Search or rescue work, spending the night in a tourist tent, highlighting car engine parts, swimming on the seabed, and just an evening walk today is not complete without a bright beam of a powerful LED flashlight.
LED Benefits
Unlike an incandescent lamp, the LED will last 50 times longer. Made of durable plastic, has a warranty of 2 years and shines with a pleasant white light. Constant on / off does not affect the term and quality of operation.
It differs from dimensional and expensive
xenon lamps in compactness, light weight, low price and longer service life. With daily continuous use for 8 hours, the LED will last 34 years. Moreover, it does not burn out at the most inopportune moment, but gradually loses the brightness of the light flux.
The main advantages of powerful LED flashlights on batteries or batteries include:
- High efficiency . Economically, a LED flashlight is more profitable, since with the same power sources, the LED gives almost 5 times more light and works much longer.
- Durability . The crystalline base is resistant to vibration, low temperature and mechanical damage.
- Low inertia . A powerful LED flashlight turns on immediately at full brightness.
- Safety A high voltage is not required for an LED flashlight; its temperature does not exceed 60 ° C. Thanks to the absence of fluorine, mercury, and ultraviolet radiation, it is environmentally friendly.
- Beam focusing . Powerful LED lights are available with a narrow or uniform focus of the light flux with an emission angle of 15 to 80 °.
The disadvantages include the sensitivity of the LED, like any semiconductor device, to high temperatures.
Design features of LED flashlights
The focus and range of the light stream depends on the reflectors (reflectors) used in the design of the lamp.
A smooth reflector provides a bright spot of light in the center and a less illuminated side zone. Focusing is higher with a larger diameter reflector.
The rough surface of the crumpled reflector smooths out the sharp transition between the peripheral zone and the center of the light flux. Unlike a flashlight with a smooth reflector, the beam is much wider, but less bright.
Power supplies
Today, manufacturers of modern flashlights offer consumers the opportunity to choose batteries: batteries or rechargeable batteries. With frequent use, it is more convenient, economical and practical to use powerful LED flashlights on batteries. The need to additionally purchase expensive charging equipment quickly pays off.
It is very convenient to use battery-powered LED flashlights with battery models similar in shape and size to batteries.
Varieties of LED Flashlights
They are divided into several types:
- Tame . The most traditional and customary to use flashlights are characterized by a wide size range and different capacities. These models are available in small pocket-sized and large heavy-duty ones that illuminate tens of meters in front.
- Trinkets . Compact, low-power flashlights designed to illuminate a small area, such as a keyhole or footpath.
- Tactical . Superbright LED flashlights mounted on firearms are used by security guards, military and hunters.
- Bicycle lights . Resistant to shock and vibration, mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle, illuminate the road for 15-20 meters.
- Forehead . Convenient fastening by belts on a helmet or head allows you to free both hands. Used by doctors, repairmen, cavers, tourists, builders, miners and many other people.
- Long-range . Heavy duty LED flashlights illuminating the terrain up to 200 meters. Most often used by the military and rescue workers.
Battery Features
Powerful LED flashlights equipped with a current stabilization function can shine brightly even when the battery is low. When fully stabilized, the flashlight switches sharply to the medium or small light mode at a critical threshold of discharge and shines until the battery is completely discharged. In tactical flashlights, incomplete stabilization is usually used, in which the luminous power is gradually reduced to a minimum and so the flashlight works on the remaining charge.
Additional functions
Manufacturers equip modern LED flashlights with batteries or accumulators with functions that simplify their use, extend the life of the device and expand the range of applications:
- The “stepdown” mode is necessary for powerful long-running flashlights to reset excess heat. This function reduces the beam brightness for some time and returns full power after the temperature of the LED drops to normal. Timely heat dissipation prevents crystal degradation and extends the life of the LED flashlight.
- Various lighting modes make it possible to adjust the intensity of the light flux in different situations. Manufacturers are trying to provide a logical device and convenient switching modes. Adjusting the power, increased or decreased glow, allows you to choose a luminous flux that is pleasant for the eyes.
- Adjustment of the reflector controls the range of the glow, the size and brightness of the light spot.
- Waterproof flashlights are used both by military and rescue workers, as well as by tourists, divers and fishermen. The dust and moisture protection index is indicated on the IPX product. Flashlights marked IPX4 are only protected against small splashes. Models with the IPX7 index can be used underwater at a depth of not more than 1 meter and longer than 30 minutes. Deep-sea LED lights are indexed IPX8 and above.
Some models of powerful LED flashlights may have connectors for connecting gadget chargers.
How to choose a LED flashlight?
Today, the lighting market is oversaturated with a variety of LED lights. Before buying, studying the assortment, you should pay attention to some aspects:
- The purpose of the lamp: hiking, hunting, fishing, diving or just for home.
- What characteristics should the selected device correspond to: maximum brightness, manufacturer, power supplies, modes, and so on.
- What size flashlight you need: compact or large search.
- Which mount corresponds to the set goals: a head-mounted model, hand-held, on a cord, a keychain, with a clip for attaching to a belt, mounting a bicycle handlebar or something else.
- Manufacturer Reputation.
- Case material: plastic, steel, aviation aluminum, titanium or high-strength magnesium-aluminum alloy, with anti-corrosion coating.
It is advisable to purchase an identical set of batteries identical to those established by the manufacturer. When you purchase a flashlight in an online store, you save a lot of time on your purchase, the prices are usually lower and you can thoroughly and carefully study the offered range, if necessary, consult a seller and consult with experienced comrades.