Any headlamp as bright as the Surge?
- Thread starter FNG
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Lux Luthor
Flashlight Enthusiast
The Switchback would be the closest thing to Surge brightness, but I've heard it's not as bright.
txwest
Flashlight Enthusiast
How about the Surge & a roll of duct tape??
TX
I have an Aurora and it's just the ticket for "lightweight light". It's also compact and bright enough to make a good headlight for an "emergency kit". Lithiums AAA's (when available) should make it rock.
But if more power for less money appeals to you, get the Rayovac "Kid's Adventure" headlamp at walmart for $6.47 and put in a $15 Luxeon. This is an easy mod since all you have to do is file a little bit more out of the screw slots of a LS/o. Then solder on the leads and trim out the plastic "locator" (for the backplate) in the body. Then the Luxeon will mount to the body using the stock screws and holes!
Insert a pair of Lithium AA's and you should get run-time & brightness equivilent to a CMG reactor for only $23..
I built one of these and it's my "most used mod" mostly because I wear it when assembling small circut boards or other things where slight shadows make a big difference. Highly recommended..
But if more power for less money appeals to you, get the Rayovac "Kid's Adventure" headlamp at walmart for $6.47 and put in a $15 Luxeon. This is an easy mod since all you have to do is file a little bit more out of the screw slots of a LS/o. Then solder on the leads and trim out the plastic "locator" (for the backplate) in the body. Then the Luxeon will mount to the body using the stock screws and holes!
Insert a pair of Lithium AA's and you should get run-time & brightness equivilent to a CMG reactor for only $23..
I built one of these and it's my "most used mod" mostly because I wear it when assembling small circut boards or other things where slight shadows make a big difference. Highly recommended..
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FNG:
How much more brighter would it be? Brighter than both the Attitude and Aurora?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don't have a light meter, but I'd say it's easily more than twice as bright as both the Attitude and Aurora (I have both). It's also quite a bit brighter than an INOVA X5 too.
If you get a chance to see beamshots of a CMG Reactor on lithiums, it should be roughly the same as this mod..
The hardest part is soldering the 2 wires.
How much more brighter would it be? Brighter than both the Attitude and Aurora?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don't have a light meter, but I'd say it's easily more than twice as bright as both the Attitude and Aurora (I have both). It's also quite a bit brighter than an INOVA X5 too.
If you get a chance to see beamshots of a CMG Reactor on lithiums, it should be roughly the same as this mod..
The hardest part is soldering the 2 wires.
Hi FNG, none of PT headlamp is as bright as Surge. The cloest would be the Vortec with 3D bulb and NiMH. This setup is much brighter than Switchback.
Switchback is good for tasks that require reliable, waterproof, long runtime, and built-in LED. This could be ideal for caving and general backpacking.
However, its 7.5W claims is way beyond exaggeration. PT has realized this and changed its spec to *up to 5W* in their web lately. 5W is still way exaggerated unless its bulb is extremely inefficient. If the light could provide same brightness as vortec with 3D lamp and NiMH, this would be my dream light.
Alan
Switchback is good for tasks that require reliable, waterproof, long runtime, and built-in LED. This could be ideal for caving and general backpacking.
However, its 7.5W claims is way beyond exaggeration. PT has realized this and changed its spec to *up to 5W* in their web lately. 5W is still way exaggerated unless its bulb is extremely inefficient. If the light could provide same brightness as vortec with 3D lamp and NiMH, this would be my dream light.
Alan
leddite
Enlightened
well, if you want bright...
http://www.turbocatusa.com/
$115 to $160 http://www.turbocatusa.com/config.html
and they run them HOT wo 10W is really 12ish and 15 is 19ish
rechargable too.
toot toot
http://www.turbocatusa.com/
$115 to $160 http://www.turbocatusa.com/config.html
and they run them HOT wo 10W is really 12ish and 15 is 19ish
rechargable too.
toot toot
Buy a NiteIze headband and slip in a 2 or 3 cell 3V lithium cell flashlight of your choice, an X5 or any 3AA tubular LED light.
