AmondoTech N30 or Sam's HID?

[Hellchicken]

Hello flashaholics!

I'm new in this great forum, and I want to join the world of the bright HID Flash-(Search-/Spot-)lights, but i have a few questions.

I first wanted to buy a K3500R, but it costs in Germany 479,00 €uro. That are about 747 $! This is to much for a poor pupil and i read about the broken glass.

Then i read the threads about the N30 and the Vector/ Sams Power-On-Board HID. The sam's one is unbelivable cheap, but its very heavy and i can only get it in the US and the shipping costs to Germany are twice the lamp price!
The AmondoTech TITANIUM N30 compact iis a bit more expensive, and i read nothing bad about it, but the last entry was last year and have anyone long-term experiences with this HID lights? And whats about replacementparts? Are they available?

I hope you can help me to decide wich one I should buy ( or should i buy both?)!

Thanks for answers,
The Hellchicken


P.S: I will go to the US in my summer holidays and let it ship to my aunt in Santa Rosa, CA. Is there a good Shop to buy a HID flashligt in the near or a flashaholic wich can i visit?

 

[BVH]

Welcome to CPF and if I were in your shoes, I'd wait just a short bit of time until the Amondotech (old name) Titanium L35 is available from Battery Junction, a member here.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=193703

 

[Patriot]

:welcome:


I agree with BVH. The L35 release is fairly close now and it's got the right mix of everything you're looking for.


If you can't wait a couple of more months then the N30 is the hands down choice over the Sam's/POB.

 

[Brownstone]

If you can't wait a couple of more months then the N30 is the hands down choice over the Sam's/POB.

I wouldn't call it the hands down choice unless you can get if for under $30 including shipping. That is the magic thing about the POB HID.

 

[BVH]

In my opinion, the POB (I have 2) is not a light that get's used very frequently. It's much too heavy. It's not much different than my Costco HID's (2) in usefullness. Much too big and heavy. I use my N30s (3) all the time.

But all HID nuts should at least have one POB to use as a stationary work light. If you don't have to carry it or move it around a lot, then they are OK. Or buy it and scavenge the ballast and lamp for a mod.

 

[Patriot]

I wouldn't call it the hands down choice unless you can get if for under $30 including shipping. That is the magic thing about the POB HID.

The reason that I said the hands down choice for the hellchicken is because he was looking at a $679 microfire. I just figured that anyone even looking at a light that expensive wouldn't find the price of the N30 objectionable since it's a tiny fraction compared that amount. If hellchicken said that he only had a $75 bucks to spend then I would have said the POB.

So what does the N20 offer over the POB for roughly $100 more? Let's see, it is smaller, far lighter, has a better reflector, better color temperature, better battery which is also easily accessible, nicer quality thicker plastic, low output/long run-time LED array, the advantage of dealer support, etc. That would be worth $100 to me. The next closest light with the N30's performance is roughly $250 more than the N30. In these respects I still consider it the hands down winner.




Hellchicken, don't forget that you get a CPF discount through Battery Junction too. Coupon code cpf2006 for 5% off.

 

[Hellchicken]

Hello and many thanks for your answers!

@ Patriot36: First i looked for some small HID Flashlights (Microfire, Dipper etc.) , but i heard the ballast / inverter died in the cheaper ones after some months, and the more quality flashlights are to expensive.

I think now its better to wait for the L35. But when it is not out in June or Juli I will buy the N30. So i have to wait ( and i can save $ ).

I also think that the POB is just good as a "Home" light because of the lead acid Battery. I don't like lead Batteries anymore because I have bought a 6V 55W Halogen Searchlight a few years ago, but this one was disappointing. After 1 minute the battery was empty and recharge lasts one day, and after approx 10 cycles the battery was dead.

Thank you very much!
The Hellchicken

P.S. Thanks for the Information for the 5% Code!

 

[husky20]

Hellchicken that is one funny name

 

[Dead_Nuts]

Of course with the N30 going for $140, the N35 is going to be in a completely different price range at $300+. I think this just makes the N30 more of a bargain.

 

[FredM]

I would buy the POB light from someone on the CPF B/S/T and tell them to keep the battery. Then use a NiMH pack to lighten it up. That will save a ton on shipping.

 

[Patriot]

I would buy the POB light from someone on the CPF B/S/T and tell them to keep the battery. Then use a NiMH pack to lighten it up. That will save a ton on shipping.

+1 to what Fred said.

 

[guiri]

Yeah but the sam light is under 50 bucks and an excellent light