Noob checking in...w/ a couple ?'s

[team_flatline]

Alright,
I've been lurking and learning long enough....time to step out from behind the shadows and admit "Ya'll have me hooked".

I've been intrigued as of late in the latest revolution in LED lights. I hate to admit it, but I thought the 4D Mag was the "end all to beat all". Daggum, was I ever so "wrong"!

I kninda became hooked after a "flea-bay" purchase of an UF-501B. Dang, I thought to myself, "this thing is insanely bright" for such a small light (sorry, "torch").

Low and behold, I started researching here and there about the latest LED lights. What a surprise. After 45 years here on planet Earth, I thought I knew at least "a little about a lot"....wrong!

So, with the formal introductions (and embarrisment) out of the way, I can safely say that I "know squat" and consider the "budget" end of the "spectrum", most intriguing.

With that in mind, I have a couple of future purchases in mind, yet through the "search function", was only able to gain a glimpse into one of them.

I am considering the Solarforce L2 with P-60 "droppin" from SB, and also the XTAR A01 from SBF. I live and work in a fairly heavely wooded area, and nightly, have to take the "boys" (2 Labs) out for their nightly duties. I would prefer a light that (throws) a minimum of 300ft. and that has reasonable "spill" for keeping an eye on what's around them (and me).

I'm not too sure that these 2 will fit the bill, thus the lingering question.

So, how's 'bout it; am I on the right track, or should I pull my head out of my ... and continue to look and learn.

Thanks and ya'll have a great site here, and I look forward to possibly adding my own reviews in the near future.

Dimmly lit,
Eric

 

[^Gurthang]

Re: FNG checking in...w/ a couple ?'s

Flat,

Welcome to CPF!

If you need light out to 300 ft. then you need a "thrower" type light. These typically have a larger head/bezel/reflector than an L2 / P60 drop-in light.

Think Jet-Beam, Tiablo, FourSevens Malestrom, etc. Big reflector = throw [in general]

Best emitter for throw is the Cree XR-E, R2 has most output, then Q5.

OTOH, if you can live w/ a bit less "throw" then an L2 w/ a XRE-R2 SMO P60 drop-in will get you to 150 ft pretty easily. CPF Nailbender sells outstanding drop-ins.

BTW, it your labs are "stealth" black do you have collar lights for spotting them when they wander out of eyeshot??

 

[qwertyydude]

Re: FNG checking in...w/ a couple ?'s

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.33782

Probably one of the more popular places to get budget lights is good old dealextreme. This one has a much brighter newer generation cree xp-g led and with the smooth reflector easily throws out to 300 feet. These drive the led's hard around 1.6 amps so accordingly to the cree datasheet should output about 450 lumens which seems about right because it puts out more light than a P7 light according to a ceiling bounce test I did. I can tell you they are very bright and very throwy but still have plenty of side spill.

 

[Chicago X]

Re: FNG checking in...w/ a couple ?'s

Welcome to CPF !!!

I have two large Pyrenees (think polar bears :)) that nearly disappear in the snow, due to their color (or lack of it.)

In addition to whatever handheld light you decide on, I would recommend a couple of inexpensive headlamps to use as "light collars" for the dogs.

When walking them in the woods at night, one simply turns off the handheld light, and their illuminated collars locate them immediately.

FWIW, Menard's has some nice 2xAA LED headlamps for sale for $5, after rebate. :thumbsup:

 

[^Gurthang]

Re: FNG checking in...w/ a couple ?'s

Chicago,

WOW! two GPs.... thats a lot of canine.

I've tried that small headlamp idea w/ my spaniels but the lights don't do well in the wet. Best solution I've found is a small button cell lamp that looks like a yo-yo, its about an 1 inch in diameter, press on-off, and its quite water-resistant. I got them at Planet Dog in Maine but I do recall that Coleman sells the same light so its probably available in most of the better outdoors/sports stores.

I did try the top-of-the-head light using a lightweight harness..... which promptly got ditched and was never seen again.....

 

[joe1512]

Re: FNG checking in...w/ a couple ?'s

Do you already have an 18650 and charger? I am assuming so based on your comments about the UF501 light.

Otherwise I would try to get you into an AA battery light which is less worrisome for new people and more common to use around the house.

Assuming this is the case, you might consider this light. It is reasonably small but with a bigger head for throwing. It puts out a lot of light and should be very useful.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-183/**NEW**-MG-X-dsh-Thrower-SST-dsh-50/Detail

70 bucks is not super cheap, but when you go up to the high output lights, it is gonna cost you. It uses an SST-50 emitter at 2.8 Amps, vs the XP-G emitter at 1.0 Amps that you have seen so far. Throw will be about the same given a good reflector but the SST-50 is going to produce two or 3 times as much light.