The only thing the side mount is awkward for is close in work.
Your EDC can go easily on your head.
The only thing the side mount is awkward for is close in work.
Your EDC can go easily on your head.
txwest
Flashlight Enthusiast
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TTS:
Txwest
What if you want to take it off?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Depends on how much hair you have now, & how much you want after you take it off...
TX
Txwest
What if you want to take it off?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Depends on how much hair you have now, & how much you want after you take it off...
Lux Luthor
Flashlight Enthusiast
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Slick:
I have an Aurora and it's just the ticket for "lightweight light". It's also compact and bright enough to make a good headlight for an "emergency kit". Lithiums AAA's (when available) should make it rock.
But if more power for less money appeals to you, get the Rayovac "Kid's Adventure" headlamp at walmart for $6.47 and put in a $15 Luxeon. This is an easy mod since all you have to do is file a little bit more out of the screw slots of a LS/o. Then solder on the leads and trim out the plastic "locator" (for the backplate) in the body. Then the Luxeon will mount to the body using the stock screws and holes!
Insert a pair of Lithium AA's and you should get run-time & brightness equivilent to a CMG reactor for only $23..
I built one of these and it's my "most used mod" mostly because I wear it when assembling small circut boards or other things where slight shadows make a big difference. Highly recommended..<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Slick,
Have you tried that LS with NiMH (I assume yours is white)? I have two of those kidlamp mods you describe, one red, one red/orange, and they both kick a$$ - better than Aurora, but not as wide. I don't have a white LS, so I'm wondering whether the voltage would be too low, as I've heard the Reactor is no good on NiMH.
PS. I don't think the Aurora was designed for lithiums. I think that might blow the LEDs. I wonder the same thing about the Arc.
I have an Aurora and it's just the ticket for "lightweight light". It's also compact and bright enough to make a good headlight for an "emergency kit". Lithiums AAA's (when available) should make it rock.
But if more power for less money appeals to you, get the Rayovac "Kid's Adventure" headlamp at walmart for $6.47 and put in a $15 Luxeon. This is an easy mod since all you have to do is file a little bit more out of the screw slots of a LS/o. Then solder on the leads and trim out the plastic "locator" (for the backplate) in the body. Then the Luxeon will mount to the body using the stock screws and holes!
Insert a pair of Lithium AA's and you should get run-time & brightness equivilent to a CMG reactor for only $23..
I built one of these and it's my "most used mod" mostly because I wear it when assembling small circut boards or other things where slight shadows make a big difference. Highly recommended..<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Slick,
Have you tried that LS with NiMH (I assume yours is white)? I have two of those kidlamp mods you describe, one red, one red/orange, and they both kick a$$ - better than Aurora, but not as wide. I don't have a white LS, so I'm wondering whether the voltage would be too low, as I've heard the Reactor is no good on NiMH.
PS. I don't think the Aurora was designed for lithiums. I think that might blow the LEDs. I wonder the same thing about the Arc.
Lux Luthor
Flashlight Enthusiast
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan:
Hi FNG, none of PT headlamp is as bright as Surge. The cloest would be the Vortec with 3D bulb and NiMH. This setup is much brighter than Switchback.
Switchback is good for tasks that require reliable, waterproof, long runtime, and built-in LED. This could be ideal for caving and general backpacking.
However, its 7.5W claims is way beyond exaggeration. PT has realized this and changed its spec to *up to 5W* in their web lately. 5W is still way exaggerated unless its bulb is extremely inefficient. If the light could provide same brightness as vortec with 3D lamp and NiMH, this would be my dream light.
Alan<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Alan,
I'm surprised about the Switchback. I don't have one, but I've seen one, and the head looks like a Surge head. I know others reported the bulb is dimmer, but I didn't know it was that much dimmer. Makes me wonder why they bothered to design a Surge head onto it in the first place.
Hi FNG, none of PT headlamp is as bright as Surge. The cloest would be the Vortec with 3D bulb and NiMH. This setup is much brighter than Switchback.
Switchback is good for tasks that require reliable, waterproof, long runtime, and built-in LED. This could be ideal for caving and general backpacking.
However, its 7.5W claims is way beyond exaggeration. PT has realized this and changed its spec to *up to 5W* in their web lately. 5W is still way exaggerated unless its bulb is extremely inefficient. If the light could provide same brightness as vortec with 3D lamp and NiMH, this would be my dream light.
Alan<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Alan,
I'm surprised about the Switchback. I don't have one, but I've seen one, and the head looks like a Surge head. I know others reported the bulb is dimmer, but I didn't know it was that much dimmer. Makes me wonder why they bothered to design a Surge head onto it in the first place.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Lux Luthor:
Slick,
Have you tried that LS with NiMH (I assume yours is white)? I have two of those kidlamp mods you describe, one red, one red/orange, and they both kick a$$ - better than Aurora, but not as wide. I don't have a white LS, so I'm wondering whether the voltage would be too low, as I've heard the Reactor is no good on NiMH.
PS. I don't think the Aurora was designed for lithiums. I think that might blow the LEDs. I wonder the same thing about the Arc.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The Luxeon is dreadfully dim on 2 AA NiMh's... The lithiums are defitely the way to go for 2 cells. If you can run 3 AA cells, NiMh's work wonderfully. You get 3.6 volts, and unregulated the LS will pull far more than it's rated 350Ma - more like 700-850
Slick,
Have you tried that LS with NiMH (I assume yours is white)? I have two of those kidlamp mods you describe, one red, one red/orange, and they both kick a$$ - better than Aurora, but not as wide. I don't have a white LS, so I'm wondering whether the voltage would be too low, as I've heard the Reactor is no good on NiMH.
PS. I don't think the Aurora was designed for lithiums. I think that might blow the LEDs. I wonder the same thing about the Arc.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The Luxeon is dreadfully dim on 2 AA NiMh's... The lithiums are defitely the way to go for 2 cells. If you can run 3 AA cells, NiMh's work wonderfully. You get 3.6 volts, and unregulated the LS will pull far more than it's rated 350Ma - more like 700-850
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Lux Luthor:
Alan,
I'm surprised about the Switchback. I don't have one, but I've seen one, and the head looks like a Surge head. I know others reported the bulb is dimmer, but I didn't know it was that much dimmer. Makes me wonder why they bothered to design a Surge head onto it in the first place.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I guess the big head is due to its built-in LED, regulated circuit (for LED) and circuit for high/low beam. Another possible reason is that they expected high heat generated by its *over-optimistic* 7W+ high beam:-(
Alan
Alan,
I'm surprised about the Switchback. I don't have one, but I've seen one, and the head looks like a Surge head. I know others reported the bulb is dimmer, but I didn't know it was that much dimmer. Makes me wonder why they bothered to design a Surge head onto it in the first place.
I guess the big head is due to its built-in LED, regulated circuit (for LED) and circuit for high/low beam. Another possible reason is that they expected high heat generated by its *over-optimistic* 7W+ high beam:-(
Alan
Try a blackdiamond headlamp.
Their best model has xenon bulb and regulated led all in the same reflector head.
The top model also allows 3 levels of brightness control for the xenon bulb and 3 different xenon bulbs. extended life, bright, and super bright rated to 120 meters. Very compact and well designed.
STEELHEAD
Their best model has xenon bulb and regulated led all in the same reflector head.
The top model also allows 3 levels of brightness control for the xenon bulb and 3 different xenon bulbs. extended life, bright, and super bright rated to 120 meters. Very compact and well designed.
STEELHEAD
