Has anyone here at CPF ever actually used STROBE MODE?

[DaveyJones]

gee i seem to remember posting an extensive reply here... wonder where it went...

i have herd people say that a strobe at a certain frequency makes it very hard to pinpoint the location of the light,
and near impossible to judge distance.
is there any truth to this?

 

[EZO]

gee i seem to remember posting an extensive reply here... wonder where it went...

DJ.....If you really can't find a post you think you left here just click on "My Profile" at the top of this page and once on your profile page click "Find all posts" to see every post you've made to CPF.

 

[Ziemas]

I use strobe nearly every day while I'm bicycling to work. It's great for daytime visibility.

 

[bnemmie]

Ive seen it used by boaters in distress. A high intensity white strobe flashing as more then 60 times a minute is one of the 16 international distress signals.

 

[samuraishot]

I used it again today. Was waiting in the parking lot today for my wife to come out of Nordstroms. She called me and asked where I was so I just did a little test for fun. Before telling her where I was parked (which was quite far from the exit) I turned on the strobe and she quickly asked if I just turned on my light. I could have just as easily used a normal flash of light, but since I have a strobe function, I might as well use it haha

 

[shao.fu.tzer]

Well, I probably had one too many brews last weekend at a crawfish boil/party and a friend and I decided to strobe one another with an XM-L drop in with that crazy G&P AI strobe tailcap. From a distance of about about 15 feet, a short burst was enough to disorient and blind me. I had purple artifacts flying all around my field of vision for about 15 minutes afterwards. He fared worse: after being strobed, he took three steps forward, tripped over the beer cooler, and busted his *** on a folding table, knocking about half the party's food onto the ground. Strobe works... Especially a fast bright one.. A real fast.. bright one...

Shao

 

[newless]

I use it on my Fenix Tk12. I walk my dogs across a busy 4 lane street to get to a couple of walking paths, usually at night. The traffic is moving at about 60-70kms per hour. I'll have the light on strobe when I cross the street and point it at the ground just so cars know I'm there. Of course I'm always running for my life and could achieve the same with the just the "turbo" mode. Or just run faster.
I've also used it inside the bathrooms at work. Disco dance parties with the lights turned out....don't ask.
Also people at work that tick me off end up getting hit with the strobe.
Much screaming and swearing is the result.

 

[Hangfire79]

That sounds pretty legal.

Exactly, in most states it is illegal and probably should not be suggested in a public forum.

Here in TN it's TCA Code 55-9-414: It is unlawful for anyone to install, maintain or exhibit blue flashing emergency lights or blue flashing emergency lights in combination with red flashing emergency lights, except full-time, salaried, uniformed law enforcement officers of the state, county, or city and municipal governments of the state.

 

[dajab77]

I like having a strobe on my lights. I usually get a light that has a setting for strobe instead of one that you have to cycle thru.After reading all the post here, I decided to try the strobe on ALL my lights at the same time. WOW!!! I had 12 strobes going at the same time. I then passed out. Just kidding. But it did make for strobe show. I do think strobes do come in handy. To each his own. Nice thread. Good to hear different views.

 

[herosemblem]

I like having a strobe on my lights. I usually get a light that has a setting for strobe instead of one that you have to cycle thru.After reading all the post here, I decided to try the strobe on ALL my lights at the same time. WOW!!! I had 12 strobes going at the same time. I then passed out. Just kidding. But it did make for strobe show. I do think strobes do come in handy. To each his own. Nice thread. Good to hear different views.

Remember the topic of this thread: Has anyone ever actually used strobe? If so, please describe that actual situation. And no, we're not talking about using it for fun .

 

[New User]

Yes.

Police Officer, use it regularly.

Wake up drunks, disorientate people, stop vehicles, attract attention of colleagues etc etc etc.

I would not buy a light for my job that did not have a strobe function.

 

[dajab77]

Remember the topic of this thread: Has anyone ever actually used strobe? If so, please describe that actual situation. And no, we're not talking about using it for fun .

