Help out a fireman,which is better....?

[Ratso]

The Responder 3C uses a PR type bulb. I think it probably has less watts (2.8?). While I don't have either, I have a UK-SL4 and SL6, both lights are great. You may want to check out the SL-4. It uses 4 C cells and is shorter but fatter. Also, there is the Streamlight 3C Pro, which has a turn bezel switch as well as a momentary tail cap switch. I am a Streamlight fan and would choose Streamlight over Koehler-BS, UKE, or Pelican, but concerning Koehler-BS and UKE, UKE would get my first pick.

By the way, Koehler-BS candlepower ratings are very exaggerated in my opinion. It is not any brighter than the Super Saber Lite or Streamlight 3C which are both rated at 12,000 CP.

 

[KenOgo]

Firemcd - I don't have either and there are many others here that may be better able to advise you. But I will throw in my two-cents and I hope it helps. I love cops and firemen - you all deserve so much more than you get for what you do for us. My brother is a cop. Had friends who were firemen, and I was a CAP S&R pilot for a very short time. So I offer this:

1. As I said I don't know much about either of those. But a friend of mine dives and likes UK lights, as do many on these boards. In fact, he recently found a UK C8 Dive Light w/twin Xenon bulbs while diving off of Wildwood, NJ. It was 100 feet underwater sitting on a shipwreck. He estimates it was down there for a month, based on barnacle growth. He pushed the button and it lit right up! He cleaned off the barnacles and he says it looks like new. I would say that based on that - UK makes some darn durable lights!

2. Your lights will probably get wet, but they may also get exposed to heat. Will these molded rubber lights be taken into a fire where they may melt? That may be a consideration leaning towards an Aluminum-body light instead.

3. Color - This you will have to decide on your own. I told my brother the cop to stay away from black flashlights. I know cops and soldiers dig black, I am an Army-vet too! They look professional and all, but if you fumble it and drop it at night before you turn it on - right when you need it the most - you may not be able to find it wihtout borrowing another F/L! This happened to me while flying a Cessna across Alabama. I dropped a black Maglight in the cockpit b4 I could turn it on, so I couldn't fnd it and I REALLY needed to check my charts. So ths is interesting. I have no experience in a fire, so I am guessing that some areas are very well lit from the fire, but others are dark and shadowy - again I am guessing. So these lights that are black and yellow should be noticeable in light and dark situations if dropped before they are powered on. But maybe there are others that are more visible under your unique lighting situation if you have not thought of that.

Anyway, just thoughts. I hope they help. Be safe out there!

 

[EMPOWERTORCH]

My friend has an army issue 3D torch which is waterproof and explosion proof (It is BASEEFA approved and therefore can be used in explosive atmospheres). I'm not sure where he got it from, but try Anchor Supplies
http://www.anchor-supplies.ltd.uk
I'm sure there would be a discount on the number of torches you require.
The body of the torch is bright yellow to aid its location quickly.
The torch uses a conventiomal PR filament bulb but should be easily adaptable to take an LED PR drop in bulb. (I'm not sure whether this would affect the BASEEFA approval though.)
A useful addition to any fire engine's inventory is an infra red emitting torch which in conjunction with an infra-red camera can be used for looking through smoke-filled environments.

****************************************Last week Leicerstershire Fire Brigade had its first fatality in the line of duty. Please pray for the members of the Leicestershire brigade who not only lost one of thier most experienced colleagues but a true friend. May God be thier comforter.
****************************************

 

[sotto]

Firemcd:

My UK300 has the tightest most piercing beam of any of my flashlights for it's size and that includes many lights (including a Pelican Super Sabrelite). It also has a great spring-loaded clamp on the side, plus it comes with a very strong lanyard that has fluorescent stripes in it that glow strongly in blue or UV light.

 

[rlhess]

I am very pleased with my UKE SL6 and D8 for what they each are.

I also have a bunch of yellow STREAMLIGHT 3C LEDs--not what you're looking for, but they come in Xenon, too.

I am very pleased with (in alphabetical order) Arc, Streamlight, Surefire, and Underwater Kinetics.

I don't do the kind of risky stuff you do, but I've bought these in case of accident/blackout/whatever (and the whatevers are very different these days).

Also, since I do work on the 10th floor of an office building, I do an EDC of a Surefire E2e, an ARC sLS with 1 lithium, and an Arc AAA LE. I don't want to be caught liteless. The point being, more than one light is really cool.

I have bought some of the UKE 2Ls and MiniQ40s and they are great backups. With 35 lumens they're not to be sneezed at . The UK300 provides about 53 lumens--quite useful--about the same as a SureFire E2e.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I am about to buy 55 3-c cell flashlights for myself and my team at the firehouse. Did much,much research to get the best, most durable, yet BRIGHT flashlight I could get us for $20.00(bulk discount from origional $24-$27 per.) I have narrowed it down to just 2. The Responder 3C from Koehler-Bright Star, and UnderwaterKinetics 300(UK300)-also a 3C cell model. Both models feature a XENON bulb. I know for sure the UK300 has a 3.6 watt bulb. Never could find out bulb wattage on the Responder(which boasts 50,000 candlepower).If anyone out there in this learned forum could reply ASAP that is familiar with Both these models, and/or has relevant intel on my situation, please help. Have posted each site with specs on each light if this helps with your diagnosis.

