half-watt
Flashlight Enthusiast
recently constructed a ROP using a FiveMega 2.5" Throwmaster reflector/bezel. host is a 2C MagLite. power is 2xAW 3.7v Li-ion 'C' cells. bulb is, of course, a 6VDC, 24W Pelican BigD Rechargeable bulb.
very nice indeed. throws very nicely and has nice spill at a distance of 200'-250' (60m-75m).
haven't checked burntimes. though i would be leery of running it straight through for fear of possibly??? overheating the Li-ion cells and experiencing a thermal runaway condition with attendant undesirable consequences. this may be naive on my part, but until someone with more knowledge confirms otherwise, i'll err on the side of caution.
a couple days ago, received in the mail a very nice silver 3D host Black Bear Borealis (aka BBB aka B-cubed aka B^3 aka B*3 ==> at least in my mind, not sure if the Borealis has any accepted "nicknames").
flawless construction/craftmanship. superb, powerful performance.
it does use NiMh cells for power. took Juan's suggestion (he's a super guy to deal with - both a gentlemen and a craftsman; apparently equal doses of both qualities [100% of each quality!!!; *NOT* 50/50; he's a 200% kind of guy], IMO) and went with the "Light Stipple" reflector. what a beautiful beam pattern - free of artifacts and interference patterns. very, very nice indeed, to say the least. throw is still more than adequate for my purposes.
just finished a brief side-by-side comparision from my bathroom window shining out up to 250' (75m) until the forest trees surrounding my backyard become too thick for any light to shine through.
there is simply no comparison whatsoever (and for the price difference, perhaps there shouldn't be).
the BBB simply blows the ROP away. too bad i've never owned (and still don't own) a camera as beamshots would be very telling. this is NOT to say that the ROP is a wimp. in my very limited incand-MOD experience, it is a very fine light and can be made easily, even with less expensive $20 reflectors.
for my purposes, i'll probably never need a HID light as the BBB is simply more than i'll ever need (YMMV). the 5M-Throwmaster ROP was more than fine for the 200'-250' max brightly (BRIGHTLY, in my estimation; YMMV) illuminated distance that i was looking for. my impression was that the BBB, even with the Light Stipple reflector was easily capable of more throw as well. the trees just didn't permit such. even a lighthouse wouldn't get any greater throw due to the thickness of the trees. the BBB seemed 2x to 3x as bright as the ROP with its 24W bulb.
the BBB gives a new meaning, in my experience, to the term "wall of light" - it sure attracted moths from all over to dance in the light and try to get in the open bathroom window. the field of view that was brightly illuminated at that distance was quite impressive. now, as i think back, it was probably nearly equal to my eyes field of view. this is very different than what one normally experiences with most flashlights. imagine moving one's eyes, just as in the daytime, instead of having to continually re-direct the flashlight to where one's eyes are looking. now, that, IMO, *IS* a WALL OF LIGHT!!!
i'm very happy that i now have both of these lights in my collection.
if you could only have one of them, then, depending upon primary ownership criteria (price v. performance) the choice of the ONE would be different.
if price is one's primary ownership determining criteria, then even though my ROP was pricier with its 5M-Throwmaster reflector and AW Li-ion 'C' cells, it was still significantly less expensive than the BBB.
if performance is the measure, than the BBB is certainly the way to go.
furthermore, if things go "bump in the night" in the backyard, then the BBB is the one i'd grab first - a "no-brainer", IMO.
however, if i was out strolling (not backpacking, mind you, just a stroll after dark), i'd probably take the smaller, lighter ROP, though a 3D MagLite with standard Mag-Instruments belt-loop/holster accessory is certainly doable as well.
is the BBB the ultimate MagLite incand mod? don't know, as i'm only familiar with the BBB and ROP. however, ultimate or not, it's more light than i'll (and most people will) ever conceivably need to use.
compared to the price of some SF lights, the BBB is in the same "ballpark", so to speak, and much cheaper than something like the very fine SF 10x Dominator (and also MUCH, MUCH BRIGHTER is my guess based upon my experience with a number of other SF models with upgraded bulbs).
i think i'm going to cut out a thick cardboard "Batman" silhouette and place it on the BBB lens and shine it on some low clouds - at least until the silhouette catches fire!!!