Well I guess I should have known better. If only I had remembered to state some examples of non "fun" usage. What was I thinking. Once there was a possum trying to bite my dog,and I used the strobe on the possum and it worked!! Or the time a drunk was sitting behind us at a college basketball game,this year, dropping f bombs in front of my children. No I didn't turn around and strobe him. I saw a security officer and strobed him. He came up and took care of the drunk and said it was pretty smart to signal him that way as to avoid a fight and being kicked out. So there you have it. Hope that works. Your turn.

 

[Hangfire79]

Yes.

Police Officer, use it regularly.

Wake up drunks, disorientate people, stop vehicles, attract attention of colleagues etc etc etc.

I would not buy a light for my job that did not have a strobe function.

I worked 6 years on patrol before moving on and never needed a flashlight with strobe. To wake up drunks we used a sternum rub, never had a situation where I needed to disorient someone with a strobe where a taser or brachial strike wouldn't suffice, had wig-wags in the headlights and a light bar to stop vehicles, and a radio to attract the attention of colleagues. I honestly could never find a use for it other than to show off my fancy new light.

 

[OfficerSheepDog]

But if your detachment does not issue tasers (Sgt's ONLY), and has so many rules and actions that are ill advised or excessive, than this is an alternative to disorienting someone. As the next option is to withdraw the gun.

Otherwise I'd agree with Hangfire79.

 

[EZO]

But if your detachment does not issue tasers (Sgt's ONLY), and has so many rules and actions that are ill advised or excessive, than this is an alternative to disorienting someone. As the next option is to withdraw the gun.

Otherwise I'd agree with Hangfire79.

I've been wondering about Hangfire79's remarks so thanks for your comment and feedback. But wouldn't a LEO more likely reach for the pepper spray or Mace to disorient someone before escalating to withdrawing his sidearm?

 

[Greeves]

Actually, I practice at the range with it. mostly at swinging targets. I figure if I ever have to pull out my rifle in the middle of the night, I'll strobe the intruder, only shoot if absolutely necessary, but I need to be able to actually hit a moving target in strobe, so practice....

 

[Hangfire79]

I've been wondering about Hangfire79's remarks so thanks for your comment and feedback. But wouldn't a LEO more likely reach for the pepper spray or Mace to disorient someone before escalating to withdrawing his sidearm?

What about my comments can I clarify for you bro? I'd not advise going from strobe to sidearm in the escalation of the force pyramid, not at all, too many less than lethal options available. More like soft hand then hard hand then PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics). You cannot give me one scenario where strobe mode would be better deployed over OC, ASP, PPCT, taser, or any other available option. They don't teach you strobe mode at the academy or FLETC for a reason.

 

[Hangfire79]

Actually, I practice at the range with it. mostly at swinging targets. I figure if I ever have to pull out my rifle in the middle of the night, I'll strobe the intruder, only shoot if absolutely necessary, but I need to be able to actually hit a moving target in strobe, so practice....

Actually, leaving a light on in any mode is not advised when sweeping and clearing, you give away your position. Try flashing, turn the light off, move, and flash again. Momentary activation is a must for a self defense light for this reason imo.

 

[EZO]

What about my comments can I clarify for you bro? I'd not advise going from strobe to sidearm in the escalation of the force pyramid, not at all, too many less than lethal options available. More like soft hand then hard hand then PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics). You cannot give me one scenario where strobe mode would be better deployed over OC, ASP, PPCT, taser, or any other available option. They don't teach you strobe mode at the academy or FLETC for a reason.

I don't think that was what I was suggesting exactly. Anyway, this discussion about LEO's use of force would make an interesting topic for another thread, maybe in the Cafe' but for now let's keep it to the subject of whether anyone here at CPF has ever actually used strobe mode on their flashlights.

 

[Hangfire79]

I've been wondering about Hangfire79's remarks so thanks for your comment and feedback. But wouldn't a LEO more likely reach for the pepper spray or Mace to disorient someone before escalating to withdrawing his sidearm?

Simply being polite and answering your question broseph. My responses were in the realm of strobe and the use of. Perhaps if we were to get everyone to edit their posts to a simple "Yes" or "No"