Responder 3C submersable
http://www.flashlight.com/responder.htm

Uk 300
http://www.uwkinetics.com/CategoryDisplay_cgmenbr=91&cgrfnbr=842.htm

Many Thanks!!!!! [email protected]

 

[Steve Andrews]

I am a firefighter in Jersey, UK. We have been issued UK300's and also have the UK4AA mounted on our French-made Gallet helmets. I must say that the UK300 did not impress me much. It is well made and bright but the beam is just too narrow and small, and does not illuminate your task well. Prior to getting the UK300's we carried cheap Exide Signalman 6v hand-lamps (cost £5) . Somehow these have found their way back onto the appliances and it is one of these that I would grab when jumping out of the truck, rather that a UK300. Work that out! Going into a fire is a different matter - we use the helmet-mounted 4AA and have a 2D right-angled Cenelec-approved light permanently attached to our Breathing Apparatus sets, thus leaving hands free for searching and manoeuvring hoselines.

 

[Ratso]

Have you guys looked at the Streamlight Survivor? It is supposed to be designed solely for firefighting. It is a rechargeable right-angle light with clip. It may be expensive up front but it will be cheaper to run in the long run.

http://www.streamlight.com/survivor_info.htm

 

[EMPOWERTORCH]

As Steve Andrews said, it isn't always the most expensive torch that performs well in a given situation, or the largest for that matter.
You have to weigh up the torch's pros and cons and take the best deal, not just on name alone. Maglite make the world's most popular torch, but is it the best?
As a torchaholic I do not have access to vast sums of money but I can buy and mod torches effectively.
Maybe some cheap Benross rubber torches would do the job fine. I would presume that during the callouts a number of torches may be lost or destroyed in he fire or incidemnt Losoing several $90 torches on each run could cost the brigade a lot of money over a year.
You've a;lso got to hasve torch that firemen will be happy using in what van be a very stressful situation. Metal torches can easily become weapons or projectiles which could cause serious injury in a criminal situation.
For complete reliability go for LEd or LEd adaptations, as filament bulbs are fragile at the best of times. For the best of both worlds buy a torch that has both filament and LED light sources, then you will have a bright filament bulb when its needed and long life wide beamed LEd light as well.

 

[WarrenI]

Noticed here at the Honolulu Fire Department that they use Streamlight Syclone, Vulcan, and their main carry is the Litebox. According to the Search & Rescue guys, no one carries any sort of SureFires as they all do not pass the bright run time test. A light that does not burn bright for at least an hour, does them no good. Like the question, what type of truck do you prefer; answer, the one loaded with water...

Metal body lights are rejected as they are electrically conductive, retains heat, and often does not react well with a variety of chemicals...

 

[EMPOWERTORCH]

The web site for Anchor Supplies has changed to a dotcom.
http//www.anchorsupplies.com or
http://www.anchor-supplies.com should link you to thier web site.

 

[FC.]

Blah-blah-blah

 

[BuddTX]

Firemcd,

Have you done some searches here on CPF for what FireFighters use?

There were several threads here on that subject. I am at work right now, otherwize I would search and post the threads myself.

Also, at 55 units, you should get a discount, so you may be able to afford a slightly more expensive light, considering the discount.

Get a sample of the lights you are considering before purchasing 55 of them.

Give Greg a call at www.brightguy.com I am sure he could help you out with samples and suggestions and quantity prices.

Not that there are not other good lights, but I would seriously look at everything that Streamlight and UKE has. I don't know if the Princeton Tec Surge could get down into your price range, but that might be one to consider also.

Streamlight has excellent customer service. You could call them and probably speak to someone about your needs right away.

 

[FC.]

If you must get an alkaline powered light:

Pelican BigEd
Streamlight Stealthlite
Koehler-Bright Star Responder

My lights are: SF E1(black) on my helmet, SL NewSurvivor on my coat, and SF M6 for RIT applications.
I used to carry SF M2, but it got destroyed. SL replaced it.

I would not get a light for every firefighter. How many people will you have respond on each alarm(I am assuming you belong to a volly department)? 10-20?
Why not get 10 SL Survivors, 2 charger bases(each holds 5 lights), and few Liteboxes(to mount on the rig. $900. And no batts to buy. And you can get yourself a pair of ProWarrington5000s. With saved money

You will save

 

[FC.]

If you wish, I can send you my old light, Pelican SuperSabrelight. It is 3C, very similar to Koehler. Email me with your address if you want to check it out.

 

[artar]

Originally posted by fc-fire/rescue:
Streamlight Stealthlite

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">you mean peli stealthlite ?

 

[guncollector]

Ratso writes:
Have you guys looked at the Streamlight Survivor? It is supposed to be designed solely for firefighting.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Since you mentioned it, last night, a big storm that hit the Bay Area which included winds up to 70 mph (setting records). A large, dead oak in my neighbor's yard fell into the street, and a local fire engine just happened to drive by, stopping to direct traffic and assess the situation.

The firefighters on the engine all wore Streamlight Survivors strapped to the shoulder region of their turn out coats. Very bright beam, with LONG throw. I was pretty impressed.

One fireman I chatted with while playing spectator was very impressed with the area-lighting capability of my flashlight, and inquired of it. I showed him my Surefire 9AN with beamspreader--and showed him the "throw" without beamspreader.

 

[FC.]

Originally posted by artar:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by fc-fire/rescue:
Streamlight Stealthlite

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">you mean peli stealthlite ?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Boy, do I feel stupid