Lumens for LEOs?

[ventura911]

Frequent lurker, first-time poster. I've used an SF 9N for about ten years now and am looking at retiring it for an UA2 or UB2.

I don't really need the UA2's flood, but 200 lumens sounds good, especially over the 9N's 140. However, 400 sounds MUCH better, but I'm not sure I can wait for its release!

I've also read here that 400 might not be perceived as being 2x as bright (maybe only 20% more than 200, due to some complicated formula!)?

I'm looking for any opinions, not just from law enforcement, on how much more effective the UB2 400 lumens would be in the real world. For instance, how much more throw might I get?

Thanks for any and all opinions.
Kevin

 

[dano]

Look here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=165017

The UA2 is several months away, probably late summer. The UB2, I'd estimate as early '09 (if it's released at all).

-dan

 

[jufam44]

IIRC, the UA2 will be out in the beginning of May, and the UB2 will probably be a lot further away. Surefire takes forever to release new products, sometimes long enough for the tech to be outdated

 

[Gunner12]

Do you have a 6P or similar?(something that uses a P60 type module)

If you do, there are many LED drop-ins that you can buy to get 150+ lumen out the front.

There are also many multi LED lights right now that will hit and exceed 400 lumen out the front.

You can also contact Milkyspit to mod your light for you.

Throw would depend on the optic/reflector used. You can have a 1000 lumen light that barely throws 50 ft but you can have a 5 lumen laser that will be visible a mile away.

:welcome:

 

[precisionworks]

Much like what Gunner12 said ... take a 6P or 6P Defender (if you like the strike bezel), install an M60 Malkoff, and you have 235 lumens in a small light with good runtime. Probably the least expensive way to get a durable, blinding light in a small package.

 

[ventura911]

Thanks for the input. I've got a 6P with a P60L right now as a backup light. I'm looking for something a bit larger, something that I can stick under my arm when writing citations (the 6P's too small).

Also, I like the ability to go to lower lumen levels depending on the situation. I don't need 200 when writing a cite or searching a car, but I do when I'm searching for a suspect in urban and rural areas.

In one of the threads on the new Surefires, someone said something to the effect of 400 lumens only being perceived as 20% brighter per a complicated formula (or at least, that's how I understood it!). If that's true, is that perception of the user, the perception at the recipient's end, or both?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[ttran97]

This thread should give you a better understanding of lumen ratings. Do Lumens Add Up?

If you like the 6P, maybe a 9P with one of the drop-ins will be good for you. The Malkoff comes in lower brightness versions too, if you don't want it to be too bright. The 9P is just one battery longer than the 6P, so it will still be compact, but easier to hold under your arm when you're writing me a speeding ticket. :wave:

The Wolf-Eyes LED drop-ins have multi-levels that you change by clicking to cycle through the 2 modes, if you want variability. Wolf-Eyes

The beauty of using these LED drop-ins is that they'll be rechargeable friendly. But they'll also take primaries in case you need to.