#1

Member
Central Maine
I live in rural Maine and streetlights are nonexistent and lights from other sources, unless I make them, are also nonexistent. For a decade or more now we used SunLight SL6 diving lights and they have worked through all sorts of weather, hurricanes, blizzards, you name it they worked. But they go through a bulb once a year and they aren't inexpensive since the bulb is part of a new reflector. Plus they were in need of new batteries that needed charging far too frequently. That technology has seen better days. They were state of the art 10 years ago, but not now. They have been retired as it turns out.

Enter LED technology. I have LED lights that were state of the art 10 years ago, but things have changed tremendously. My LED lights are feeble things today.

The use of modern LEDS and more importantly Li-ion batteries with their incredible energy density have made possible handheld lights that are really small but will illuminate out to over 100 yards with a flood type of beam. Much further with a light having "throw". For nighttime chores and to check things that go bump in the night I prefer a flood type of beam.

Too, grandads light had one output, and that was "on". Today's LEDS have many outputs from moonlight mode on up to turbo where the light can draw over 5 amps. This in a handheld light. Runtimes can run from over 200 hours to as few as 1 hour, depending on output selected, and from the same light. They can run for 200 hours and never get even warm, or run at turbo mode and heat up in minutes.

Just amazing.

I got my first "lenser" a few months ago and it proved the technology as feasible, but there is better. I recently got a larger light that has a flood type beam that will flood an area with light out beyond 100 yards, and it's a very wide beam. I have yet to spend over $50 for a light (minus batteries).

Speaking of batteries, there are good and bad, and there is also some knowledge that needs to be employed in their use. Imagine what would happen if 2 cells with over 10 amps of electrical storage were to suddenly discharge inside your hand, now add combustible metal to that mix. It can and has happened. But knowledge can mitigate that danger to a minor consideration with small amount of knowledge. That's the price of these high power lights. One needs a bit of knowledge to use them. But it's not at all difficult.

All In all my old SL6 lights have been put into mothballs and the new lights have taken their place. They require a bit more knowledge to use, but they offer so much more in the way of a flashlight. Oh, and my old SL6s? If they ever pooped themselves they're just garbage. The new lights can be worked on and fixed or upgraded as the technology advances. Cool.

My old SL6 light might need freshly charged Nimh batteries every 2 weeks or so. My present Convoy L6 can run for 54 hours constantly on medium output before needing recharging. That's a great deal more than 2 weeks of actual use before needing a charge, and the batteries are very low drain while not in use. On medium it will easily reach out 50 yards on medium, but for close in work I use it in low mode which is good for over 200 hours and is more than bright enough. Of course there are high and turbo modes also, but the more output the faster the battery drains. In turbo mode the 2 cells will drain in 1-2 hours (dependent on battery capacity) but it can't be used for that long as it'll be too hot to handle if the circuitry allowed it. I never intend to find out. Just a few minutes and the light gets hot enough for me. Of course if it's raining or cold or windy the light can operate continuously on turbo and stay cool. They have pretty good heat sinks but a heat sink can only be so good in warmth without being overly large and cumbersome.

LED lights have come a very long way. If you need handheld lighting they are well worth looking into. If anyone has questions feel free to ask. There's lots I still don't know, but I know where to direct folks to get the answers. You simply can't understand just how good these lights are and my words don't do them justice.

BTW, the LED lights "as seen on TV"?... not crap, but way overpriced. The same lights can be had for 1/2 the price by the single unit and less expensively in bulk. They are lensers, the same type of light I started with to prove the concept, except I bought mine from another source for $10 and less. The same basic light as seen on TV and shipping was free.

Tbone and grim like this post
Brian. Lover of SE razors.
#2
(This post was last modified: 08-03-2016, 01:07 AM by brucered.)
Long time Fenix user here. Modern flashlights are amazing and a must when camping and frog catching with the kids.

http://www.fenixlight.com/

wingdo, grim and Freddy like this post
#3
(This post was last modified: 08-03-2016, 01:17 AM by grim.)
I concur. I have one large fenix and several eagletac. Huge difference from the old days. Oh, and a couple of OLights for throw.

Get the correct charger that charges slowly for the batteries. But yeah, the new LEDs are very bright and in low light levels the batteries last a long time. And yes, if you looked into lights, forget about what they sell on TV. Go read CandlePowerForums. Many reviews. Just like you guys know the shaving stuff, those guys know the LED lights.

Freddy, brucered, ezcape49 and 1 others like this post
#4
CPF is a great source for flashlight information and reviews. Fantastic flashlight forum.

Freddy likes this post
#5

Super Moderator
San Diego, Cal., USA
(08-03-2016, 01:07 AM)brucered Wrote: Long time Fenix user here.  Modern flashlights are amazing and a must when camping and frog catching with the kids.

http://www.fenixlight.com/

It was Bruce who helped me when I needed a new flashlight.  I still have that Fenix, Bruce, and am still amazed at the light output the few times I need it (local neighborhood blackout, looking under furniture, etc.)  

