Road Flares

[yuandrew]

On my way to work, I saw a fairly large road flare sitting in the dirt next to the off ramp where I got off the freeway. Being the kind I am; I actually stopped and picked it up. There were two more nearby but both of them were already burnt halfway.

I just tossed it in the glove box for emergencies but I wonder what else I could do with that.

 

[a4d]

Juggle them and start a circus act.:nana:
​

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Just make sure it's capped and the bare striking surface isn't exposed.

 

[NA8]

A friend took some driving class and he said the instructor demonstrated to the class how you could use flares in a roadside confrontation by flicking the molten material towards your opponent to keep him/them at bay. While doing this, light a second flare and toss it in their car window. When they forget about you in order to deal with their car, you get back in your car and beat feet.

Sounded interesting, but don't try this at home kids; oh.. and roll up that window

 

[Illum]

gee, nice grab...flares can be expensive...I wonder how come the others burned "half way" you could dunk those things under water and they wont go out

 

[Uncle Bob]

It's a good idea to examine your flares yearly. If they sit in the car trunk they are bound to be affected by heat, cold and humidity over time. If cheaply made the sides can split.

The trend seems to be going to LED "flares." Don't know how well the batteries would work in extremely cold weather. Incendiary flares are also a lot brighter in daylight or twilight situations.

 

[hank]

I'd welcome discussion of the LED type road flares if anyone's used them.

Rainy season where I live right now, but during the eight or so months when the area's crispy dry and brown, the incendiary flares are scary at best, and the LED type are tempting.

I've seen a variety of them advertised but not seen any in actual use.

 

[REDLINEVUE]

...........

The trend seems to be going to LED "flares." Don't know how well the batteries would work in extremely cold weather. Incendiary flares are also a lot brighter in daylight or twilight situations.

I have never used a "real" flare but do own a powerflare and its really pretty bright.. with the Li battery I have used it to -2 F with no issue... brightness wise, its not like the attention geting real orange flame at road side for dusk or daytime but still great at night.

http://www.pf-flares.com/products.htm

 

[greenLED]

We have Turboflare 360's - don't trust the flammable type.

I actually got to use them a couple of days ago while installing traction devices in the middle of the night; they worked well.

 

[ACMarina]

I've used the Turboflare in daylight to set an LZ for a helicopter and the pilot said they were clearly visible (enough to set the helicopter down in the right place anyway)

 

[depusm12]

When I was active duty Navy we used something similar to the turboflare but it was rechargable. Used them between regular traffic cones during DUI checkpoints and other major events at night. We go them to test them out for the company. Had many cars/ trucks run over them and kept on working. I bought about 6 turboflares recently very cheap but haven't used them yet.

 

[V8TOYTRUCK]

I have about 6 of these in my truck. Very visible in day or night. I used a few to start bonfires at the beach when lighter fluid and matches fail.

Pack of 3 is $5 at Walmart. I'll probably get some more for my Bug Out Bag.

For some reason I remember a long time ago once the flare gets extingished. It is nearly impossible to light up again. I remember taking a blow torch to it, and it wouldn't light up again?!

 

[Uncle Bob]

I also have a half-dozen incendiary flares in my trunk. The disadvantages for them are breathing in sulfur fumes if you're asthmatic (which I am) and starting a fire if there is spilled gasoline at an accident scene. They are also limited in their "run time." Battery flares should last much longer. I'd like to see a demo showing how bright incendiaries are compared to LED's in daytime.

 

[hank]

> I bought about 6 turboflares recently very cheap

Any more like that out there?

Any of our CPF friends going to stock them for sale?

Power-flare uses lithium 123; turbo-flare uses several AAs; I see various specs but not enough to guesstimate a comparison without having them in hand, and I'm not appropriate to review them anyhow.

I hope someone can get samples into Craig's hands at LEDmuseum.org for review, I'd welcome his evaluation.

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

I keep a box of incendiary flares on my truck; necessary for my work. Most of them only last half an hour or so, if you need longer burn time you can rest the tip of the next flare on the end of the previous flare so the next flare lights off of the previous one. Line up as many as you need in a zig-zag pattern.

I'd like a good LED flare too, something that won't start fires in the dry season. LED flares won't work all the time for me though, as an incendiary flare is DEFINITELY not going to ice over.

:buddies:

 

[ACMarina]

I can testify first-hand that the Turboflare will continue to work frozen under at least 1/2'' of ice..

Getting it out was no picnic

 

[gadget_lover]

To put them out the CHP usually knock the burning part off. The small piece then burns itself out.

The LEDs should be usable. Most of the police cars here now use a lightbar that is clearly made up of luxeons. I have a closeup somewhere....

I followed a CHP in the rain yesterday (he was slowing traffic) and the luxeon red-orange was unmistakable. It was also dazzling, especially when reflected off the rain slick roads.

What's the runtime of the turbo flares?

Daniel

 

[Alan B]

A few days ago I was looking at these LED flares.

My friend has a couple of TurboFlares. They appear to be a good economy model. One mode, rotating presentation, 4xAA. 8" diameter, 2" tall, floats. Red, amber, orange, green, white, blue LEDs (choose one), yellow case. 20 LEDs. One mode. Water resistant, floats. (also available in C and AAA cell models). 88 hours on 4xAA. www.turboflareusa.com

The PowerFlares are smaller and have many modes, colors of case, colors of LED (choose at time of purchase). A deluxe edition. There was a dealer across the aisle from me at one hamfest selling them. When business was slow he would throw one hard against the thinly carpeted concrete floor and it would bounce higher than his head. Kept working just fine. Appears to be well made and many featured. Uses a single CR123A battery. 4.25" diameter, 1.25" tall, 6 oz, waterproof to 300 feet. Red, blue, amber, green, white, IR LEDs available. Yellow, red, olive cases available. 16 LEDs (all one color). 9 modes including a flashlight mode (2 LEDs lit), and the all-important SOS... 100 hours on 1xCR123A. www.powerflare.com

Both are available on eBay, and rated to be run over by trucks. Both available in rechargeable configurations.

Powerflare has a video of one strapped to a suitcase with 2 pounds of high explosives. It survived the explosion and worked. Pretty tough device.

In CPF tradition I ordered both.

-- Alan

 

[ftumch33]

These flares are by no means cheap. I wish they were. I was looking for flares for my car to go with my bob but at 45~50 a piece for powerflares and turboflares being sold in packs, I think I`ll just get one unless something breaks. Any CPF dealers stock these?

 

[z96Cobra]

I carry some TurboFlares also. We also have them in our fire trucks for setting up a LZ for the medical copters. Pilots also told us that they are easily visible on approach. BTW, I bought mine at Sams Club a few years ago, they were in a 2 pack and my local club clearanced them out for $6 a package!!! IIRC, places like Galls wanted ~$20 EACH!

Roger