries voltage lowers under 3.6v..

Do those exist? IIRC the CR123A puts out 3V. The Li-ion cells that are sold as rechargeable CR123As specifically warn against being used for various lights, since they put out 3.7 V or so. The overvoltage can kill the light. Also, NiMH cells being 1.2 V each cannot get the desired 3 V either.


Here is a site that sells CR123A that are 3.0 volt and rechargeable. (http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=521)

I have one. It's very small, very bright. I use it as a strobing 360 degree taillight with the finger of a latex glove over the end. It hurts my eyes to look at in this mode, from any angle. It runs on rechargeable 3.7 V R123s, but I use 3.0 V ones.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q94/nouia/IMG_0093.jpg

Nouia, are you saying that with the glove finger on the end it becomes 360*? If so, could you easily mod it with a red LED?

Zagnut

Latex finger glove over the end of your flashlight? Very Freudian!

I have one. It's very small, very bright. I use it as a strobing 360 degree taillight with the finger of a latex glove over the end. It hurts my eyes to look at in this mode, from any angle. It runs on rechargeable 3.7 V R123s, but I use 3.0 V ones.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q94/nouia/IMG_0093.jpg

Rather than sticking that in your ass why don't you look for some other way to mount it?

:lol:

Um yeah, sorry about that. Hopefully someone else has the same sense of humor I do around here. I couldn't resist. ;)

LOL ovrrdrive! I bet most of us were thinking it, just afraid to say it :)

I think the glove finger must have been inspired by the official Fenix diffuser (which looks just about as bad), found here:

https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_38&products_id=339

https://www.fenix-store.com/images/diff3.jpg

I have a P1D-CE and have tried it for cycling.

The size is good and it's certainly bright. The two problems that made me stop are the runtime on strobe, which is too short for my purposes (around 1 hour) and the batteries. It does not run properly on 3.7V rechargeables (not all modes work, goes to high on all modes, short runtime). I can't afford CR123A as $2 each. I did not try 3.0V rechargeables but I would be shocked to get 1 hour run-time.

It would be suitable for short rides and casual use only. The L2D is much better for daily use due to run-time and excellent support of rechargeable batteries.

Nouia, are you saying that with the glove finger on the end it becomes 360*? If so, could you easily mod it with a red LED?

Zagnut

It'd be a hard mod on this fenix because the head is glued and hard to access. But an incredibly easy emitter swap that I'm considering is one of these
cheap multi mode light with easy access to its star-mounted LED (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9634). I don't see why couldn't just de-solder the white cree and pop in a red-orange Luxeon III. Am I missing something here, anyone, or would this work?

Seems too easy, but if it worked it would be a super easy, almost off the shelf $30 Dinnotte-killer. Would the 3.7 V coming off the 18650 battery fry the Lux III for some reason?