Tactical HID's 35w, single vs dual modes.

[Fusion_m8]

Planning on getting my first "budget" HID light and was wondering about the Tactical HID 35w models. The single and dual modes(28w/35w) appear to be sold at the same price which leads me to question:

1). Would a dual mode ballast be constructed from higher quality materials?

2). Would a dual mode ballast shorten the life of the HID bulb or be detrimental to the 4400mah battery pack?

I do not need a dual; mode, but would only purchase one over the single mode if the dual mode ballast is higher quality. Otherwise see no benefit getting the dual mode over the single mode in my case.

All you HID professors, PLEASE ADVISE!

 

[Juggernaut]

Lots of stuff on the Tactical 35 watt and Oracle 35 watt "pretty much the same thing", if you do some searching. I think the Oracle is only single mode now, not sure. While which one is better "probably the same" but I don't think anyone on here knows indefinitely "at least I haven't heard so". Whether or not low or high modes are good for the bulb, is unknown to me. It all depends what the bulb is rated for, if it is 35 watts, then low is slightly bad for it, but if it is 28 watts then overdriving it at 35 watts is bad for it. However both modes are extremely close in real life, in fact I can barely notice any difference at all when switching between them with my Oracle, so I just leave it on high. Thus I doubt either mode does any harm to the bulb. Besides that, I can't think of any thing else.

 

[Patriot]

I do not need a dual; mode, but would only purchase one over the single mode if the dual mode ballast is higher quality. Otherwise see no benefit getting the dual mode over the single mode in my case.

The 35W Tactical/Oracle is sold under many other generic names on ebay and elsewhere. I don't think any of us know exactly if there is any quality difference between one ballast or the other. It would require an electronics guru or a guy like Xeray to disassemble one and inspect the innards. We're talking about a $225 full aluminum tube light with 4400mah li-ion battery, so it's unlikely that either could be considered "quality" but like many of the less expensive HID lights available, it should be good enough for general use and other non-survival, non-emergency applications. If you have plenty of back-up light, you might even be alright with using it as an emergency light but I'll leave that for you to decide.

 

[SunFire900]

I could be wrong about this, but I believe most of these lights, like my Oracle 35w have dual mode capable ballasts. The difference is in the battery pack itself. I have both a dual mode and a single mode pack. I much prefer the single mode battery pack as it doesn't self-discharge like the dual mode.

The self discharge characteristics of dual mode, I think, are the reason for so many problems having been reported with them being DOA or having ever shortening run times. The packs are partially charged @ at the factory and it may be months before the lights are sold. By the time the consumer receives the light, the battery has drained to a point where it is "unrecoverable" by recharging.

That's what happened to me. I had to send the battery back for a replacement.

And here is the other problem: When I received the replacement 2-mode pack, the blue (35w) indicator led's were lit when I opened the package. [It takes very little pressure to press the button on the dual-mode.] This drained the pack to less than 9v. Battery was recoverable fortunately. It still runs the light for about 65-70mins. on high.

If you don't use the light and recharge it regularly then you must charge it up at least once per month (due to the self-discharge). If you don't, the battery will "kill" itself. Not good.:shakehead

I don't think the single mode battery self discharges, but I don't have a good one to check out. Mine has a bad cell.

In other words, I'd get the single mode and forget about it.

 

[Juggernaut]

Yes the ever increasing string of complaints around the dual mode battery pack is making me think you should just go for the single mod, honestly you can barley tell the difference between the two modes anyways:thinking:. I lucked out with their first run of lights and have none of the dreaded double mode malfunctions, however I wouldn't take the chance again.

As Patriot said this is a good light for the money "if it doesn't give you any headaches", but it's not really for hard use, personally I could never use it for anything that required importance: such as emergencies, search and rescue, or job requirements like police work. For those tasks a much more simple and robust light would be preferred. However using it around the house, camping, hiking "with back-up", walking the dog, etc are more up it's ally, though it is extremely overkill for most tasks!

 

[TomInOregon]

I had been thinking of ordering one of the dual mode 35W Tactical HIDs in conjunction with an Elektrolumens FireSword IV to give me a bright, floody light and a bright throwy light. Now I'm discovering that there is a potential battery problem with these lights and, according to the 24W HID thread, it looks like the lights shouldn't be run longer than 15 minutes at a time without needing to cool off. I liked the increased runtime the 28W mode offered and I was planning to run it exclusively in that mode. I have a few questions about these lights as well.
How does the beam in these lights compare to the Stanley HID 3000? I have the Stanley and it throws well, but I don't like the weight, form factor, runtime or color temp of the beam. From what I've read, the Tactical doesn't throw as far, but how much difference is there in real use?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[SunFire900]

Tom, other than my initial battery problems I like my 35w, dual-mode Oracle. Though throw wise, it is no match for the Stanley which I also own. Not even close IMHO.

If there was a quality smooth reflector available for these lights (Oracle & Tactical) it might help the throw some, but probably not very much.

The beam color of my Oracle is quite warm. It is a little too warm for my taste, but many people like the old fashion yellow beams.

This thread took a left turn and I am not helping.

 

[TomInOregon]

Tom, other than my initial battery problems I like my 35w, dual-mode Oracle. Though throw wise, it is no match for the Stanley which I also own. Not even close IMHO.

If there was a quality smooth reflector available for these lights (Oracle & Tactical) it might help the throw some, but probably not very much.

The beam color of my Oracle is quite warm. It is a little too warm for my taste, but many people like the old fashion yellow beams.

This thread took a left turn and I am not helping.

Sunfire, thank you for the reply. I wasn't trying to derail the thread, it just looked like the best place for my question (out of all the threads on this light).

To the OP, from what I've read, I agree with what Sunfire posted in that the battery pack seems to determine the high/low settings and everything else on the light is the same. It looks like you would be much better off with the single mode.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[Fusion_m8]

Patriot- yeah, this HID is for hobby purposes only. I rely on my various Surefires for emergency and EDC.

My first choice would be the Amondotech L35, but after including shipping to Australia its like $200 over budget.

Looks like the SINGLE mode would be the go since the dual mode battery seems dodgy... and if I were in a position where I needed the output of a HID light, why on earth would I need a "low" mode anyway??

 

[andromeda.73]

the price is very low, I was wondering if anyone has tested? the 35W declared are real?

 

[Fusion_m8]

Lots... just do a google search on CPF, here's at least one.

the price is very low, I was wondering if anyone has tested? the 35W declared are real?

 

[Juggernaut]

I had been thinking of ordering one of the dual mode 35W Tactical HIDs in conjunction with an Elektrolumens FireSword IV to give me a bright, floody light and a bright throwy light. Now I'm discovering that there is a potential battery problem with these lights and, according to the 24W HID thread, it looks like the lights shouldn't be run longer than 15 minutes at a time without needing to cool off. I liked the increased runtime the 28W mode offered and I was planning to run it exclusively in that mode. I have a few questions about these lights as well.
How does the beam in these lights compare to the Stanley HID 3000? I have the Stanley and it throws well, but I don't like the weight, form factor, runtime or color temp of the beam. From what I've read, the Tactical doesn't throw as far, but how much difference is there in real use?

Thanks,
Tom

Well luckily you posted this here first, you could have ended up wasting a lot of money. The Tactical / Oracle 35 watters does not have extreme throw for an HID, the fact is that the FireSword may actually out throw the 35 watt HID! I can see no reason to buy both, all the HID would help with is perhaps less heat concerns "I've ran mine for over 30 minuets no problem" while the FireSword may get to hot to use after 10-15 minuets. However both should have the same output 2,800-3,000 Lumens, but they would also throw about the same. My Shadeslayer puts out only half the lumens as the Oracle but throws only 35% less. With the same output I would imagine they would be very similar. I could be wrong of course, but I bough my Oracle as poor man's FireSword, In the end the: Oracle / Tactical 35 watt are just a cheap Chinese entry light into the realm of HID "I would be very afraid of dropping mine:sigh:", while Electrolumens builds some of the highest quality LED lights in the world, which I would stake my life on any day:twothumbs.

 

[andromeda.73]

Lots... just do a google search on CPF, here's at least one.

Good, tank's! :twothumbs

 

[-lightslave-]

I just bought one of these 35w HID's from ebay for $164aud from china.
It has the dual mode battery, you can clearly see the different mode brightness and it also has a smooth reflector.
I noticed with the adjuastable beam, it can be adjusted to look like the polarion with the beam facing the bottom 190 degrees and not been wasted shinning in the sky.
It's a bit big but man is it bright! It throws a little further then my jet beam raptor rrt-1 but throws a hell of a lot more light. Even though It's rated at 3500lm it appearsto be a lot brighter then my wicked laser 'torch' (which is 4100lm) Could be just the colour temp, both my wicked laser and 35w hid have smooth reflectors but the hid throws much much better then the adjusted wicked lasers torch. It takes about 20 seconds to get to its full brightness but when you first turn it on it's still plenty bright.
It's an awesome light, like i said a little big but the output is amazing!
I want a brighter hid now, these things are awesome:twothumbs