Maybe a stupid newbie question?

[bullrydr85]

I am new to these LEDs and just got my M1X. I was telling another officer how much I love it and how I want the RRT 2 (i think that is what it is called) from JETBeam. He asked "how much do these lights cost" and that brought up another valid question. He said "my light isn't as bright but since it is an incan. and a surefire, bulb replacement is simple". Can the light emitters be easliy changed? Is it a factory only job? When the emitter dies do I just get a $150 paper weight?
:thinking:

I just found out that 50,000 hours is eqaul to over 5 years so I guess replacement is not an issue but I am still curious.

 

[John_Galt]

Some lights are factory upgradable, or are built so the user can more easily modify the light, as technology progresses.

But, realistically, technology would have changed so much by the time even those 50,000 hours(if run continuosly, even) that light will be out of date. New, more efficient drivers, newer materials/methods of production, newer, more efficient, brighter LED's will exist, and upgrading would (most likely) be more of a pain than it's worth.

Enjoy your light, and understand this guy s own opinion as well. Just be sure to let him know that he will save a lot of cash in batteries alone, if he were to use a more versatile, multi-mode LED light. And rub it in his face next time he drops the light, or the bulb burns out.

 

[bullrydr85]

John, great points and I already told him to let me know if his bulb or batteries die so I can assist with his lighting needs! Lol. Thanks for the info.
Bullrydr85 (I am a John to)

 

[headophile]

even his favorite brand has jumped into the led bandwagon, for a very good reason.

incans still have their novelty (looking to build a mag85 of my own in the future), but for efficiency, reliability and practicality in everyday use, led lights kill them.

 

[J_C]

For practical purposes assume the LED will never need changed, but if/when you have the light you can see for yourself if it can be disassembled enough to gain access to the LED. If you can gain access to it, at best it uses a mounting board and it's modular so it's just the cost of an LED (about $5 to 20 depending on what it is), or at worst it's mounted on a custom PCB and you just need to find someone with the soldering skill, otherwise same cost. In the case of the RRT-2 that's about an $8 LED, should the year come that LEDs have gotten even better and the upgrade results in more light rather than failure repair.

 

[hyperloop]

Since i started in this hobby in 2007, the technology has advanced quite a few times already. In normal usage, your light isnt going to burn out as the life span is 50,000 hours which is 5.7 years continuously on and as has been stated, new technology will come by and you can mod your light by then.

 

[yellow]

as long as the "newer" led are not 1.5 times brighter at least, it does not make sense to change,
our eyes are not good enough to realize anything.

And when the tint of the brigther led is one You dont like, You even lost in comparison - with Your modded and brighter light.

atm the M1X is about as good as possible, the cells are nice, the led cant burn out, ...
... for regular use way cheaper cost of running than the 6P in original state.

 

[Gunner12]

As said before. It's harder to change the LEDs on most of these lights then it is to change an incan bulb. For good reason too. Incans burn out, while LEDs slowly dim.

50,000 hours comes out to over 5 years of constant on. I don't think you'll have you light constantly on for 5 years. If you use your light for 3 hours a day, that's 5475 hours of on time for the LED over 5 years, far from the expected lifespan. Also, most of these ratings are till the LED is putting out 70% of the starting output, not till they are dim and useless.

 

[bullrydr85]

Thanks all, and I am sticking to my new found LED love! Not worried about them going out as five years of constant on is more then my moneys worth. I think he is leaning in the LED direction as he told me he was online checking out Surfires LED products.

 

[Wattnot]

Heck, I would LOVE to have used an LED flashlight enough to see it die of old age! I doubt I ever will see that happen to any of my lights!

 

[koolranch]

Being able to change or modify you LED light would be great, but even if you couldn't than it would be a reason to get a new one! :twothumbs