Small HID ?

[CNR]

I'm looking for my first HID, for hunting and camping trips, my main light right now is a TK40 (which i'll keep carrying), so i'm looking for something brighter, more of a thrower, up to 3D Mag size (the smaller, the better) to fit in a backpack.

Here's my dilema :

I was looking at Wolf Eyes Boxer or Shark, but read some bad reviews here about their output (being less by far compared to other 24W HIDs) and i don't recall seeing any real good review, but their price and size are good, and they don't run on special batts (exept of the Shark).

I can get a Microfire Warrior III from here (Europe) for about 515$, which seems of a good quality, downside: it only has 15deg. beam at tightest (vs 5-6deg. the WE) but i think that, with the much greater output, should out throw the 24Ws.
What concerns me with the Warrior is it's "K-3" battery, i haven't seen anyone mentioning this here, but, what happens after 5-6 years, will i still be able to find this battery ? do i have an alternative ?
I wouldn't want to have an expensive light like this disabled in a few years.
Have anyone faced this problem before with older lights (disabling it due to discontinued battery type) ?
I'm worrying about the batt. because the light won't be used in a daily basis and in summer may be stored for 4-6 months

Any opinion (on battery, throw, brightness, quality or other) will be greatly appreciated.

Costas

 

[HKJ]

I can get a Microfire Warrior III from here (Europe) for about 515$, which seems of a good quality, downside: it only has 15deg. beam at tightest (vs 5-6deg. the WE) but i think that, with the much greater output, should out throw the 24Ws.

The Warrior has much better throw than TK40, but I do not expect that you can get a new battery for it (the battery tube of the light is the battery).

I have done some beamshots with TK40, Warrior and lots of other lights here.

Warrior and TK40:

 

[CNR]

Thanks HKJ, yes, i've seen your beamshots (great reviews btw), i was actually talking in comparison with the 10W/24W HID, which have a 6deg. tight beam (about half of the angle of the Warrior III, which has 15deg.), i'd expect the Warrior III to still be out throwing them, due to much higher output, but then again, i really don't know, if not, i would be better of with a cheaper and smaller WE 10W or 24W.


About the battery, do you mean that if it's battery fails (due to aging or anything) there goes the light ??
Edit: Only spares from Microfire then... i got it.

 

[HKJ]

About the battery, do you mean that if it's battery fails (due to aging or anything) there goes the light ??
Edit: Only spares from Microfire then... i got it.

Yes, the batteries are part of the light. I might be possible to replace them inside the battery tube, but I have not opened it to see how they are mounted.

 

[CNR]

If you wanted a light to use for many years, would you go for this, or you'd rather get one with more common batteries ?

Wolf Eyes & Tactical HID will cost me their price + about 200$ tax/custom expenses to import from US.

 

[Patriot]

If you wanted a light to use for many years, would you go for this, or you'd rather get one with more common batteries ?

Wolf Eyes & Tactical HID will cost me their price + about 200$ tax/custom expenses to import from US.

You really don't have any alternatives. The Boxer is one of the few lights that allows you to use cells of your choice.

If you're just looking for something with more performance than the TK40, you'll probably be happy with the boxer as it's more than double the output and has a lot more throw. Beware that the color tint is rather blue as is the case with the Microfire.

 

[AEHaas]

Patriot, have you tested the AELight Xenide 25W HID. With the new HO bulb they say it is good for 1800 lumens and has a good balance of spot and spill. And it is good for over 2 hours

aehaas

 

[CNR]

...you'll probably be happy with the boxer as it's more than double the output and has a lot more throw....

The 10Watt Boxer says 550lm, do you think it'll still look brighter and have more throw ? or you're talking only for the 24W ?


Microfire says the Warrior III, can take the 8x CR123A batt. magazine of the K2000 Warrior II 24W.

So, tell me if i'm wrong :
The K2000 runs 55mins with the 2150mAh pack or the 8xCR123A, so i guess the 8xCR123A has more or less the same capacity.
On the other hand the K3500R runs for 55mins also, but with a 3000mAh batt. pack, so with the 8 CR123's (2150mAh) should run approx. 40min.

All the above, of course, are depended to Microfire claims' accuracy.
Any objections ?

 

[Patriot]

Patriot, have you tested the AELight Xenide 25W HID. With the new HO bulb they say it is good for 1800 lumens and has a good balance of spot and spill. And it is good for over 2 hours

aehaas

No I sure haven't but the 1800 lumens will bring it up to Boxer24W brightness but with slightly better color.

CNR
The 10Watt Boxer says 550lm, do you think it'll still look brighter and have more throw ? or you're talking only for the 24W ?


Microfire says the Warrior III, can take the 8x CR123A batt. magazine of the K2000 Warrior II 24W.

So, tell me if i'm wrong :
The K2000 runs 55mins with the 2150mAh pack or the 8xCR123A, so i guess the 8xCR123A has more or less the same capacity.
On the other hand the K3500R runs for 55mins also, but with a 3000mAh batt. pack, so with the 8 CR123's (2150mAh) should run approx. 40min.

All the above, of course, are depended to Microfire claims' accuracy.
Any objections ?

I was only speaking of the 24W Boxer. Don't even waste your time with the 10W. With HID, they become more efficient, produce more lumens per watt as the wattage increases. Get the most wattage that you can in the size range that you're looking at.

40-45 minutes is about right for the K3500 on CR123's. The other stated Microfire run times are accurately stated as well. Personally, I just think the 8 CR123 pack is a bit silly. I can't imagine dumping 8 of them in the trash in less than an hour since that's one walk around the neighborhood for me. In other words, it would be as good as useless if I was restricted to running just them, in which case I wouldn't want the light anyhow. Plugging in a battery pack for two hours instead is much more simple imo. I wouldn't base your HID purchase off of pack availability since chances are, they will continue to be available if if they aren't there's always a way to replace the cells within the pack. They should give you as least 3-4 years of good service with occasional use.

 

[CNR]

Patriot:

Of course you are right about the CR123's, i was more thinking like: 8x 3V rechargable CR123's or 6x RCR123 charged @ 4.1V.

But what you said was most enlightening, i understand now it's not a big deal since there is a chance even to replace the cells in the pack (didn't know that), also thanks for the info regarding the wattage, you cleared everything.
Thanks so much for the advise :thanks:really appreciate it

 

[Patriot]

Patriot:

Of course you are right about the CR123's, i was more thinking like: 8x 3V rechargable CR123's or 6x RCR123 charged @ 4.1V.

You're quite welcome....

Regarding the 8 x "3V" they are not really 3.0V fully charged. Typically "3.0V" batteries charge to between 3.5V and 3.9V so you would be sending excessive voltage to the ballast. Since it's a 4s2p battery pack, you could be over driving the ballast by as much as 2.0V to 3.2V which is dangerously high. "danger" meaning that you could ruin your ballast. I would never personally take that risk with the primary battery carrier, which was intended for primaries (CR123s) only.

Look at it this way. Much of the electronic equipment we purchase today, ranging from iphone's to laptops, is subject to aging battery packs that may not be available in five or six years. Unless you're going to spend over $1000 don't worry to much about owning a light for 10+ years. Just like the iphone, something is eventually going to come up that blows the old one away in features and performance.

Also, remember to head over to the Marketplace and type the name of the light you're looking for in the search function. People are often selling the exact light you're looking for at a fraction of the new price.

 

[CNR]

:thumbsup: