Re: LED flashlights: worth a darn?

"Don Foreman" <dforeman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:mu8bk1h2j2gsfeu6cm5019dqqn60qqvstm@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 11:30:50 -0700, RainLover
> <SP-AMB-LOCKrainlover@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 09:08:14 -0500, "Ron Moore" <mlogical@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>That's for the entire flashlight, not just a conversion kit.
>>>Respectfully,
>>>Ron Moore
>>>
>>>> According to Ron Moore the 3 watt LED and reflector (presumably you
>>>> need
>>>> to buy the Maglite separately) costs $70 and the 5 watt kit $300.
>>>> Maglite.com gives the brightness of the 6-D krypton bulb as 106 lumens
>>>> and
>>>> the brightness of the 6-D xenon bulb as 114 lumens. I can buy a 6-D
>>>> Maglite here in England for £28.91. At current exchange rates that's
>>>> about
>>>> $52. Who is going to spend an extra $300 to get little more than a 10%
>>>> increase in brightness? You'd struggle to notice that with the torches
>>>> side by side.
>>
>>Ah, but something you FORGOT to put into your equation is the HUGE
>>number of batteries the standard bulb will go though while the LEDS
>>quitely keep their 114 Lumen glow going for ages.
>
> LED's are not yet all that much more efficient in lumens per watt than
> xenon or quartz-halogen. Maybe two or three times in some cases, ,
> not more. Some LED flashlight mfrs specify max brightness and
> total battery life, neglecting to say that a good part of that battery
> life is at significantly diminished brightness.
>>
>>One important difference between the two.... the LEDS put all of
>>their light up close... 10'-15', and then fade off fast while bulbs
>>will shine 100'+, so LEDS are only good if you're using the light
>>around you but THAT LIGHT is twice or three times as good as the bulb
>>for lighting.
>
> Not true. A Luxeon in a Maglite reflector throws a tight beam that
> will easily reach out 150 feet and more.
>

A flashlight that's only good for 50 yards? Useless! <g>

I need an easy-to-carry light [preferably one that I can attach to a rifle
barrel] that'll blind at 200+ yards. For a longer-distance critter I just
use a portable [2,000,000 CP] spotlight.

For close-up work I just use a 1-watt head-mount lamp.


.

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