LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

[WIMUSKY]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

Lets not forget led x-mas lights. Awesome because the colors just pop so bright. In my opinion you don't "really" save much energy with the led's indoors because the extra energy traditional x-mas lights use just goes towards heating your house (when used indoors).

I have dark blue ones on my house. Get alot of compliments.... Not cheap...

 

[skargo]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

LED's are just a fad...

Like pockets...or the internet.

 

[scipper77]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

Don't have much time but wanted to comment,

I am a bit of a flashlight geek!! I use small flashlights to do mechanical inspections at work all the time and the led flashlights are the greatest thing EVER... It's not really about the amount of light for me so much as the quality of the light. My favorite light of my many led's is my little streamlight (I forget what it's called). It delivers a true white light (not blue, not yellow). After you get used to using a true white light you will be amazed at how crappy and yellow any standard bulb is in comparison. I also have some more powerful led lights but if you need quantity of light over quality a xenon bulb is the best bet. I have one led light that is the size of my thumb that has a 3 watt led and puts out more light than most lights the size of my wrist like those D cell mag lights.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

LED's are just a fad...

Okay..... yes high quality replaceable light bulbs are good too..... Feel better Kev?

 

[180shabah]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

that has a 3 watt led and puts out more light than most lights the size of my wrist like those D cell mag lights.

I was wondering if I was the only one who was taking advantage of the other end of the LED spectrum. I probably have a dozen or more of those multi-LED lights, there everywhere and they always work. BUT, there are two lights that I go out of my way to get, both are high output single LED units. One is a headband that puts out close to 200 Lumens, the other is a handheld (mini-mag sized) that puts out 115 lumens, but the beam is so tightly focused that it actually provides usable light at 100'. Yes, they go through batteries at about the same rate as an incandescent light would, but they are far superior in light output.

Almost forgot, I actualy have an LED lantern in the camper. It took a little getting used to the color of the light, but after a summer of not buying gas for the old lantern, who cares.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

LOL Bob..

My 2 cents..(ok maybe 50 cents)

Actually..
That was my standard "punchline" while doing seminars to clients on lighting techniques and different lighting products for certain applications..

It was stated that the LED flashlight "Blinded" you when ya looked right at it..Well ya..Your eyeball can't absorb that much direct light..even if it was from a candle held close enough.

Many cheap LEDs do indeed have a very blueish color to them..That is because creating a "true" white light (5ooo to 65000k) is very difficult and expensive.

So what companies do is actually use a "BLUE" chip or diode, with a phospor coating to excite the phosphor and artificially create a whiter light.

Higher quality LEDs use UV spectrum wavelengths to create a truer white light, but aren't perfect.

The LED US market is currently 6 Billion Dollars and growing..Many major lighting companies Osram Slvania, GE, Phillips..All have purchased smaller LED companies to gain foothold and buy technology quickly.

Also worthy to note is that for the last 5 years the D.O.E. has been overseeing U.S. led product manufacturers labeling as there have been far too many claims of 100,000 hours of life & many false claims that has bamboozeled you Mr. Green Jeans out of your $$$.
(This has just changed to the E.P.A, for some reason that baffles me..)

Average life of a quality LED lighting product is 50,000 hours. LEDS biggest enemy is heat..One diode alone can go 100k hours, however one diode will not light anything..Several diodes are needed in a "cluster" in order to produce any type of real efficacy...However more clusters equal more heat, heat cuts the life...

Thats why on any LED product that is meant to replace a stabdard halogen lamp, you will see a massive "heat sink"..(Kinda like an old air cooled motorcycle engine) to try and help dissapate heat.

It is a very interesting time technology wise for the lighting industry..But we are many many years away from any type of household every day economical alternative to standard light bulbs or even CFL lamps you probably are using now...

 

[Splat]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

Ok.... I'll chime in too.

I too am a self proclaimed flashlight geek. I know most of the discussion here has been regarding the el-chaepo lights that often have 6-15 leds. Although they give off light, and are effective at close up work, I too play on the other end of the scale.

Since I worked as a lawnmower mechanic many years ago I have carried a flashlight in my pocket EVERYDAY. They were helpful then to look in gas tanks for debris, among other daily activities, and invaluable at night, for everything from locating car keys dropped in the grass, to seeing what went bump in the night, to locating house numbers when I delivered pizza.

Several times a week my buddies ask hey let me see your light, it's as common as my cellphone.

If your willing to pay a bit of money, you can get a VERY good EDC(everyday carry) light that will illuminate for several hundred feet, making it good for docking or nighttime beaching, or tying dock lines on low power.

