Elzetta- The industry's best kept secret.

[bykfixer]

Elzetta are designed around Close Quarter Combat scenarios, not Search and Rescue. The idea is that the user who needs to see at a distance is usually outfitted with night vision gear to avoid being spotted by a foe from a distance. They build lights with the flash/bang scenario in mind.

Malkoff are built largely for police and rescue folks who may be searching for a missing person or trying to spot a downed wire after a storm or wreck. Or the home owner who needs to see if the dog is barking at a racoon or a fox in the chicken coop (which was how Gene got started.)

 

[thermal guy]

I use my Malkoff to check on whether or not we are out a chocolate ice cream in the fridge. The m60 flood on low setting works great for this application 😁

 

[Modernflame]

I use my Malkoff to check on whether or not we are out a chocolate ice cream in the fridge. The m60 flood on low setting works great for this application 

You know you're in this deep when you have a dedicated chocolate ice cream checking flashlight. Nice.

 

[thermal guy]

😂😂😂 right you are!

 

[CREEXHP70LED]

Elzetta is philosophically bent toward ultra-low candela. I believe the Charlie is rated at 2480 lux @ 900 lumens. The Wildcat v6 is rated at 7,000 lux @ 1600 lumens. Of course, these are two very different, purpose built devices. I mention these specs to explain your real world results, not to say that one is better than the other.

I don't do the candela to lux conversions but the candela is low 12,200 for the 900 lumen standard Charlie lens, and yes 2,480 candela for the flood lens. However, The Wildcat V6 Neutral I have is rated at 5,200 Lux and 1,100 lumens. I do prefer the flood lens more than the standard. It is still in the body and not going anywhere soon.

 

[CREEXHP70LED]

Elzetta are designed around Close Quarter Combat scenarios, not Search and Rescue. The idea is that the user who needs to see at a distance is usually outfitted with night vision gear to avoid being spotted by a foe from a distance. They build lights with the flash/bang scenario in mind.

Malkoff are built largely for police and rescue folks who may be searching for a missing person or trying to spot a downed wire after a storm or wreck. Or the home owner who needs to see if the dog is barking at a racoon or a fox in the chicken coop (which was how Gene got started.)

Yes, exactly. This is why I wanted a Charlie. I do need that kind of light sometimes.

For search and rescue I would carry a cheapish $140 4,450 lumen 1,150 meter thrower like a Thrunite TN40S, or something similar with a Malkoff as a back up.

 

[thermal guy]

Right now I have settled on running a M61 in my Charlie. I was on the fence as to whether to put my M91 in it but the reduced runtime with the 91 is huge. Your taking maybe 45 minutes on high as opposed to something like 2 hours for the M61.but like I say I’m still on the fence.i think what I need to do is run the 91 in it and see what the output is at two hours. It might just be close to the 450 the the M61 is putting out. But doubt it.

 

[CREEXHP70LED]

Right now I have settled on running a M61 in my Charlie. I was on the fence as to whether to put my M91 in it but the reduced runtime with the 91 is huge. Your taking maybe 45 minutes on high as opposed to something like 2 hours for the M61.but like I say I’m still on the fence.i think what I need to do is run the 91 in it and see what the output is at two hours. It might just be close to the 450 the the M61 is putting out. But doubt it.

So many choices, it can become quite crazy at times. I am looking at no less than 6 ideas on my next lights. :thinking:

 

[CREEXHP70LED]

I have seen this asked several times but after searching I can not find the answer. I believe Modernflame has asked this question too. Is there any way to get the nasty moly coat or any grease or lube off of the refectors and the white cup it sits in? I ask this because it is kinda annoying when I can see all of it smeared down in there.

I think I read somewhere a while back not to use rubbing alcohol because it either cooled the Acrylic lens too fast causing it to chip, or the alcohol itself made it brittle, I don't remember and I can't find it. My go to would be Alcohol, so I am asking first before I turn one of my lenses into a brittle chipped piece of junk.


EDIT: Post #3369 has the answer. Yes, don't use alcohol to clean your lenses.

 

[peter yetman]

if it's any help, I recently cleaned a Carclo optic with Isopropyl Alcohol and it turned cloudy. I'd contaminated it with thermal paste
I think these are made of acrylic too.
P

 

[CREEXHP70LED]

if it's any help, I recently cleaned a Carclo optic with Isopropyl Alcohol and it turned cloudy. I'd contaminated it with thermal paste
I think these are made of acrylic too.
P

Yes, it is. I will stay away from alcohol for sure. I might try soap and water like Modernflame did, even though it didn't work for him. Maybe Dawn dish washing detergent will work?

 

[bykfixer]

How about GoJo type degreaser then rinse with water?

My local advance auto sells pumice-free hand cleaner by Permatex I use for cleaning used auto parts before polishing. About $2.

 

[Modernflame]

Yes, it is. I will stay away from alcohol for sure. I might try soap and water like Modernflame did, even though it didn't work for him. Maybe Dawn dish washing detergent will work?

Interested to see how you get on with this. As you say, it never worked for me but I've never claimed to be the brightest light in the collection.

 

[thermal guy]

If I’m on anything important I try to stay away from the alcohol. 😁😉

 

[aginthelaw]

You can drink the alcohol if it’s in the form of jack Daniel’s and try comet cleanser in the green can. It’s non abrasive and works well when polishing glass

 

[CREEXHP70LED]

Interested to see how you get on with this. As you say, it never worked for me but I've never claimed to be the brightest light in the collection.

I triple washed the lens with dawn dish washing soap and dried it with bounty paper towels. I did the same thing three times with the white LED holder and dried them both really good, and perfect. No grease or oil on it at all. I am very satisfied with the results. Now the flood lens is out and the standard lens is in. I might buy one more charlie and keep a flood lens in it for CQB, or close up work, and that would fill my needs for Elzettas , unless I wanted to run an 18650..........oh my. I want to build up a really nice Malkoff collection too. lol.

 

[CREEXHP70LED]

You can drink the alcohol if it’s in the form of jack Daniel’s and try comet cleanser in the green can. It’s non abrasive and works well when polishing glass

After cleaning I had a few beers and about to have the last glass of wine at 2 AM then turning in. lol

 

[thermal guy]

I’m seriously looking into buying an elzetta bones. Can any that has one comment on the throw of it. Do you feel it throws at least as good as say a Malkoff M61? Thanks.

 

[nmiller]

My best recollection is yes. To my eyes there was a bit more throw and less spill. I thought the hot spot was stronger on the bones. Based on the candela numbers the Elzetta should throw 190 meters. That sounds too high to me but I no longer have them to compare. Also, my numbers could be wrong. Per Elzetta the candela is 9050.

 

[thermal guy]

9050 is two times that of the M61. If memory serves. So ya it should throw better. Been interested in this light for awhile now.guess I need to start looking for one. Thanks