Remember, you don't want to just get a little bit of light to throw 300 feat to say you can do it. You want to light up a big area and still be able to see far off. Hence, I don't think you want a pure thrower (which would be an aspheric lens 200 lumen XR emitter light)

 

[Chicago X]

Re: FNG checking in...w/ a couple ?'s

Gurthang,

I love my Pyrs. They are, however, NOT water dogs as your Spaniels likely are....The 150lb boy is afraid of Lake Michigan, and doesn't even like wet grass! The 100lb girl is a bit more rain-friendly. :shakehead

OP: I either carry a TK40 (not really 'budget') or an iTP A6 Polestar (can be had for $59 or less) plus a Romisen RC-C6 II (~$22) on full throw setting. The A6 is a great flood light, and very bright at ~500 OTF lumens. The little RC-C6 II is the best thrower for the money, hands-down. It will get the dogs' attention at over 200 feet.

Chicago,

WOW! two GPs.... thats a lot of canine.

I've tried that small headlamp idea w/ my spaniels but the lights don't do well in the wet. Best solution I've found is a small button cell lamp that looks like a yo-yo, its about an 1 inch in diameter, press on-off, and its quite water-resistant. I got them at Planet Dog in Maine but I do recall that Coleman sells the same light so its probably available in most of the better outdoors/sports stores.

I did try the top-of-the-head light using a lightweight harness..... which promptly got ditched and was never seen again.....

 

[team_flatline]

Re: FNG checking in...w/ a couple ?'s

Thanks guys, great points made so far. My labs do wear full reflective collars that return light amazingly well. My main goal with this (or a combination possibly) is to keep more of an "eye" on what's around them, as opposed the boys themselves. We've got a fair share of wild pigs, coyote, bobcats and gators that visit our backyard, and can make life a bit intereseting.

Yes Joe, I have a supply of 18650's and charger, along with the CR123's also. The MG thrower looks like it has some definite possibilities, but how is the heat build-up and run-time compared to the XP-G or P-60? (I'll try the search funtion here too)

Chicago, I'll look into the Romisen, at the very least, I can have it as back-up. Thanks.

Gurthang, thanks for the headlamp idea, it might actually be comical to see the light beams dancing thru the woods as they search for the right "spot".

qwerty, I did buy that exact light from DX, but was DOA. Therefore, I'd kinda like to keep my purchases from the States, and support a vendor here on CPF, because from the reviews I've read, their customer service is of the utmost importance to them.

Thanks for the ideas so far and please keep the suggestions coming while i spend more time on here looking and hopefully learning.

Eric

 

[team_flatline]

Re: FNG checking in...w/ a couple ?'s

Well,

Thanks to the informamtion provided here on CPFlovecpf.
I've ordered the Solarforce L2 w/ XPG-R5 SMO in sand color from Lighthound. Seems they've gotten great reviews on customer service (0ver 300 "cheers") that I can't wait for it to arrive, and the other possibilities it has for updating/ expansion.

Thanks agin CPF, and I've only just begun.
Eric:thumbsup:

 

[^Gurthang]

Flat,

The SF L2 is a nice choice. Good solid construction, good drop-in quality and plenty of "lego" options. I'm certain you'll like it when it arrives, and it WILL reach out into the dark so you can see anything coming your & the pups way.....

 

[team_flatline]

Thanks G,

I know that the boys and I are already anticipating the L2's arrival which has been shipped within 9 hours of purchase from Lighthound.

I did also, purchase a couple of cheap "walmart headlamps" for the boys to wear as "collars" while outside in the dark. OMG, it is way too funny to see the light beams scrathing through the trees as they find that "perfect" spot.

I believe that they think it's some kind of game to see who's light is going to distract "dad" the most....

Thanks to you and CPF for the great ideas and references, and I'm quite sure, that this is not the "one and only" purchase/ post I make here.

T_F

 

[jpapazit]

just wanted to say that Im a fellow noob who just bought a l2 18650 from lighthound. I bought the 5 mode r2 and the tan body. shipped out fast and Im hoping to see it tomorrow. I also got in a Romisen rc-g2 1xAA from DX today and it feels real good. Im pretty impressed for a $11 light. i think that there are some really good lights being produced for very little money nowadays. Good luck with the pups. gotta love a big shaggy dog