Thinking of getting a Vector 3mcp...

[Phaserburn]

This will be my first spot. I see it for around $50 in many places on the net. Is this a good choice without stepping up to more serious $$? What watts are the bulbs and can/should they be upgraded to higher? It says it comes with 2x6V batts instead of 1x12V...?

Please make any suggestions other than the Vector; I hightly value my fellow CPF members input!

 

[DavidW]

It's great for 100yds and less. It doesn't throw the tightest beam out there. Yes it can be upgraded to any automotive bulb. They come with 100 watters already. It might have 2 6V batteries but they seem to be in one (series?) package.

I bought mine on sale for $25 at Target.

 

[Eric S]

As Far as hand held spotlamps, It`s the most powerful you can get and will throw with the best halogens out there despite the oval beam.

If you want more light power than the 3mil you`ll have to step up to an HID.

Eric

 

[flashfan]

I have two of these lights, and like them a lot. I only wish they had the option of a constant-on switch (my lights are older, so I don't know if the current model is different).

 

[Zeppert]

You mean you have to hold the switch ON the entire time? You can't just turn it on and leave it on?

 

[keithhr]

I have one and you get the option of using one beam or both. It's very bright for the money and will suprise anyone who gets lit up by this thing. It's rechargeable.

 

[flashfan]

Zeppert: Yes, the light stays on only as long as you are pressing the switch. I got around it by wedging a short stick between the switch and the handle. Not the greatest way to do it, but it works.

Despite the switch, I really like these lights--you just can't go wrong for the money. The light is very bright, and very white. And if you use only one bulb, runtime is supposed to be about 40 minutes (somebody correct me if I'm wrong), which is really good, considering that most similar lights last for only 20 minutes on a charge. Just my opinion.

 

[tattoou2]

Just picked one up from Target. It's very bright, and with the exception of not having a constant-on switch, I have no quibbles with it. It's a good light for the money, and it will satisfy me until I can save enough for an X990.

 

[Zeppert]

I've entertained the thought of picking one up many times while at the store but I've always said next time, next time. I know one thing, I would not like that switch. Is there a way to pop out the switch and replace it? If so I will probably get one sometime soon because I know it cranks out the watts.

 

[tattoou2]

Zep,

I'm not sure if it's worth the effort really. The casing is plastic. I think you would have to split the casing to get into the switch mechanism itself. There is also a switch cover which flips down over the switch itself to prevent accidental firing. I found a large, thick rubber band that I placed around the top of the light and I simply flip it over the switch if I want constant-on. It holds the switch back and provides a constant-on and alleviates the need to pressing the switch constantly.

 

[Phaserburn]

What about the LSI 2mcp unit? Isn't not having constant on for the Vector a pain in the butt? If you were going to get a spot for under $100, would the Vector 3mcp be the one you'd choose?

 

[Sprocketman]

I bought the Vector Sport Spot 3,000,000 Candle Power at Target, and I have decided to keep it.

The two bulb approach appealed to me because it allows you to use half power and get longer burn time at the bulb's maximum efficiency and without using resistors or a dropping circuit, so it's really efficient. It also lets you operate on one bulb after the first one burns out, of course.

The case leaves a lot to be desired, and you don't get to handle it in the store because of the packaging. It's a thick, rubbery plastic. Taking it apart it seems flimsy, but I also think you could kick it around a lot without hurting it much, and it would not scar up other objects floating around on the floor of your vehicle, as someone complained that the ribs on his metal Costco Vector did.

When I first tried the beam I was impressed with the single bulb, but turning on the second bulb just widened the spot by about double, rather than intensifying the original spot. I took the light apart, and found the bulb held in by a clip with considerable latitude to move. So I moved the second bulb around, and it then gave me a second spot _under_ the original instead of beside it. I will keep trying to get a single double-intense spot, but am wondering if the side-by-side might not be more useful anyway. This light on single bulb has enough range to reach the end of my useful eyesight, unless it's to light up elephants. Maybe somebody with more experience can tell me if there is a point beyond which more intense light is not going to help me see things because they are just too far away, even if they are lit up.

When I walked the light up to a wall, it held the spot configuration until I got really close, like 25 feet, before it spread out.

Don't know about run times yet, since my batteries are not yet fully exercised to reach max capacity. The beam stays on only as long as you press the switch, and I am not sure I want to change that, given the possibilities for the light to flop over and burn something. If so I will use a thick rubber band made of strip of bicycle inner tube.

One of the biggest selling points for me was the 12v socket. It is the inlet for power to charge from a cigarette lighter, but it is also an outlet that lets me run other 12v accessories on the spotlight's batteries. We will be using this in a cabin with a 12v system, and the outlet will let me take my radio or other accessories out to a work site. The Costco Vector does not have that socket.

This light weighs just over 6 pounds (2.8 kilos). Wow. That did not seem so heavy in the store, but it sure does in use. It come with a shoulder strap, but I have not tried that yet.

All in all, I think this was a good buy, and it will take the spookiness out of most any situation on our mountain where a long-throw light is needed.

 

[DavidW]

I finally took mine apart and there are 2 batteries. There is one in the base. That's obvious. The 2nd is behind the bulbs.

 

[Unicorn]

The LSI is better built, but less powerful. If you want "just" a 2 million cp spotlight, the LSI is the better choice than Vectors, but more expensive. For the output, there is no other choice than the Vector. No one else makes one. I'm wondering about putting in a pair of the 85 watt PIA lamps that are supposed to be as bright as a standard 115 watt Halogen. Or for even more light, but less run time, the 115 watt PIA's.

I haven't seen the 3mil cp in use, but I have the 2mil. and it is ok. It's bright, but the beam quality sucks. I've put in a 55 watt PIA bulb, and it's a little whiter, but not as bright obviously.

 

[Kenny Yum]

Is the Vector 3M CP really output 3M CP? Because all the LSI Spotlights have a Lab Test, so the CP is reliable.

 

[keithhr]

I paid $44 at target for mine and it's pretty impressive for the money.

 

[FalconFX]

The 3MCP is pretty close to its ratings, maybe a little lower, but not by much. It's definately brighter than my Vector Sport 2MCP...

 

[keithhr]

hell, people are paying more than the cost of this spectacularly cheap light for little micro Illuminators like I did. $44 buys you the most powerful cheap light in the world.

 

[Unicorn]

I just saw one of these in use tonight. A friend at work bought one yesterday, and we were playing with it after he got off. His had only a single spot when both beams were turned on, so it did increase the brightness quite a bit. It didn't really increase the distance I could see, but there was a lot of ambient light around. It does seem much brighter than my 2 million CP vesion.