Power of LED torches

[Tafia]

On advice from a chum I bought a superb 3 LED, 2 AA battery torch from Tesco which shines right down the field ( hits a hedge 100 yds away and lights up a rabbit clearly at 40 yards) and the other night lit up the reflective strips on a chaps jacket 300 yds away ( Yeah I know it's hard to believe but 'tis true. I was suprised )

Well, thinking more would be better, I bought a 4 LED 3 AA battery torch today. Total crap. Barely shines across the room.

Is there a way of knowing before we buy what the power is other than recommendation. They don't seem to advertise wattage on the ones I have seen.

Clearly more does not mean better.

BTW, the Tesco torch was just £8. Amazing value

T.

[HOGEPH]

Bright torch you say?, get one of these!

http://www.asotactical.com/images/gladius.jpg

[SS HSV]

No, as a rule of thumb there is so much crap coming out of China at the moment its hard to tell whats good and whats not. On my ex numberplate jammers, I used Cree Technology who are at the forefront of LED innovation. Do a search on ebay for XCree or Cree, they are not cheap but if they are good enough for the MOD they are good enough for a torch

[croyde]

HOGEPH said:

Bright torch you say?, get one of these!

http://www.asotactical.com/images/gladius.jpg

Its $234 tho'. Interesting site tho' you into personal protection then?

[HOGEPH]

Waiting for the revolution...

[rhinochopig]

If you own a 2/3D maglite, buy one of these for it - far better than ML own bulb and gives you 140 lumens, which is bloody bright for a smallish torch.

http://www.shop4torches.co.uk/acatalog/Terralux_TL...

Or if you have a 6D cell version, buy this - brighter than a car head light and lasts for up to two hours. 600 lumens!!!!!!!

http://www.shop4torches.co.uk/acatalog/Terralux_Mi...

I have the 3D led, and I am mega impressed with it. The beam pattern is improved, the light is whiter, the burn time is huuuuugely improved, and the throw of the light is amazing. Best £25 I've spent in a while.

ETA in response to the OP, you need to look out for the lumen output of the torch, the higher the number the better.

Edited by rhinochopig on Saturday 3rd January 16:11

[croyde]

HOGEPH said:

Waiting for the revolution...

[bimsb6]

this one is well recommended , although the batteries that used to come with it are junk .

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HeadLamp-40-Led-Head-Torch-F...

Edited by bimsb6 on Saturday 3rd January 16:14

[jeff m]

I have car worklight about the size of a TV remote with 24 LEDs in a 3 x 8 formation. Hanging hook and magnet on the back.

Much better than the earlier led worklights.

[buzzer]

I bought a Fenix torch off Ebay a few months ago. Have to say that the light output from it is nothing short of fantastic! I cant believe such a small torch can produce so much light! I handed it to a mate last week, he was gobsmacked how powerful it was!

Even the batteries last ages!

I use it all the time, even for looking at thngs on the car as its better than a lead light!

[Jonny_]

I picked up a cheap LED torch a while ago, has 9 LEDs and runs forever on 3AAAs. Cost a whole £1.79 and produces more light than the biggest Maglite. Also have a Uni-lite alminium job for work which has a 1-watt LED (Cree I think) and that thing is ridiculously bright - nearly as beefy as a "million candle power" halogen and considerably smaller, plus it runs for hours on a pair of C batteries.

Can't imagine why anyone would buy a non-LED torch now.

[Tafia]

SS HSV said:

No, as a rule of thumb there is so much crap coming out of China at the moment its hard to tell whats good and whats not. On my ex numberplate jammers, I used Cree Technology who are at the forefront of LED innovation. Do a search on ebay for XCree or Cree, they are not cheap but if they are good enough for the MOD they are good enough for a torch

These Tesco torches use 3 CREE LED's. Brilliant

[pies1981]

bimsb6 said:

this one is well recommended , although the batteries that used to come with it are junk .

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HeadLamp-40-Led-Head-Torch-F...

Edited by bimsb6 on Saturday 3rd January 16:14

We got given those at work, they are st!!!!