I agree with Brian and you.  Compared to just a decade ago, today's flashlights are truly amazing.

brucered likes this post
#6

Member
Central Maine
(This post was last modified: 08-03-2016, 04:37 AM by ShadowsDad.)
Don't forget Budgetlightforum too. That's where I am.

My wife hadn't seen what the new lights would do before tonight, but she knew I was "playing with" and testing the technology and she saw the lights coming in. Tonight she came out with me to watch the dogs while I did the chores. I showed her what the Convoy L6 (3800 lumens if I remember correctly) would do and she was absolutely blown away. Even her one cell Convoy C8 out does our old SL6s and it's much smaller and a fraction of the weight. The L2 has only 1800 (? is that correct?) lumens but it'll throw a beam over 400 yards. Not the best for chores or even for walking, but just amazing for a one cell light, or 2 if the extension is screwed in for 2 cells. It's no brighter that way, but it has longer runtime.

BLF is designing and will be making a "BLF Q8" and it's way over 4000 lumens. A soda can type light (SRK) with a flood beam using 4 18650s. Right now it's still in the planning stages with completion and delivery in Nov/Dec.

The key to the LED lights with high output are the Li-ion batteries; without them the best LEDs are pretty useless because the power supply would be huge and heavy. It's almost like holding fire in your hand. Not handled right that's exactly what it is (and don't breathe the fumes).

BTW, I just recently got an Opus BT 3100 charger and it's fantastic. It's a must for multiple cell lights especially when using unprotected batteries. It does all that I need at the moment, but I lust after a SkyRC MC3000 charger, but at this time I just can't justify it. The Opus works fine. It allows me to monitor and use unprotected cells in series and do it safely.
Brian. Lover of SE razors.
#7

Member
Central Maine
We (BLF) have been working on making the L6 "perfect" and in that regard I just ordered a UV Convoy S2+. Next on the list are Tritium vials and the adhesive (the adhesive needs intense UV to cure). One vial between the cooling fins will indicate where the light switch is. That, coupled with the sling and sling points that I already installed will make it very close to perfect. Or maybe the tritium vial will just gild the lily. I'll find out.

The light has other uses, such as checking lodging or dining to see where body fluids are (yuck!) and checking currency. Grand dads light never did that.
Brian. Lover of SE razors.
#8

Member
Southern Ohio
LED's have revolutionized lighting.  I have replaced most of my light bulbs with LED bulbs.  Our power company offered a sale of bulbs that were about half the price of the box stores.

The biggest improvement is in the bike lights.  I commute to work a few times a week and when I started I had the older style LED light the had the ring of bright lights.  It was ok but it was big and heavy.  I have a Cygolite LED light that at maximum level throws out 700 lumins.  It fits in to the palm of my hand and is rechargeable lithium battery. I typically only run it at the low setting and on days like today I had it on for the full commute which is an hour and 15 minutes and don't have to worry about running out of juice.

LED's have totally revolutionized lighting and it is only going to get better.


[Image: 1251202_000_main.jpg?sw=474&sh=474&sm=fit]

Tbone and Freddy like this post
#9
(This post was last modified: 08-03-2016, 03:11 PM by grim.)
There is one thing I would caution those whose buy these kind of lights (from experience).

Are they bright? Absolutely. They just blow away anything pre-LED.
Do the last a long time? Absolutely. Some people have tests showing you put one on a low setting and last as many days "on" as advertised.
Are they convenient? Absolutely. Small, about industructable, etc.

The downside - follow ShadowsDad advice about batteries. They CAN explode - fire hazard. And there are pictures in flashlight forums of these things exploding while being charged. This is why, I believe, a slow charge is preferable than instant charging. But in terms of practicality, one issue, from experience, is battery drain.

Whereas your normal alkaline batteries will just go dead over a certain period of time, some of the flashlights will do a constant drain to their being no energy left while just sitting there doing nothing. I'm going to guess most people RARELY use a flashlight except in an emergency, maybe a hurricane or when the power goes out. Then they go to use one and ... nothing. So you need to read your directions. Or just leave the batteries out. Or check them every once in a while and recharge them.

Freddy and Tbone like this post
#10
Good advise grim.

We keep one lower cost 2AA Fenix E20 in our kitchen junk drawer. It gets used a few times a week to find dog toys under the couch, go to the backyard af night etc. All my other ones are for camping and get the batteries removed when not in use.

Luckily,we have never had one explode. All our chargers are low and slow. I used to work in the battery industry so know that quick chargers are not all they are cracked up to be. As soon as a battery shows any sign of damage, it gets tossed.

I only have one light that takes specialty batteries, the rest are AA or AAA. They are still way brighter than we need and we always have Eneloops around for kids toys or gaming controllers.


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)