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TOMLESCOEQUIP
Platinum Member
Thanks for the responses so far guys !! I know another thing to ask for on fathers day now !! ................
LED Flashlights
- Thread starter TOMLESCOEQUIP
- Start date
- Views: 2033
LEDs are a definite advantage. If you have a Maglight, consider an LED replacement. I bought and EVERLED bulb, which will work in a 2-6 C or D light. Looks much like a normal bulb, and even fits in the same holder, so no mods to the light is required. It provides somewhat more light than the standard bulb, but the main difference is that the light output stays high for most of the battery life. You can see that here: http://www.brightguy.com/detail_int.php?Sku=EVE03011W
It costs a bit more, but over the life of bulb and battery replacements it is worth it.
If you use a AA or AAA MiniMag, Terralux makes direct plug-in replacements for the bulbs. Again somewhat brighter, but also stays much brighter over most of the life of the batteries. On the Mini's, batteries that would be barely marginal with a standard bulb are like-new bright with the LED bulbs.
All of the replacements provide a whiter light, and retain the focusing of the beam on the Mag lights, without any modifications needed.
I am sold and would not consider incandescents in a flashlight again.
paul
It costs a bit more, but over the life of bulb and battery replacements it is worth it.
If you use a AA or AAA MiniMag, Terralux makes direct plug-in replacements for the bulbs. Again somewhat brighter, but also stays much brighter over most of the life of the batteries. On the Mini's, batteries that would be barely marginal with a standard bulb are like-new bright with the LED bulbs.
All of the replacements provide a whiter light, and retain the focusing of the beam on the Mag lights, without any modifications needed.
I am sold and would not consider incandescents in a flashlight again.
paul
I have owned a minimum of 20 different LED lights over the past 5+ years. Can't think of a down side. There are some now with a really good focused beam. My overall favorite is one of my first...the Eterna light. www.techass.com The basic Eterna and the Marine version. We each have one (Momma, 3 sons) and probably another 5 around the house, & in cars. Some that have never been used we just changed batteries this winter...5 years and the batteries still lit 'em up...but we wanted to put fresh ones in. The one I carry and use the most I replaced batteries in after two years. I bought 100 of them in fall 1999, sold most, kept about 10. Everyone I see who bought one still raves about them. Tough as nails, functional as my Leatherman, easy to carry.
Next favorite is the Infinity task light for small dark areas. We have several in the shop, and guys love them for close up work on the tractors.
Next favorite is the Infinity task light for small dark areas. We have several in the shop, and guys love them for close up work on the tractors.
Henro
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 4,982
- Location
- Few miles north of Pgh, PA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini EX
I'm a big fan of the LED lights. I have a small pencil type, a head light and a couple small flash lights...
All work excellent...I really LOVE them compared to the old style...
Don't know what else to say...Happy Customer!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
All work excellent...I really LOVE them compared to the old style...
Don't know what else to say...Happy Customer!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
JerryG
Super Member
I didn't say anything about this site because I didn't know if I could find it again or not but here it is. It has all the information that you will ever need to know. They rate each model and tell its good and bad points. Click on the links on the left side of the page. LED Lights
PineRidge
Super Member
Several months ago I was cruising the isles of Home Depot and spotted a rechargeable flashlight that caught my eye. It uses a conventional bulb for regular brightness on one end and several high intensity LEDs on the other end. I bought one and have been playing with it ever since. There is a digital timer built in to actually tell you how much time is left on the batteries before they need recharged. Just to give you a comparison the regular bulb measures charge left in minutes while the LEDs show time left in hours, like 16 hours total so it would make a good emergency light in the event of a power outage. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
The LEDs are bright and I have used it outside from time to time just to see if you could get along without the conventional bulb. The color does appear to be on the blue side but it is not annoying. You can turn on the conventional bulb and the LEDs at the same time if you felt the need to do so.
The LEDs are bright and I have used it outside from time to time just to see if you could get along without the conventional bulb. The color does appear to be on the blue side but it is not annoying. You can turn on the conventional bulb and the LEDs at the same time if you felt the need to do so.
GaryM
Veteran Member
Thanks for the link. Looks like some interesting items.