This is what you want...




Best £30 ive ever spent, bearing in mind i do a week of nights, in all weathers every 4 weeks, this has taken so much abuse and is still going strong, and its bright as fk!!!!!!

Edited by pies1981 on Saturday 3rd January 16:33

Edited by pies1981 on Saturday 3rd January 16:34

[Tafia]

Jonny_ said:

I picked up a cheap LED torch a while ago, has 9 LEDs and runs forever on 3AAAs. Cost a whole £1.79 and produces more light than the biggest Maglite. Also have a Uni-lite alminium job for work which has a 1-watt LED (Cree I think) and that thing is ridiculously bright - nearly as beefy as a "million candle power" halogen and considerably smaller, plus it runs for hours on a pair of C batteries.

Can't imagine why anyone would buy a non-LED torch now.

Yup: a mate said the Tesco cree was nearly as bright as the lamp he uses for rabbit lamping. ( he's a country boy)

[bimsb6]

pies1981 said:

bimsb6 said:

this one is well recommended , although the batteries that used to come with it are junk .

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HeadLamp-40-Led-Head-Torch-F...

Edited by bimsb6 on Saturday 3rd January 16:14

We got these at work, they are st!!!!

This is what you want...




Best £30 ive ever spent, bearing in mind i do a week of nights, in all weathers every 4 weeks, this has taken so much abuse and is still going strong!!

i use my ebay one at work and have no issue with it ,several other guys have bought them on the back of seeing mine .its not a pro tool but its not at a pro price either .

[pies1981]

Tafia said:

Jonny_ said:

I picked up a cheap LED torch a while ago, has 9 LEDs and runs forever on 3AAAs. Cost a whole £1.79 and produces more light than the biggest Maglite. Also have a Uni-lite alminium job for work which has a 1-watt LED (Cree I think) and that thing is ridiculously bright - nearly as beefy as a "million candle power" halogen and considerably smaller, plus it runs for hours on a pair of C batteries.

Can't imagine why anyone would buy a non-LED torch now.

Yup: a mate said the Tesco cree was nearly as bright as the lamp he uses for rabbit lamping. ( he's a country boy)

rabbit lamping?

[rhinochopig]

pies1981 said:

Tafia said:

Jonny_ said:

I picked up a cheap LED torch a while ago, has 9 LEDs and runs forever on 3AAAs. Cost a whole £1.79 and produces more light than the biggest Maglite. Also have a Uni-lite alminium job for work which has a 1-watt LED (Cree I think) and that thing is ridiculously bright - nearly as beefy as a "million candle power" halogen and considerably smaller, plus it runs for hours on a pair of C batteries.

Can't imagine why anyone would buy a non-LED torch now.

Yup: a mate said the Tesco cree was nearly as bright as the lamp he uses for rabbit lamping. ( he's a country boy)

rabbit lamping?

Big light + frozen rabbit + rifle = meat

[pies1981]

Oh fk it, i'll do it too myself....

http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=rabbit+lamping

Edited by pies1981 on Saturday 3rd January 16:39

Edited by pies1981 on Saturday 3rd January 16:40

[eliot]

Not the first time today I've seen people commenting that the Tesco torches are at least as good as a Fenix ones.

Edited by eliot on Saturday 3rd January 16:41

[Tafia]

pies1981 said:

Tafia said:

Jonny_ said:

I picked up a cheap LED torch a while ago, has 9 LEDs and runs forever on 3AAAs. Cost a whole £1.79 and produces more light than the biggest Maglite. Also have a Uni-lite alminium job for work which has a 1-watt LED (Cree I think) and that thing is ridiculously bright - nearly as beefy as a "million candle power" halogen and considerably smaller, plus it runs for hours on a pair of C batteries.

Can't imagine why anyone would buy a non-LED torch now.

Yup: a mate said the Tesco cree was nearly as bright as the lamp he uses for rabbit lamping. ( he's a country boy)

rabbit lamping?

Shooting pest rabbits at night with a lamp. See more here:

http://www.airgunbbs.com/forums/archive/index.php/...