SL Scorpion bulbs *really* die that quickly?

[milkyspit]

I just purchased a SL Scorpion. Most of my flashlight inventory uses LEDs, and I wanted to get one of those small, super powerful CR123A-driven incandescants. It's a neat little light. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

When I read the product manual, though, I was shocked to find that Streamlight says I'll need to replace the bulb every 3-5 battery changes. Since the batteries supposedly only last 1 hour per set, this means the bulb will die in 3-5 hours? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Worse, the manual says intermittent use will kill the bulb even more quickly!?! This is an outdoor light for me, and my typical usage pattern involves 5-10 minutes at a time, or even activating the light for seconds at a time as necessary. All of this would seem to paint a gloomy picture for my nifty new flashlight. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif Heck, if this is true, the bulb in this light will last less time than the AA batteries in my LGI (Mr. Bulk's Long Gun Illuminator, a custom 1W LED flashlight)! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif

Is this accurate information on the Scorpion's bulb life, or will the reality be somewhat better than what the manual states?

 

[FNG]

I had mine over 10 sets before it finally died (probably my fault).

 

[dano]

I've had my Scorp for 5 or so years. I don't use it everyday, but it has gone thru an estimated 5 sets of batteries, and I'm still using the original bulb.

I suppose if you ran it constantly, it would blow quicker. Or flashed it like a strobe for a long time. But general use should give you more then 5 hours of bulb life.

Anywyas, it comes with a spare, and additional bulbs run about 5 bucks.

--dan

 

[JohnK]

Try poping for a SF $$$$ bulb assembly; It'll make you like the Scorpion a lot more.

I have about 6 battery changes on my original Scorpion bulb, no "blackening", still works, and there is another bulb inside the light..... Free...

I have three SF's, three Scorpions, I use the Scorpions..

 

[hawkhkg11]

It is rumored that SF lamps last 3 times longer than SL bulbs, but is there any truth to this?

All I know about the SL bulbs is that they are really hard to get in the socket, and the pins are easily bent, leaving you a poor beam if the bulb is askew in the reflector. I prefer SF lamps much better. Just a design thing.

 

[NeonLights]

Looks like for once, a flashlight manufacturer underestimated their bulb life. I've had my Scorpion for somewhere around a year, used only intermittnetly (nothing longer than 10-15 minutes), not sure how many batteries I've put through it, but I'm still on the original bulb.

-Keith

 

[FNG]

I had no problem with my Scorpion bulb but my brand new $18 P61 blew in 2 days. This is nothing like buying a $4 bulb from 2-3 Streamlight dealers near me if needed. Its been 2 weeks and still no replacement from SF.

 

[Flotsam]

I've had the same bulb in my scorpion for the past 3 years (probably 6-7 sets of batteries) - still looks the same to me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Nice light at a decent price (<$30)

 

[arioch]

I've had my Scorpion for a while, and have put over 6 battery changes through it, and am still running on the original bulb. When I was using the Scorpion as my new light, it got used mostly at intermittent intervals, usually 2 minutes or less at a time. On a couple of occasions, I accidentally left the light on for over 5 minutes. As stated by others, one lamp assembly for an SF 2x123 light will cost as much as 4-5 SL Scorpion bulbs (not to mention the "free" one in the light).

IMHO, incandescents like 2x123 lights (Scorpion, SF 6P, Pelican M6, ASP Triad, Brinkman Xenon, etc.) should be used as backup lights due to the limited battery life (>1 hour), and incandescent lamp burnout. You seem to be aware of this, as you state that most of your collection are led's.

On a side note, it seems that SL has been "upgrading" their tactical light line with their TL incandescent/led series and NF series.

 

[Wolfen]

Same thing...the bulb lasts a pretty good time and they are cheap..so don't worry about it it is a pretty good light at a good price and at good operating cost. It is a heck of a lot cheaper and brighter than an SureFire L4 Lumamax. (Great light by the way.)

 

[Size15's]

I've put perhaps 45 sets of SF123A through my A2
I know that I put 72 SF123A's through my M3T (field-testing)
The M2's P61 had many sets through it.