RobertN
Super Member
LED lights are nice, and the batteries last a long time time compared to an incandecent bulb. Remember, regular flashlight use a filament. The light comes that filament being heated till it glows, which takes a lot of power. Making light from a diode takes much less power...
What I have seen from LED lights, is they lack white light. They tend towards blue a lot. It is very hard to make the LED that is really white. I checked them out about 5 years ago for the illumination on microscopes. While they were bright, detail was lost because the light was not "white". White light tends to cover a wider spectrum in the visible light range. If you have a LED that tends towards blue or yellow you will lose part of the wide spectrum lighting.
What I have seen from LED lights, is they lack white light. They tend towards blue a lot. It is very hard to make the LED that is really white. I checked them out about 5 years ago for the illumination on microscopes. While they were bright, detail was lost because the light was not "white". White light tends to cover a wider spectrum in the visible light range. If you have a LED that tends towards blue or yellow you will lose part of the wide spectrum lighting.
I only plan to buy one type of flashlight anymore: dual-mode. One mode is bright with a long throw like a tradition Mag light, and the other is a general illumination of an LED. I like to have the LED on when walking along the road at night, and switch over to Xenon when I need to see something at a distance.
I currently have two dual-mode lights:
1) Streamlight TwinTask 3C. It has 6 LEDs and 1 Xenon bulb. It's a great quality light for about $30.
30/70 Lumens
2) Surefire 9AN415 Commander. It has 1 LED and 1 Xenon bulb. This rechargable light is incredibly bright in a very compact package, but pricey: ~$250
20/140 Lumens
I just did a comparison in the yard with the Surefire, Streamlight, and Maglight 3D with an upgraded Xenon bulb (42 Lumens/28k cp vs 22k cp standard bulb) This may be an apples to oranges comparison, but here's what I got:
The Surefire wins handsdown in Xenon mode. There is a large area brightly illuminated at 100ft. The Maglight being a much larger light with a much larger reflector created a very sharp beam that illuminated a small but bright area. Similar brightness at a long range, but the Mag had a 5ft diameter beam, while the Surefire lit up an area about 30ft wide. The Streamlight, like the Surefire illuminated a large area, but was much less intense when compared to the Surefire. While testing I shined Streamlight over the septic field. A moment later, I put the Surefire in the same area, and saw two racoons. They saw the bright light and took off.
In LED mode, the Streamlight was brighter and more focused than the Surefire. Still, the throw paled in comparison with the Xenon bulbs. The Streamlight was also a more white/blue color of light, while the Surefire look more like an incadesent bulb.
Weights
Maglight - 30oz
Streamlight - 16oz
Surefire - 13oz
Lengths
Maglight - 12.5"
Streamlight - 9"
Surefire - 8"
Hope this helps,
Dave
I currently have two dual-mode lights:
1) Streamlight TwinTask 3C. It has 6 LEDs and 1 Xenon bulb. It's a great quality light for about $30.
30/70 Lumens
2) Surefire 9AN415 Commander. It has 1 LED and 1 Xenon bulb. This rechargable light is incredibly bright in a very compact package, but pricey: ~$250
20/140 Lumens
I just did a comparison in the yard with the Surefire, Streamlight, and Maglight 3D with an upgraded Xenon bulb (42 Lumens/28k cp vs 22k cp standard bulb) This may be an apples to oranges comparison, but here's what I got:
The Surefire wins handsdown in Xenon mode. There is a large area brightly illuminated at 100ft. The Maglight being a much larger light with a much larger reflector created a very sharp beam that illuminated a small but bright area. Similar brightness at a long range, but the Mag had a 5ft diameter beam, while the Surefire lit up an area about 30ft wide. The Streamlight, like the Surefire illuminated a large area, but was much less intense when compared to the Surefire. While testing I shined Streamlight over the septic field. A moment later, I put the Surefire in the same area, and saw two racoons. They saw the bright light and took off.
In LED mode, the Streamlight was brighter and more focused than the Surefire. Still, the throw paled in comparison with the Xenon bulbs. The Streamlight was also a more white/blue color of light, while the Surefire look more like an incadesent bulb.
Weights
Maglight - 30oz
Streamlight - 16oz
Surefire - 13oz
Lengths
Maglight - 12.5"
Streamlight - 9"
Surefire - 8"
Hope this helps,
Dave
