Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Lowe’s Task Force Flashlight (with pictures)

Broke down and bought a Task Force LED light after reading all of the raves about the light. Got home and shined it against the garage door with my stand-by mag light to see how they will work together. Will be mounting the Task Force on the other side of the steering stem. I will be using the "flood" feature of my mag light and the spot of the Task Force. The attaching method for the Task Force will be using a touchdown clamp, these are found in the plumbing section of Lowes and multiple zip ties. The touchdown clamp and zip ties have held my 12-volt halogen driving light system for many miles. The reason for the change from the driving lights is not having to re-charge my 12-volt power tool batteries. Thanks to all who have posted about the Task Force.

I bought the task force the other day and used it for the first time this morning. It's MUCH brighter than what I was using but after 10 miles or so the light started flickering and dimming as my bike bumped from the road. I'm hoping it's just a bad light but before I exchange it, is there some cause or trick that I don't know about to help prevent this?

Sounds like poor contact from the light and batteries. Pulling the spring out a bit could help, but I'd just return it. Mine has many miles of off-roading abuse on a rigid bike, and has not flickered once. My take is that QC isn't great on these, so I'd swap it and hope for a better one.

Do you have the batteries wrapped in paper to eliminate them rattling in the cage? I did this right off, not sure if it would change the flicker issue, but it kills the noise by keeping the batteries tight, and is a very worthwhile 1 minute & free mod IMO.

I've read about wrapping the batteries but I was waiting to see just how annoying it would be without it. I'm wrapping them before I leave to go home. I figured it was the contacts but I didn't know if there was something I could do to help prevent this. Thanks for the input.

It's just a bad light for me I think. I pulled out the contact spring and it's still acting up. I'm just going to exchange it and hopefully the new one will not have this problem.

Anybody A/B these against a FENIX L2D? I run the Fenix, and it looks a lot smaller, plus it fits in a lockblock which removes the need for zip ties. From experience too, it seems to be brighter than what your pics suggest for the Lowe's.

Anybody A/B these against a FENIX L2D? I run the Fenix, and it looks a lot smaller, plus it fits in a lockblock which removes the need for zip ties. From experience too, it seems to be brighter than what your pics suggest for the Lowe's.

But you can't simply walk into a local store and pay $30 and walk out with a FENX L2D.

Anybody A/B these against a FENIX L2D? I run the Fenix, and it looks a lot smaller, plus it fits in a lockblock which removes the need for zip ties. From experience too, it seems to be brighter than what your pics suggest for the Lowe's.

Never used an L2D to compare. That said, check out the conduit clamp idea from bicyclelighting.com and forget the zip-ties. Great idea, clamps are under a buck at an industrial supply place. I picked a few up yesterday.

Don't take those pics at face value unless you're familiar with the Planet Bike Beamer 5 so you can compare the poor photo job. When the weather improves I'll take better pics now that I think I know how, as well as an a/b with the flood lens available for the TF light.

Did this kind fellow member say where he got the flood lens? I have had 2 of these flashlights 4 about a year now, and love how bright they are. I just wish it was a little more "floody"!

T.Y.
Chris

Did you ever find that flood lens? Let me know the status of that deal.

Did you ever find that flood lens? Let me know the status of that deal.


Dan,

Not yet! I found a 23.5 mm, about 10 deg lens, but that is it so far. Though I haven't done a lot of looking. I think maybe a 15 deg lens would do, though trial and error is the only true way to find out.

I have been intrigued by a DIY bike light over on MTBR.com in the light threads. It is a Dinotte style light, very cheap build.

Chris

I got a package from that kind gent on the other forum. Here are the 2 lenses, with the stock lens on the left and the flood lens on the right:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/DanKMTB/SQR10K6mE5I/AAAAAAAABBM/dmUI3El5HJk/s800/PICT0256.JPG

Here's the flood lens:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/DanKMTB/SQR10Ls3HyI/AAAAAAAABBU/diKrDV6S5ek/s800/PICT0267.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/DanKMTB/SQR5OpoRozI/AAAAAAAABBo/_L3dG5BmJ8o/s800/PICT0280.JPG

And here's the same pic with the stock/spot lens:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/DanKMTB/SQR10hfU9PI/AAAAAAAABBc/lIFebVuuChQ/s800/PICT0278.JPG

It definitely kills the spot some, but how well it spreads the light for off-roading remains to be seen. The pattern of the flood is somewhat narrow vertically while being very wide (depending on the angle you hold the light).

I'll get some outdoor shots tonight if the weather cooperates.

Chris,

Very cool thread on MTBR. I may have to make one of those, although at that point I'd buy the parts on dealextreme.com rather than butchering a TF light, since a cree bulb and the necessary goodies can be had for 1/2 the cost of the TF light. I think I may have to give that setup a go. Thanks for the link. I have no idea the angle of the flood lens, I have. I'll let you know how it works off-road, and get back to me about that PM.

I bought the task force the other day and used it for the first time this morning. It's MUCH brighter than what I was using but after 10 miles or so the light started flickering and dimming as my bike bumped from the road. I'm hoping it's just a bad light but before I exchange it, is there some cause or trick that I don't know about to help prevent this?

That's the Achilles heel of that light. (well, other than it's size making it difficult to mount securely) The batteries are loose in the body, so it can flicker when bumped. Wrapping the batteries helps a little.

Honestly tho', since the head unscrews off so easily, my "dream mod" is to convert the light into a head and separate battery pack. :D

For those who've been asking about what this light looks like on the road, I have an old pic in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=441808), although I didn't point the light very far down. My favorite mod to increasing the near-field lighting is to add a second light. ;)

Rather than use paper for a shim to keep the batteries from rattling/missing contact. Try plastic! Plastic will not absorb moisture like paper might.

Cut several (maybe a half dozen) strips from an old milk container, about 1/4" to 3/8" wide, and about 1/4" shorter than the total length of your batteries.

Insert them between the batteries and the case of the flashlight.

Insert as many as needed to get a snug fit, and no rattle; and, save the others in case you need more for different batteries, or flashlights.

The extras take up no room in the bottom of any bag, and are there if you ever need them, or, drop the others while changing batteries.

Cheap, effective, and ZERO cost! And, you know where to get more for yourself or friends!

Another tip - a little dab of dielectric grease on the contact points of the batteries, and on the threads of the flashlight metal parts, will keep corrosion at bay, and promote good contact. It only takes enuf to put a slight film on things. Dielectric grease is available at almost any automotive parts place, available in small tubes as "tune up grease." Great stuff for electrical connections.

Rather than use paper for a shim to keep the batteries from rattling/missing contact. Try plastic! Plastic will not absorb moisture like paper might.

Cut several (maybe a half dozen) strips from an old milk container, about 1/4" to 3/8" wide, and about 1/4" shorter than the total length of your batteries. I used an old vinegar bottle, as it was slightly heavier than the milk container.

Insert them between the batteries and the case of the flashlight.

Insert as many as needed to get a snug fit, and no rattle; and, save the others in case you need more for different batteries, or flashlights.

The extras take up no room in the bottom of any bag, and are there if you ever need them, or, drop the others while changing batteries. Since they weigh next to nothing, they shouldn't even bother the weight wienies!

Cheap, effective, and ZERO cost! And, you know where to get more for yourself or friends!

Not a bad idea, but I don't know if they'll fit. Have you done this, or is it just an idea? My light didn't even have room for a couple wraps of paper, I had to cut the sheet both ways to get it to fit. Worth a shot though.

I've done it on this light, and, also on Maglight flashlights. Work great!

Dan,

IF I used the T.F. for parts, I would only do as wyeast mentioned, is to use it with the light head mounted on a helmet with a seperate battery pack. The light output with the new lens looks pretty good!

Something I have done to stop the batteries from rattling in my Mag lights is tape the batteries up with electrical tape. I ran a few strips of tape down the length of the batterries, then wrapped them at the ends and where the batteries "meet".

Chris

Got a dark MTB run in on my muddy truck trail that's part of my commute home. Flood is very wide and narrow vertically. Works great as a secondary light for right in front of the bike, showing where your wheel is going and what's off ot the side. Almost no forward throw though, I ended up using the beamer 5 to illuminate 10; in front of me. 2 of these, one wiht the flood and one with the spot would be perfect. No beam shots tonight - working one handed (razor blades are sharp). maybe tomorrow.

Chris, offer still stands if you're liking the looks of that throw. I'll get outdoor beam shots when I can. No way will it pass as a solo light, but it makes a great secondary for right in front of the bike. I now need to find another of these babies. Or, if Chris doesn't take that offer, I may use the DIY dinotte theory with parts from dealextreme to build a second.

