6pOriginal
Enlightened
The \"yellow\" article on PK\'s site translated
These are the translation of those "yellow" articles on PK's site
I tried my best for translating it, but I am not very good at it and missed a few things here and there /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif , enjoy!
<<<<<<<<<Starts here>>>>>>>>>>>
In the last article, we talked about the two important considerations for choosing a flashlight; battery and light source. These two can directly affect the performance of the flashlight. Now the next question is, how do you measure the performance of a flashlight? What do the specifications released by the companies mean? How can you pick the right flashlight just by looking at these numbers?
Many times when shopping for a flashlight, the specifications can be misleading, or worse, the salesperson will mislead you by saying "Lumens equals to Candela" which is completely wrong, so let's talk about that.
*******************
Then the 2nd page just talks about how to figure out lux, candela, …etc, which I am not going to translate because all those technical terms and units are going to drive me crazy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
*******************
2. How to operate my flashlight? The on-off switch.
A flashlight relies on the switch to be turned on and off, so it's safe to say that, the switch is the part on a flashlight that will affect the most on how the user will feel about the operations of the light. These are the most common switch types on the market today:
• Twisting
In order to turn on/off the flashlight on, the user has to twist some part of the flashlight, this will connect/disconnect the circuit. The advantage of this kind of switch is that it's a simple design which means it's less likely to fail. The product cost can also be lowered because of the simple design. The disadvantage is that it's more inconvenient to use. Even though for the experienced user, they can usually operate the flashlight with one hand, but for most users, this has to be accomplished with two hands.
• Pressure switch (clicky)
With this kind of switch, the user can turn the flashlight on/off by pressing on the switch and then release the pressure. (Those that the user has to keep constant pressure on the switch in order to keep the light on are not included in this category.) To the user, this kind of switch is the easiest to operate. Almost anyone without any directions will know how to use it. But because of the more complex design, the cost will be higher. Furthermore, the kind of materials used in the switch have to be very high quality, in order to be as reliable as the twisting switch.
• How to pick
You should pick the switch according to your needs. If you need to keep the light on for a long time, then you should pick the twisting switch. By using this kind of switch, you can save some of the initiate cost of the light while having a more reliable light. If you intend to use the light for short durations, the convenient pressure switch is more suitable.
Also, there are products either twisting or pressure switch that offer momentary on function. This should be an important thing to consider for tactical and outdoor surviving uses. For tactical use, the user always has to turn the light on for short durations in order to disorientate the target and grain advantage. For surviving use, the momentary on function can be used for sending Morse code signals.
Another important thing to concern when picking a switch is whether the switch can be easily turned on by accident. Accidentally turning on the light not only wastes the expensive batteries, but sometimes it can also lead to destructions like destroying parts of the light and things near the light. Pick a switch that has lock-out feature can solve this problem.
For those who has already bought lights that have no lock-out features, we recommend you to cut out pieces of plastic with the same diameter of the batteries and place it between the batteries and the contact point when transporting the light.
3. Optical components
Optical components are the parts that process the light source so that the beam shape meets the user's requirements. The most common types of optical components are:
• Smooth concave reflector
This cup like reflector has a smooth inner surface, this design is usually used for projecting a long beam. This means the light beam will have a very bright hot spot and with long throw. But outside the hot spot, there is little side spill. Usually for this kind of reflectors, the bigger the radius and the depth, the better the ability to focus the light source. The disadvantage for such large reflector is the bulky size.
• Textured concave reflector
The basic design is very similar to the smooth concave reflector, with the exception that the smooth surface is replaced with textured surface that resembles the skin of an orange. This surface can help to smooth out the uneven spots within the hotspot.
• Convex lens
The convex lens is used to project a long light beam as well, but usually the result is not too well.
• Collimator lens
This is considered the enhanced version of the convex lens. The light source passes through the side of the lens and is reflected away. This has the same effect as using both a concave reflector and a convex lens at the same time, while keeping a relatively small size.
