Soldier needs help!

[Commander]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink2.gif
I'm new around here and need help to find the best light to my job - This should be the place!

I am a soldier and need:
1. Waterproof
2. Shock resistance
3. Long burn time – above 5 hours
4. Small in size
5. The light output should be adjustable (like the PHOTON Micro Light 3)– not a demand!
6. Price – of no importance

I already have:
-Arc AAA
-The NewBeam LED Module to AA MINI MAGLITE
-PHOTON Micro Light 3

Please link to other posts if discussed before!

I am very excited about yours advice!

Thanks
Thomas

 

[IlluminatingBikr]

Re: Soldier need help!

If you would like more runtime than your Arc AAA try the Arc AA . /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif Also similar to the Arcs are the CMG Infinity and CMG Infinity Ultra.

You might also look into the long run-time MadMax if it ever becomes reality.

Now here is something soldiers might be interested in.

I hope all of this helps. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Rothrandir]

Re: Soldier need help!

what you want is what we all want!
unfortunately, it doesn't exist /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

the arc ls4 and ls5 will fit all of that criteria, but it isn't out yet. it isn't due out for several months yet, so you'll need to buy some other lights in the meantime /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

well, based on what you already have, you need some higher output lights. a surefire l4 is a good highoutput and shockproof light, but isn't waterproof. it should be fairly waterresistant at least.

an arc lsh is probably the single best (in my opinion at least) edc there is. while i wouldn't even consider carrying only one light, if i had to, it would be the ls. it isn't as bright as the l4, but it's a lot smaller and waterproof.

another thing to consider (i'm not sure of the power situation where you're at, if you're deployed somewhere) would be a rechargable light.
the tigerlight pretty much reigns supreme as far as rechargables go. small, bright, durable, easy to charge. a good thing for checking out the bumps in the night.

 

[Alan Hsu]

Re: Soldier need help!

How small is "small"?

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

Re: Soldier need help!

Welcome to CPF, Commander. What you are looking for, is the Arc LS4, which is due out around March 2003 (subject to change). It is something most of us are waiting for (very impatiently, i might add). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Minjin]

Re: Soldier need help!

Yeah, we need more information. I understand how it can be hard for a new person to give details about what they want because they aren't aware of all that is out there.

I'm going to guess that he also wants easy to use and simple. First suggestion would be Streamlight 7LED, 4AA. That would be the next stage of brightness over the lights he already has, good runtime, good useful flood beam, and easy to operate even with gloves.

Another possbility would be a step down 1w powered by 3 123s. Depending on how hard its driven, that can certainly exceed 5hrs. Something like a UBH with KL1, or 9P with KL3,both of which exceed 6-7hrs. The more I think about it, that would be a great option.

Mark

 

[Roy]

Re: Soldier need help!

This is not small, but it looks military and has a runtime of 24 hours to 50% max brightness.

 

[Commander]

Re: Soldier need help!

First of all thanks for all the great and fast replays! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I need some time to read this through.

The light is for use in the field on patrol with backpack. Therefore the long run time is needed.

Small is AA MINI MAGLITE.

Primary use is for map reading and sometimes general work. That’s way the low light outcome is important – or better adjustable.

And the light must be white – or as close as possible. Or the map signatures change.

It is always raining on patrol – or passage of water is needed – waterproof is a must. 10 feet is ok.

Hope this make it easier to help me!

Thanks

 

[chamenos]

Re: Soldier need help!

commander, it sounds like you need a surefire A2 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif the low output leds which should be comparable to your opalec module burns for 15 hours, followed by 30 hours of minimal output. as and when you need the extra light, the A2 also produces 50 lumens of fully regulated light from an incandescent bulb. the price is prohibitive, but this_is_nascar has some for sale on the B/S/T forum here for $110 so you might wanna grab one.

as for water-resistance, i've left mine in the bottom of a pail for a few hours without any problems. i don't think you can take it diving, but splashes and swimming with it should be fine. the incandescent bulb can be damaged if the light is dropped hard enough, but the LEDs won't be a problem.

another alternative would be the streamlight twin-task lights, but those aren't regulated like the A2 is.

 

[oldgrandpajack]

Re: Soldier need help!

Sounds like you want the Surefire L1-HA-WH. Only potential problem is availability of the 123A lithium batteries.
oldgrandpajack

 

[James S]

Re: Soldier need help!

If you already carry a mini-mag AA the first thing you should do is grab an opalec new beam into it. This is a regulated 3led drop-in for the mini-mag. It doesn't have the throw of the reflector in there, but the light is white and bright enough and lasts for a very long time without dimming. It is reviewed At the LED Museum

For brighter lights I think all of the above suggestions are excellent.

EDIT: BUT if you're familiar and comfortable with the mini-mag format and waterproofness and probably have several lying around then in addition to the opalec for close in map reading you should really look into a bad boy or mad max drop in. These are excellent LED adaptors for the mini-mag (or brinkman legend) the runtime is not up to 5 hours I don't think on any of them, but the batteries are AA's but they are easy to replace in a hurry in the field if necessary. Adding any of these things does not comprimise the waterproofness of the light.

