Crossing over to LED's?

[dougie]

My interest in high end and high performing flashlights has seen me take a close interest in LED technology.

Now I find that I actually prefer the color of a good LED beam to an incandescent light. However, what always stopped me thinking about carrying just LED lights whilst on duty was the inability of LED's to perform adequately at long range. Now with the advent of lights like the new 2 and 400 lumen Surefire's just around the corner my reasons for having a mixture of LED and incandescent will be gone.

To my mind the issues of color rendition are not reason enough to keep on using an incandescent light. I think,for me, my main reason for still carrying an incandescent light as well as a LED was the security of knowing how simple they are to fix in the field. However, I'm not sure that this is a valid reason as I always carry a backup anyway and the advantages of a well built LED significantly outweigh the potential disadvantages?

I wonder if I will be alone by converting to just LED's whilst on duty or whether others feel the same way?

Doug

 

[Zenster]

Not only are you not alone, but you need to get in line behind me and a lot of others. :thumbsup:

I hated the days of the blue LED's and didn't get serious about them until the white ones started arriving. That was the turning point for me.

I take my dog out a couple times after dark every evening, and I used to use a Dewalt 14.4 volt incan work light. Yes, it had that incan yellow look that we have all been used to for all these years.

Now, my "go to" light for those occasions is a Deree DBS that lights up the yard like daytime compared to the incan, and more and more, I am finding that not only do I prefer a nice, bright, white LED over any incan, but I actually do not like the look of incans anymore... at all.

So no, you're not alone.

 

[kramer5150]

I'm still on the fence... not sure which direction to go. Been using an incan 6P for 3 weeks at work and like it a lot, although it really eats batteries, and rechargeables are not an option... ... :mecry:

I have a Cree DX drop in on the way and will give that a try. I tried a Lowes task force and found its light too glaring, harsh on the eyes, and not able to resolve details well enough. Furthermore, it kind of "washes out" when used in an area lit by flourescent tubes overhead, and has the tendency to obscure some of the details I am trying to see.

Heres my scenario (as an example).... two thick pieces of zinc plated sheetmetal (shiny & reflective), .5" apart and 3-4 feet deep. I need to shine the light in between and look, between the pieces of metal to see a cable connector or if a wire harness has unplugged or if an alignment pin has become bent/damaged. I need something thats "soft" and not harsh on the eyes and not glaring, yet bright enough to illuminate and light up the smallest cracks and details... in all ambient lighting conditions.

I DO believe LEDs are the way to go... Its just a matter of finding the right one.

 

[Gunner12]

The best stock LED thrower can already reach 200 meters away.

I like LEDs in smaller-medium sized lights and HIDs for larger lights(even though I don't have a HID yet).

Incans for me will be reserved to "Wow" and paper burning duty(when I get to that point).

I don't do patrols(heh, have yet to get my first job) so this is just from what I've seen.

 

[dougie]

Whilst there are some well known LED throwers out there I can't think of many that meet the sort of criteria and all round usefulness that the forthcoming Surefire's are going to be able to offer let alone the warranty which goes with it?

What is more,I honestly think only a trusted and respected US manufacturer is likely to endear itself to the professionals who hitherto have been reluctant to abandon an incandescent light as part of their duty kit? This is not to say that other foreign made lights don't have merit but simply that the majority of professional users would have to have complete confidence in the product and manufacturer of a LED duty light to consider abandoning an incandescent completely.

There are few manufacturers today who instill in me the confidence I need in my kit (which I personally finance) other than the big US flashlight players. My post reflects my belief that Surefire see high powered LEDs as the future for duty lights and have started the ball rolling for other manufacturers to follow?

What is encouraging is the time frame which these developments are taking place in. I anticipate that many end users will adopt these higher performing LEDs in a short period of time. For many others it may take a lot longer but the future of personally carried duty lights is (IMHO) undoubtedly LED.

Doug

 

[yellow]

in ECD size - thats up to 2 CR123 or one 18650 - there is no question any more.

 

[Patriot]

I embraced leds as task and survival lights almost imediately and even put up with the early blue nichias. Everything from that point on has only gotten better. I love the high powered incans and HIDs but for tasks under 300 or 400 lumens I'm usually reaching for an led.

 

[bagman]

I still carry incans as my primary duty light, either 1 x 18650 or 2 x 18500 running LF bulbs in Leaf bodies with SF tops and tails.

I dont have a high quality CREE or SSC torch as yet but the dropins I've tried still dont have the punch to get past ambient light as well as a good incan and this is very important to me at work. Oops forgot just received my modded Gladius back but only played with it for one shift but it was very impressive.

I have a Malkoff Q2 on its way to me and will be interested to see how that compares.

I am saving up for one of the new surefire U series and will try it as a duty light if I can get a good tactical belt holster for it.

 

[Illum]

I'm still on the fence... not sure which direction to go. Been using an incan 6P for 3 weeks at work and like it a lot, although it really eats batteries, and rechargeables are not an option... ... :mecry:

head over to lighthound and get yourself a P60-compatible incan lamp for rechargeables. yeah, My G2 ate more batteries than me...well, compared to cashews

I carry one of each, E2D with LF EO-E2R + AW 17670 for incandescent and a TW4 [E1e + KL4 + AW RCR123A] for LED/backup

 

[MikeSalt]

Rechargable is the only way to go for incandescents. It will be a long time until I truly cross over to LED. I like my incandescent ROPs too much.