• How to pick
When picking a flashlight, the optical component should not be a very important consideration. As long as it gets the job done, then it's a good optical component. The following is generally considered what a good optical component should do. First, the hotspot should not have any dark spots or rings no matter it's in flood or tight spot mode. The appearance of light artifacts is usually the indication of a bad design or defects from the manufacturing process. You can check the beam of a flashlight by shinning it onto a wall with light colors.
Then you may want to consider the materials that made the optical component. Since the optical component is most likely to be places near the light source, therefore it has to be able to withstand the heat generated by the light source. A good optical component should be able to help transferring the heat away from the light source away besides withstanding it.
4. Focus methods
• Fixed projection light
For fixed projection flashlights, the focus was set by the factory, the user can not and are not required to change the focus. The projection light is similar to those on a car's high beam. The light source is projected to a small area and therefore it has a longer throw, but it also has a narrow beam. Projection lights are more suitable for long range and tactical uses. But unsuitable for short range, or situations requiring flood lights. Moreover, for close up works, the overpowered beam will actually decrease our ability to see clearly.
• Fixed flood light
The focus of the light is fixed by the factory like the fixed projection light, the difference is the use of a flood light. Flood light is like the low beam on a car, the light source is focused into a bigger area, so it seems to be relatively dimmer and the throw will be shorter. A flood light is suitable for short range lighting, as it can cover larger area and the light is softer which is better for close up works.
• Adjustable
The users of this kind of flashlight will be able to adjust the focus of the light according to their needs. The original design was to satisfy the need of both a flood and a tight focus light. But because of difficulties on designing and manufacturing, the result is usually a product with defects. Only a few of the products in this category on the market today can produce a well focused beam without artifacts in the hotspot or an uneven beam. In my opinion, you should think twice before getting this kind of flashlights.
• How to pick
If you can find an adjustable flashlight that has a good focused beam, that will be the best. But it's hard to find such flashlight on the market, for the second best, I suggest a fixed focused light. And for either a flood or tight focused light, that will be depends on your own need.
We will end the discussion of how to select a flashlight here, on the next issue, we will talk about the internal designs of a flashlight.
These are the translation of those "yellow" articles on PK's site
I tried my best for translating it, but I am not very good at it and missed a few things here and there /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif , enjoy!
<<<<<<<<<Starts here>>>>>>>>>>>
In the last article, we talked about the two important considerations for choosing a flashlight; battery and light source. These two can directly affect the performance of the flashlight. Now the next question is, how do you measure the performance of a flashlight? What do the specifications released by the companies mean? How can you pick the right flashlight just by looking at these numbers?
Many times when shopping for a flashlight, the specifications can be misleading, or worse, the salesperson will mislead you by saying "Lumens equals to Candela" which is completely wrong, so let's talk about that.
*******************
Then the 2nd page just talks about how to figure out lux, candela, …etc, which I am not going to translate because all those technical terms and units are going to drive me crazy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
*******************
2. How to operate my flashlight? The on-off switch.
A flashlight relies on the switch to be turned on and off, so it's safe to say that, the switch is the part on a flashlight that will affect the most on how the user will feel about the operations of the light. These are the most common switch types on the market today:
• Twisting
In order to turn on/off the flashlight on, the user has to twist some part of the flashlight, this will connect/disconnect the circuit. The advantage of this kind of switch is that it's a simple design which means it's less likely to fail. The product cost can also be lowered because of the simple design. The disadvantage is that it's more inconvenient to use. Even though for the experienced user, they can usually operate the flashlight with one hand, but for most users, this has to be accomplished with two hands.
• Pressure switch (clicky)
With this kind of switch, the user can turn the flashlight on/off by pressing on the switch and then release the pressure. (Those that the user has to keep constant pressure on the switch in order to keep the light on are not included in this category.) To the user, this kind of switch is the easiest to operate. Almost anyone without any directions will know how to use it. But because of the more complex design, the cost will be higher. Furthermore, the kind of materials used in the switch have to be very high quality, in order to be as reliable as the twisting switch.