[please note: that last comment was meant facetiously.]
very nice indeed. throws very nicely and has nice spill at a distance of 200'-250' (60m-75m).
haven't checked burntimes. though i would be leery of running it straight through for fear of possibly??? overheating the Li-ion cells and experiencing a thermal runaway condition with attendant undesirable consequences. this may be naive on my part, but until someone with more knowledge confirms otherwise, i'll err on the side of caution.
a couple days ago, received in the mail a very nice silver 3D host Black Bear Borealis (aka BBB aka B-cubed aka B^3 aka B*3 ==> at least in my mind, not sure if the Borealis has any accepted "nicknames").
flawless construction/craftmanship. superb, powerful performance.
it does use NiMh cells for power. took Juan's suggestion (he's a super guy to deal with - both a gentlemen and a craftsman; apparently equal doses of both qualities [100% of each quality!!!; *NOT* 50/50; he's a 200% kind of guy], IMO) and went with the "Light Stipple" reflector. what a beautiful beam pattern - free of artifacts and interference patterns. very, very nice indeed, to say the least. throw is still more than adequate for my purposes.
just finished a brief side-by-side comparision from my bathroom window shining out up to 250' (75m) until the forest trees surrounding my backyard become too thick for any light to shine through.
there is simply no comparison whatsoever (and for the price difference, perhaps there shouldn't be).
the BBB simply blows the ROP away. too bad i've never owned (and still don't own) a camera as beamshots would be very telling. this is NOT to say that the ROP is a wimp. in my very limited incand-MOD experience, it is a very fine light and can be made easily, even with less expensive $20 reflectors.
for my purposes, i'll probably never need a HID light as the BBB is simply more than i'll ever need (YMMV). the 5M-Throwmaster ROP was more than fine for the 200'-250' max brightly (BRIGHTLY, in my estimation; YMMV) illuminated distance that i was looking for. my impression was that the BBB, even with the Light Stipple reflector was easily capable of more throw as well. the trees just didn't permit such. even a lighthouse wouldn't get any greater throw due to the thickness of the trees. the BBB seemed 2x to 3x as bright as the ROP with its 24W bulb.
the BBB gives a new meaning, in my experience, to the term "wall of light" - it sure attracted moths from all over to dance in the light and try to get in the open bathroom window. the field of view that was brightly illuminated at that distance was quite impressive. now, as i think back, it was probably nearly equal to my eyes field of view. this is very different than what one normally experiences with most flashlights. imagine moving one's eyes, just as in the daytime, instead of having to continually re-direct the flashlight to where one's eyes are looking. now, that, IMO, *IS* a WALL OF LIGHT!!!
i'm very happy that i now have both of these lights in my collection.
if you could only have one of them, then, depending upon primary ownership criteria (price v. performance) the choice of the ONE would be different.
if price is one's primary ownership determining criteria, then even though my ROP was pricier with its 5M-Throwmaster reflector and AW Li-ion 'C' cells, it was still significantly less expensive than the BBB.
if performance is the measure, than the BBB is certainly the way to go.
furthermore, if things go "bump in the night" in the backyard, then the BBB is the one i'd grab first - a "no-brainer", IMO.
however, if i was out strolling (not backpacking, mind you, just a stroll after dark), i'd probably take the smaller, lighter ROP, though a 3D MagLite with standard Mag-Instruments belt-loop/holster accessory is certainly doable as well.
is the BBB the ultimate MagLite incand mod? don't know, as i'm only familiar with the BBB and ROP. however, ultimate or not, it's more light than i'll (and most people will) ever conceivably need to use.
compared to the price of some SF lights, the BBB is in the same "ballpark", so to speak, and much cheaper than something like the very fine SF 10x Dominator (and also MUCH, MUCH BRIGHTER is my guess based upon my experience with a number of other SF models with upgraded bulbs).
i think i'm going to cut out a thick cardboard "Batman" silhouette and place it on the BBB lens and shine it on some low clouds - at least until the silhouette catches fire!!!
[please note: that last comment was meant facetiously.]
Last edited:
