Flashlight Specs Listing?

[tomcat017]

Hey everyone,

I haven't been able to find a place where all the specs for various flashlights are listed together in one spot. You know, some of the more detailed specs, like body size, shock isolation, bezel diameter, LA compatibility, batts, etc. etc. If no such resource truely exists, do you guys think it would be a good idea to create one? I'd be willing to compile all the data, if you who own these lights would be willing to provide it. I could make a big chart, and post it somewhere. Granted, it might take me a while with this semester in progress, but I think it would be helpful. Maybe to start with main brands (unmodded SFs, SLs, WE, etc.). Let me know if you think it's a good idea . You've all been so helpful--I still have much to learn, but I'd like to contribute in some way, even if it's just organizing. Let me know if this is a useful idea...

-mike

 

[Rob187]

Great idea.

 

[tomcat017]

Thanks Rob I'm not sure what the best format would be. Maybe Excel. Though the ideal would probably be something like ebay's situation, where you can sort the list by column heading--but my programming skills aren't sufficient for that. I suppose I can make it better later--for now I'll just collect some data, and make a spreadsheet. I'll let you know when I have the basic layout down....

Great idea.

 

[tomcat017]

OK: for anyone who is interested...

The categories that I have included put in the chart are as follows:

Manufacturer, model, lamp type, lamp voltage, lamp model, bezel type, reflector type, build material, finish, switch type, battery config, lanyard option, lens material, lens replacability, total length, approx price, shock isolation?, interior diameter, bezel diameter, approx color temp, exterior diameter...

I was thinking of putting in throw and output ratings, but that might be sort if subjective. Any ideas, or additional categories that anyone would like to see?

 

[jumpstat]

weight, rechargeable option, manufacturer output/lumen, come to think a few

 

[tomcat017]

Thanks Jumpstat--i'll add them..

weight, rechargeable option, manufacturer output/lumen, come to think a few

 

[elgarak]

Like the idea in general. Some comments:

Seems that this list of specs is more based on incans than on LEDs .

So for LED lights, I would like to have driver electronics (regulated, direct drive/resistored, boost etc.), number of modes/brightness levels and type of modes (for instance strobe, signal, SOS, % of brightness, colors). Also, for LEDs the lamp voltage is pretty much of no interest (forward voltage of all white LEDs is pretty much the same); here, the driving current/power is the defining parameter.

Also, for multiple mode lights the user interface becomes important; this could be incorporated in switch type or some comment field. However, it would be nice to come up with some kind of searchability/sortability here, so there has to be at least some form of standard texts, if you go with a comment field.

Just pointing out: Rechargeable option could lead to a lot of data that has to be organized, since there may be multiple workable options that can lead to different brightnesses and differences in workable modes.

 

[tomcat017]

Elgarak: thanks for the comments! You're absolutely right. I have almost no experiance with LEDs, and I guess that came through in the chart headings. I think the best thing might be to make two charts--one for LED lights and one for incans, since the parameters are so different. And yes, searchability/sortability is a must. For now, I'm just going to gather some data. Maybe over the summer I'll look into either programming something simple, or using some already-existing interface. Thanks, let me know what you think!

-mike

Like the idea in general. Some comments:

Seems that this list of specs is more based on incans than on LEDs .

So for LED lights, I would like to have driver electronics (regulated, direct drive/resistored, boost etc.), number of modes/brightness levels and type of modes (for instance strobe, signal, SOS, % of brightness, colors). Also, for LEDs the lamp voltage is pretty much of no interest (forward voltage of all white LEDs is pretty much the same); here, the driving current/power is the defining parameter.

Also, for multiple mode lights the user interface becomes important; this could be incorporated in switch type or some comment field. However, it would be nice to come up with some kind of searchability/sortability here, so there has to be at least some form of standard texts, if you go with a comment field.

Just pointing out: Rechargeable option could lead to a lot of data that has to be organized, since there may be multiple workable options that can lead to different brightnesses and differences in workable modes.

 

[DM51]

You are going to end up with a very large number of fields. Will you include different available options, such as changing LAs, cell types, body tubes, switch assemblies etc? There countless possible permutations, even if you restrict yourself to the ones that are pretty much standard options.

 

[tomcat017]

Hey DM51:

For now, I'm just going to include the stock characteristics, which will hopefully allow people to figure out which mods are acceptable. Yea, it's a large project. Thats why I'm starting with only a few brands, only currently produced lights, and allotting a long time to finish. But hopefully it will be helpful, if I can actually finish it

You are going to end up with a very large number of fields. Will you include different available options, such as changing LAs, cell types, body tubes, switch assemblies etc? There countless possible permutations, even if you restrict yourself to the ones that are pretty much standard options.

 

[Scottiver]

Probably all the information you need to know about any flashlight ever made can be found at: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews_index/reviews_by_mfgrs.htm
He's not doing many reviews lately, but for anything made in the last 5 years, it's your one stop shop for individual flashlight information.

 

[tomcat017]

Yea, most of the information is there. But I'd like to add a few extra characteristics that aren't. The biggest reason that I want to attempt this, though, is to have all the info in one place--so that, when you're looking for a light, you can read right across a row, or down a column, to see how they compare. Granted, if you want more info, flashlightreviews is the place to go.

Probably all the information you need to know about any flashlight ever made can be found at: http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews_index/reviews_by_mfgrs.htm
He's not doing many reviews lately, but for anything made in the last 5 years, it's your one stop shop for individual flashlight information.

 

[moon lander]

the most important specs to me are battery type, led type, current delivered to the led on various modes, lumens, and lux. it would be very cool if there was: lumens (manufacturers claim) and lumens (measured/confirmed by owners) or even do this for a couple of the categories since sometimes the manufacturers are waaaay off.