SunDrop for a night walking light?

[precisionworks]

Sounds unlikely, doesn't it? But it seemed worth a try, as a number of cars don't move over until they're really close, using the PD-S. So tonight, the PD-S stayed in the pocket & the SunDrop got a workout.

Surprising thing, cars move over sooner & give me (and the pup) a wider berth. Probably due to the wide angle beam pattern, which allows a driver to see the light even if the light isn't pointed exactly at him. A diffuser or a half dome spreader on the PD-S might give the same result.

 

[souptree]

Sounds unlikely, doesn't it? But it seemed worth a try, as a number of cars don't move over until they're really close, using the PD-S. So tonight, the PD-S stayed in the pocket & the SunDrop got a workout.

Surprising thing, cars move over sooner & give me (and the pup) a wider berth. Probably due to the wide angle beam pattern, which allows a driver to see the light even if the light isn't pointed exactly at him. A diffuser or a half dome spreader on the PD-S might give the same result.

Not too surprising to me.

I do a lot of walking at night. I have noticed the cars will generally try to avoid driving over the light. Once I noticed this, I started pointing my light more towards the traffic side of me than directly in front of me when a car is approaching. I have definitely noticed a consistent improvement since I began the experiment, with drivers giving me a wider berth when I aim the light more into the traffic lane. This ongoing experiment has actually convinced me that many drivers tend to associate the light itself as being "the pedestrian". I have caused cars to veer over double yellow lines to avoid driving over a beam that was pointed 10-15 feet to my left.

I wonder if this is the same effect you are noticing with the SunDrop where the wider beam profile effectively puts more light into the road -- where the drivers are more likely to see it from a distance.

 

[brucec]

Surprising thing, cars move over sooner & give me (and the pup) a wider berth. Probably due to the wide angle beam pattern, which allows a driver to see the light even if the light isn't pointed exactly at him. A diffuser or a half dome spreader on the PD-S might give the same result.

I live in a fairly light polluted area with lots of blinking signs, cars, motorcycles, etc. When walking with a flashlight, I generally give on-coming cars a quick flash to let them know we are there. Anything above 50lumens or so pointed briefly at a car will be VERY visible above the light noise at 30meters or more. I also use a Zebralight H30 on my bike because it is much more visible than typical bike lights which are rather narrow angle. I just wish it had a strobe mode.

 

[StarHalo]

It probably looks very strange to an oncoming car, a single intense point of light and this broad field lit up around it, like someone walking down the street with Thermite..

 

[precisionworks]

It probably looks very strange to an oncoming car, a single intense point of light and this broad field lit up around it

I imagine it looks almost like a bare incan lightbulb, much unlike a car headlight. It's amazingly effective.

When walking with a flashlight, I generally give on-coming cars a quick flash to let them know we are there.

When I use the PD-S, it stays on low beam until an oncoming car approaches. Then I start a low/high/low/high pattern, about one second of each. The high beam seems to be a quick attention getter, while the low beam continues to provide my target location.

 

[brucec]

I imagine it looks almost like a bare incan lightbulb, much unlike a car headlight. It's amazingly effective.

When I use the PD-S, it stays on low beam until an oncoming car approaches. Then I start a low/high/low/high pattern, about one second of each. The high beam seems to be a quick attention getter, while the low beam continues to provide my target location.

It looks like a mini-HID headlamp, only about 2-3 feet higher than where you would expect it to be and on the side of the road.

Actually, the most visible rear bikelight that I have seen was this one blinky job where instead of only red or white blinking, there was also blue and green lines of LEDs. Aside from brute lumen force, blue LEDs are definitely the way to get attention in traffic as there are very few bright blue lights around. Gotta find out where I can pick up one of those.

 

[pianoman]

the difference in beam between these type of lights, including the mule, of course, has, inmho, completely revised what is an appropriate light for a specific use.....

 

[yaesumofo]

I can't think of a good reason to NOT use a sundrop as a walking light.
While it is great for close up work, photo work, night trips to the kitchen, backyard exploration, and lots of other stuff.... The Sundrop is a very unique light worthy of close examination for multiple uses.

I bought a consealco holster for mine and often carry it on my belt. It makes a great backup light to my EDC (either a Lunasol 20 or 27).
Yaesumofo

 

[precisionworks]

I can't think of a good reason to NOT use a sundrop as a walking light.

I just got the 3 Speed (3S) version from Don, and it seems to be even more noticeable to approaching vehicles. I quickly cycle the light, probably 3-4 clicks per second, so the output cycles through low/medium/high/low/etc. Can't say that anybody ever sees the low at 3 lumens, but they seem to notice the variation of intensity really quickly.

If you don't already have the 3 Speed, it is awesome:twothumbs

 

[fareast]

I imagine it looks almost like a bare incan lightbulb, much unlike a car headlight. It's amazingly effective.

When I use the PD-S, it stays on low beam until an oncoming car approaches. Then I start a low/high/low/high pattern, about one second of each. The high beam seems to be a quick attention getter, while the low beam continues to provide my target location.

Great tips!!! Thanks.