DM51
Flashaholic
The BIG Lights
There are some lights that occupy a special place all of their own, because of their stupendous output and mind-boggling power. Usually the individual stories behind them are fascinating too, and I am probably not the only CPFer who likes re-reading those threads from time to time.
I thought it might be an idea to make a "Big Lights" thread, listing the main threads covering the genesis and/or testing of each of these great creations. In this context, I do not intend this to mean huge in size, although one or two of them are so massive that they actually require a heavy-duty vehicle mount or even a trailer to physically transport them around. Others are relatively compact and hand-portable.
The "Big" accolade is intended to reflect the greatness of a light and the impact it has made here on CPF, or, in the case of a newer creation, the likelihood that its reputation will stand the test of time. These are lights that should make you smile with admiration each time you revisit their threads.
As well as differing widely in their physical size, these lights don't even all fit into a single category. Some of the threads are located in Spotlights & HID, others are in Homemade & Modified, and others in the Incan section. And yes, there is one very serious LED candidate that belongs here too. We can unify a useful list here for reference, while leaving the individual threads in their respective sections.
This could become a subjective list; in theory it would be possible for me to slant it toward my personal favorites. I don't want it to be like that. I would like a broad consensus of views from all of you who are knowledgeable about big lights, if we can achieve that.
I have started a list below, and I hope some of you will have additions you think ought to be made to it. If I am sure of one thing, it is that I have left out some candidates that fully deserve to be included. In other cases, the threads I have linked may not be the best or most informative ones for the lights concerned – again, please say so. And of course, you may even think some of the lights I have included don't belong in this list at all. If so, don't be afraid to say so - but no flaming or extended arguments please.
I think we'll try and keep it to lights of 5,000+ lumens, and we'll also try to stick to just one main thread for each light. The aim should be to create a list of GREAT lights, whose place in CPF history is (or looks very much as if it will be) assured.
"I coulda been a contender" doesn't cut it here. These lights are already heavyweight champs.
So: your suggestions, please! I think the list can include stock lights, although most won't be stock. I'll amend it as we go along, and when it is looking good I'll include it in the "Threads of Interest".
Here is the list, in no particular order:
AN/VSS-1 Searchlight – CarbonArc
The Maxablaster – Ra
300 Watt HID: The "Locator" Blackhawk Targeting Light – BVH
HyperBlitz – JetskiMark
PK1000 – Petrev
Vaporizer, Hyperblaster, Deathblaster (et al) – LuxLuthor
400W HID Thor – ez78
Thor X10 Mod - 3Power 1000W Spotlight – Petrev
1000w GE4557 Beamshots – Flashanator500mW
LK14 – LarryK
60in Carbon Arc WWII AA searchlight – BVH
The Coleman Conversion – Nitro
Barnburner & XeRay Links – LuxLuthor
Polarion PH-50 Main Thread – Patriot36
1kW Xenon Arc Tank Light – lotsalumens
Data Bank 70 – Data
The Sleeper, and the 50W HID Lightforce Blitz – Crosman451 & Sway
Ken4 Superlight – Mr Ted Bear
Project Aurora – Ginseng
Modamag's Odyssey to the Dark Side - modamag
PX200-HID - Petrev
Holzleim's Handheld 500W LED Power - Holzleim
Homemade 24" scratch built & designed reflector - LightSward
50 inch Reflector "Monster Light" - LightSward
"Fat Star" Octa 8x SST-90 Colossus - overdog
Shootout Maxabeam Gen3-85 Watt & CAI Communicator 123 Watt - BVH
My Holy Grail Has Been Found - Parts of One Anyway - SX-16 NightSun - BVH
Not Quite The Holy Grail But Still Pleased - TrakkaBeam M800, 800 Watt Short Arc - BVH
600 Watt Short Arc M-134 Cannon Light - INFANT AN/ASQ-132 - BVH
There are some lights that occupy a special place all of their own, because of their stupendous output and mind-boggling power. Usually the individual stories behind them are fascinating too, and I am probably not the only CPFer who likes re-reading those threads from time to time.
I thought it might be an idea to make a "Big Lights" thread, listing the main threads covering the genesis and/or testing of each of these great creations. In this context, I do not intend this to mean huge in size, although one or two of them are so massive that they actually require a heavy-duty vehicle mount or even a trailer to physically transport them around. Others are relatively compact and hand-portable.
The "Big" accolade is intended to reflect the greatness of a light and the impact it has made here on CPF, or, in the case of a newer creation, the likelihood that its reputation will stand the test of time. These are lights that should make you smile with admiration each time you revisit their threads.
As well as differing widely in their physical size, these lights don't even all fit into a single category. Some of the threads are located in Spotlights & HID, others are in Homemade & Modified, and others in the Incan section. And yes, there is one very serious LED candidate that belongs here too. We can unify a useful list here for reference, while leaving the individual threads in their respective sections.
This could become a subjective list; in theory it would be possible for me to slant it toward my personal favorites. I don't want it to be like that. I would like a broad consensus of views from all of you who are knowledgeable about big lights, if we can achieve that.
I have started a list below, and I hope some of you will have additions you think ought to be made to it. If I am sure of one thing, it is that I have left out some candidates that fully deserve to be included. In other cases, the threads I have linked may not be the best or most informative ones for the lights concerned – again, please say so. And of course, you may even think some of the lights I have included don't belong in this list at all. If so, don't be afraid to say so - but no flaming or extended arguments please.
I think we'll try and keep it to lights of 5,000+ lumens, and we'll also try to stick to just one main thread for each light. The aim should be to create a list of GREAT lights, whose place in CPF history is (or looks very much as if it will be) assured.
"I coulda been a contender" doesn't cut it here. These lights are already heavyweight champs.
So: your suggestions, please! I think the list can include stock lights, although most won't be stock. I'll amend it as we go along, and when it is looking good I'll include it in the "Threads of Interest".
Here is the list, in no particular order:
AN/VSS-1 Searchlight – CarbonArc
The Maxablaster – Ra
300 Watt HID: The "Locator" Blackhawk Targeting Light – BVH
HyperBlitz – JetskiMark
PK1000 – Petrev
Vaporizer, Hyperblaster, Deathblaster (et al) – LuxLuthor
400W HID Thor – ez78
Thor X10 Mod - 3Power 1000W Spotlight – Petrev
1000w GE4557 Beamshots – Flashanator500mW
LK14 – LarryK
60in Carbon Arc WWII AA searchlight – BVH
The Coleman Conversion – Nitro
Barnburner & XeRay Links – LuxLuthor
Polarion PH-50 Main Thread – Patriot36
1kW Xenon Arc Tank Light – lotsalumens
Data Bank 70 – Data
The Sleeper, and the 50W HID Lightforce Blitz – Crosman451 & Sway
Ken4 Superlight – Mr Ted Bear
Project Aurora – Ginseng
Modamag's Odyssey to the Dark Side - modamag
PX200-HID - Petrev
Holzleim's Handheld 500W LED Power - Holzleim
Homemade 24" scratch built & designed reflector - LightSward
50 inch Reflector "Monster Light" - LightSward
"Fat Star" Octa 8x SST-90 Colossus - overdog
Shootout Maxabeam Gen3-85 Watt & CAI Communicator 123 Watt - BVH
My Holy Grail Has Been Found - Parts of One Anyway - SX-16 NightSun - BVH
Not Quite The Holy Grail But Still Pleased - TrakkaBeam M800, 800 Watt Short Arc - BVH
600 Watt Short Arc M-134 Cannon Light - INFANT AN/ASQ-132 - BVH
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