As I said, I'm a flashlight geek. In my truck I keep a Streamlight Stinger. I had the incandescent version originally, with 120lumens, I now have switched to the LED version with a eye searing 160 lumens, and a burn time of almost 2 hrs. Plus it sits in a charger so it's always ready to go. Very cool, and this light for about $100 will out shine ANY d-cell, or 6volt flashlight you currently have. Size is comparable to a 2-cell mag light in length, but much narrower. http://www.streamlight.com/product/class.aspx?cid=2

My EDC is one of 2 lights. My primary whether I'm wearing jeans, or on duty part time as a Deputy is a Streamlight Strion LED. Also 160 Lumen on high, and a burn time of 2 hours. But it's a bit large for EDC carry. At work at either job I'm wearing a utility belt of one type or another so holster carry isn't a problem. I can slip it into my jeans pocket and forget about it, but it's not ideal. It's a hell of a light also being rechargeable. Pop it in the charger at night and it's ready to go everyday. can be had somewhere around $85 if you shop around. http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=154

My other EDC would be perfect if it was rechargeable. It's a Fenix LD10. This light is BARELY larger than the AA battery that powers it, making it perfect for EDC. This is my choice if I'm going out and dressed up, not expecting to need a light, but like my Kahr, i don't leave home without it. This light isn't as bright as my other 2, with only 120 lumens(only 120!!!!! trust me, this is WAY more than just about any maglight or prolly any light you have at home) but for it's size and weight who cares. This would be my pick for any one looking for a descent flashlight. They can be had for about $58, i actually run 2350mah rechargeable energizer AA batteries in this one, and change them out every couple of days to make sure its fresh and ready to go.https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=466

Just wanted to throw in my .02 Trust me if you want to be WOWED spend a few bucks and get a good light.

Bill

 

[achris]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

... I noticed that half the bulbs are burnt out already. It has a total of 60 bulbs. ...

The LEDs are not burnt out. As the batteries drops some of the LEDs don't get enough voltage and so won't conduct. Replace the batteries with fresh and, lo and behold, all the elements will be working again.

I also have 2 mini-Maglites with LED and they are scary good, and VERY bright. I also have a couple of Mini-Q40, scuba diving 'head-lights' with LED lamps, but I find the light is too close to natural sunlight and the things I'm looking for at night tend to get the he11 out of Dodge when I turn it on, so I'm back to Krypton bulbs for those. (No, that's not the same as Kryptonite!)

Chris............

 

[achris]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

LED's are just a fad...

They said that about transistors too.

 

[Robbabob]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

... I've also mentioned this before, mosquitoes and most other bugs cant' see led light. So get some for your yards as well.

This is a great topic! If the bug thing is true, this will be great when at anchor for the night. I just HATE the bugs that come around... getting into the food and beverage and just bugging (ok, pun intended) the he11 out of us and our friends. I'm already a mosquito magnet, so the less conspicuous we are, the better.

How many LED's and in what configuration would be required for an anchor light? I'll have to do some research on this. I assume they can be fit into the standard receptacle for both anchor and courtesy.

I have all winter to get this worked out and am looking forward to next seasons near-bug-less nights on the lake!

 

[lowkee]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

I don't think mosquitos are attracted to light, rather CO2 emmisions (exhaling). So, without bad tasting skin or bug spray, you won't get rid of them unless you're dead. I'm curious on the moth part, as my front porch light is a haven for all things icky.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

I don't think mosquitos are attracted to light, rather CO2 emmisions (exhaling). So, without bad tasting skin or bug spray, you won't get rid of them unless you're dead. I'm curious on the moth part, as my front porch light is a haven for all things icky.

Well..most flying insects are attracted to light.
It is known as Phototaxis. There is + Phototaxis and - Phototaxis as well.


Moths = POSITIVE
Ever flip a switch and see a roach FLEE?? thats NEGATIVE

A theory on the + side is that flying creatures at night are basically flying blind..And a light source becomes a nav marker or beacon to them and gives them a direct course to fly to..Once they get there, of course the have no clue on how to leave it..lol


Most..ok all "Bug lights" are YELLOW..which for some reason in the UV spectrum is not visible to the little critters..


Also...There are many LED anchor & bow light kits out there...fairly common now..

 

[Robbabob]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

Most..ok all "Bug lights" are YELLOW..which for some reason in the UV spectrum is not visible to the little critters..

I have used the incandescent yellow bulbs at the back door of the house and they kept most bugs away; just not all. Probably my choice of bulbs.

I hope I didn't miss the clarification already here.... but it looks like there are LEDs that are in the UV spectrum and some that are out of the spectrum. I'd just want to look for those outside of it to help keep the bugs away.

I wonder if there is a correlation between brightness and UV levels......

 

[lowkee]

Re: LED flashlights - more than a gimmick!

I wonder if there is a correlation between brightness and UV levels......

UV is actually a very short distance medium. Here is some technical reasons why most LEDs are that funky blue hue:


Wavelength (nm) - Color Name - Intensity (5mm LEDs) - Viewing Angle -LED Dye Material


4500K - "Incandescent" White - 2000mcd@20mA - 20? - SiC/GaN (Silicon Carbide/Gallium Nitride)
6500K - Pale White - 4000mcd@20mA - 20? - SiC/GaN (Silicon Carbide/Gallium Nitride)
8000K - Cool White - 6000mcd@20mA - 20? - SiC/GaN (Silicon Carbide/Gallium Nitride)

As you can see, "Cool white" (9000K) light puts out the brightest light and blue has the most concentrated light beam, which coupled together make for a very bright, very energy efficient light source. "Soft white" LEDs require larger scale and more energy to illuminate the same area and must overcome a less focused beam.