• How to pick
You should pick the switch according to your needs. If you need to keep the light on for a long time, then you should pick the twisting switch. By using this kind of switch, you can save some of the initiate cost of the light while having a more reliable light. If you intend to use the light for short durations, the convenient pressure switch is more suitable.
Also, there are products either twisting or pressure switch that offer momentary on function. This should be an important thing to consider for tactical and outdoor surviving uses. For tactical use, the user always has to turn the light on for short durations in order to disorientate the target and grain advantage. For surviving use, the momentary on function can be used for sending Morse code signals.
Another important thing to concern when picking a switch is whether the switch can be easily turned on by accident. Accidentally turning on the light not only wastes the expensive batteries, but sometimes it can also lead to destructions like destroying parts of the light and things near the light. Pick a switch that has lock-out feature can solve this problem.
For those who has already bought lights that have no lock-out features, we recommend you to cut out pieces of plastic with the same diameter of the batteries and place it between the batteries and the contact point when transporting the light.
3. Optical components
Optical components are the parts that process the light source so that the beam shape meets the user's requirements. The most common types of optical components are:
• Smooth concave reflector
This cup like reflector has a smooth inner surface, this design is usually used for projecting a long beam. This means the light beam will have a very bright hot spot and with long throw. But outside the hot spot, there is little side spill. Usually for this kind of reflectors, the bigger the radius and the depth, the better the ability to focus the light source. The disadvantage for such large reflector is the bulky size.
• Textured concave reflector
The basic design is very similar to the smooth concave reflector, with the exception that the smooth surface is replaced with textured surface that resembles the skin of an orange. This surface can help to smooth out the uneven spots within the hotspot.
• Convex lens
The convex lens is used to project a long light beam as well, but usually the result is not too well.
• Collimator lens
This is considered the enhanced version of the convex lens. The light source passes through the side of the lens and is reflected away. This has the same effect as using both a concave reflector and a convex lens at the same time, while keeping a relatively small size.
• How to pick
When picking a flashlight, the optical component should not be a very important consideration. As long as it gets the job done, then it's a good optical component. The following is generally considered what a good optical component should do. First, the hotspot should not have any dark spots or rings no matter it's in flood or tight spot mode. The appearance of light artifacts is usually the indication of a bad design or defects from the manufacturing process. You can check the beam of a flashlight by shinning it onto a wall with light colors.
Then you may want to consider the materials that made the optical component. Since the optical component is most likely to be places near the light source, therefore it has to be able to withstand the heat generated by the light source. A good optical component should be able to help transferring the heat away from the light source away besides withstanding it.
4. Focus methods
• Fixed projection light
For fixed projection flashlights, the focus was set by the factory, the user can not and are not required to change the focus. The projection light is similar to those on a car's high beam. The light source is projected to a small area and therefore it has a longer throw, but it also has a narrow beam. Projection lights are more suitable for long range and tactical uses. But unsuitable for short range, or situations requiring flood lights. Moreover, for close up works, the overpowered beam will actually decrease our ability to see clearly.
• Fixed flood light
The focus of the light is fixed by the factory like the fixed projection light, the difference is the use of a flood light. Flood light is like the low beam on a car, the light source is focused into a bigger area, so it seems to be relatively dimmer and the throw will be shorter. A flood light is suitable for short range lighting, as it can cover larger area and the light is softer which is better for close up works.
• Adjustable
The users of this kind of flashlight will be able to adjust the focus of the light according to their needs. The original design was to satisfy the need of both a flood and a tight focus light. But because of difficulties on designing and manufacturing, the result is usually a product with defects. Only a few of the products in this category on the market today can produce a well focused beam without artifacts in the hotspot or an uneven beam. In my opinion, you should think twice before getting this kind of flashlights.
• How to pick
If you can find an adjustable flashlight that has a good focused beam, that will be the best. But it's hard to find such flashlight on the market, for the second best, I suggest a fixed focused light. And for either a flood or tight focused light, that will be depends on your own need.
We will end the discussion of how to select a flashlight here, on the next issue, we will talk about the internal designs of a flashlight.