If you really need that eye piercing punch to spot at long distances then neither of these is going to work very well for you. But as you'll hear more and more as you hang out around here, you'll need th GET THEM BOTH /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif SO get a surefire too!

 

[pedalinbob]

Re: Soldier need help!

adjustable brightness, shock resistant, waterproof (or very resistant) and small?

eternalight, palight, aurora or tikka plus headlamp...

Bob

 

[Chop]

Re: Soldier need help!

Won't a PAL light do all of those things?

 

[FC.]

Re: Soldier need help!

Surefire E2e with KL1
Shockproof
Waterproof
Regulated-4hrs in high-output mode, 15hrs low-output

Surefire L1

 

[BC0311]

Re: Soldier need help!

The PALight E-lite would be just about perfect except it is "moisture resistant" and not waterproof /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

PALights.com

Their "Workman" and "Survival" series have that "always-on-glow" feature that you wouldn't want to have. The E-lite has an "off" mode so that you can turn the feature off.

But, I suspect these may not stand up well to total immersion for more than a few seconds crossing a stream.

I can easily distinguish color features on maps with any of my white LED lights. Arc AAA, AA, CMG Infinity Ultra, P-T Aurora, Streamlight Twin-Tasks etc.

I've been a grunt, so I understand the need for a light to be waterproof. Back-in-the-day, we used to wrap our GI Angleheads in plastic bags and rubber bands and that was iffy if we stepped in a hole while crossing.

Underwater Kinetics makes lights that are for Diving so they are genuinely waterproof to depth.

The UK2AAA LED (white) is waterproof, has a regulation circuit that advertises "20 hours of high brightness runtime before fading to a low-level glow" for some hours longer.

It has a clip so that it can be clipped to a cap bill or helmet or ? and it has a split ring to attach to a lanyard or ?

It doesn't have variable brightness. It is small and lightweight and handy since the 2 AAA cells are side-by-side rather than end-to-end.

My sons used the Princeton-Tec Aurora 3xAAA headlamps last summer for several months in jungle, water and mountains of Belize and they performed excellently. Numerous dunkings in 3-4 feet of water and mud. Days and nights of continuous rain. Drops, knocks, and bashes. One of them finally succumbed to a severe smashing against a cave ceiling. It still lights up but just one LED on bright and one on blinking.

The Aurora is small and light and can be worn over the head, a hat or helmet. It can also be held in the hand, of course.

It has off, low, medium, and high brightness levels as well as a couple of blinking modes. The head is hinged so that you can angle it to put the beam where you want it. Runtime is well in excess of your 5 hour+ requirement. (Edit: I have added a link to Quickbeam's review of the Aurora at flashlightreviews.com, you can check out reviews for several lights there)

Quickbeam's review of Princeton-Tec Aurora

Thanks for letting me yak. I'm particularly interested in hearing what you decide and how it performs for you. Please keep in touch.

Your service is deeply appreciated.

BC Lynn

 

[BC0311]

Re: Soldier need help!

[ QUOTE ]
FC. said:
Surefire E2e with KL1 ....Waterproof...

[/ QUOTE ]

On Surefire's website it says, "Weatherproof". There's a difference. Surefire's "weatherproof" may be enough to survive repeated total submersion for several minutes or hours at a time, but I don't see them claiming it will.

If the A2 were waterproof...that would be what I'd like to carry if I were doing the things Commander's doing. I'd carry a brace of spare cells.

BC

 

[Double_A]

Re: Soldier need help!

Some good suggestions here.

I would agree with those that suggested...

Surefire A2
Surefire E2e with KL1 head
Streamlight Twin Task 2L

I don't know how water resistant the Streamlight is, I'm guessing the A2 is rain resistant, but the E2e/KL1 should withstand the elements well.

Of course there is nothing wrong with using an Photon III attached to the clip of an A2. That way you would have several levels of light.

GregR

 

[chamenos]

Re: Soldier need help!

my A2 doesn't leak at all, and has never done so. i think if more water-resistance was required, the O-rings at both ends of the battery tube could be swapped with thicker ones. the bezel and tailcap would be harder to twist on but it should resist water at deeper depths.

 

[Ray_of_Light]

Re: Soldier need help!

For this requirements, I see fit a SureFire Z3 with KL3 bezel. It stays up for 7 hours in high mode. I have it and is a wonderful setup.

Anthony

 

[Datasaurusrex]

Re: Soldier need help!

Inova 5xt?

Not dimmable but seems to meet other requirements... waterproof to 150', 20 hours run time w/ diminishing light (or there abouts) on 2 CR123s, would probably take shocks and drops very well... and it is quite a bit smaller (both lenght but most importantly in diameter) than almost all the surefire options.

Personally I'd want to avoid 'drop ins' and mods, instead I'd stick to regular production run lights... just because you want to be dang sure it's gonna work for the duration.

The ARC AA is a great light, or the Infinity Ultra would be good too... both give about 10+ hours of runtime, ARC should be waterproof to a few feet, Infinity should be resistant enough, and both should take drops and shocks w/o any problem... maybe you could get a darkened lens cover of some sort for either of those to provide some measure of brightness control.