SureFire Lamp Assemblies do not in my experience just die after 25-30 hours. I had an N62 lamp that I used for about a year or some as my primary flashlight. I spent a fortune feeding it. It died of old age - I certainly got my money's worth from it.
During my heavy use of the M3T, one N2 began to yellow with deposits on the inside of the bulb. It still works but I swapped it out for a new one.

My point is that a Scorpion's very short bulb life requires that you have a spare in the light. SureFire's don't need a spare bulb for this reason. I have spare Lamp Assemblies for all my SureFires. I believe having spares is good but I don't feel the need to have to carry them around with me. SureFire's SC Spares Carriers mean I can carry them along with replacement SF123A's - far more useful.

Al

 

[Wolfen]

No matter what light you carry you will always need back up. 'Nough said?

 

[Size15's]

I think a great backup for a two-cell SF123A model is an ArcAAA.

Unless of course you need to use your two-cell SF123A model for your job in which case another two-cell SF123A model is a good idea.

Al

 

[Experiment_626]

Just thought that I would add my comment to this thread...
The Scorpion comes with a spare bulb which is stored inside the ceramic base of the head. To access it, unscrew the head & pull out the white ceramic disc. Gently remove the silver contact "button" from the bottom (part that normally contacts the positive terminal of the batteries) and you will find the spare bi-pin bulb.

As for life of the bulbs, I have gone through no less than 12 sets of batteries on one bulb, but one thing I did notice was that as the bulb aged, it went from being clear when new to a somewhat silverish-gray tint. I don't think the discoloration had THAT much impact on the light output, but never put a meter to it.

 

[Ray_of_Light]

Surefires are, to my opinion, the most reliable flashlight you can get. They just do not compare to the Scorpion. Beside the ultra reliable casing and finish, both internal and external, the reliability of SF bulbs is just above standard. Even if the SF lamps are pushed to the technology limits, *there is* a minimum stated life for the bulb. Other manufacturers simply cannot guarantee *any* minimum life for their bulbs, when powered with DC at high temperature.
For backup lights: if you carry a E2e+KL1 or L4, you simply don't needs backups. (and same is true for the Arc LS). What SF lacks is a battery status indicator, this is why I carry spare 123s.

Regards

Anthony

 

[John N]

I've got about three Scorpions which end up as general house and car lights. They don't get tremendous use and are typically used intermittantly (couple mins at a time, if that). All have had quite a few sets of batteries through them. So far I haven't had to replace any lamp assemblies. Ditto with my SF lights. Perhaps if I used them longer at a sitting this would be different.

-john

 

[Quickbeam]

Interesting... we have a nice little question about the Scorpion bulb life and several folks suddenly feel the need to jump in with comments promoting Surefire lights and how they think they're so much better than the Scorpion... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

I think the big picture coming out of the comments so far is that you don't have to be too concerned with the Scorpion bulb life - it looks like they last well beyond the mfgr's stated life, plus you have the spare in the body of the light just in case.

The Scorpion is a great little 2x123a light and mine hasn't let me down yet. You won't regret your purchase.

 

[JohnK]

What Quickbeam said...........

 

[milkyspit]

[ QUOTE ]
Quickbeam said:
The Scorpion is a great little 2x123a light and mine hasn't let me down yet. You won't regret your purchase.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
JohnK said:
What Quickbeam said...........

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As to the religious fervor over these lights, I'm not a big incandescent user in general; most of my lights at this point are LED-driven. I will say that the Scorpion is very nice! It's not really even as bright as my Space Needle II (5-watt LED), but it runs just as long, is smaller, and throws farther. And the SNII is no slouch on throw, so that's quite a compliment. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I don't even own a Surefire to compare it with, but those pictures are oh so pretty, and SF has clearly made a lot of people happy. Maybe someday, as budget allows, I'll try one for myself.

As for one vs. the other, I'll defer to the unofficial CPF motto: BUY 'EM BOTH! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PaulW]

Milkyspit,

You don't even own a SureFire? A SureFire is like an SL Scorpion that loves you and wants to please you. You need to find someone in your area that can let you hold one, and stroke one, and use one. It's a wonderfully sensual experience. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Paul