LED Light for Public Safety

[ChrisG]

I need to acquire a flashlight for use in Public Safety/Law Enforcement. I have carried the maglight for years but was thinking of transitioning to an LED light. I was looking at the X5 or X1 but wanted to get the expert opinion from forum members.

What recommendations do you have for a durable LED light? Brighter and tighter beams are obviously better for spotlighting bad guys. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[INRETECH]

A normal Flashlight uses a piece of Tungsten (Wolfram #74), and via an electric current - heats it up to approx 5400f (thats hot), a very small percentage (about 5%) of the energy allows the filament to generate light, the rest is bascially used (wasted) in the form of heat

A LED creates light via a electronic transfer of electrons, and is much more reliable, less waste, better color, and almost immune to vibration (dropping)

 

[John N]

What specifically do you want from the light. Runtime? Operating costs? Distance of use? Cost? Etc.

-john

 

[Double_A]

Welcome ChrisG-

You need to give us a little more help here as to what your needs are.

Rechargeble Y/N ?
Pocket Size or Belt Size?
Under $50, $100 or $150?
Commercial off the shelf or Custom modified flashlight?
Runtime, how are you going to use leave it on for an hour or two or just for 3-4 minutes at a time, 10 or 15 times a shift?
Most LED lights work best under 30 feet


My Generic advice is, keep an incandescent light as your primary duty light and look at the Surefire L4 as a backup.

GregR

 

[FC.]

Chris, please check this light out. It is supposely the best police flashlight.

 

[BentHeadTX]

Chris,
You didn't give any details of what you want, so I will throw a few out there for you.
If you don't mind the size of the Maglight (you did not say AA, 2C or 4D etc) I will default to a 2D to make it interesting. Everleds makes a voltage regulated drop-in for the 2D to 6D Mags that is focusable and puts out decent light. It uses a Luxeon 1.2 watt LED and costs around $40
You mentioned the X5 and X1 for spotlighting badguys... I would not recommend those as they are more of a flood light (the X1 is not available, but when it is...it is not very high output) Getting a small light to put out a spot beam is not very easy, with LEDs it makes it harder to achieve.
Probably the smallest light that is very blinding would be the Surefire L4. It uses a 5 watt Luxeon LED, is regulated and consumes 2 lithium 123A batteries every 65 minutes... order a dozen batteries with your order! The L4 costs around $140.
The modders on this forum make some utterly insane lights! The Mr-X comes to mind, a light that is regulated, pushes the LED to 10 watts and comes in the 2C Mag body. Three lithium 123A batteries are what that monster consumes.
Elektrolumens builds a 2D sized light that uses 6 AA or three lithium batteries, it runs the 5 watt Luxeon and his spot beam 30mm optics. It is brighter than the Surefire but not as bright as Mr-X.
Inretech builds lights that use three 1.2 watt luxeons or three 5 watt luxeons. He can build it up to take NiMH batteries which is a good idea at 15 watts of output! If you want more of a spot, swap out the stock NX-05 optics for Fraen low profile optics to nuke the retinas.
A really small light would be an Arc LS which runs 2 hours on one 123A lithium and is practically bomb-proof. They start at $65 and head up to $150 depending on what you want.
Surefire also makes a L1 that is about the same thing as the Arc, the difference is it can use one, two or three lithium 123A batteries. Costs around $100.
The last option is to build your own by visiting the Sandwich Shoppe and picking your parts. Wayne makes current or voltage regulators built with LEDs on them to drop into a Brinkmann Legend 2AA (prefered way) or minimag. Pick up the mineral glass option to replace the plastic lens for $1.50. If using a 2AA Minimag, get the Kroll tailswitch for a better on/off option ($4.50) The Q3L option for the Luxeon LED is a great idea in that it puts out more light than the stock one. It will run you $45 and is well worth it. I have two BB400 Q3L and they work well. You missed the Badboy 500 R2H offer, they are even brighter and are driven harder for more output.
If you go for the Badboy current regulator or Madmax+ voltage regulator (brighter initially than Badboy) hook up with Elektrolumens for some Fraen low profile optics ($5) They will focus the beam tighter and give a better throw than the stock NX05 optics.
Sniff around the CPF and learn about all the different lights mentioned above plus others such as McLux, Space Needles, Lambda Illuminators, Micro Illuminators, Nano Illuminators and Pico Illuminators. If you can dream up a light, the modders on this forum can build it...or have already done so!
Enjoy the CPF, keep an eye on your wallet and have a good time. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[INRETECH]

As with cars, there is no one car that will fits the needs of everyone, same with flashlights - one does not fit all purposes; you have to decide on

) Brightness
) Run time
) Weight
) Beam profile

But, the same magical formula applies to all

Brightness X Run-Time -> Weight

 

[BlindedByTheLite]

get a space needle or something along those lines.. (it's a modified light)

and then make sure you still keep an incandescent light for longer throw..

 

[pinepig2]

I've been lurking for while, and this topic has prompted me to sign up and jump in.

