http://www.britishblades.com/forums/ A place to discuss all that geeky gear we all love, from torches to trasers. en Thu, 23 May 2013 11:41:32 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.britishblades.com/forums/images/styles/HighlightOrange/misc/rss.png http://www.britishblades.com/forums/ http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167210-TRAYVAX-Wallet-For-Life&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 21:34:12 GMT Thought some of you folk might like this from kickstarter........


http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...allet-for-life


Looks like a pretty cool design and thought i'd share it :)

And yes..... i'm in :rolleyes::lol: ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... neill116 http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167210-TRAYVAX-Wallet-For-Life http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167191-Sub-£50-pocket-torch&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 14:58:03 GMT As per title. Suggestions please! As per title. Suggestions please! ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... award95 http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167191-Sub-£50-pocket-torch http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167165-Armytek-Predator-v2-5-Predator-Pro-v2-5&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 00:54:20 GMT Hello guys! New Armytek flashlights is here.. Preadator v2.5 and Predator Pro v2.5, Predator and Predator Pro were supplied by Armytek for review: www.armytek.com (http://www.armytek.com/) more info, *Predator v2.5... Hello guys!

New Armytek flashlights is here.. Preadator v2.5 and Predator Pro v2.5,

Predator and Predator Pro were supplied by Armytek for review: www.armytek.com

more info,
Predator v2.5
Predator Pro v2.5

My impressions,


Pros
+ excellent build quality, looks very durable
+ the best hard anodizing what I have seen + the color is very nice matte black
+ clean, dust free reflector, lens
+ perfectly centered led
+ good lubricated o-rings (Nyogel 760G) and smooth threads
+ double o-rings
+ nice white tint color (5500K)
+ no buzzing sound, no visible flickering all modes perfect (except the second lowest mode)
+ removable tactical ring (material: rubber)
+ working with all batteries, long (18700) or flat top unprotected cells without problem (I tried, Keeppower 18650 3400mAh, XTAR 18700 2600mAh and Sanyo, Panasonic unprotected cells)
+ optional accessories: filters, remote switch
+ available with warm/neutral tint
+ black, silver, gold bezels with very durable coating
+ good quality, strong holster
+ Pro version is fully programmable (awesome feature!)

Cons
- a very small thing the second lowest mode (Pro version) has visible flickering


Other
If you don't understand Pro version UI, pls look at this,
link (thanks to subwoofer)

now, the pictures, don't worry, this is the beginning, more pictures coming soon, incl beamshot!



































]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... Data_HU http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167165-Armytek-Predator-v2-5-Predator-Pro-v2-5 http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167158-Best-cheap-keyring-sized-(aa-aaa)-torch&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 20:03:29 GMT I am putting together a micro toolkit, something that can live in my main toolbox as it will contain some tools I only own one of, but packed as a quick grab kit that I can take for emergencies (I very often help out elderly neighbours with bulbs/fuses etc) or on holiday. It will likely be belt... I am putting together a micro toolkit, something that can live in my main toolbox as it will contain some tools I only own one of, but packed as a quick grab kit that I can take for emergencies (I very often help out elderly neighbours with bulbs/fuses etc) or on holiday. It will likely be belt pouch "ish" sized. As part of this I want a small torch of around keyring/edc size.
Currently on my actual keyring is a Nitecore EZAA, superb torch and probably one of the best gadgets I have bought and used almost daily. However while worth every penny in my book, EZAA's are not cheap and since this kit will not be seeing a huge amount of use (if I have my whole toolbox then I have a large LED work lamp in there) I don't want to be spending a fortune. So criteria are:

Cheap!
Runs on either AA or AAA so I can use my existing Eneloops. (Ideally 1 battery but I could stretch to 2xAAA's)
Bright as possible. Not fussed about having "modes", a simple on/off would be great, high/low a luxury.
Battery life not really a concern, it will not be used for long periods and I can always carry a spare battery as part of the kit.
Not fussed about twisty/clicky etc.
Don't care about looks either.
Lightweight and compact would be good but I realise these also cost more.
Metal body would be nice for strength but I can live with plastic if the price and the brightness are right.


Not too difficult I hope :D ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... caskwith http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167158-Best-cheap-keyring-sized-(aa-aaa)-torch http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167149-Agent-The-World-s-Smartest-Watch-!&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 17:46:26 GMT Another Smart watch in the making. Might be a serious contender for The Pebble ? Click Me (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/secretlabs/agent-the-worlds-smartest-watch) Cheers Mark Another Smart watch in the making. Might be a serious contender for The Pebble ?

Click Me

Cheers

Mark ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... Marcus http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167149-Agent-The-World-s-Smartest-Watch-! http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167121-Maglite-Mod-Mk2&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 08:47:34 GMT Well as I've finished my exams now I can post the build log of my latest Maglite Mod :)

After watching me plan and organize my last mod, one of my house mates asked me if I could mod a Maglite for him. Of course I jumped at the chance to do some more modding (but it would cost him some cider ;) )
At the time I was also reading a few threads over at CPF and low current Beacon lights or Lamp lighters had caught my attention, and this got me thinking. The most annoying thing in the dark is... not being able to find your torch. So I decided that I would add something a little special to this mod.

My flat mate brought a 4 D cell Maglite and I found a neat little mod over at Budget Light Forums to do with 12V lamp fixtures so I thought we'd give that a go.

We then set about purchasing all the necessary parts for this mod.
-Glass lens
-Some connectors
-MR16 3x3W LED Spot Lamp

Now let the modding begin.

This is the original Lamp, it fits within the Mag head so no modding is required to get it to fit.


As the lamp was 12v and the LED's were in series I needed to cut the connections between then and solder them in parallel so I could supply them with ~4V


Once the connectors were soldered on it was only a matter of dropping the lamp in.

So were all done now then? Not quite! Earlier I was talking about the low current beacon LED's. Well these are going to be incorporated into the head of the Maglite.
To do this I firstly needed to make a constant current circuit like the one found here.
It was now time for some serious modding.


This was my first circuit.


Not the greatest but it worked.



So I covered it in hotglue to stop things falling off or shorting circuit, and cut it out.


But unfortunatly it was too large for my plans, so I needed to make a smaller version. I used all SMD components and the resistors were 33K ohm and 100k ohm respectively. This means the 3mm Reds get about 20ma giving a total run time of 9ish days.


This was now perfect. Time to mod the switch. From this,

To this,



The constant current circuit has no switch and connect directly to the batteries meaning its always on, which is what we wanted so we could find it in the dark.
If its in storage its as simple as loosening the tail cap ever so slightly to turn them off.

At first I wasn't sure as to where to put the 3mm Red LED's in the head but fortunately the holes, from where the screws holding the socket on, were the perfect size. So I hot glued them in and soldered them in parallel.


Connecting everything up and hay presto it all works :D
As the lamp now only needs ~4V the Maglite is running of 3 D cells (rechargeable or alkaline) with a spacer to fill the rest.
This is what it looks like from the front in the dark.


And some beam-shots.
Control shot

Standard 4D Maglite

3x3w Maglite

Not much more throw but a lot more floody and smoother beam pattern. All were taken at ISO 100, 1.6sec at f/4.5

I think i've covered everything but feel free to ask any questions I'm more than happy to answer.

Thanks for looking! ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... pyro1son http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167121-Maglite-Mod-Mk2 http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167118-Foursevens-Preon-Penlight-(2*AAA-XP-G2)&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 07:46:34 GMT Hello guys, Preon Penlight arrived few weeks ago, here is my pictures and impressions *Pros* + good build quality + nice black anodizing + smooth threads + stainless steel bezel Hello guys,

Preon Penlight arrived few weeks ago, here is my pictures and impressions

Pros

+ good build quality
+ nice black anodizing
+ smooth threads
+ stainless steel bezel
+ good lubricated o-rings
+ clean reflector, lens, perfectly centered led
+ nice white tint color
+ very usable beam, huge hotspot
+ the most important for me: not visible pwm or other irritating flickering, all modes are perfect, no buzzing sound
+ good regulation with NiMH batteries
+ came with 2pcs duracell AAA batteries (date code: 2019/03)
+ available four colors
+ 10 years warranty

Cons

- nothing significant, the price is little high and a neutral/high cri version would be better

Other

Preon Penlight equal Olight O'PEN. Olight price is more favorable.

click images, if you need higher res



































]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... Data_HU http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167118-Foursevens-Preon-Penlight-(2*AAA-XP-G2) http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167096-Mini-maglite&goto=newpost Mon, 20 May 2013 19:01:03 GMT How many people still use their mini- maglites?
I've been thinking about replacing mine but they all still work. ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... award95 http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167096-Mini-maglite http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167090-Replacement-Clip-for-ITP-EOS-A3&goto=newpost Mon, 20 May 2013 17:43:32 GMT Hi Folks,

Help! The pocket clip on my ITP EOS A3 has finally caught on something and broken :(. Can anybody advise of a source of replacements please? Looks as though the UK stockists have all sold out of the black torches.

If I can't replace the clip I might have to look for a replacement torch. What is the best alternative to the ITP in a single AAA torch at the moment please?

Cheers

Dave ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... Niloticus1 http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167090-Replacement-Clip-for-ITP-EOS-A3 http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167069-Life-is-Precious&goto=newpost Mon, 20 May 2013 08:38:37 GMT Seen this cool survival kit over on Everydaycarry UK and thought some of you would like to see it...Life is Precious (http://fortstandard.com/life-is-precious) Seen this cool survival kit over on Everydaycarry UK and thought some of you would like to see it...Life is Precious ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... Dr Gonzo http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167069-Life-is-Precious http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166944-rechargeable-D-type-batteries-NiMH&goto=newpost Thu, 16 May 2013 20:32:20 GMT Anyone know where I can get some high capacity D cell NiMH batteries? In the USA there is a brand called Tenergy which do 8000 and 10,000mAh versions, and I have found Ansmann in this country but they are over £10 each! 10000mAh Ansmann:... Anyone know where I can get some high capacity D cell NiMH batteries? In the USA there is a brand called Tenergy which do 8000 and 10,000mAh versions, and I have found Ansmann in this country but they are over £10 each!

10000mAh Ansmann:
http://www.battery-force.co.uk/detai...Pack-of-2.html

8500mAh Ansmann LSD:
http://www.thetorchsite.co.uk/Ansman...d_battery.html ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... spaceboy http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166944-rechargeable-D-type-batteries-NiMH http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166925-Nitecore-EA4-That-s-it-!&goto=newpost Thu, 16 May 2013 15:54:13 GMT I know a lot of you guys collect torches and have loads of them.
I have a few.......but since I got my EA4... a few months ago...I've concluded....that's it !
I don't need another torch..............
Re chargeable AAs slips in my pocket..........low level when you need it .....and superpowerful when you need that.

I have a few others.....from single AAAs to double AAs.......I lose the small ones ...........but the EA4 is a bit big for me to lose.

That's it !.......I may have found my perfect torch :)

barry:) ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... beachcaster http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166925-Nitecore-EA4-That-s-it-! http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166902-After-a-bit-of-watch-advice-please-(Suunto-and-Traser)&goto=newpost Thu, 16 May 2013 11:03:13 GMT Hello all,

I'm just after a bit of help from the hive mind regarding an upcoming purchase. I'm not much of a 'watch guy' so any advice from those in the know would be greatly appreciated!

Well, my trusty Suunto vector has been been with me through thick and thin for over 6 years now, although its age is certainly showing...



...the bevel markings have almost completely worn away and there are innumerable scratches and dings all over the case and the crystal. I absolutely love it, but unfortunately the missus doesn't when she has to be seen in public with me :( To be fair the design is also seeming a bit dated to me now when I see all the nice little improvements they have made in the Suunto Core. The final push for me was the upper strap bar screw disappearing on me last week...I am definitely repairing the strap but my Vector will now be retiring to back-up use after a pretty decent innings.

So I'm in need of a new 'go anywhere' beater. Here is the dilemma...

I'm inclined just to stick with Suunto and go for the Core:



My Vector took all the abuse I threw at it, was comfortable and I also enjoyed all the bells and whistles features typical of an ABC watch. The more I researched the Core though, the more I read about technical issues and most of all 'water proof' issues. I was actually shocked to read that my Vector shouldn't have been taken underwater and certainly shouldn't have its buttons pushed when submerged (I have no idea how mine survived its many dunks in the sea!). Despite the Core being 30m water resistant I'm reading more and more that 200m is the minimum needed for reliability in the water. Is this right?

So as I read on I found myself being led more and more to analogue watches...less to go wrong right? I like my alarms, world time zones, altitude reading, compass etc. but I don't NEED them in my watch really. These are only ever a back-up for me. Durability (both in and out of water) is my main need. Keeping in a similar price range and appearance to the Suunto Core, I seem to be leaning towards the Traser P6600 Elite Red:



The only reason I'm thinking Elite Red over the standard P6600 is that in the reviews I've seen the crystal doesn't stand as proud of the bevel on the Elite Red as it does in the standard P6600, which hopefully would mean less chance of scratches/smashes, maybe? Is this watch as tough as it's supposed to be? It's water proof rating certainly blows the Suunto Core out of the water and fits into the 200m category.

So I suppose my question is, which is likely to serve me better as my new beater? I can live without the ABC features. As nice as they are, date and time are the only must haves for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the extra features of the Suunto, I just wonder if I'm compromising anything by having them? The water resistance is certainly streets ahead on the Traser. Is that big vulnerable window likely to get smashed easily on the traser though? I've whacked my Vector against rock when climbing and all it did was take out a little chip.

Does anyone have experience with either of these or even better - both? Other recommendations are welcome too. Wanting to spend £180 - £300 keeping the looks nice and plain like these two.

Cheers for now!

Uke. ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... Uke http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166902-After-a-bit-of-watch-advice-please-(Suunto-and-Traser) http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166781-Zebralight-SC51-Destruction-Test&goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 20:15:20 GMT A while back I gifted my SC51 to a close friend. Unfortunately a few weeks ago the battery inside it burst and out leaked the type of acidic nastiness which usually means the end is nigh. So my friend returned it to me on the chance that some Bullseye tlc might be able to get it working again. No... A while back I gifted my SC51 to a close friend. Unfortunately a few weeks ago the battery inside it burst and out leaked the type of acidic nastiness which usually means the end is nigh. So my friend returned it to me on the chance that some Bullseye tlc might be able to get it working again. No such luck, oh woe. It's totally brown bread.

The good news is I then sold my SC80 to my friend and ordered me up an SC52. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that. The SC80's dual fuel adaptor insert is a stroke of design genius, yet I actually ended up preferring the SC51 and wishing that I still had it. So the opportunity to sell the SC80 on and get my paws on the upgraded incarnation of the SC51 was simply too good to miss. I'm sure most of us are accustomed to similar buying, gifting, selling and upgrading cycles with various bits of our kit. It's all part of the fun. :)

Anyhoo. Time to cut to the chase, lumens lovers. I couldn't bring myself to just bin the SC51. That would be way too easy and boring. Wasteful, even. I decided to donate if to furthering the boundaries of Jamie science, which roughly translates as we're gonna batter the bejesus out of it for curiosity and giggles and then bin it.

Here's the puppy in question:



The eagle eyed amongst you will notice that I've stripped it of its pocket clip. I'll be glad of having a spare around when my SC52 arrives. Those pocket clips are way too sexy and practical to mutilate even in the name of curiosity and giggles.

First up I'm going to test its IPX8 rating. The SC51 is supposed to survive attempted drowning at a depth of 2 metres for 30 minutes. So I'll dunk it in the sea at a depth of precisely 2 metres for exactly 30 minutes. And we'll see if it does what it says on the tin. :snorkel Thereafter I might just leave it a depth of approximately 4 metres overnight. We'll see.

Next we'll get medieval on its tail cap with some pliers and a blow torch! :evilgrin3 Or perhaps we won't. The medieval part is an inevitable consequence of a destruction test, but I'm open to suggestions from my fellow BBers as to exactly what and how we'll set about it with.

I'd like to see what it takes to break the lens glass. It seems pretty tough if tapping it with my fingernail is anything to go by. Has anyone got any good ideas or special requests for that wee mission?

As yet I'm not too sure about breaking/destruction testing the switch, so again I'm open to suggestions from minds more medieval than my own. Suffice to say I don't have the time to press it 200 000 times to see if that claim does what it says on the tin, but I'm sure we can come up with something sufficiently fruity.

Finally, how about we test the structural integrity of the aircraft grade aluminium body? Dropping a honking great big rock on it from a height would be fairly straightforward, but we should perhaps strive for a somewhat more imaginative coup de grace than that. A little bit of finesse goes a long way after all, even in a destruction test.

So don't be shy, lads. I'm gonna break it and you're welcome to join in. ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... Bullseye http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166781-Zebralight-SC51-Destruction-Test http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166774-otumm-watches-any-feedback&goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 17:40:50 GMT iv just stumbled upon this http://store.otumm.com/product/sprg53-002/ and think its really REALLY nice. theyv'e got a gold one in the same style for 199euro aswell. seem well priced but not heard of them, are they any good? ]]> Brights, Gadgets and Gear... fromthearth http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166774-otumm-watches-any-feedback