Giveaway Thread (general info)

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OMG! I won! What a delight.

Thanks again, Doc, for hosting these giveaways. As I mentioned in another thread, I am in the market for a neutral-white Zebralight, so this win is serendipitous. What luck to have won a flashlight that was on my short list to purchase! I will happily post a review here after a short testing period.

Many thanks. PM is on the way.

P.S. Totally agree about Lilly. No pun intended, I was shocked when I saw her recommend placing a rechargeable 18650 in series with a primary CR123A. Glad you enjoyed my laconic, “I’m not going to try that.”
 
"I will happily post a review here after a short testing period."


There are a lot of reviews out there from people that like getting Free Flashlights, and want to receive more if they give a good review.

Certainly Not all of them, but they are very easy to spot on you-tube.

You have received your light from an alternate channel - Please don't abuse it (just use it normally), and tell us what you really think, and pull no punches! - Please tell us what you like and don't like.

Thank you, and Thanks to you, Doc!
-Chuck
 
chuckhov said:
You have received your light from an alternate channel...snip...tell us what you really think, and pull no punches! - Please tell us what you like and don't like.
Click to expand...

I agree. So many reviews focus on the good stuff, and downplay the bad (I am guilty of this to an extent - I find bias easier to avoid in theory than in practice). Yet the perceived disadvantages of a light are often the most critical data to have when making a decision to purchase. Even if I don't share the reviewer's opinions about a particular feature (this occurs often), it gives me a better idea of what to expect. There is no obligation owed to anyone, in this case, so I'm hoping for the unvarnished version.
 
I do point out the bad sides in my reviews, but end on the positive notes and what the light is good for. I'm definitely biased to reporting the positives of a light, but so far that's more because I overall like all of the lights I've reviewed in spite of any issues (i.e. the good outweighs the bad). I think my overall approach is unbiased as to whether or not I will like the light, but once I decide I like it, I rationalise away the bad.

Now that you've made me actively aware of it, I'll try and focus a bit more on flaws too.
 
chuckhov said:
You have received your light from an alternate channel - Please don't abuse it (just use it normally), and tell us what you really think, and pull no punches! - Please tell us what you like and don't like.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I gotta remember, I am happy to post a review, not I am posting a "happy" review!

thedoc007 said:
There is no obligation owed to anyone, in this case, so I'm hoping for the unvarnished version.
Click to expand...

And that is what I will strive to give you.

The best reviewers detail objectively what their experience with a product has been. Instead of saying, for instance, "I hate this flashlight because it uses PWM," they simply measure and describe the PWM they find. Opinions and judgements also have their place in a review, but often they are better segregated from the objective parts.

Thanks, again.
 
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KeepingItLight said:
The best reviewers detail objectively what their experience with a product has been. Instead of saying, for instance, "I hate this flashlight because it uses PWM," they simply measure and describe the PWM they find. Opinions and judgements also have their place in a review, but often they are better segregated from the objective parts.
Click to expand...

Heh, as I was reading the last couple posts, I was realizing how poorly I conveyed my actual view.

There are plenty of "fluff" reviews, as Chuck mentioned. Many of those are little better than just reading the manufacturer press release. I basically disregard those.

There are other, truly expert reviewers. selfbuilt is the most obvious and well-known example, at least here on CPF, but there are many others. Certainly to get the objective data, they are unmatched. What I was trying to get at earlier, though, is that even those sometimes understate potential issues. They can tell you, for example, that there is a two-second delay before modes are memorized on a given light. But what this means for actual use is not really clear from that sterile analysis. (This exact issue was with the Klarus RS20, still one of my least favorite lights of all time. I didn't just find it to be a minor issue, to be dealt with by training...it was EXTREMELY annoying EVERY time I used the light, and I was happy to see it go when I finally got rid of it.) So I guess my point is that real-world and subjective reports (while not a substitute for expert, detailed reviews) are still very useful, and can give you practical information that a desktop review will not.

No one should take any of this as criticism...variety is wonderful! As long as a reviewer isn't deliberately concealing faults, he or she is making a worthwhile contribution. Everyone will have a different style, and that is a good thing.
 
Do lithium 18650 batteries tend to hold their charge less in cold weather? This is my first winter using these type of batteries.
 
Quick small giveaway: Pair of Efest v2 18500 IMR button top batteries.

Only one has been charged up (once) but not used as it was too long for intended flashlight, the other is untouched altogether.

US shipping only. First one to post they want them gets them. :)
 
moshow9 said:
Quick small giveaway: Pair of Efest v2 18500 IMR button top batteries.

Only one has been charged up (once) but not used as it was too long for intended flashlight, the other is untouched altogether.

US shipping only. First one to post they want them gets them. :)
Click to expand...
+1 ☺
 
bdogps said:
Do lithium 18650 batteries tend to hold their charge less in cold weather? This is my first winter using these type of batteries.
Click to expand...

If anything, they should hold a charge slightly BETTER when stored cold. Cold slows down the chemical reactions that occur, especially with a cell at full charge.

For the same reason, their performance will suffer a bit until they get warm in use. It is harder for a cell to deliver high current when cold.

Both of these effects are fairly subtle, though, unless you are talking about pretty low temps. Lithium-ion are not as tolerant of extreme cold and heat as lithium primaries...but in most environments, they do just fine. They only really important thing to remember is that it is a VERY bad idea to CHARGE a cell that is below freezing. Discharging it is OK, but charging a cell that is too cold leads to permanent damage.

From Battery University:

"Many battery users are unaware that consumer-grade lithium-ion batteries cannot be charged below 0°C (32°F). Although the pack appears to be charging normally, plating of metallic lithium can occur on the anode during a subfreezing charge. The plating is permanent and cannot be removed with cycling. Batteries with lithium plating are known to be more vulnerable to failure if exposed to vibration or other stressful conditions."
 
Hey Doc!

Just wanted to let you know how Much I am Enjoying the Tank 007 E09 that I 'won'.

This little thing felt like a big light to my eyes, as it has some Throw.

Just the other day I was ordering some batteries from Mountain Electronics and decided to take a walk on the wild side, and ordered my first 10440.

Not quite double or triple the light, as I'm sure that it may be with some. but if 100lm with eneloop, then maybe 175lm now?

Whatever - It has that Big Light feel to my eye, and I just wanted you to know how much I am enjoying it.

Thanks Again, Doc!
-Chuck
 
I don't mean to turn this into a security thread but there is a zero day Flash Player exploit that was make widely known over the weekend and is now being used in widely available hacking kits on the internet. If you use the FP it would be a good idea to make sure it is up-to-date. You can read more about it here if interested.
 
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