woodrow
Flashlight Enthusiast
Acro A3100 and Streamlight Lightbox HID(s) Quick Review // new pics 8/16/08
I would like this considered for the reviews section if possible... Thanks!
8/16/08 new pics added several reply's down
Hi,
Yesterday I received 2 35 watt H.I.D. lights from Brightguy. http://www.brightguy.com I must say that they are one of my favorite places to order from... they are always happy to answer my questions... and have given me great customer service over the years. Anyway... I have been looking for a HID and wanted the Acro, but Greg included the Lightbox so I would have a choice.
First the Lightbox. This is a BIG light. It feels incredibly solid and not at all fragile. (although I would never want to drop any HID light...bulbs are expensive) Here are its dimensions:
Length: 14.9 in. (38 cm)
Body Width: 5.1 in. (13 cm)
Overall Height: 8.8 in. (23 cm)
Head Diameter: 7.7 in. (20cm)
Weight with battery: 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg)
Battery is a sealed lead acid type It gives up to 1 hour and 45 minutes of use...it takes 8-10 hours to charge and is designed to always rest on its charger when not in use... so you always have a charged light when you need it.
There is a short video of the HID lightbox on Streamlight's site. Here is a link: http://www.streamlight.com/HID_movie2.html
This is not the light I would want to take on a 8 mile hike through the woods, but It would be a great choice for a fireman, on a boat, or where its articulating head can be of use. Here are a few pictures of the light.
Here it is next to the Acro Notice each light comes with a diffuser lens!
The Lightbox's movable head
Size comparison Light on bottom is SF E2DL
The lightbox is activated by a up/down toggle switch with up turning on the light, and down turning on the 2 5mm leds in the front of the light. Middle position is off. This light is over I would guess 800+ lumens within a second or two of being turned on. It also has a nice color temp beam.... not to cool (blue) The diffuser lens fits into a grove in the rubber bezel bumper. It should be put in so the rows of prisms (?) should be horizontal, because it has a wide rectangle brighter section of light in the diffused beam. This again, is a very solid feeling light. I would not be afraid to take it into any kind of storm at all.
Next the Acro.
The Acro is a much smaller and lighter light. It uses a lithium battery pack that charges out of the light. This is nice, because you could buy an extra battery pack and have an extra 90 minutes of runtime. With its battery, the Acro weighs a little over 4 pounds. It is 11" long, 4" wide at the base, 2&2/3" at the body, 4&1/2 at the head. It reminds me somewhat of my old UK lightcannon 10Watt HID. (until I turn it on) The Acro also turns on and becomes very bright very quickly. Possibly slightly behind the lightbox...but not much. So if you decide you need either light, but worry about their spool up times.... don't.
Here is a picture of the Acro It comes with a hard plastic case.
Here is a picture of the Acro's battery and charger
I will post beamshots of both lights below. My overall impressions from one night of use are very favorable for both lights. The Streamlight feels like it is ready for anything.... fires, floods, whatever. It will light up things (light them up...not just put a small spot on them like most of my led throw lights) for up to a mile. I do like that it comes with a diffuser lens, because I am mainly using it in town...and blinding people on I25 by by work, would most likely not be appreciated. The Acro just seems way too small and light to put out the kind of light that it does. I also like how easily its diffuser snaps on and off. This light will also throw very well with the diffuser off, illuminating things several hundred yards away.
I will post beamshots in a few minutes. Thanks for reading!
I would like this considered for the reviews section if possible... Thanks!
8/16/08 new pics added several reply's down
Hi,
Yesterday I received 2 35 watt H.I.D. lights from Brightguy. http://www.brightguy.com I must say that they are one of my favorite places to order from... they are always happy to answer my questions... and have given me great customer service over the years. Anyway... I have been looking for a HID and wanted the Acro, but Greg included the Lightbox so I would have a choice.
First the Lightbox. This is a BIG light. It feels incredibly solid and not at all fragile. (although I would never want to drop any HID light...bulbs are expensive) Here are its dimensions:
Length: 14.9 in. (38 cm)
Body Width: 5.1 in. (13 cm)
Overall Height: 8.8 in. (23 cm)
Head Diameter: 7.7 in. (20cm)
Weight with battery: 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg)
Battery is a sealed lead acid type It gives up to 1 hour and 45 minutes of use...it takes 8-10 hours to charge and is designed to always rest on its charger when not in use... so you always have a charged light when you need it.
There is a short video of the HID lightbox on Streamlight's site. Here is a link: http://www.streamlight.com/HID_movie2.html
This is not the light I would want to take on a 8 mile hike through the woods, but It would be a great choice for a fireman, on a boat, or where its articulating head can be of use. Here are a few pictures of the light.
Here it is next to the Acro Notice each light comes with a diffuser lens!
The Lightbox's movable head
Size comparison Light on bottom is SF E2DL
The lightbox is activated by a up/down toggle switch with up turning on the light, and down turning on the 2 5mm leds in the front of the light. Middle position is off. This light is over I would guess 800+ lumens within a second or two of being turned on. It also has a nice color temp beam.... not to cool (blue) The diffuser lens fits into a grove in the rubber bezel bumper. It should be put in so the rows of prisms (?) should be horizontal, because it has a wide rectangle brighter section of light in the diffused beam. This again, is a very solid feeling light. I would not be afraid to take it into any kind of storm at all.
Next the Acro.
The Acro is a much smaller and lighter light. It uses a lithium battery pack that charges out of the light. This is nice, because you could buy an extra battery pack and have an extra 90 minutes of runtime. With its battery, the Acro weighs a little over 4 pounds. It is 11" long, 4" wide at the base, 2&2/3" at the body, 4&1/2 at the head. It reminds me somewhat of my old UK lightcannon 10Watt HID. (until I turn it on) The Acro also turns on and becomes very bright very quickly. Possibly slightly behind the lightbox...but not much. So if you decide you need either light, but worry about their spool up times.... don't.
Here is a picture of the Acro It comes with a hard plastic case.
Here is a picture of the Acro's battery and charger
I will post beamshots of both lights below. My overall impressions from one night of use are very favorable for both lights. The Streamlight feels like it is ready for anything.... fires, floods, whatever. It will light up things (light them up...not just put a small spot on them like most of my led throw lights) for up to a mile. I do like that it comes with a diffuser lens, because I am mainly using it in town...and blinding people on I25 by by work, would most likely not be appreciated. The Acro just seems way too small and light to put out the kind of light that it does. I also like how easily its diffuser snaps on and off. This light will also throw very well with the diffuser off, illuminating things several hundred yards away.
I will post beamshots in a few minutes. Thanks for reading!
Last edited:
) at first, I did not like this, but now seeing how it works.... that you can use the light as a spotlight off your car or boat's battery, and just pull the dc (to cigarette lighter plug) cord out of the jack at the back of the light.... and the light is now mobile without it ever shutting off.
