Great (New??) LED Headlamps

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Just wondering if anyone out there has seen anything else on these (new?) led headlamps.

This one is a 2 LED AND a krypton/halogen (dual filament) bulb that you can use either one without changing anything out. COOL!!! http://www.karstsports.com/printecswitl.html

This one is a conversion of a production headlamp that is a 7 LED Headlamp and can run different configurations of the seven for a max runtime of over 100 hours !!!! http://www.lookoutmountain.net/index2.asp

Just thought they were really cool lights and hadn't heard anything about them here on the board.

Jeremy

 

[Free]

Hi Jeremy,
I have one of the 7LED headlamps and it is neat but very difficult to operate. You have to turn the head on the lamp back and forth quickly to select modes and it is very confusing. Otherwise it is a great light but expensive (where I got it anyway).

The other light you pointed out does look intriguing. I will have to look into that one when it comes out. Thanks for the link!

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

WOW Ive wanted to splurge and order one for a while now. How is the brightness and the throw of the light? How comfortable, durable, weatherproof is it?

I have a Petzl Tikka which is very small and light but as far as anything outside of your immediate perimeter you need a backup flashlight (surfire M2 !!) to illuminate a distant object.

Ive looked at some of the LED drop in conversions for some of the other production headlamps but none can beat out the Tikka in my opinion.

I understand your issue with the difficulty of operation and I have read the online manual and youre right it seems fairly complex. Have you used it enough to become accustomed to it? Do you think the availability of all the different modes of operation (1 LED, 3 LED, 7 LED, Trickle, etc..) is worth the added difficulty of operation?

Thanks Free for all the info !!!

 

[Free]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> How is the brightness and the throw of the light? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It is not nearly as bright as an Expedition 7 and the throw is less as well. I would put it about half way between the Trek 3 and Expedition 7.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> How comfortable, durable, weatherproof is it? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Comfortable as a headlamp. Flexible straps and relatively light weight. Well made and reasonably durable but I wouldn't step on it. It has a rubber shroud inside which the light turns. I would imagine this would keep rain out but I wouldn't dive with it.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> I understand your issue with the difficulty of operation and I have read the online manual and youre right it seems fairly complex. Have you used it enough to become accustomed to it? Do you think the availability of all the different modes of operation (1 LED, 3 LED, 7 LED, Trickle, etc..) is worth the added difficulty of operation? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I still find it frustrating to use. Sometimes during fiddling with it to try to get it in the right mode, the head comes off the tracks and then needs to be properly re-seated before it will work properly. Not very user friendly.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Thanks Free for all the info !!! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No Problem

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

It takes courage to admit it, but I spent that big money on the LM-7 too. I think what pulled me in was the option of having a single LED on, and that single LED could be dimmed! You might want to check out this one, the Black Diamond Moonbeam, runs on 3 aaa's, 1-4 LEDs selectable, may be the toughest, simplest to operate headlamp so far, (I haven't received mine yet)... from MountainGear: http://www.mgear.com/mgear/itempg_3.icl?itmid=30544&orderidentifier=ID990215649531622054&secid=4&subsecid=20&catid=58

 

[BKO]

Here`s my Trek 7 Petzl Micro conversion.

I did not care for the Trek`s size and thought it would make a better headlamp for my uses.

After gutting the Petzl`s lamp assemblly and grinding out the reflector the Trek`s board fits perfecty.

I wanted a simple on/off switch,so i soldered one in line and installed in the top(see photo).

For power,I ran arctic cord (flexible to -50f)to an quick dissconect(r/c type).This allows me run just about any 4.5v cell configuration.I have 3aa,3c,and 3d cell holders that i can clip onto a belt or tuck inside a jacket pocket(alkalines dont work very well at -40f).

It has proved to be very water resistant,And the Petzl straps work well.Next winter ill try swaping the Trek 7 board for the 19 model,or make one up myself.
Latter,Bill

 

[StuU]

BK- That is a beautiful set-up you have there. Nice job. I really like the substantial toggle switch with rubber insulator and the ability to use various cell sizes up to D size.

I have several older headlamps from flea markets - one of which I have converted to a 3 led @25ma light. I have several others which I am thinking of jumping up to 5-6 leds. Or better yet- a hybrid incandescent and led job that is still on the drawing board.

 

[funk]

The Princeton Tec Headlamp on Karst is amazing - I saw a protype. It will have a high beam (7 watts) and low beam (2 watts) and 2 LED's in the reflector. 7 watts!!!!

It is waterproof to one atmosphere and has a detachable battery pack (needed to run the high beam). It is very cool. I haven't seen a final version yet.

 

[Alan]

I'm very interested in this headlamp but got confused with its power setup. It was supposed to be driven by 4 C cells. However, it does a backup (switchable) 2 AA batteries to serve the power.

How could those 2 batteries support the high beam? Or it will switch to low beam? I think 2W low beam will still be too much load for a set of 2AA battery.

Do you have any idea how these 2 LED was driven, by 4 batteries with resistor or simply by 2 batteries like Matrix (very dim)?

I hope that the LED was not powered with the same circuit of Matrix.

TIA

Alan

 

[funk]

As I understand it, the high beam is only available with the C cells. the low beam and the LEDs are running on a redundant system - the difference of course is burn time. Not sure about the circuitry, but they say that the the LEDs will be brighter than the Matrix.

I gather that you don't like the Matrix. I think that the brightness is adequate for camp light. The Tikka doesn't do it for me -
I prefer to carry a Matrix, a hand held and Photon, Pulsar, Infinity or whatever.
I like the burntime offered in the Matrix. I go out for 4-5 days - the Tikka is useless half way through!

I think that the point with the Matrix is to have a steady output over a 40+ hour period, as opposed to starting bright for 8-10 hours and quickly dropping off over another 100 where the lights is mostly not usable.

Frankly, I am tired of overpowered LEDs.

 

[Alan]

I am glad to hear that the LED is brighter than Matrix. You're correct that I don't like Matrix because of its dimness. I camp all the time in cold and icy environment, the Matrix just didn't satisfy my needs.

I don't like Tikka either because of its AAA setup that the batteries run out fast. I like quality of Princeton but I didn't buy any.Although it is waterproof and tougher than Petzl, I have bought 4 Petzl. It's because that Princeton is not balanced well with all its batteries and its tougher (heavier) case in one piece.

Switchable seems like a perfect one. Bright LED for long life (with C cells) which is adequate for trail, around camp and cooking. A high beam for occasional use when neccessary. Detached batteris case that I could put inside pocket of my down jacket.

If this one turns out as expected, I could save my $ from getting the long-awaited Action Light

Alan

 

[Alan]

Forgot to mention that you could also put 2 AA lithiums in Switchable as redundant (backup) system.

I can't wait to see it.

Alan