Re: 1st post: Just got my TL-3 here in IRAQ. Thank
Bryan,
I was in Iraq earlier this year on an Army post and noted no A/C, power or lights in the living areas. This AF medic brought 4 LED flashlights with him and I learned what works and what does not.
Everyone had a 2AA minimag with them but mine ran a Badboy 500mA regulator through a Luxeon LED at around 1.7 watts. It worked very well but ate batteries at the rate of two every two hours. Great light and I now have one that punches out much more light and with different optics, throws very well.
What I would of killed for is a single 5mm white LED AA flashlight that is waterproof. The typical walk across the camp in the dark to get a shower light. I picked up an Arc AA ($35) to fill that need and I will wear it around my neck in the shower so it will not "walk away". CMG Infinity Ultras are basically the same thing for $15 to $18 and will run for 11 hours on a single AA battery. Also good for reading in the tent or for midnight bathroom runs.
The other light that I wanted and have since purchased is the Elektrolumens Anglelux 2D. Basically, the military Anglehead MX-991/U with a voltage regulator, Luxeon 1.25 watt white LED and Fraen optics stuffed inside. It puts out a very white, very bright light and runs for over 24 hours on 2D cells until it falls out of regulation. Then it will be dim for the next 3 to 6 days.
To have the ultimate Anglehead would involve the EverLED Luxeon 1.25 watt based replacement "bulbs". They look sort of like bulbs and are a direct replacement for the stock crap bulb. They use a side emitter Luxeon LED that throws the white light sideways so it can bounce off the stock reflector. Inside the "bulb" is a voltage regulator with the LED on top. The white will run for 28 hours and the red 30+ hours on 2 D cells.
The EverLEDs come in white and 5 other colors, the one color to interest you would be the red version. Get the red and white, throw the red in the spare bulb holder so if you go to blackout, you can change the color by swapping the EverLEDs. I plan on getting another Anglehead and putting a red EverLEDs into it for blackout purposes. Here is the link to the EverLED
http://www.ledsupply.com/evflbu.html
The EverLEDs are not cheap at $40 each but you will get 5 times the run time of the stock bulb, it will not break and is brighter and whiter. Make sure your modified MX-991/U does not "walk away"! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rant.gif
Good luck and stay safe in the sandbox, keep us posted on how your lights and life work out. If I get sent out that way, I will look for the guy that gives off that distinctive Luxeon beam. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif