HID spotlight question

[whatnoise]

Hello all,

I just found these forums last night by following a link from a site I frequent.
Never imagined a forum such as this existed, however I am glad to have found it!

I've been doing some reading and have a question. I am looking to purchase a HID spotlight, and can't decide which one.

I learned about the Costco/Harbor Freight bargain, but alas, it appears they have been discontinued.

I am now looking at.....

POB http://alltoolssupplyinc.com/home_files/hidspotlight.html

Harbor Freight (POB?) http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94987

Amondotech Illuminator http://www.amondotech.com/browseproducts/AmondoTech-Illuminator-(3152)-HID.HTML

Sam's Club HID no link


From what I understand from a little searching the Amondotech is a POB in all respects with a lower color temperature light, thus producing more light.

Does anyone know about the Harbor Freight I have listed? It seems to be the POB @ 4x the price, which leads me to believe it is more along the lines of the Amondotech? Or is it the same as the POB, and merely overpriced?


Thanks for your help,

Stephen

 

[BVH]

Welcome to CPF!!

Actually, the Amondotech was out first. The POB's followed. Same manufacturer but the 4300K bulb was limited to the Amondotech lights in the U.S. POB's only came with the 6000K bulb. The HF and the Amondotech light you list are the same except for the bulb. The Amondotech is no longer available. The name was bought out by Battery Junction (MattK, a member here) and is now re-branded the Titanium IIRC. All of these lights are big and heavy. If you want pretty much the same performance but in a great little package, look at Matt's N30 and soon to be released L35. Fantastic lights of which numerous members here have. I can't over-emphasize the great bargain the N30's are in the hand-held HID spotlight world.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/n30-3161.html

The Sam's Club POB's are no longer stock items at SC. They are being auctioned off very cheaply - if they're not all gone.

 

[BlueBeam22]

I highly recommend the Sam's Club Vector Power On Board (POB) HID spotlight. I have it and it has a laser like beam and illuminates objects up to a mile away. I am blown away by it and think it would be a great starter HID for you. One place you can get them is on Ebay.

EDIT: That red Harbor Freight POB is exactly the same in all respects as the cheaper black ones, it is just over priced.

 

[Patriot]

If the N30 is within you price range it provides several advantages over the POB including a smaller size, weight, better 4300K bulb, NiMH battery, long run LED array, and there might also be lens filters available for it soon. My impression is that's its also tougher than the POB and the plastic seems to have some give to it.

A big +1 for the N30

 

[SafetyBob]

I second the N30 if it is in your price range, you will be moving up a couple of levels so you can skip the buying of the cheap POB's and such and just end up where all of have ended up already....so you will actually be saving money if you get the N30 to begin with.

Now on the otherhand, keep looking for POB's on sale on eBay and elsewhere....if it doesn't work, so much the better, get it for 5 bucks and get a new battery or put your own NiMH or Lithuims instead for lighter light.....or you can get that 4300K bulb and junk the 6000K one in it. Win-win either way.

I will also say I have two POB's because I went crazy. They were cheap, they are wonderful lights for the money, little big, but usable by everyone in the family thankfully with the shoulder strap.

So in conclusion, if you can get the N30, you will have one of the sweetest HIDs for the size and money that is around, period. If not, get a POB (garage sales???) and enjoy it.

I love my POB's!! It's really cool after you run it for awhile, then turn it off and quickly look at the bulb.....all sorts of cool blue stuff.

Bob E.

 

[DArklite]

I just nabbed a POB from the Marketplace earlier today - waiting to see what all the fuss is about.
I was tempted by the N30, but with all the talk of the L35 coming out, I'd rather be out $60 for the POB instead of $150 for the N30

 

[Fourinchdragslicks]

I think the harbor freight and POB are the same light aside from color. I have purchased 2 of the harbor freight, and one POB. If you have a Harbor Freight store anywhere nearby you might want to swing by. When I picked my 2 up, they were clearanced for $25-$35 each (it's been awhile) The Sam's Club POB was a pretty good deal too, I think it came to about $55 (on auction) after shipping was factored in. Best of luck and welcom to the wonderful world of HID.

 

[Patriot]

I think the harbor freight and POB are the same light aside from color. I have purchased 2 of the harbor freight, and one POB. If you have a Harbor Freight store anywhere nearby you might want to swing by.

And just to clarify, the old Harbor Freight light used the be the ex-Costo which has since been updated to the Mega-Illumination sold by Battery Junction. HF no longer sells the original HF/Costo light and now the HF HID is this light" http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94987 ...and indeed, it's the same as the POB aside from the housing color.