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.
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.
Brian. Lover of SE razors.
