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UER Mobile > UE Tutorials, Lessons, and Useful Info > Low output lighting sources (Viewed 3746 times)

post by DarkAngel

Low output lighting sources
< on 3/1/2016 2:11 AM >

Hey guys,

It's been a while since I've started any threads or been on here but I did have a topic I wanted to discuss. Namely, low output long endurance light sources.

Yeah, there are the usual glowsticks and the like, but they aren't always the perfect example for use. Also, I'm a bit of a flashlight whore since I deal with the dark a lot. Photos of the lights (off google) at the bottom of the post.

1) In terms of utility, I have to say the first one on my list would be the Surefire HL series. They make them for the military but you can pick them up at a pawn or surplus shop for around $50 if you are in the US. The colors vary, but they have the same main 3 LED light and 2 LED lights built into the same unit. Most of the military ones are a tan body with 3 white and 2 blue LED's that have low/med/high settings, as well as an IR strobe.

Tape over the strobe btw. Can hurt your eyes in the long term if you accidentally leave it on.

Then I just bought a hat mount from Tangodown and I have a great lightweight light that uses CR123 batteries with a couple hundred hour life.

2) Lazerbrites. Another military light that runs ~$25 new ish. They come in pretty much any LED colors you can think of and run off the usual CR2032 lithium cells that you can get 10x for $5. The lights are 2 LED units that unscrew from a diffuser tube. They make all sorts of attachments for them as well, but I just keep some "safety orange" paracord looped through the lights so I can hang them.

About the size of the supersize chem lights.

3. Krill Lights. The size and output of a glow stick with 25 hour run time on a AA battery. I love these things. $10 or so each if you shop around.

4. Glo-Toobs. I've heard a lot of great things about these from the diving community. They are spending but damn near indestructible as they are the LED unit in an acrylic filled tube with a battery cap. About the size of the battery they run on (they do AAA to CR123) and bright as hell. I haven't had a chance to buy one for review yet.

5. Glow in the dark/reflective paracord. Not a lighting source, but if you are needing to mark a way out or anything else, this is a great way to do it. Super lightweight, reusable, and (if you get milspec stuff) ~500# test. $11 for 100' on Amazon. You never know when some good rope can save your butt. I usually keep 100' of paracord and 100' of electrician's mule tape (electrical tape with 1200# test) in a dump pouch, just in case. Worst case, I can still tie stuff with it.

[last edit 3/1/2016 2:11 AM by DarkAngel - edited 1 times]

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post by blackhawk

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Re: Low output lighting sources
<Reply # 1 on 3/1/2016 2:29 AM >

Tritium exit signs... they're nuclear. They half life of Tritium is 12.32 years, but that's half life, so they continue to glow for many years past that. The higher dosed 20 year ones longer than the 10 year ones.

If you're careful you can pull apart a sign and glean the glow tubes. They're pretty tough. Since its a radioactive powered light source, temperature has no effect on light output. Slowly over the years their light output diminishes. I've had some of them around for over a decade now and they were older then that when I got them. Still glowing.

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post by DarkAngel

Re: Low output lighting sources
<Reply # 2 on 3/1/2016 3:23 AM >

Posted by blackhawk
Tritium exit signs... they're nuclear. They half life of Tritium is 12.32 years, but that's half life, so they continue to glow for many years past that. The higher dosed 20 year ones longer than the 10 year ones.

If you're careful you can pull apart a sign and glean the glow tubes. They're pretty tough. Since its a radioactive powered light source, temperature has no effect on light output. Slowly over the years their light output diminishes. I've had some of them around for over a decade now and they were older then that when I got them. Still glowing.

Yup. Unless you break the tubes, Tritium is safe. You can also order vials of it online for keychains and the like. Candlepower forums is the best place I've found, as others are iffy on shipping to the US.

Always wanted to get 5-6 tubes and seal them inside an acrylic block. Just take whatever shape I want and fill the sucker with resin to make an indestructible light, similar to the glo-toobs.

[last edit 3/1/2016 3:24 AM by DarkAngel - edited 1 times]

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post by blackhawk

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Re: Low output lighting sources
<Reply # 3 on 3/1/2016 3:46 AM >

Posted by DarkAngel

Yup. Unless you break the tubes, Tritium is safe. You can also order vials of it online for keychains and the like. Candlepower forums is the best place I've found, as others are iffy on shipping to the US.

Always wanted to get 5-6 tubes and seal them inside an acrylic block. Just take whatever shape I want and fill the sucker with resin to make an indestructible light, similar to the glo-toobs.

Tritium isn't very hazardous even if inhaled. The tubes are hard to break. I've never broken one. If you do simply air out the room. The best source is still exit signs, new or used.

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post by DarkAngel

Re: Low output lighting sources
<Reply # 4 on 3/1/2016 3:54 AM >

Posted by blackhawk

Tritium isn't very hazardous even if inhaled. The tubes are hard to break. I've never broken one. If you do simply air out the room. The best source is still exit signs, new or used.

Yeah, it's a beta producer so a sheet of paper will stop it. Just don't eat the capsules lol.

I'll have to keep the signs in mind though, I can always use tritium that still glows.

As for breaking them, the tubes themselves I haven't but I have busted some when installing night sights on guns. Put the punch 1mm the wrong direction and it'll peen metal inside the sight and bust the tube. That was an expensive lesson lol.

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post by blackhawk

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Re: Low output lighting sources
<Reply # 5 on 3/12/2016 2:49 PM >

Posted by DarkAngel

Yeah, it's a beta producer so a sheet of paper will stop it. Just don't eat the capsules lol.

I'll have to keep the signs in mind though, I can always use tritium that still glows.

As for breaking them, the tubes themselves I haven't but I have busted some when installing night sights on guns. Put the punch 1mm the wrong direction and it'll peen metal inside the sight and bust the tube. That was an expensive lesson lol.

The tubes used in the signs are thicker and similar to Pyrex glass in toughness.

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