Gladius Dying?

[Tackleberry81]

I've had a Gladius since they hit the market, used it almost everyday since, so about 7 days a week for almost 3 years.

No clue how many batteries I've been through!

Recently, I worked with a guy that had a 6 month old Gladius, and I couldn't believe how much brighter his output was! I know that your basic LED has about 10,000 hour lifespan, but wow.

Is there anything I can do upgrade the LED other than sending it away to Strategos International for their Gladius Performance Upgrade Program?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[greenLED]

:welcome: Tackleberry! (great nick, BTW)

Contact one of the resident moders (darkzero, milkyspit, CM, mosport, etc.). They can probably do the swap for you. An alternative would be to post a "WTB" (want to buy) thread in the custom & modified BST section, asking for a new Gladius.

 

[LukeA]

a 6 month old Gladius, and I couldn't believe how much brighter his output was! I know that your basic LED has about 10,000 hour lifespan, but wow.

It's not that yours has gotten dimmer, it's that his has an SSC P4, a newer LED that's nearly three times as efficient. Since it's running at the same current, it's much brighter. The upgrade servise or a modder's service will both put an SSC P4 in your light and it will end up as bright as your friend's.

 

[Dead_Nuts]

You'll still be sending it away, however, and I am thinking this is a problem (since you use it every day). Buy a backup light to use until your Galdius gets back to you.

 

[Tackleberry81]

Thanks for the welcome and replies!

Couple notes:

- The guy I worked with actually had a "standard" model. We compared Serial #'s, his was lower than mine and hadn't been modded.
He got his from a cop shop that had found it when they were clearing out an old orders box.

- Looks like I'll be sending it in to Strategos International.

- Even though the Gladius is still mounted on my duty belt, it has started to become the secondary light, my H2X Arcturus has started to become the primary. A Fenix L1D has always been my backup light, although the TLR-1 on my Glock could be considered that too.

All I need is a brighter & rechargeable Gladius and I'll be set!

FYI, if anybody doesn't know, the SF V71 Holster fit the Gladius bezel up perfectly.

 

[PeteBroccolo]

My son has an original Gladius, running it on e-lectronics.net RCR123A 3.0 v cells, which I gave him as a grad gift, along with an extra set of cells, a charger & both AC & DC cords. He works a LOT of night shifts and gets called out LOTS after / before the end / start of his shifts, and as far as I know it is still giving him GREAT service for over 1.5 years. I bought it almost 3 years ago and put it aside for him. He is also an LEO / PO (I TRIED to convince him otherwise, but no go!)

I don't know if I could recommend a Gladius anymore, given the developments in LED since it first came out, but neither is it a POS.

 

[Tackleberry81]

Interesting, do you know how much run time he gets?

 

[PeteBroccolo]

Interesting, do you know how much run time he gets?

Give me a day or two to ask him to be sure & I will get back to you, but I THINK he uses it for at least a couple of shifts.

 

[Tackleberry81]

Great, look forward to finding out.