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Infiltration Forums > Archived UE Tutorials, Lessons, and Useful Info > led torches (Viewed 1276 times)
aDeLtRiTuS 


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led torches
< on 1/8/2006 4:51 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
was wonderin if anyone has got one of those multi led torches?i was thinkin of getting one with 17 leds but was wondering do they go through batteries quick,are they a good investment?

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Re: led torches
<Reply # 1 on 1/8/2006 5:06 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I am not sure of the specific one you are talking about but most of my LED flashlights have between a 20-60 hour lifespan. Depending on how many LED's you have on. All the cavers I was with lived by them.

"If the threat level goes up its probably because of me." "I am looking for a girl who enjoys headbutting beltbuckles"
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Re: led torches
<Reply # 2 on 1/8/2006 7:49 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
In my opinion, D-cell Maglites are still the best torches you can buy. The LED torches I've seen have good battery life, but they don't have the narrow, penetrating beam of the Maglite. I believe there are some LED torches which do perform well, but I'm doubtful that they will match the Maglite's ruggedness and availability of spare parts. A 2-D Maglite gives 12-14 hours battery life with good batteries. I love them. You can use them as truncheons, too.

Chris

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Re: led torches
<Reply # 3 on 1/8/2006 8:07 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I bought a heavy duty 7LED torch and in my room it was so bright I couldn't look into it. However, when I got down a drain with it for it's try out, well lets just say the last poster was dead on about them not having a focused penetrating beam. The sheer blackness of the drain just swallowed up the light. I mean don't get me wrong I could still see, just not more then about fifteen feet in front of me. I would get the light if you want it cause it will be good in it's element. I have about half a dozen lights in both kinds and various sizes ( my roommate says I have a flashlight fetish).

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Re: led torches
<Reply # 4 on 1/8/2006 8:08 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I have a Dorcy 3 D 1 watt Luxeon, and with it's reflector it can easily do 100 feet, great life, doesn't need spare parts unless you loose something, bulb lasts practically forever, and I bet in a pinch you could club someone, or even yet blind them with how bright this light is (brighter than a mag that's for sure).

Don't get multi-led lights if you're looking for distance, get a luxeon with a very deep reflector.
[last edit 1/8/2006 8:10 PM by pyro - edited 1 times]

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Re: led torches
<Reply # 5 on 1/8/2006 8:25 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Maglight bodies are tough, sure, but the bulbs aren't. It doesn't amtter if you can break down a concrete wall with your light if it doesn't produce light. However, if you pop an LED bulb in your maglight, problem solved. Except that Maglights weigh a ton. My Maglight, that is currently serving duty as a paperweight, weighs more than my bag with ALL of my other gear put together, no joke.

I'm a big fan of Princeton Tec's LED lights. The Yukon HL headlamp and Impact XL dive light have both held up to rigorous testing. (IE: I beat the crap out of them.) I took a face-first fall onto brick wearing my Yukon HL headlamp. The light got a scratch the size of the top of a pencil eraser, I got a concussion and serious neck injury. The battery life is amazing as well. A friend borrowed the Impact XL for at least a month and returned it witht he original batteries still functioning perfectly. Both lights use a Luxeon 1 watt LED, which is comparable to many incandescent bulbs. The Yukon also features three 5mm LEDs, for close range and battery conservation.


[last edit 1/8/2006 8:28 PM by Random - edited 1 times]

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Re: led torches
<Reply # 6 on 1/8/2006 10:30 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I heard a rumor that this funny shaped button will help you find about 20 previous threads on LED reccomendations.



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Re: led torches
<Reply # 7 on 1/8/2006 11:46 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
got a petzl myo5 LED head torch and its sh!t hot also for back up have a e-bay special 21 LED torch, runs of 3x AAA batteries seams pretty good though I don't think I would trust my life to it (£0.01 on e-bay) use a 3D Maglite for light painting looking deep into the darkness!


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Re: led torches
<Reply # 8 on 1/9/2006 12:04 AM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
Posted by aDeLtRiTuS
was wonderin if anyone has got one of those multi led torches?i was thinkin of getting one with 17 leds but was wondering do they go through batteries quick,are they a good investment?


