Recommends for a newbie..

[kaishaku]

First, I have to say I am again amazed by the diversity of
the internet. I did not imagine I could find such a wealth
of knowledge on something I thought so esoteric.

Anyway, I am looking for a light similar to one I played
around with in High School. I see now it was a standard
looking spotlight with trigger, as well as a car adapter.

I'd like something now with a tight focus and little flood,
but I am of course limited by budget. My goal is to be able
to shine very bright in someone's face from 40 yards or so,
particularly those someones meandering about my backyard
at 3 am. I specifically remember a light I was amazed with
in High School as I said above (10 years ago). I want to
make sure I can get something like that, but I don't know
what that is really. So, I have decided just to budget for
what I think I should be paying for this new toy.

What's the best thing out there for under $200?

... Perhaps the LC100?

And the best under $100?

... Thor's "10 million candle" unit?

Any other comments welcome as well.

 

[theepdinker]

The light cannon is a great light for it's intend use.
What I think you want is a light that comes on very bright INSTANTLY. For that as well as your budget a 2 OR 2.5 million candle power spotlight can be bought for about $30.00 at most large hardware stores. Charge it well before use, then have fun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Theepdinker

 

[Sway]

Best thing off the shelf for throw under $200.00 is a LightForce Blitz SL240 on sale here tell Rory I sent Ya then get a 12V 7Ah SLA from www.batterystation.com and you should have enough left over to buy a charger if you don't have one and a small shoulder bag for the battery.

Expensive for a Halogen spot light YES! but I haven't be able to find anything else off the shelf that will throw with it.

Now if 40 yards is all you need it for any of the 12V self contained lights should be able to handle that task with ease and they can be had for under $50.00 including the Thor which is on sale at Northern Tool for 59.95. None of them have a very tight focus they are somewhere between but this gives you a very usable beam with some throw and flood.

Good luck in what ever you get /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later
Sway

 

[Topper]

Hi kaishaku, Welcome to CPF I like my THOR but it is big as a house and it is around 11 pounds, not something many would consider a "whip it out and blind em" you do not whip it out you lug it out catch your breath and then light em up. It is bigger than most think. Best of luck to you.
Topper /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[kaishaku]

I know the HID lights takes some warmup time, and I think I am willing to
live with that in exchange for superior brightness and focus.

That said, I thought the LC100 would be great as a sort of an entry level HID.
Is the difference in focus and brightness worth $100 extra over the Thor?

I assumed it was..

 

[kaishaku]

Sway,

I want at least 40 yards, that's a minimum, I'd love crazy
stuff like the 990, but I have to be reasonable, so I am
going for anything under $200, a self imposed budget.

I see nothing about 'SL240' in the forums here, do you know
of any reviews and related? I am particularly interested in
a well focused spotlight with little flood, brightness then
distance.

 

[Sway]

kaishaku,

Do a search in this forum using "Blitz" and search back 6 months you should find a lot of information. Sorry some of my beam shots are not working I need to rehost them.

Later
Sway

PS: Is rehost a real word /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

 

[kaishaku]

How does the Blitz SL240 compare to the UK Light Cannon HID?

UK Light Cannon 100

This is HID for about $170, 10 watts "actual" and 25 "equivalent"...

 

[Sway]

kaishaku,

From actual use I can't tell you how they compare as I have never had a Light Cannon but they are two different tools though.

The Light Cannon is self contained 10W HID dive light and the Blitz 100W Halogen spot light that can be focused from a large spot down to a pencil beam and requires a separate power source.

I don’t think it would be much of a contest in throw from what I have seen here the output of the Light Cannon is more like a high power flash light with 3 to 4 hour run time. The Blitz depends on the Ah of battery you pick out with a 7 Ah SLA it should be around 30 minutes, its 9 ½ reflector will throw a useful spot out past several hundred yards and illuminate objects out to ½ mile.

Still if you only need to light up the back yard the 2 MCP Vector or Husky by its other name is hard to beat I think they are around $40.00 or less on sale.

Later
Sway

 

[kaishaku]

Well, I want a very good spot, little to no spill/flood..

I don't know if those $40 units will satisfy me.

 

[Sway]

[ QUOTE ]
kaishaku said:
Well, I want a very good spot, little to no spill/flood..

I don't know if those $40 units will satisfy me.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are going to have side spill with any off the shelf Halogen lights some more and some less no laser beams in this group, the Blitz can be foucsed into the smallest beam of them all....If you are unsure buy both /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/poke2.gif

Later
Sway

 

[jamesraykenney]

Is this the Blitz Bike light??? Which model??? Link??? Pics??? Beamshots??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif

 

[Draco_Americanus]

Hey Sway! You forgot to point out that the picture under your name is a SL240 blitz, granted thats the "modifyed" one but it still illistrates the laser like throw of the main beam.
Now for face burning/blinding throw and power I would recomend a MaxaBeam but thats way out side the $200 buget.

 

[Sway]

Draco,

Your right thanks! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif Sway,

kaishaku,
If you will look at my avitar you can see the beam shape in tight focus this is a HID modified Blits not a Halogen lamp but it will give you an idea of what the beam looks like in tight focus. It still has some side spill but that comes in handy if your are walking around with it so you can see where your going......

Later
Sway

 

[kaishaku]

Yeah, I know that is the modified HID 240. I have seen the
threads on the subject with those shots. I just did not know
if that was at all relevant to the halogen version.

So, now I guess I can assume that is what the focus will be
like, but with less intensity and halogen yellow color.

Anyone care to guess how bright the halogen is compared to
that avatar shot? 40% maybe? 60%?

 

[Raybo]

I just happened to buy the 240 Blitz after reading all the posts about it, and all I can say is that it is one Hell of a light.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif

Raybo

 

[kaishaku]

What battery and other options did you go for?

 

[kaishaku]

One more thing, how can I use the Blitz via a wall outlet?

 

[Sway]

[ QUOTE ]
kaishaku said:
One more thing, how can I use the Blitz via a wall outlet?

[/ QUOTE ]

You would have to buy a 12V DC 10Ah power supply to get most out of it from a wall outlet, I would think your better off with a battery pack and charger so you can go portable if need be.

If you hit somebody full on with a 100W Blitz in tight focus at 40Yds you may need to go out side and check on them /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif

100W Halogen Biltz at 300 Yds

300Yds Zoom Pic

As you can see the beam has a nice color I think it's around 3400K not much yellow in it at all /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


Just for refrence 3MCP Vector dual beam at 300Yds

I will get off my Soap Box now /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink2.gif


Later
Sway

 

[kaishaku]

Thanks for the image, that looks very good.

Are these the battery options you meant from batterystation?

NP7-12 Yuasa 12V 7.0Ah 5.94 X 2.56 X 3.84 5.84 .187 SPADE $ 20.00
NP7-12 F2 Yuasa 12V 7.0Ah 5.94 X 2.56 X 3.84 5.84 .250 SPADE $ 20.00

What charger?

And, finally, what recommendations for battery case and
possibly storage of the light itself?

I think I'll order all this today, I appreciate the help.

E-Store recommendations welcome as well.