 

[pbs357]

Yes...cross over to LED... you will find many bright things in small packages... yes... you are getting sleepy... lol! :laughing:

Seriously, the efficiency of LEDs (runtime AND brightness) is what drew me over. Wide voltage ranges and flexibility of rechargeables is another huge win for LEDs. In a small, 2xcr123 sized light the output and runtime can't be beat. Years ago in the incan forum, the saying used to go "Bright, small, long runtime...choose any two." Well, with LED advancements I can now do all 3. 200 lumens, 2 cell body size, 1hour+ runtime.

It is true though that the color rendition isn't AS good as incan, but while it's a preference thing, it really doesn't bother me. Also, LED light does tend to get washed out by ambient light, but - if there's ambient light, why do you need your flashlight???

 

[lctorana]

Oh, goody.

Another LED-vs-incan thread.

 

[Icebreak]

dougie -

I believe an individual's perspective of how useful a given type of light is for them is as important as the duty their flashlights are used for. If LEDs work well for your purposes it's a wise choice you are making and I know you aren't alone. Every LEO I've shown my Malkoff to loved it. Most of them liked my modded HDS too. The number one complaint I hear from LEOs about incandescents is runtime. I believe SureFire's trend to LEDs for handgun mounted lights was for some very good reasons.

I like both incandescent and LED flashlights but I think each person is the expert on what works best for them. With these highly improved high power LEDs that seem to get better at an accelerated frequency; I think more and more folks, not just flashlight guys and law enforcement people, will embrace them and net all the benefits they provide.

 

[kelmo]

A good compromise would be a 6P with a LED drop in. I personally like the BOG premium Cree. And since it is plug-n-play if it dies out in the field it is easily replaced with the 6Ps original lamp. Which fits in a SC1. No problem. This is the system that is currently in my back pack. With a twisty switch it exemplifies the KISS principal.

 

[Brozneo]

dougie -

I believe an individual's perspective of how useful a given type of light is for them is as important as the duty their flashlights are used for. If LEDs work well for your purposes it's a wise choice you are making and I know you aren't alone. Every LEO I've shown my Malkoff to loved it. Most of them liked my modded HDS too. The number one complaint I hear from LEOs about incandescents is runtime. I believe SureFire's trend to LEDs for handgun mounted lights was for some very good reasons.

I like both incandescent and LED flashlights but I think each person is the expert on what works best for them. With these highly improved high power LEDs that seem to get better at an accelerated frequency; I think more and more folks, not just flashlight guys and law enforcement people, will embrace them and net all the benefits they provide.

I'm a paramedic and work mostly nights (Hence my reason for needing a good light!). I have found my self in numerous situations where it has been dead dark (not even ambient light etc - down ditches, in alleys etc) and lights such as an L4 light up the area but IMO only enough for one person (distance / shadows etc), so I moved to a high powered incan (Mag11) which really did light up things, however the runtime wasn't good... Nearly all situations where it has been dark, I have been there for an hour or more - so the ~ 40min runtime didn't sit well and YES it did run out on me, a number of times, in critical situations....

So I moved to a 2D Mag mod with 5 Cree LEDs - a bit more light, and more runtime. However the white/slightly blueish of the LEDs didn't help with colour recognition etc, it did work well - but I wasn't 100% convinced it was the perfect light. But I think I now have the perfect light!

I sent Milky a M6 to get modified with 7 LEDs, each run at 350ma... That equates to 3hrs runtime on 2x3xR123's - EXCELLENT! However there is still the whole blue LED colour issue - well that's been sorted! 6 of the LEDs are Seouls and one (the centre) LED is a Red/Orange Lux3 and I tell you what - the beam is beautiful! Excellent colour reindition, pattern etc - 603 or more regulated lumens for 3 hours.... IMO this is the best duty light for my work / situation out there! I only just recevied it yesterday but I intend to post a review after a few weeks of use on duty...

 

[Icebreak]

snip... But I think I now have the perfect light!

I sent Milky a M6 to get modified with 7 LEDs, each run at 350ma... That equates to 3hrs runtime on 2x3xR123's - EXCELLENT! However there is still the whole blue LED colour issue - well that's been sorted! 6 of the LEDs are Seouls and one (the centre) LED is a Red/Orange Lux3 and I tell you what - the beam is beautiful! Excellent colour reindition, pattern etc - 603 or more regulated lumens for 3 hours.... IMO this is the best duty light for my work / situation out there! I only just recevied it yesterday but I intend to post a review after a few weeks of use on duty...

That's an outstanding solution. Looking forward to your review. I think this approach would perform well for many other professions/uses. Killer host, excellent modifier (Did that HDS I was talking about). Man. I'll bet the image return is a banquet of information.

 

[pbs357]

Woooooooooooooooow! Brozneo you've GOT to post some pics and beamshots! oo:

 

[precisionworks]

I take my dog out a couple times after dark every evening

A good compromise would be a 6P with a LED drop in

Another dog walker here, always on a narrow country road with few street lights. My 6P with M60 Malkoff is a real attention getter - drivers give me a much wider berth than when I used the L4 or the U2, or any of the incans before that.

 

[Jerb]

...- if there's ambient light, why do you need your flashlight???

There are plenty of times when you need a flashlight and theres plenty of ambient light, take kramers scenario for instance.

I'm a devote LED fan: L1, ORB Raw, Fenix L1, DBS, etc. Ive carried a light for years now but moving to the city has made me reconsider.

my RAW would light up the driveway back home and the DBS would illuminate a field, however in a city I cant seem to muster enough light.

at dusk, between the sun and the streetlights, theres plenty of ambient light. that doesn't mean that I can see Mr. Shady hanging out in the alley up ahead. LED's dont penetrate well enough in this enviroment

 

[pbs357]

Well I guess that's the beauty in our motto "buy both." I live in the city of Pittsburgh and have fully converted :shrug: