Choosing a nightstand light

[Wrecked]

Trying to pick the official nightstand light.

Criteria:
>Instant access to really low setting (for getting up without waking the wife).
>Instant access to super high (for blinding any would-be intruders).
>I think 200 lumens would be enough for the blinding (correct me if I'm wrong).
>Not real concerned with battery or size.
>I'd like to keep the price below $70

A few variable ring lights fit the bill but I'm also interested in any clicky lights that are out there.

Thanks for any tips.

Wrecked

 

[timo54321]

I've always used my EDC light as my nighstand light just for the fact that I use it everyday, I know it works, and the batteries are always maintained. I currently carry a NiteCore IFE1 but I've got a Zebralight sc600 on the way. I can't wait to get this light it is quite powerful for it's small size.

 

[DIΩDΣ]

So far my ZL H51w has been a good nightstand light for me and seems to fit your requirements (well the warm version is a little shy of the 200 but the cool version is), and instant on into either moonlight mode or high. Of course for intruder purposes the brighter the better and a more siezure inducing random strobe would be better.

 

[Wrecked]

So far my ZL H51w has been a good nightstand light for me and seems to fit your requirements (well the warm version is a little shy of the 200 but the cool version is), and instant on into either moonlight mode or high. Of course for intruder purposes the brighter the better and a more siezure inducing random strobe would be better.

Does the H51 have the same UI as the SC51? I have the SC51 and I can't get to low mode without first getting a big flash from high mode first.

 

[flatline]

I use a Zebralight SC51w for my nightstand for exactly those reasons (instant high or instant low, depending on my needs). It's an impressive little light, but the PWM used for the lowest setting is bothersome.

It's my understanding that the SC600 is current controlled for all output levels, so if you don't like noticeable PWM, it would be a better choice. It's also much brighter and a little bigger, if that matters to you.

If you don't mind fiddling with the head, any of the Quark (or similar) lights will probably work for you. You can start either Max or Moon-mode just by positioning the head properly before turning it on.

--flatline

 

[Wrecked]

I use a Zebralight SC51w for my nightstand for exactly those reasons (instant high or instant low, depending on my needs). It's an impressive little light, but the PWM used for the lowest setting is bothersome.

--flatline

How do you get to low with the SC51 without getting preflash?

 

[Wrecked]

I use a Zebralight SC51w for my nightstand for exactly those reasons (instant high or instant low, depending on my needs). It's an impressive little light, but the PWM used for the lowest setting is bothersome.

--flatline

How do you get to low with the SC51 without getting preflash (hitting high first)?

 

[Wrecked]

If you don't mind fiddling with the head, any of the Quark (or similar) lights will probably work for you. You can start either Max or Moon-mode just by positioning the head properly before turning it on.

--flatline

What about Quark preflash?

 

[brembo]

How do you get to low with the SC51 without getting preflash (hitting high first)?

Cover bezel with hand.

I use a Nitecore EX10 for nightstand low light duties. It has memory and I keep it on low.

 

[Colonel Sanders]

None of my Zebras pre-flash. I just hold the button down until the light comes on and then let go and it's on the lowest mode. But then I don't have an SC51 but I sure would have thought the UI to be pretty much the same as an SC30 or SC60.

 

[dosei-45]

How do you get to low with the SC51 without getting preflash (hitting high first)?

HOLD the button down. The light will come on in low, and then cycle up to medium and then high (when you release the button, it will stop cycling and stay in the mode is was in when you released the button). So...hold down the button, light comes on in low, release the button to leave it in low.

 

[Wrecked]

I think I want to keep my SC51 downstairs for when I walk the dogs.
So, I think I want something other than a ZB for this light. Quark is great but the preflash is no good.

 

[tx101]

I am using a Xeno Cube at the moment, simply because if I knock it over it will not roll off the nightstand :D

 

[Amix]

I've been using my JetBeam rrt0 as my nightstand light. It's nice because it's very small, well built, stands and tailstands nice, and also is very easy to adjust correctly with the variable ring.

It turns on with a button on the back. The variable ring adjusts easily from super low (< 1 lumen) to max (over 200 lumens), and there's also a strobe mode if you turn it the other way (maybe that'd be useful for temporarily stunning an attacker). It's easy to adjust it quickly to a mode that doesn't wake up other people, you could just keep that as the default setting for the ring.

The price appears to be just a bit over your $70. On ebay right now there's one buy-it-now for $89 with free shipping and another one that's at $59.99 with 1 day left in the auction.

 

[flatline]

How do you get to low with the SC51 without getting preflash?

There is no pre-flash on either of my Zebralights. If you press and hold the button rather than just clicking it, it starts at Low and then cycles up. If you get the timing wrong and release too soon, it can go to high, but with a little bit of practice, it won't happen too often (I get Low 100% of the time on my H501w, but I still get High accidentally maybe one time in five for the SC51w...need more practice I guess).

Oh, and the pre-flash on my Quark AA is very minimal. I don't notice it unless I'm specifically looking for it.

--flatline

 

[Wrecked]

Oh, and the pre-flash on my Quark AA is very minimal. I don't notice it unless I'm specifically looking for it.

But if it was completely dark in a room and you turned it on low, would it be noticeable?

 

[Websniper]

I myself am looking for a light that specifically suits my UI requirements...

However, I currently keep two lights on the nightstand:

Inova 24/7 - Provides low light, white or red. Great for navigating the house without waking the wife or ruining night vision. Especially great when I go up to my buddies cabin and the sleeping quarters are all wide open and you hafta run to the head (downstairs).

Primary: Streamlight TL2 Thunder Ranch version with retention ring
or
Surefire E2d

 

[Erzengel]

I use a Quark Tactical on my nightstand. When You need very low light (going to the bathroom), You usually have enough time to cover the lens with Your hand or blanket (or just close Your eyes, if You sleep alone).

 

[Wrecked]

How about the Fenix PD30? Tight head is full blast and loose head is super low. I've never heard of preflash with these........

 

[Erzengel]

The 0.15-0.2 Lumen of my Quark in Moonlight mode offer enough light for comfortably walking through the apartment and sufficient light for our 2 meter by 3 meter bathroom.
Edit: therefore the 3 lumen of the fenix are rather much. I once used a 3-4 lumen light on my nightstand and it was too bright. Using the Quark on moonlight is a lot less of stress for my eyes.