I looked in a Lowes store today as well as the Lowes website and only see a Task Force flashlight with the phrase "30x brighter" - not 60x. Maybe the 60x brighter light is not something they offer any more? Anyone see any of these lights lately?

G0 to the store, and they will be on the display. Usually by the cash register end caps.

I saw them at my Lowes, by the tool section.

My local Lowe's (Houston) didn't have them in stock either, but there was definitely a place on the rack for them. I travel for a living and am in Columbus, Ohio this week. I stopped by the local Lowe's here and found one no problem. So far, I'm impressed - very bright! Now if I can just figure out a suitable mounting option....

Anyone know what the best C size rechargeable batteries are for the TF? Also where to buy them?

Anyone know what the best C size rechargeable batteries are for the TF? Also where to buy them?

Here you go, 6000mAh NiMH: http://www.batteryjunction.com/tpeh-t6000.html

Here's an economical charger: http://www.batteryjunction.com/tpec-ttg3000.html

Dan,

Sorry I haven't replied sooner! Thank you again for the offer, but I may order some as I am looking at building the Dinotte style light with a Cree MC-E, and if so, will order from DX since I do think I found it! Check this out: Flood Lens (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1919)

I haven't taken the time to get my calipers and double check the measurement, but it looks like that is it for anyone else looking to get the flood lens.

Chris

I saw them at my Lowes, by the tool section.

They are at my local Lowe's in stock as well, in the "tool world" by all the other flashlights. They were sold out for a couple weeks after I bought mine (I got the last one), but my dad picked one up there this past Saturday, and said they had them 2 full displays wide, probably 20 lights. The 30x brighter is the Luxeon, and definitely not in the same league as this 60x brighter cree.

Dan,

Sorry I haven't replied sooner! Thank you again for the offer, but I may order some as I am looking at building the Dinotte style light with a Cree MC-E, and if so, will order from DX since I do think I found it! Check this out: Flood Lens (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1919)

I haven't taken the time to get my calipers and double check the measurement, but it looks like that is it for anyone else looking to get the flood lens.

Chris

No problem Chris. I'm thinking of building that Dinotte style as well. Been looking around on CPF a bit, checking DX, etc. It looks like the project is within my abilities, and it would be nice to have that setup. I'm also thinking that style may work on a helmet for summer night riding on the real trails, which would be cool (especially when combined w the TF on the bars). In the winter I tend to ride slow and wear layers, and a brain bucket is rarely part of the ensemble. So I'd need it to work both on the bars and on the skid lid.

Let me know how your project turns out, if I haven't gotten around to doing it by the time you do that may be the bit of encouragement I need to push me over the edge. Past few weeks I've had other things eating up my $ & time, but with winter rolling in I foresee the time becoming available.

There are four Lowes stores in the Milwaukee area. Two of them don't even carry the 60X brighter flashlights, one is sold out(I got the last two), and the fourth store on Rawson Ave has about 8 left. Needless to say, the Rawson Ave store is farthest from my house. I bought two TF lights at the Rawson store yesterday, giving me a total of four lights. Two are mounted on my handlebar and the third is on my helmet. They replace a PrincetonTec Switchback 2 which I bought in March 2008. They are substantially brighter than the PrincetonTec at less than half the cost.

No problem Chris. I'm thinking of building that Dinotte style as well. Been looking around on CPF a bit, checking DX, etc. It looks like the project is within my abilities, and it would be nice to have that setup. I'm also thinking that style may work on a helmet for summer night riding on the real trails, which would be cool (especially when combined w the TF on the bars). In the winter I tend to ride slow and wear layers, and a brain bucket is rarely part of the ensemble. So I'd need it to work both on the bars and on the skid lid.
Let me know how your project turns out, if I haven't gotten around to doing it by the time you do that may be the bit of encouragement I need to push me over the edge. Past few weeks I've had other things eating up my $ & time, but with winter rolling in I foresee the time becoming available.

Will do. Though I won't be getting to the Dinotte light for about a month at the very soonest. I just started gutting our bathroom for a full remodel! :cry::eek:

I am looking at the Cree MC-E led though. Up to 700 lumens depending on the driver. It will be a little more with this led, but I think it is worth it for the extra output.

Chris

Just wanted to say thanks for the tip on the Task Force light. Picked up two at the local Lowe's today, and on sale for $25 to boot. Bright and fairly light. Mounting one on my helmet and the other on the bars. Tried it in my two fish but it is a little wobbly and so will be using a couple of hose clamps opposing each other which works really well I find and is cheap. Keeps the light on the bike just in case loose finger Louie happens by also, unless he has a screwdriver.

Just wanted to say thanks for the tip on the Task Force light. Picked up two at the local Lowe's today, and on sale for $25 to boot. Bright and fairly light. Mounting one on my helmet and the other on the bars. Tried it in my two fish but it is a little wobbly and so will be using a couple of hose clamps opposing each other which works really well I find and is cheap. Keeps the light on the bike just in case loose finger Louie happens by also, unless he has a screwdriver.

You're welcome, no problem.

That said, forget the hose clamps, check this out
http://nordicgroup.us/s78/images/homemadebracket.jpg
http://nordicgroup.us/s78/images/barbracketcree.jpg

Total cost under $2, all parts can be had at a hardware or local industrail supply store. Details here http://nordicgroup.us/s78/flashlights.html

I've currently got a hacked bike light clamp & a zip tie holding my TF on todays ride, but am using that design to hold my mini-mag along with the TF, and 1/2 that design as a camera mount. Also using that design to hold the TF on my road bike, and will be replacing the cheesy bike light mount on the bike I took today w/ one of those as soon as I get another clamp.

Here's what it looks like on my setup, although I only have that bracket deal set for the mag at the moment. Will have the same on the TF by the end of the week. The lonely bracket is a camera mount.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_V7e3sdP0XyY/SRHqZij0Y1I/AAAAAAAABLM/HRC-h3Szugw/s800/PICT0486.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_V7e3sdP0XyY/SRHqbCV40II/AAAAAAAABLk/Q5Ho2WLEDQg/s800/PICT0489.JPG

Also, I plan to trim the bolts to make it neater. I think I'm going to use a wing nut to secure the light, so I can remove it for trailside repairs easier. That bike isn't left locked outside, so theft is not a concern.

Well, good news, arrived at circuitously.

I bought the flashlights through Lowe's online, by the model number. And got the right ones.

Shortly after pulling the trigger, I read the rest of the thread here and saw the details about the model number being schizophrenic. The product online description was 30x brighter, etc., all signs pointing to it being the wimpy light. I tried to cancel the order, no online option for that, tried by phone but a day later they sent me a nice note that it was already downrange, sorry, I could return if I wanted to but it was coming.

However, they arrived as the spiffy 60x model, just what I wanted. And free shipping on orders over $49, which worked out as I got 2 @ ~$25 each.

So here is the deal with my task force lights. I bought two at the local Lowe's in the 60x brighter packaging. I mounted one on my helmet and it gave off a nice hot spot which was exactly what I was looking for. The other I mounted on my wife's bike and turned her loose with it but a few days ago I was heading out in the evening and thought I would try hers handlebar mounted on my bike. When I got on the road it looked like the handlebar light was running out of battery compared to the helmet light, a much weaker beam. When I got home I checked the battery voltage and it was ok and swapped out the batteries between the two lights and the weaker light remained weaker. So I think I got the 30% brighter model in the upgraded packaging, but how do you explain to Lowe's that is the case? My wife is happy with it for her morning commute so I will keep it on her bike anyway as I am on to a brighter future for mine!

tell them their made in china bull$&!# needs to go back where it came from and you want your money back or you're gonna sue. j/k

those places rarely question a exchange for the same product. tell them you got a dud and you would like to swap it for a winner.

the one personal exception i can think of actually happened at lowes... i bought a li-ion dremel that was mispriced. they honered the price at the register. sweet! get home and it doesn't work. bummer! when i tried to exchange it for another that worked, the ASM stood by her overinflated ego powertrip lack of common sense decision to only offer me a refund at the original purchase price. woman, i bought the thing 30min ago, its not my fault your employees mislabled the product and i got lucky. i wouldn't have bought the thing had they not mislabled it. im now wasting my time, transportation money and blood pressure because you enjoy playing napoleon. long story short, she was having some sort of psycological issue and the general manager gladly exchanged it for a new item the next day when he was in..

