Stinger HP vs. Reg. Stinger.....NO DIFFERENCE

[alphamaniv]

I was wondering if anyone else has both of these lights? I use a stinger on the job (EMT) and love it. I was excited to buy the HP head and lamp upgrade, but once installed it didn't fit in my holster with the rest of my stuff so I was **FORCED** to buy another stinger for work and keep the HP upgrade for other uses. Well, in a side by side comparison the beam strength is the same in terms of brightness and throw. So I feel like I just wasted 30.00 bucks and made a decent flashlight harder to carry. Has anyone else noticed this? Personally I think it sucks. With the 30.00 upgrade and then 60.00 for another light I could have bought another 6P or something(I am VERY flashlight poor

) Please post your experiences and thanks for letting me vent.

 

[K-T]

Is this that mysterious head-upgrade that claims to give you 40.000cd instead of 15000cd which is advertised on the streamlight web page?
I was going to post a question about it and its effectivness just in a second.

Klaus.

 

[redbird]

I too suffered from the same lack of results you are discussing here. After installing the headupgrade the results were dissapointing to say the least.

I took the step of sending in the complete light to streamlight and when it was returned it was MUCH better. In fact they exchanged my 4yr old battery and replaced the switch and perhaps exchanged the head.

I now have a light that is very noticeably different from my other stingers.

There is hope but I agree the immediate results seem like a waste of money.

 

[Size15's]

alphamaniv,

Based on redbird's post, I suggest you contact StreamLight customer service and get them to sort out your HP.

Please let us know what you decide to do and how you get on.

Al

 

[alphamaniv]

Yes I did try it on long range targets. No difference to me. I guess that I will contact Streamlight and see what they can do. The light I put the upgrade on is only 8-9months old so it shouldn't be the batts. Thanks for the info. I am working my regular 48 hour shift starting tomorrow morning so it will be a couple of days. I'll keep you guys posted

 

[dano]

Straemlight has been upgrading the US/HP heads...I have four, and the reflector is different on all of them. Streamlight has also redisigned the Stinger/US, with a different reflector thread configuration. Old and New US heads are NOT compatible.

The latest generation US i have in VERY bright, much brighter than my 1st. Generation Ultrastinger.

The only problem I have encountered with the Ultrastinger is minor lens cracking from heat.

--dan

 

[Size15's]

Did you compare the beams on a long range target?

Al

 

[alphamaniv]

Well, I got a reply to my email and it is as disappointing as the light. I want it fixed or replaced, not my money back and I didn't like the implication that I cant tell the difference in two lights that I have at the same time on the same night. I guess that I have made my last streamlight purchase thanks to this idiot. I am going to give my money to a company that sells what they advertise. Here is a copy of the e-mail I sent and the reply.

>>> "James Mason" 08/26/02 07:33PM >>>
Hello,

I purchased the HP head upgrade kit for one of my stingers. After replacing the bulb and the head I see no visible difference between my regular stinger and this HP one.
This is in terms of brightness, throw etc. The upgraded light is less that 9
months old when I put the new head on. Please advise. Thank you.

James Mason

You don't see the difference but I'm sure there is a difference. In
every case where one of these Up-Grades was returned because of customer
complaints we did find a significantly higher candle power output in the
up grade over the standard stinger. Tests were done in our own
candlepower range.

However the important issue here is that if YOU are not satisfied you
can return the product to my attention along with a proof of purchase
and a copy of this email and I will refund your money.

If you wish you can return to--- Attn: Bob Harner,,, Streamlight,
Inc.,,, 30 Eagleville Road,,, Eagleville, PA. 19403

Regards,
Bob Harner, Production Manager

 

[alphamaniv]

BTTT

 

[rlhess]

Alphamaniv,

I feel your pain in this...but I suspect that he might be right. Is one dot of the new beam pattern brighter than the old? If it is, it's putting out more candlepower at that one point.

Iv'e measured the candlepower output of two "1,000,000" cp rechargeable flashlights. One measured 100,000 cp and the other 65,000 cp.

Frankly the two look similar in brightness. It's too bad he worded it the way he did, but my guess is that he might actually be right...however, an increase in candlepower at one point which technically makes things in spec isn't necessarily a more useful light.

This is one reason why Surefire uses lumen ratings (which I also find difficult to compare as their beam sizes vary a fair amount) to avoid some of the nonsense with candlepower ratings.

Good luck!

Richard

 

[Alan]

When I received my Stinger HP (entire new light), I was disappointed as well. My disappointment is greatly due to my high expectation experienced in Ultra Stinger which is very bright, white and smooth.

Nonetheless, my HP is still much brighter than my other 2 regular stingers (XT and Poly).

Alan