Tired of expensive HIDs

[fordwillman]

I would really like a nice HID like the XEnide 25, but the cost is just way too much! I work for a living and this would just be for camping and bump in the night type useage.
So, can someone explain why HIDs are so blasted expensive? Please dont tell me to buy something that weighs a ton, they are just not practical.. Maybe I will have to wait until multiple leds come way down.

 

[Patriot]

Don't fret Take a look at the N30 from Battery Junction. It doesn't weight a ton and it will give you much more beam performance than the AE lights.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/n30-3161.html


Use discout code cpf2006 for an additional 5% off the listed price.

 

[Gunner12]

The reason might be all the technology that goes into a HID light, along with the relatively small market (compared to other lights).

The cheapest would probably be the Sam's Club Power On board HID, but that would be a bit heavy for constantly having it with you.

 

[adamlau]

...I work for a living...

Then live and buy the Xe25. You worked for it.

 

[Patriot]

Fordwillman, did you get a chance to research the N30?

Here is another link to a thread that may interest you.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=193970

It's a clone of the AE, supposedly made in the same factory. I for one would rather have the N30 because of the performance factor, but I can appreciate that you might want a conventional flashlight style HID instead.

I hope these ideas help some. I think every flashlight enthusiast should experience HID.

 

[dudemar]

I would really like a nice HID like the XEnide 25, but the cost is just way too much! I work for a living and this would just be for camping and bump in the night type useage.
So, can someone explain why HIDs are so blasted expensive? Please dont tell me to buy something that weighs a ton, they are just not practical.. Maybe I will have to wait until multiple leds come way down.

I have to agree with you, they are too expensive. FWIW the Xenide 25W is considered a lower-priced HID. Without sounding like a flashaholic snob, it can be said HID owners are part of an exclusive "club". Most of us CPFers can afford a typical SF, but not everyone is willing to spend (or afford) $400+ for an HID.

At least that's my take on HID's.

 

[Border]

Most of us CPFers can afford a typical SF, but not everyone is willing to spend (or afford) $400+ for an HID.

You don't have to spend that much for a quality HID...

I have to agree with Patriot36's recommendation - the N30 is available at $132,95 for CPF members. Dollars well spent, IMHO.

 

[BVH]

Then drop in an R2 led module in place of the 7-led array and you've got one heck of a powerhouse (HID) and lesser work light 200 Lumens +- that will run for a full work shift or longer.

 

[2xTrinity]

I would recommend the N30. Best value by far for an HID, not much more than a cheap entry level incan hotwire for a turnkey HID. Also, it's not bulky/heavy. It's comparable to a small 6V lantern. And the biggest thing is that unlike the Xenide and most other non-35W HIDs, is that it uses a 4000K automotive lamp, NOT the typical 6500k bluish lamp found in most competetors. Aside from being a bit on the green side, I find color rendition to be pretty good.

IMO, before spending $500+ on another HID, I'd honestly rather buy an N30, gut the prts from it, and rebuild everthing into a "sexier" host. For ~$300+ I could do quite a bit.

 

[Patriot]

Here is a link to the Marketplace for some $200 K2000R MicrofireIIs.
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=179097

 

[LuxLuthor]

I see this OP as a rhetorical question/venting rather than a serious inquiry. If you don't see the value in HIDs, then don't buy them. In reality no one is going to die if they don't have a single flashlight.

If however, you have real questions about why many of us have bought HID's, then ask in an objective manner. It appears at first blush that it is a category about which you know little of their benefits. I could give a hundred reasons (well maybe more like 25 ) why I have a slew of HID's but just not seeing this OP worth the time listing them.

 

[woodrow]

I have only had 2 hid lights. But, I have bought 10+ Q5 led lights. My new hid was $400, but now I finally have the amount of output I have been looking for. The kind of output that none of my leds could ever hope to provide. 15X as much light. And now, I no longer plan (well ok, maybe) to buy the new $280 and $400 Surefire led lights, because my needs for "just a little more light" have finally been met.

 

[2xTrinity]

I have only had 2 hid lights. But, I have bought 10+ Q5 led lights. My new hid was $400, but now I finally have the amount of output I have been looking for. The kind of output that none of my leds could ever hope to provide. 15X as much light. And now, I no longer plan (well ok, maybe) to buy the new $280 and $400 Surefire led lights, because my needs for "just a little more light" have finally been met.

If you haven't already, don't buy or build an incandescent hotwire. You'll discover that it perfectly satisfies the

"output and throw somewhere in between my LEDs and HIDs, but without the warmup time and bulk associated with HIDs"

niche so well that you'll feel obligated to dump obscene amounts of money into yet ANOTHER category of lights...

that's essentially what I did, bought/built a ton of LED lights, jumped straight into an amondotech N30 for a huge boost in output, then started building hotwires to give me output/throw somewhere in the middle, but with more convenience than the HID for "momentary" use...

 

[Patriot]

that's essentially what I did, bought/built a ton of LED lights, jumped straight into an amondotech N30 for a huge boost in output, then started building hotwires to give me output/throw somewhere in the middle,

That sounds like my story Trin. I wouldn't want to be without any of the full spectrum of lights either.

 

[fordwillman]

Thanks for everyone's posts, except LuxLuther--sorry if I am not worth your time!!! I am considering an N30, but probably will wait a bit yet.