2500-3000lumen led searchlight

[echo154]

I AM A K9 HANDLER AND WOULD LIKE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR A TOUGH,BRIGHT (2500 - 3000 LUMEN) LIGHT. INEED IT TO BE RECHARGEABLE A RUGGED. THE SIZE AND WEIGHT IS ALSO A CONSIDERATION AS SOME OF MY TRACKS GO FOR 3-5 MILES.
THANKS TODD

 

[TEEJ]

What range, say in yards or meters, do you need the light to be able to light up?

Also - Is this to search for people hiding, survivors/perps potentially hidden by foliage/laying in grass, etc...or just to try to see where Rex went to?

I ask, because you only mentioned lumens, but I need to calculate the cd/throw to know how bright you need it at what ranges(s), etc. (IE: How much light falls on a target 200 or 500 meters away, etc...).


Also - With rechargeable cells, you can carry spare ones in your pocket, etc, in case a chase is very long...but, it takes ~ 20 seconds to swap in freshies...can that be spared typically if needed? If not, how long do you need the light to be able to keep running on one charge?

 

[echo154]

I'm a K9 officer and want to get a light that is light but bright and lasts. It would be for searching areas as well as blinding suspects. I have a jet beam 1000 lumen and its good but was wondering what would be brighter and about the same weight or maybe heavier.

 

[Billy Ram]

Sounds like you need something like the ThruNite TN30. This light works well for me looking for downed Deer.
Billy

 

[Patriot]

I'm not sure which Jetbeam you own, perhaps a 1st generation RRT-3? Are you using 18650 batteries now?

If you, you might look into the Nitecore TM26 or even the TK75 if you don't mind going a bit larger. There are many other choices.

 

[TEEJ]

I'm a K9 officer and want to get a light that is light but bright and lasts. It would be for searching areas as well as blinding suspects. I have a jet beam 1000 lumen and its good but was wondering what would be brighter and about the same weight or maybe heavier.

What range, say in yards or meters, do you need the light to be able to light up?

 

[polarion]

I have used different models of Wiseled for SAR work for several years now and can recommend their latest Tactical NG. It packs 3300 Lumen of no nonsense Lumens. Five programmable output levels and a blinding strobe. Only possible drawback may be its proprietary non removable batterypack. I had mine customized by the manufacturer to 5000 Lumen ,the same as their Wisedive models. Overtemperature does not seem to be a problem thanks to their Ramflow system. www.wiseled.com

 

[alpg88]

there is no portable searchlight to throw a beam 3-5 miles, even maxabeam doesn't throw as far. the most you can get up to 1000m, and for long rage hid is still better than led. we would be able to help more if you tell us $$$$ limit

 

[TEEJ]

there is no portable searchlight to throw a beam 3-5 miles, even maxabeam doesn't throw as far. the most you can get up to 1000m, and for long rage hid is still better than led. we would be able to help more if you tell us $$$$ limit

I interpreted his reference to the tracking distance as related to the size and weight he'd have to carry, not to standing at the start point, and shining a tank targetting light, etc, at the rapidly receeding dog as it chased down the perp, etc.

:D

If he's in a forested or urban environment, his line of sight might be limited to a hundred yards or less for example. If he's in desert environments, his line of sight could be horizon to horizon. If he's in mixed scrub or tall grass or open fields, etc, he might have a 400 -1,000 yards line-of-sight, etc.

After that, its about how much lux he needs to resolve what the light is hitting.

W/o a range estimate, an appropriate light is just shots in the dark at this point.

:D

 

[Grizzlyb]

I can only come up with the same as others have adviced.
When you want a more wide beam to cover a large wide spread area and still a reasonable throw, go for the Nitecore TM26. Smallest light with that kind of beam. Real WALL of light with that one.
See Rule #3 Do not Hot Link images. Please host on an image site, Imageshack or similar and repost – Thanks Norm

When You want a beam for graeat distance, one of the best throwers that is still around the 18cm and fits in you pocket, buy the Fenix TK75. It has a larger head, but is the smallest light with a unmached throw beam for its size. Both lights take 18650 battery's.
See Rule #3 Do not Hot Link images. Please host on an image site, Imageshack or similar and repost – Thanks Norm

When You dont mind the length of 30cm, and the biggest head of them all , buy the RC40.
See Rule #3 Do not Hot Link images. Please host on an image site, Imageshack or similar and repost – Thanks Norm


It won't take 18650, but you don't have to buy battery's or a charger. . . .it has its own dedicated battery and is rechargeable.
It is THE Alienator and, at the moment, blows the competition out the water. With the 3500lm a little over your 3000lm, but whats in a number, and never mind 500lm more do you :D

All 3 are reasonable priced and worth the money (IMHO).


Maybe I understand the rules wrong? I have my own smugmug account. Those pictures ARE on that account.
Thanks Grizzly.
What do I do wrong?

http://grizz.smugmug.com/Work/Tactical-Lights/18550923_4rZ4ht#!i=2419420293&k=MDnTQqm

 

[sledhead]

I have used different models of Wiseled for SAR work for several years now and can recommend their latest Tactical NG. It packs 3300 Lumen of no nonsense Lumens. Five programmable output levels and a blinding strobe. Only possible drawback may be its proprietary non removable batterypack. I had mine customized by the manufacturer to 5000 Lumen ,the same as their Wisedive models. Overtemperature does not seem to be a problem thanks to their Ramflow system. www.wiseled.com

Finally! Another fan of WiseLeds - these are great lights. My Tactical 2000's light up everything and are still my " go to " lights. TEEJ: I'll have them at PF20 if I make it.

