Wicked lasers "the torch" review

[Bounty]

This just arrived yesterday it took 2 months to arrive i am very surprised it arrived so quickly. For some reason i ordered an extra battery and bulb for it as well, so in the package i got the torch 2 batteries 2 bulbs and a charger. This is a pic of all the stuff.

Here it is next to Jayrobs maglite 2D 445nm blue laser kit ("torch" being on the right") as you can see the maglite looks far nicer and is much better made.

It doesnt have a normal charger instead theres 2 magnetic leads which connect to the pos, neg of the battery and charges occasionally emitting a clicking noise.

Maybe this is quite a common way for batteries to charge but not that ive ever come across. When i charge it i put it on bricks just incase.

Here are a couple of beam shots of how bright it is in the dark. 1st picture being no light second being the "torch". When i first ordered it i didnt know much about anything in this department really so i was really looking forward to it. Later after hearing how bad it is, i wanted it more out of curiosity and to laugh at. After about 30 seconds of it being turned on, the head of it gets burning hot. It heats up insanely quickly.

My son wanted me to burn his Jessie doll off of toy story so i did. Unfortunately it was made out of fire proof material so it didnt catch on fire, but you can see how much heat is produced just by all the smoke.

All round this is a funny devise to own if you want it just to laugh at and amuse your friends and family with occasionally, because it does live up to the promise of being extremely bright. It isnt cheap and you get about 5-10 mins of use out of each 1 hour battery charge. I got it on sale so im happy with it but it really isnt designed to be practical. Its a novelty item.:thanks:

 

[jayrob]

I just did some parts research to make a similar (probably better) build with a Maglite... (you could use a 3D host, or a 5D)

Not that I consider it to be a useful light, but it would be kind of cool to show, and it's an easy build! I will show a thread shortly. (waiting on some parts)

The key is the heatsinking and switch to handle the heat, and what battery supply to use. I'm thinking that it will be best to get this custom switch if still available: (I e-mailed him to check availability and he said to check back towards the end of July)
Mag D Incan Driver - Soft Start & Multi-Brightness

It has the heatsinking, ceramic socket, 3 modes, ready to go...

Then just use an aluminum reflector and a Borofloat glass lens to handle the heat. (52.1mm)

Since there is no room for a battery voltage monitor, then we need to go with protected 32650 cells.

You'll need this charger:
Ultrafire WF-188 Charger for 14500 / 17500 / 18500 / 18650 / RCR123 3.7 volt Lithium Battery Charger

I'm thinking a 5D host, with 4 X protected 32650's.

Osram 64623 bulb:
OSRAM SYLVANIA EVA 64623 HLX 100w 12v GY6.35 Bipin Halogen light Bulb (order extra bulbs since they are cheap)

Should be pretty good! (and easy to build yourself)

The Borofloat glass lens, and the bulbs are cheap, but the rest of the parts are not so cheap.

Estimated cost in parts - $150 for the build, and then about $100 bucks for the 4 X protected 32650's and the WF-188 charger...

The only thing is, I have not yet tested this project/build with the protected 32650 batteries for being able to handle the current needed. But I have built my 9 Amp Phlatlight builds, and these batteries work fine for those. (I'll know soon enough for this Mag 623 build though! )

From what I read, the Osram 64623 bulb will want around 10 Amps.

In the worst case, I know for sure that IMR 26650 batteries will easily handle the current. So all that would be needed, is a sleeve for the 26650's... (I have fiberglass material for a perfect sleeve if needed)

Actually, for a 3D host, you can fit 4 X IMR 26500's with a sleeve and tail cap mod!

 

[Bounty]

I have actually been eye balling your other maglite kit the flashlight mod. I want a flashlight that has a practical use and can actually been used out and about instead of burning paper and toys.

 

[jayrob]

Good deal...

It's a great build. I have 32650 batteries on hand, as well as an extra charger if you need them.

I'm getting good feedback on the light. Mostly from the boys over at Candle Power Forums. (them boys know lights too)

I have all the feedback all together here:
FS: 1000 Lumen XM-L T6 Maglite Mod With Voltage Monitor - Parts, or Complete Light!

 

[Bounty]

Wow, i saw some guys pics of it and it looks very nice. Your maglite kit seems as though it goes a lot further the beam is far more concentrated to a smaller divergence. The "torch" beam just goes out everywhere and is just bright for the sake of it.

 

[jayrob]

Well you really can't compare them because they are lights for two different purposes...

I built my 1000 lumen XM-L T6 build into a Maglite for a useful light that would have good run time, good heat management, and be pretty bright with 3 modes and a battery monitor option!

But the Torch from WL is just for showing that a flashlight can start a piece of paper on fire. The light is not really useful, because the run time is like only 10 minutes probably. And the heat is crazy...

 

[hoon]

I can certainly see practical use, being a person exploring in the woods a lot. There are many strange animal sounds, and using this occasionally to light up the woods could come in handy, especially if you have a jumpy girlfriend or scared kid with you.

 

[Bounty]

As long as it is for short bursts it would be ok for that. But after about 30 seconds the head becomes too hot to touch and the battery lasts about 5-10 mins. If i were to go hiking where i needed a flashlight i would definitely bring a maglite or something as well.

The torch would probably be good to scare off animals...possibly a few bears or something