Well thanks to sonicj's push in the direction of returning the light I went up to Lowe's, on my bike of course, and attempted the return of the light. Without receipt nor packaging. I did not use the @#$%^ type language and had to deal with 3 different people to ultimately get it done. The biggest stretch was remembering what day I bought the light so they could check my card against their files which has to happen on a day by day basis. Luckily I hit it the first try, guess actually, and they didn't have any more lights in stock so they just gave me my money back which was fine with me as I want to build up an overvolt halogen system as described elsewhere on this forum instead.

The TF has a lifetime guarantee - and should have presented no problem on the return.

An added sidenote, you can give them (Lowes) your telephone number when they ring it up, and tie the receipt to that number. Thenceforth, no receipt will ever be needed for a return.

I have two of them hanging on the bottom of my bars, and love them. Next stop will be rechargeable batteries for them.

I could not find the TF @ my local Lowes so I tried the MiniMag Lite (http://www.bikeforums.net//showthread.php?t=488874). But the pictures in this thread convinced me that the TF was the way to go. I had to search 4 Lowes till I finally found them and got myself a pair:

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Ramdom%20Bike%20Stuff/TaskForce.jpg

The mounting is temporary, till I find something better:

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Ramdom%20Bike%20Stuff/BikeLights1.jpg

And now the tests!

MiniMag alone, flooding a few feet in front of the bike:
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Ramdom%20Bike%20Stuff/MiniMag-Alone.jpg

One TF alone:
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Ramdom%20Bike%20Stuff/MMand1TF.jpg

MiniMag & two TF:
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Ramdom%20Bike%20Stuff/MMand2TF.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Ramdom%20Bike%20Stuff/MMand2TFb.jpg

After reading this thread on and off and being a gadget loving guy, I decided I had to have one. Went to my local Lowes and picked up the 60X for under $25. All I can say is "WOW"! They had the 30X also at a reduced price of about $14.
This ain't your fathers flashlight, that's for sure.

I dunno if anybody else noticed but the 60x is about 1 1/8 " when you slide off the rubber sleeve. I took my old stem that came on my hard rock cut the fork mount part leaving the threaded side intact. Slid the light in and screwed the cut piece back in. Mounted the handlebar clamp on my bars and wahlah, light mount.

http://i544.photobucket.com/albums/hh345/xsmoker/bikelightmount2.jpg?t=1232337116

Has anyone tried this mount (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.21314) for the Lowe's light. The description for the mount says it holds up to 3cm in diameter. Is this about right for this light?
http://www1.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_21314_1.jpg

Wow! I bought one last night and used it this morning before sunrise. It was incredible. I have a cateye el-220 that I use on my road bike, and this really outshines that. I used the conduit clamp mount and it works very well so far. Its hot in the middle, but it also has a nice halo that works well for what I need. I usually ride on pitch-black bike trails and there isnt much better that I have found yet. It so happened that I passed someone else this morning and I couldnt even tell he had a light on until I looked at him. There was that much difference. Big thanks to the OP.

I picked up one of these lights and realized it needed a diffuser. My solution: the cap from a 32 oz. bottle of Gatorade G2. It's an opaque white plastic cap and it snaps over the top of the Task Force flashlight perfectly. There's a rubber gasket around the top of the light that helps hold the cap in place. I think it diffuses a bit too much so I'm playing around with cutting some grooves into the cap with a Dremel. The way I figure it I might as well experiment. Caps are gonna go into the recycle bin anyhow.

Nice find ... :thumb:

For a few bucks more ($37) you could get a Fenix E20 that uses AA's and doesn't blink when you shake it

Ok, I am now on number 3. I'm taking it back. I thought the light pattern was great, but I cant keep them working. I left for a ride yesterday at 4am and about an hour into it (and away from home) I was riding on dark paths in the middle of trees and the damn thing quit working.

I'm checking Fenix now. Thanks for the find, but I cant keep them going.

Mine haven't failed me once, in almost a year.

My only problem seems to be keeping my wife's hands off them....... and then spending time searching them out....

Thats good, but like I said, I cant keep them going. After 3 tries, I need something that isnt going to fail me like this. To add to it, I also tried swapping out batteries in the different cases.

I have just bought a TF at my Lowes and used it tonight for about an hour, so far I'd say this is a great light. How have you that mount it to your helmet made the attachment? Velcro is what I have been considering.