Search & Rescue Light - Headlamp Flood-to-Zoom Variable-Brightness

[MikeAusC]

Over the weekend I worked on the Recovery Teams for a 100km 48 hour walk.

It confirmed the type of light I need.

1. Headlamp with batteries at the back. I need both hands free for walking on rough tracks and for stretcher carrying so a Headlamp is the only option. With batteries at the back it's balanced so it stays in place and is more comfortable.

2. Flood-to-Spot Zoom. When I'm walking I need a wide beam. When I'm searching along the shoreline for a safe place for the Water Police boat to get close, I need the brightest possible light and zooming to a spot does that. Spot is also useful for signalling our location as the boat came into view.

3. Instant Variable Brightness. When I'm carrying the stretcher, my light is moving from the track out front to the track at my feet, so it regularly goes over the patient's eyes. She really appreciated it, when I went to lowest brightness and full Flood to minimise the intensity in her eyes. I need to be able to switch instantly from Bright to Dim or Vice Versa - stepping through multiple modes is too difficult.

4. Waterproof. We had no rain and I don't do canyon rescues, so I got by with a light that wasn't waterproof, but for reliability in this work the light has to be rated for splashproofness at least - immersion isn't an issue for me.

I was using a cheap temporary solution to verify what I really needed - a $20 one from DX - http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29435

Now that I know what functionality I need, I'll start working on a high-powered home-built version.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Ever thought of just using two headlamps on one headband attached to the same battery pack? This would allow one to flood and the other to zoom without the hassle of messing with adjusting all the time... set each and forget. Turn on the one you need when you need it.

 

[MikeAusC]

One of the Special Casualty Access Team Ambos was using one and they're also quite popular with walkers and cyclists here, because they're made in Australia.

I see it as unnecessary weight, once you see how well a good zoom light works.

 

[MikeAusC]

I found the details of the Ay Up Lighting system.

http://www.ayup-lights.com/products/categories/

 

[yellow]

those "requirements" are not good, as they are totally from the focus of the one single guy who gave them, based on HIS preferences!

f.e.
1: that "battery compartmend on the back"
--> true, when it is a (standard) light with quite a number of batts, like a Petzl Zoom
--> false, when it is f.e. a Streamlight Argo HP (using rechargeable Li-Ion batts, 2*CR123a or 1*17650, to keep running costs and environmentally bade waste low)
my preferences were the smaller, lighter, more versatile Argo.

2: flood to spot zoom: very easy --> crap
You wear a headlight - which usually is more on the flood side, and a more powerful handheld light for searching.
Latter might be a spot to zoom (cheap example, rugged enough for Your application) but maybe with higher power, like an MC-E / P7 light (Jetbeam M1X, ...)
which is another preference thing. I simply dont think spot to zoom are any good, at least they can not be produced really rugged and waterproof. (that light in my link - recommended by me to them - is in use by quite a number of my bike friends and all lights survived several bumpy night rides, sometimes even with rain)

3: variable brightness: very good
... only with cheapos not working consistenly and reliably enough, I advise to only get the on/off models.

4: that light You got
... 3 cell lights, especially from the cheapo creed, are simply not worth it.
I do not believe that "digitally regulated circuit" from any 3*AAA light, because reality shows that in 99,9999 % of cases it is plain wrong and "just" a direct drive light.
Really good that it worked for You and that You like it. And with a headlamp - no real power at all - that also works.

the usual solution of at least a "weak" headlamp and a "strong" handheld - so at least two lights - is better.
for cost reasons: both lights should be able to run with Li-Ions, like the Argo and some "P60 style 18650 light" (or maybe the more powerful 2*18650 handheld), both lights cells to be charged with a doublecell, multiformat Li-Ion charger. That system is more cheaper than Ni-Mh and, at the same time, packs more power into the same sized package.
for safety reasons (Your special application): should also be able to be run with single-use cells, like CR123 primaries.