Today, a whole host of effective solutions are presented on the lighting market. The most powerful lights are characterized by narrow scattering angles, an impressive range. However, due to the variety of designs when choosing a flashlight, you can come to some confusion. Therefore, let's try to figure out what characteristics are of particular importance when choosing a good flashlight.
Appointment
Powerful flashlights are designed for use in the most difficult conditions. The need for their operation arises when it is necessary to create bright, stable lighting, the maintenance of which is possible for a long time period.
Powerful headlights are often used during rescue operations, camping trips, speleological sorties. The devices of this category include, first of all, tactical and search lights. Underbarrel and camping lighting fixtures are quite high user characteristics. Thus, picking up powerful flashlights, one should start from the features of future use.
Defining requirements
Based on the difficult conditions in which high-power lights are mainly used, the following requirements are imposed on the characteristics and design of such devices:
- moisture resistance and impact resistance of the housing;
- the use of materials with high thermal conductivity as production bases, which contributes to the rapid removal of thermal energy from the light source;
- high battery capacity;
- the ability to adjust the luminous flux in a wide range;
- reliability of fastenings and additional accessories.
Differences between LED lighting and incandescent lamps
A flashlight with a
powerful LED has obvious advantages over devices where an incandescent lamp is used as a light source. First of all, they are harder to damage, since the LED is nothing more than a miniature semiconductor with a light-emitting coating.
The efficiency of incandescent lamps reaches about 30 lumens / W. At the same time, a powerful LED flashlight is capable of demonstrating performance of more than 130 lumens per watt of power consumption. As a result, devices based on LEDs provide a stable luminous flux for a longer time with a similar energy reserve.
A powerful LED flashlight is able to function for 50,000 hours of continuous operation. For incandescent lamps, this indicator is not more than 5,000 hours. At the same time, the use of LED elements as a lighting source opens up the possibility of adjusting brightness in a wide range.
Housing
The most high-strength today are considered search models of LED lights. Anodized duralumin is often used here as the basis for the manufacture of the case. The material is durable and light, resistant to corrosion, shock, scratches.
Such cases in the bulk are made in the form of a monolithic tube, which simultaneously plays the role of a container for batteries and the handle of a lighting fixture. However, there are duralumin cases with remote handles.
Light distribution
Powerful headlights and headlamps are most often classified according to the light source. However, the defining moment here is the directivity of the light flux. Based on this indicator, the following varieties of lamps are distinguished:
- Spotlights - the light beam covers a wide range. The most powerful flashlight of this plan is able to illuminate objects at a distance of about 500 m.
- Long-range models - a ray of light is distinguished by a rather narrow directivity, which leads to the formation of one bright spot on the object. The range here can reach about 1500 m.
Spotlights are effective in the middle and near range. Their defining characteristic is the formation of a bright luminous flux without the appearance of a deep shadow. This is ensured by the specific design of the reflectors. As a result, floodlights are an ideal solution for hunting, outdoor activities, and fishing.
A completely different purpose for long-range devices, which are widely used by cavers, search teams, miners. The design features of the optics and reflectors contribute to the accurate focusing of the light beam. The important thing here is not the scattering of rays, but the formation of a saturated light spot at one point.
The nature of the luminous flux
LED flashlight can reproduce warm or cold glow. This is determined by a different
color temperature. The choice of a “warm” LED, giving out yellow, blue or any other shade, depends on the individual perception of the user and the tasks set.
If we talk about the cold glow, there is the worst color rendering. When a cold diode glows, the same grass may not look green, but rather gray. However, such a comparative disadvantage does not matter when using the lamp in winter or indoor use.
When using flashlights in certain areas of activity, preservation of natural color by illuminated objects is of importance. Especially when you need to distinguish between small shades of objects. For these purposes, “cold” LEDs may not be suitable.
Nutrition
Energy supply of the lighting source is possible from the accumulator or batteries. It is advisable to operate a powerful battery lamp in conditions when there is access to the mains, which allows timely recharging of storage elements. The use of battery-powered devices seems to be a rational decision when organizing long trips. Naturally, the latter option is more costly in material terms.
Operating modes
Powerful lights usually work in three modes, each of which has a separate energy consumption. Each lighting device provides for operation at minimum power, when the lamp gives moderately bright lighting, as well as in the nominal and forced mode, where the brightest light is created.
In addition to the above modes, powerful lights are able to work in additional modes:
- Stroboscopic - activated when necessary, self-defense by disorienting the enemy with a saturated or frequency light pulse. Present not on all models of powerful LED lights.
- SOS mode - used in emergency situations to attract the attention of rescuers or others.
Finally
As a result, it is worth noting that when choosing the most powerful flashlight, preference should be given to LED devices, since devices with incandescent lamps are obsolete by modern standards. LEDs are extremely durable and economical in terms of energy consumption. Due to its long life, the light source does not need to be replaced frequently. In general, choosing the most powerful flashlight, you should start from the goals for which it will be used.