Past a certain point (5-7 of the standard 5mm LEDs), you're much better off getting a light with a 1-watt or 3-watt Luxeon LED. Luxeons are whiter, brighter, and more durable than 5mm LEDs or regular incandescant bulbs. A Luxeon LED in a reflector will give a beam similar to an incandescant bulb, but with far fewer "artifacts" or dark spots in the beam, and with better battery life.

The Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA is an excellent 1-watt Luxeon flashlight, and can be found for US$25 or less if you shop around online.



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Re: led torches
<Reply # 9 on 1/9/2006 12:22 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by tick
A Luxeon LED in a reflector will give a beam similar to an incandescant bulb, but with far fewer "artifacts" or dark spots in the beam, and with better battery life.


The artifacts are produced mainly if not completely by the reflector and how well the led is positioned in the reflector.

Posted by tick
The Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA is an excellent 1-watt Luxeon flashlight, and can be found for US$25 or less if you shop around online.


I wanted to get this light aswell but after one site quoted me shipping that came out to cost as much as the light did I forgot about it, this could also be a problem for our Aussie friend here.

"[emo kids] are like homeless people with thier hand out only its pitty they want and not money." -boutdatlonestar
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Re: led torches
<Reply # 10 on 1/9/2006 3:32 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by inventor
In my opinion, D-cell Maglites are still the best torches you can buy. The LED torches I've seen have good battery life, but they don't have the narrow, penetrating beam of the Maglite. I believe there are some LED torches which do perform well, but I'm doubtful that they will match the Maglite's ruggedness and availability of spare parts. A 2-D Maglite gives 12-14 hours battery life with good batteries. I love them. You can use them as truncheons, too.

Chris


You obviously dont know much about LED lights, or just how fragile the button and bulb can be do you?

"If the threat level goes up its probably because of me." "I am looking for a girl who enjoys headbutting beltbuckles"
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Re: led torches
<Reply # 11 on 1/9/2006 6:57 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Mark
You obviously dont know much about LED lights, or just how fragile the button and bulb can be do you?


I bought a Maglite two years ago. I've dropped in a few times, got it wet, and been through at least ten sets of batteries. It's still on the original krypton bulb. People say they're fragile, but it my opinion they're fine and pretty bright, too. Maglites are also one of the few torches which carry a spare bulb.

Chris



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Re: led torches
<Reply # 12 on 1/10/2006 1:03 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Just because a mag is ridiculously tough doesn't make up for it's piss poor battery life and crappy beam. Even though they have 10 hour battery life most of that life is spent in less than 50% brightness unlike regulated led lights which spend most of their life much above 50% brightness. And led lights don't need spare bulbs. Ever. After a couple explorations the led lights pay for themselves from battery costs (atleast mine that is).

"[emo kids] are like homeless people with thier hand out only its pitty they want and not money." -boutdatlonestar
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Re: led torches
<Reply # 13 on 1/10/2006 6:32 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by inventor


I bought a Maglite two years ago. I've dropped in a few times, got it wet, and been through at least ten sets of batteries. It's still on the original krypton bulb. People say they're fragile, but it my opinion they're fine and pretty bright, too. Maglites are also one of the few torches which carry a spare bulb.

Chris




The outer shell is very durable, but the lense and switches generally dont withstand extremes as well as you think. My family has had maglights for well over 20 years. The fire department used then predominantly when they were the best. Now there are lights that absolutely put the maglight to shame for nearly the same price.

LED bulbs dont break, can be just as bright or brighter.

Lets look at people who use lights in extreme eniroments now. Military, police, cavers, divers etc.

Right now the predominate lights you see are surfire, streamlight and a few other name brands. Maglight is still robust but there old faithful cant top the fantastic advancements we see now.

"If the threat level goes up its probably because of me." "I am looking for a girl who enjoys headbutting beltbuckles"
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Re: led torches
<Reply # 14 on 1/10/2006 2:54 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by pyro2525
Just because a mag is ridiculously tough doesn't make up for it's piss poor battery life and crappy beam.


That is a gross exaggeration. The beam is good. The battery life is not as good as an LED torch will give, but it's still pretty good for a torch with an incandescent bulb.

Chris

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Re: led torches
<Reply # 15 on 1/10/2006 3:05 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Mark
The outer shell is very durable, but the lense and switches generally dont withstand extremes as well as you think. My family has had maglights for well over 20 years. The fire department used then predominantly when they were the best. Now there are lights that absolutely put the maglight to shame for nearly the same price.