I'm also interested in a LED light for law enforcement use, specifically a belt-carry unit. I currently carry a SL Stinger XT, which does many things well: the switch is perfect, the grip material is perfect, I've always loved the Stinger external charging system (more positive engagement than Magcharger), and it puts out a useful, though not pretty, beam. This light is widely used in my agency, both as belt carry and in vehicle-mounted chargers.

A similar package with a li-ion battery and 5W LED would be something that I'd pay a lot for (or obtain through a gov't procurement). A slightly smaller size would be nice, but not so small that it becomes difficult to use the light while holding it under an armpit. I haven't found any LED lights close to this, and imagine I'll have to wait for SL to introduce something along these lines, as I haven't seen anything close to the Stinger XT in incadescent lights either (Surfire rechargeables just don't do it for me, or many others). Until then, I'll stay with the Stinger.

 

[Wolfen]

A Pelican M6 equipped with a 5 watt McModule makes a great belt carried back-up light. It uses lithium batteries so they are not affected by the weather as much as rechargables. Somebody is selling some in B/S/T now I believe.

 

[BlindedByTheLite]

okay.. first.. i think you'd want a spaceneedle II.. made by mr. bulk..

and now i'm thinking maybe a ct zero.. i believe it throws farther than the spaceneedle.. and is smaller..

definitely look up these two lights! top candidates in my opinion!

 

[pinepig2]

Wolfen,

That modified Pelican sounds interesting. Despite the significant shortcomings of ni-cad batteries, a rechargeable works better for me. I had a Surefire C2 for a while, which was a great light in most aspects, but frequent battery replacement became prohibitive. I'd still be curious as to the run tim of the 5W modified M6.

Something that I've noted is that companies put so much R&D into 123A-based lights, while there exists a HUGE law enforcement market for smaller rechargeable lights. In the meantime, Streamlight just quietly continues to sell thousands of Stinger variants. If another major player were to introduce a LE-oriented, lithium-ion based rechargeable the whole market could be turned on its head.

 

[Double_A]

pinepig2

Have you seen the Quiglight?

It's a tiny flat LED light that clips inside and outside your shirt pocket. A short moveable arm on the outside is concealed by the pocket flap. The arm adjusts to illuminate a citation pad so you can write.

County comm used to carry them don't know if they still do.

GregR

 

[Chengiz]

Quite a few of our patrol officers use these. It is an alternative to keeping a large light under the arm while filling out forms.

This allows the officer a little more freedom in responding to situations. Also they are less visible to violators who may be seeking them out during a traffic stop when they are distracted with a citation.

 

[pinepig2]

Generally, when I'm writing at night in the field it is in a patrol car. Maybe I should have left out the under-the-arm bit, it comprises about 5% of my use of a patrol flashlight. And I do that to illuminate the passenger compartment (or at least try!) as I'm handing documents to a vehicle occupant; I'm usually not illuminating the documents themselves. But thanks for the suggestion, I'm always looking for ways to make on-the-job tasks easier and safer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I need an all-conditions, do-everything light. I also patrol via snowmobile, boats, and on trails. One minute I may use it to do a building search, and the next I may be trying to dig out a high-centered truck at night (including my own!). The Stinger XT fills the bill the best, this is after trying a few other popular law enforcement lights over a period of years. But I'm excited about the potential offerings in the LED realm that I'm sure will someday supplant the Stinger. I just don't feel like waiting! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif

I don't mean to hijack this thread. ChrisG, I'd be curious to know which Mag model you currently use, and how you carry it.

 

[Wolfen]

i would ask in the Modified light section of this forum if anyone is running the Pelican M6 / 5 watt McModule with rechargables. A Surefire body extender can be added to the Pelican body if more length is needed.

Good Luck!

 

[Double_A]

pinepig2-

It sounds like your basically happy with what you have now, but you just want something more.

If that is the case, I suggest you get a SureFire L4, 5 watt LED light as a backup. This will compliment what you already have by providing a nice white flood type beam in a tiny package.

GregR

 

[pinepig2]

Wolfen & Double A: Those are both good suggestions. I'm going to price an L4 this week, and will look into modified lights. I'm wondering if anyone has done mods on a Stinger XT.

 

[paulr]

Note a few people have been using Pila or Panasonic li ion cells in their L4's. Those will give slightly reduced brightness but be rechargeable. You do have to take the battery out of the light to charge it--it's not as convenient as a Stinger where you drop the whole light in a charging stand. I agree with you that someone should make some decent rechargeable LED lights. Maybe it's time for a Stinger-based modified LED light.

 

[Bucket]

Quick and dirty:
I now use the Elektrolumens BlasterV as my primary duty light. Same weight as the 5 cell mag. MUCH more light. Good throw, excellent color and excellent battery life (My dept supplys D-Cells). However the light is heavy and smooth. I had to put a sleeve on it to use under the arm for interviews and such. Also, if you get it, make sure Wayne puts the right switch in it. Mine came with a switch that's bass ackwards- no momentary on, but momentary off. He has the same type switch that's in the mag but you have to ask for it.

Keep your Stinger on your belt. It won't eat you alive in batteries.