 

[Grizzlyb]

Echo154,
Our K9 group are interested new lights also,
Is there a price limit?

In Europe, the TK75 is below the Euro200,
RC40 is just above Euro300,
The TM26 just below Euro400,
But those Wiseled's are above Euro700 !!

 

[utlgoa]

Olight X6 is the one to get for your line of work, and can be purchased for around $463.01. Checkout this Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb8sJJ34HOQ

 

[n2deep]

TM-26 and never look back.

 

[bluemax_1]

Olight X6 is the one to get for your line of work, and can be purchased for around $463.01. Checkout this Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb8sJJ34HOQ

In the US, there are numerous places listing the X6 for mid-$3xx with free shipping, just by looking on Google. I have one on the way.

Between all the SAR thrower lights like the TK75, TK70, RC40, SR90 etc. what made the decision for me was a German (taschenlampe?) YouTube video comparing numerous lights including the TK70 and X6. The video showed beamshots from the various lights at various locations.

The TK70, TK75 and RC40 are all somewhat similar in throw, with the TK70 and RC40 having a slight edge over the TK75 in candela (~130,000 for the TK70 & RC40 vs 96,000 for the TK75), which is somewhat visible in comparison shots/videos, including CPF member Patriot's RC40 video. The TK75 and RC40 have much more spill/flood than the TK70 though.

In the German video though, there's a Lokation 2, where the lights are aimed at a group of trees, a fair distance away. Many of the other lights hardly made it that far, except the TK70 and X6, but the hotspot of the X6 (which looked about as bright as the TK70's hotspot) was so much bigger, illuminating a much bigger section of the stand of trees, AND the X6 has pretty ridiculous spill.

I ordered the light and will examine and test it out when I get it, as well as examine it to assess its mod potential.


Max

P.S. THIS vid. Watch it in 1080p to really see what I'm talking about.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jkZa7y9Uta0

 

[bluemax_1]

Echo154,
Our K9 group are interested new lights also,
Is there a price limit?

In Europe, the TK75 is below the Euro200,
RC40 is just above Euro300,
The TM26 just below Euro400,
But those Wiseled's are above Euro700 !!

The TM26 costs MORE than the RC40?

Those Wiseleds are interesting, but they don't have any candela specs, so I have no idea what their throw is like.

TM-26 and never look back.

I have to say, if tracking through brush and wooded area, the small size of the TM26, PLUS its wall-of-light makes it a REALLY great light. The throwers are going to be for greater distances. The 4x,xxx candela, 3,500 lumen TM26 will throw far enough to spot a dog or human at about 150-200 yards (depending on the user's night sight of course). The throwers will be better for longer ranges.



Max

 

[TEEJ]

The X6 is a bit on the bulky side, and there's an exterior battery pack with a cord between them....counter to the specified request to control size/weight.

Since we still don't know if the use will involve extremely long lines of sight, or broad fields or warehouse interiors, etc, or not, we don't know if the best light for the task will light up 3 football fields at the same time, or, just the field goal 1/2 mile away, etc.

 

[alpg88]

i would suggest to try those lights in foggy conditions, cuz cold leds with wide beam and spill, will light up air in front of you, water droplets in the air, reflect light as mirrors, and limit your view. i have few such lights with small reflectors, and bright leds, in fog they are all useless, only hotwire, or hid with 2700k bulb, that have very little to no spill is useful in fog. warm leds would work as well in tigh,t no spil beam, but i don't have those. can't even think of one.

 

[bluemax_1]

The X6 is a bit on the bulky side, and there's an exterior battery pack with a cord between them....counter to the specified request to control size/weight.

Since we still don't know if the use will involve extremely long lines of sight, or broad fields or warehouse interiors, etc, or not, we don't know if the best light for the task will light up 3 football fields at the same time, or, just the field goal 1/2 mile away, etc.

The X6 light itself is not overly bulky or heavy compared to an RC40 for example. The belt mounted battery pack makes it easier to carry and folks tend to not notice it after a while. The connecting cord may be a nuisance in thick brush though.

i would suggest to try those lights in foggy conditions, cuz cold leds with wide beam and spill, will light up air in front of you, water droplets in the air, reflect light as mirrors, and limit your view. i have few such lights with small reflectors, and bright leds, in fog they are all useless, only hotwire, or hid with 2700k bulb, that have very little to no spill is useful in fog. warm leds would work as well in tigh,t no spil beam, but i don't have those. can't even think of one.

Good points, however, in foggy conditions, visibility is going to be poor anyway regardless. Under those conditions, simply using a lower brightness helps.

Yes, yellow/amber lights tend to have less glare in foggy conditions. I wouldn't want a tight beam light as my primary/sole light in all conditions though. For foot searches, the tight bright spot with no spill causes major tunnel vision. It would make a good specific condition light, but not as the primary or sole light.


Max

 

[TEEJ]

cd is cd, and in fog, the narrow beam is interacting with the water vapor the same way a fat beam is.

The beam itself looks dowel-like, but you can't really see through the glowing fog particles any better when its a small spot.

For example in broad day light, the fog glows, but you see better than if it were dark and you had say just an aspheric light.

The trick in fog is to get DOWN, and shine under it if you can, or as much below it as you can, unless its very low laying fog, and then you climb up on something, or have tall parents to inherit the appropriate genes, etc, and shine OVER it, etc.


:D