LED bulbs dont break, can be just as bright or brighter.

Lets look at people who use lights in extreme eniroments now. Military, police, cavers, divers etc.

Right now the predominate lights you see are surfire, streamlight and a few other name brands. Maglight is still robust but there old faithful cant top the fantastic advancements we see now.


I'd lay money on me still having my Maglite long after other people's LED torches have broken. When I looked at LED torches with a similar lumen brightness to the Maglite (about 6 months ago), the LED itself cost about the same as a 2-D Maglite, and the complete unit about twice as much. I was also discouraged by the fact the the manufacturers of the LED torches didn't offer the comprehensive range of spare parts available for the Maglite.

Which you choose will depend on your priorities. If you want the ultimate battery life, a compact torch and the latest technology, go with the LED. If you want an ultra-rugged torch with good availability of spares and a tight beam, go with the Maglite.

The security personnel I know still use Maglites.

Chris

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Re: led torches
<Reply # 16 on 1/10/2006 5:15 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Nikita
However, when I got down a drain with it for it's try out, well lets just say the last poster was dead on about them not having a focused penetrating beam. The sheer blackness of the drain just swallowed up the light. ( my roommate says I have a flashlight fetish).


Nikita, I would agree that LED lights, especially ones using multiple Nichia or older generation LEDs in a group configuration provide a spread that is just too wide and too low-penetration for drains. I have even tried a focused white 1W Luxeon (3xAAA powered) but was not impressed. I'm still talking about drains. On the other hand I do like the 2x red LED headlamp from Rayovac for walking long periods when there is nothing of interest, and then blasting the area with a 1,000,000 candlepower quartz halogen rechargeable for viewing 100s of feet down stream and around the next corner. There's just nothing like the warm incandescent glow of something that peels of righteous amounts of heat... or maybe it's just a psychological warm fuzzy feeling. Or maybe there is something to the color temperature of the "cool" (slightly bluish) LEDs that seems to get absorbed in the surrounding walls.

Until I get my 4W LED light I would have to conclude that LEDs in general are still not 100% adequate for light-robbing drain interiors or large industrial rooms. But then I rely on several lights and several accompanying travelers to help out.

I think the fundamental problem is that high-tech flashlights, even so-called "tactical" ones, were not really designed to turn a decades-grown algae and rust interior into a photographic studio. They are instead meant as highly portable, short-range emergency tools. Whereas our (UE) application is one of long-term (multi-hour) duration, wide swath beams where possible, safety lighting that includes providing ancillary light for several people at a time, and camera friendly illumination.

Keeping relative serious application in mind (vs. some home-handyman who needs a little flashlight for fixing a leak under kitchen sink), I would also seriously look into diving lamps (yes they are also multi-LED now), or commune with cavers to see what they are into these days. If anything, rock faces and huge cavernous rooms absorb light like no other. They may be a little ahead of us in researching ideal lighting solutions.

Here's a good flashlight review site:
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/

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Re: led torches
<Reply # 17 on 1/11/2006 1:59 AM >
Posted on Forum:
 
nice, given I'm a total gadget whore only fitting my first post on wraith is about some sort of toy

I've always had a mild obsession with flashlights and have owned the full gamut from those craptacular tin tubes with the slidy plastic switch right up to my current favorite the very trick Streamlight line. While I'm still for all intensive purposes a UE virgin (have only hit sites without fences, locked doors, etc) I have other interests that require reliable and duty centric lighting.

I typically carry two different lights, a 2D twintask (you can select between LED or xenon) which I use for general use and a red LED stylus which is handy for reading maps, messing around with gear or cameras without impacting night vision.

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aDeLtRiTuS 


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Re: led torches
<Reply # 18 on 1/13/2006 5:26 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
cool thanks for the info people.i will be getting a led torch or head lamp.

there is no such thing as death,life is just a dream reflected in the eyes of someone that is truley aware of time
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Re: led torches
<Reply # 19 on 1/13/2006 5:49 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
i think the ideal light is the one that you don't have to carry around spares for.

Infiltration Forums > Archived UE Tutorials, Lessons, and Useful Info > led torches (Viewed 1276 times)
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