How rugged are Xenon bulbs?

[ChuckB]

While writing a review of the Pila GL3, the question of just how much abuse a Xenon bulb can take came up. I've got several tactical lights with Xenon bulbs and haven't had one burn or blow out yet, but I haven't really beat one up or given one abuse with the lamp lit. Anyone know how much abuse the Xenon bulbs can take? Thanks in advance for any info.

Chuck Bryant
www.hardwaremaniac.com

 

[Size15's]

They can take a lot.
In my experience of field-testing SureFires, the standard output Lamps arer more likely to have their filaments deformed (MN10, MN15, MN20, MN60, P60) rather than break, compared to those filaments that are straight/short/fat such as the P61, MN11, MN16, MN61, MN21 and A2/E2e etc
The way I look at it is that if a bulb survives a few drops, it'll survive a few more. If a bulb is going to blow, it'll do so very early on in it's life.

Al