Quickbeam
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hello everyone. I just joined the posts and wanted to add my 2 cents to the discussion. I'm not exactly a flashaholic, but I always somehow wind up in the flashlight aisle of any store I go to! So far I have gleaned a tremendous ammout of useful information from the posts and would like to give a hearty "Thank You" to everyone out there for the information you have shared.
I recently picked up a couple of Photons and found the post that suggested using clear aquarium tubing as a "bulb protector" for the LED. Just cut the tubing to a length a little longer than the LED and push over the LED. This works exceptionally well and I am sure has saved the LEDs from being broken/scratched from direct drops onto the asphalt as I fumbled with my keys in the wee hours of the morning. The tubing is available from wallymart for about $2. I don't see why this technique could not be used on other lights with exposed LED's that you may be worried about scuffing or breaking.
Along those same lines, if you take the same tubing and scuff it up a bit with emery paper or sandpaper, it glows when the light is on, turning the Photon into an effective area/tent light (possibly even rave lightstick kinda thingy if you cut it long?). If cut long so it can be pulled off the LED easily, you can quickly convert the light from one purpose to another.
Last cent worth: From a common end user point of view (and perhaps this distinguishes me from a true flashaholic), I really can't see spending more that $20-$30 for a flashlight. Just something to keep in mind for those people who read the posts and want to manufacture a flashlight for the "general user". Pocket (read: keychain) lights have to be light, tough and small - the smaller the better - after all they're on my keychain and my keys are in my pocket all of the time! Who wants a big, bulky light stabbing them in the leg all day? That's why I chose to use the photons.
General use lights have to be bright - the brighter the better. If I'm going to change a fuse or repair a flat tire, I want the brightest light I can find. I don't care if it will last 20 or 40 hours, 1-5 hours is fine as long as it is bright. This is why, of all the LED lights I see out there, the Lightwave 4000 or the Trek 14 look like pretty good options for the general users, but they're just too expensive. A Maglite is cheaper, just as bright if not brighter, and tough enough to handle repeated drops.
Again, just my 2 cents.
I recently picked up a couple of Photons and found the post that suggested using clear aquarium tubing as a "bulb protector" for the LED. Just cut the tubing to a length a little longer than the LED and push over the LED. This works exceptionally well and I am sure has saved the LEDs from being broken/scratched from direct drops onto the asphalt as I fumbled with my keys in the wee hours of the morning. The tubing is available from wallymart for about $2. I don't see why this technique could not be used on other lights with exposed LED's that you may be worried about scuffing or breaking.
Along those same lines, if you take the same tubing and scuff it up a bit with emery paper or sandpaper, it glows when the light is on, turning the Photon into an effective area/tent light (possibly even rave lightstick kinda thingy if you cut it long?). If cut long so it can be pulled off the LED easily, you can quickly convert the light from one purpose to another.
Last cent worth: From a common end user point of view (and perhaps this distinguishes me from a true flashaholic), I really can't see spending more that $20-$30 for a flashlight. Just something to keep in mind for those people who read the posts and want to manufacture a flashlight for the "general user". Pocket (read: keychain) lights have to be light, tough and small - the smaller the better - after all they're on my keychain and my keys are in my pocket all of the time! Who wants a big, bulky light stabbing them in the leg all day? That's why I chose to use the photons.
General use lights have to be bright - the brighter the better. If I'm going to change a fuse or repair a flat tire, I want the brightest light I can find. I don't care if it will last 20 or 40 hours, 1-5 hours is fine as long as it is bright. This is why, of all the LED lights I see out there, the Lightwave 4000 or the Trek 14 look like pretty good options for the general users, but they're just too expensive. A Maglite is cheaper, just as bright if not brighter, and tough enough to handle repeated drops.
Again, just my 2 cents.