LIGHTS FOR CCW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

[mchaley]

What do you think about the surefire executive defender LED vs the incandescent?
Thanks

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by mchaley

What do you think about the surefire executive defender LED vs the incandescent?
Thanks

I like the 3 lumens setting that will make the batteries last for 100 hours.
And the 60 lumens setting is not bad, but not as powerful and far reaching as the 60 lumens of the incandescent.
But then again the LED will make the batteries last a long time (but not 11 hours) instead of only 70 minutes.

In the other hand the incandescent is direct drive, you only need batteries and bulbs to keep it going forever, that is why it is my light of choice for a survival situation.

Electronics can fail, I have three lights that are not working anymore and one of the expensive ones that needed a trip to the factory.
I have a trunk full of electronics gadgets that are broken, cameras, camcorders, lasers, etc.

Watchmaker

[mchaley]

I think low is 5 lumens and high is 120. I'm not sure if both LED and incandescent are 5/120 though. Which one would you pick if you had to buy?

[CoyoteJack]

watchmaker,

Have you tried or tested the Inova XO3?

I have one of them I keep as my nightstand light and one nice feature is that the tailcap can be set so that you don't even need to press the button. Just some slight lateral pressure on the tail cap will cause it to light. It is nice for those of us with arthritic joints. It works great in my the house for when go bump in the night and my dear wife makes me go check

I also have two of the X1's. My wife keeps one in her purse. I keep one in my concealed carry vest.

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by mchaley

I think low is 5 lumens and high is 120. I'm not sure if both LED and incandescent are 5/120 though. Which one would you pick if you had to buy?

I am sorry I was thinking about the E2EL (LED) but of course you are right the Executive Defender is 5 lumens/120 lumens which make it a different light alltogether.

The incandescent E2E uses the MN03 lamp that is 60 lumens.

I have not tried the new Executive Defender but the spec are impressive.

Watchmaker

[watchmaker]

Coyote Jack,
I have not tested the XO 3 it is interesting that the tail cap can be manuver that way, it could be a help to many people that are artrhitic.

Thank you for the information, I like Inova lights I have the X-1 and the X5T and they are very well made.

Watchmaker

[mchaley]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

I am sorry I was thinking about the E2EL (LED) but of course you are right the Executive Defender is 5 lumens/120 lumens which make it a different light alltogether.

The incandescent E2E uses the MN03 lamp that is 60 lumens.

I have not tried the new Executive Defender but the spec are impressive.

Watchmaker

impressive enough to buy over the incandescent? How do you feel about surefire in general? I've heard mixed reports about their brightness, battery life, and reliability compared to other makers.

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by mchaley

impressive enough to buy over the incandescent? How do you feel about surefire in general? I've heard mixed reports about their brightness, battery life, and reliability compared to other makers.

Yes, I will buy it over the incandescent.

Surefire is top hat, you can count on their lumens output to be "real" and not exagerated like others lights.

They are a little conservative in using the new modules, but those modules are too new to be really proven.

They are American made and the warranty is superb, many new lights that are showing now in the market are made in China and will dissapear soon.

The only serious company (that I know) that can offer serious competition is the Fenix.

Fenix will be good quality for less money as they are made in China.
Also Fenix works with the new Q-5 modules that throw higher lumens.

Cheers
Watchmaker

[watchmaker]

Merry Christmas to all

[watchmaker]

TERRALUX LIGHTSTAR 220
FLASHLIGHT

For the last two months, I have been using one of the Terralux Lightstar 220 lumens flashlights, which runs on two AA batteries.
This light has two settings on the click-tail cap; the first setting clicks on the light and emits 220 lumens for 1.5 hours.
The second setting of 100 lumens for 6 hours is accessed by softly pressing the rubber button switch.

The LED is a Cree RXE Q-4 and is controlled by a microprocessor for a constant light output. When battery juice is running low, the LED will flicker to let you know that is time for new batteries.
The unit comes with two Energizer AA batteries, a lanyard and a soft nylon holster. At an even six inches long, the light is quite portable and also features a clip to attach it to your belt or waistband.




It is very similar to the popular 3 watt 80 lumens Ray-O-Vac Sportsman Xtreme (but is slightly longer as the click tail cap needs more room for the mechanism), and the head is smaller with a small orange peel reflector.

Due to the small reflector the beam throws quite a flood despite the 220 lumens figure. Small reflectors don’t really have much throw no matter how many lumens you make the light puts out. However, it is quite adequate for most chores inside a house and practical, too, for walking the dog or a walk in the woods.

LIGHTSTAR AT 20 YARDS WITH THE 220 LUMENS




LIGHTSTAR WITH THE 100 LUMENS SETTING






The really nice thing about these lights are that they are very inexpensive to feed as they use common AA batteries. As I use rechargeable AA batteries in all my lights, it is even more inexpensive to use.
The dark green anodized body is quite resistant to scratches as the light is still like new even after a couple months of sharing my pocket with keys and coins.

Cost of the light varies depending where you buy it, but it is around $35 to $40 USD; your best bet is to Google it to see who has a special on it.
I like this light to the point of recommending it to anybody that is looking for a light with these characteristics. The light is as good as the Ray-O-Vac Sportsman with the added power of the 220 lumen setting.
Cheers.

Watchmaker