Steamlight Propolymer 3C led Vs. Lightwave 3000

[jason978]

hello, my name is Jason and I'm a flashaholic. I've been purchase free for 10 days. Well OK maybe not a full blown flashaholic yet, but I'm working on it.

I Just purchased my first 2 lights 2 weeks ago. The infinity ultra and the Princeton tec impact. Nice little lights. I really like the ultra, very broad and even beam, a nice flood. Brighter than I thought it would be too.

But now I want something bigger and brighter. I have a 4D maglight but its much too heavy and the beam is just terrible, uneven, blotchy, and I don't need that long of a throw anyway. So, I want something with,

-Long run time(over 8 hours near peak brightness)
-fairly bright
-c batteries or maybe 2 D max
-very broad and even light, as a little a hot spot as possible, like the ultra only much brighter
-under $50, preferably $40

I will be using it for general around the house stuff, like during power outages, repairs, and the occasional jaunt outside(at night of coarse). I'm fairly sure I need the C's or D's for the run time and brightness i want, but I could be wrong. I was thinking of the SL 4AA, but read that it got 6-7 hours till half brightness. Too short for me.

So, now I'm considering the Streamlight 3C and the lightwave 3000 or maybe the expedition 300, its kinda pricey though. Any others I should consider?

Which is better the SL or the LW? Any idea on the run times of either of these lights? I'll Assume the SL is brighter and LW has a little better run time. Please help me decide and no one say buy both. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,

Jason

 

[springnr]

Re: Steamlight Propolymer 3C led Vs. Lightwave 300

I have the Lightwave 3000 and would recomend it as a long runtime light. Good output without being too heavy.

 

[paulr]

Re: Steamlight Propolymer 3C led Vs. Lightwave 300

You might consider the Elektrolumens Blaster 1R or Angelux, which are 2D powered and regulated, with very long runtime.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Steamlight Propolymer 3C led Vs. Lightwave 300

Streamlight 3C Twin-Task.

Zillions of hours on the 3/6 LEDs, and, if necessary, a long run on the incandescent.

Survival city my friend.

http://www.brightguy.com/detail_int.html?cart=1075092065832462&sku=STR51002

 

[rlhess]

Re: Steamlight Propolymer 3C led Vs. Lightwave 300

I'll second the TT 3C -- I have a TT 2L in my wife's car and the 3C is similar in output and has the 3/6 LEDs.

We also have a bunch of the ProPolymer 3C (4) and 4AA (3) scattered around the house and everyone loves using them. I retired them from the cars, though, as the C cells don't like the heat of the car in the summer.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[SockMan]

Re: Steamlight Propolymer 3C led Vs. Lightwave 300

I think both are good choices and you can't go wrong with either. I'm edging a little toward the Streamlight, but that's probabably because I have a Streamlight and not a Lightwave.

I know that Streamlight is pretty good when it comes to custom er service, though I don't know if the same can be said for Lightwave. Just another thing to think about.

 

[JJHitt]

Re: Steamlight Propolymer 3C led Vs. Lightwave 300

LW's have a problem with the head locking on if even SLIGHTLY over-tightened.

If I was spending someone else's money, I'd go with the Streamlight.

But that being said: the LW4000 and LW3000 are still very nice lights and if the price+shipping leans toward the LightWave, I'd recommend it without regrets.

 

[jason978]

Thanks for replies. The Elektrolumens seem to have a very distinct hot spot and a narrow beam, which I don't want.

The twin task looks interesting, but according to streamlights web site it has one third the run time(100 vs. 300 hrs) of the 3c pro poly. That doesn't make sense though the TT uses 6 LEDs max and the pro poly uses 10 LEDs.

propoly 10 leds- 336 hrs http://www.streamlight.com/led_propoly.htm

TT, in 6 led mode- 100 hrs http://www.streamlight.com/tasklight_specifications.htm

What am I missing?

 

[JohnK]

What am I missing? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nothing really, I always take the manufacturers run time stats with a grain of salt. Most advertised run times go until you could barely find the blasted light in a dark room anyway.

The TT 3C should handle any conceiveable situation with ease. The 3 light levels are just iceing on the cake.

I REALLY like all the TTs.

I even like the name, "Twin-Tasks", or in this case "Triple-Tasks", with the option of 3 LEDs, 6 LEDs, or if the need arises, a very respectable "reach out and touch someone" incandescent.

 

[asdalton]

[ QUOTE ]
jason978 said:
The twin task looks interesting, but according to streamlights web site it has one third the run time(100 vs. 300 hrs) of the 3c pro poly. That doesn't make sense though the TT uses 6 LEDs max and the pro poly uses 10 LEDs.

...

What am I missing?

[/ QUOTE ]

You're missing the fact that they are both lying. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

LED flashlights typically have a useful runtime measured in the tens of hours (often less), never hundreds of hours. "Useful runtime" in this context means the time before the flashlight becomes so dim that you'll want to change the batteries in normal, non-emergency use. Those advertised 100+ hour runtimes may mean something if you are stuck in a pitch-black cave with the LED flashlight as your only light source. Otherwise, they're nonsense.

 

[The Yeti]

Re: Steamlight Propolymer 3C led Vs. Lightwave 300

check out the new elektrolumens light.

http://elektrolumens.com/FT-3C/FT-3C.html

There is a thread on it in the elektrolumens forum about it.

 

[Josey]

For what you want, I would get the Ligthwave 4000, which has just the type of light you want; and the batteries last a very long time. That said, as one newbie to another, the Arc LSH is an awesome light, well worth saving up for it. I kind of balked at the 123 batteries, but I bought three bricks of them from Surefire for not too much more than a buck a piece; and they have a shelf life of 10 years, so I feel good to go.
As a third choice, I love the Streamlight 3AA luxeon. Amazingly bright, good switch, small and easy to handle and it uses conventional batteries.

 

[StuU]

The Streamlight 3C/10 led is a fantastic light. The bright white flood makes it one of the most useful lights around our house. Extremely strong. Great belt hook. Heavy-duty switch. A workhorse.

Stu
------------------
Modern science has been a voyage into the unknown, with a lesson in humility waiting at every stop. Many passengers would rather have stayed home.
-- Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot

 

[MichiganMan]

I was going to recommend the LW 4000 too, but that LW 3000 that springnr pointed out in his link is a pretty good buy at that price.

Jason, regarding runtimes, always look for the light at Craig's site for an assessment more in tune with real world use.