Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I've always liked having a good/bright flashlight around - and the thought of having one with an HID/metal halide lamp makes me smile.
For the longest time, this sort of thing was ~$400+. NOW - they're down to about $70 on eBay (including shipping!).
I pulled the trigger last Thursday and ordered one up. It arrived Saturday afternoon and I couldn't wait to get it out of the box. It had a little charge in it, so I fired it off - I couldn't believe how bright it was during the day. TDR member "PLafrombois" was there in person to see me giddy like a kid on Christmas morning. :-laf
Anywho - I charged 'er up and took it out that night. I won't go into all of the adjectives and expletives I used to describe how well the light works - it's unreal. In typical HID fashion - it fires off right away... but it gets progressively brighter over a period of ~15 seconds.
I still have a 2-million candlepower (55W halogen?) spotlight, but that thing just might start collecting more dust than it usually does. The HID spotlight is lightyears better (pun intended... ).
Out in the country, all kinds of folks drive by the house and spot deer in the fields with halogen lights. So, I played a few quick games of "your light isn't as bright as mine" with some passers by as a quick comparison... and learned that there is no comparison. My light was brighter and carries further than theirs... AND it uses less electricity.
Of course, the higher color temperature (6000° Kelvin compared to ~3000°K) of the HID lamp causes a perceived increase in light output compared to halogen... but it goes beyond that. The plain and simple actual light output between the sources (in lumens) is like comparing apples to kiwi fruit.
The light I bought is made by Vector Products - which appears to be part of Black and Decker. My other halogen light is made by them and I also have a 'smart' battery charger with that nameplate. So far, all of these devices have served me well.
Here's a review of the exact light I own:
LEDs - Gallium Indium Nitride UV, violet, purple, blue, aqua, turquoise, green, white. Also Gallium Arsenide and others. New LED MUSEUM! GaN, InGaN, SiC, GaAs, GaP, GaAlP, ZnSe, flashlight, flashlights.
I have no vested interest in this company - so I stand nothing to gain or loose by passing along what may sound like a big advert. As always, YMMV and you are your own warranty station.
Beers,
Matt - I love the sound of a HID ballast firing up in the evening...
For the longest time, this sort of thing was ~$400+. NOW - they're down to about $70 on eBay (including shipping!).
I pulled the trigger last Thursday and ordered one up. It arrived Saturday afternoon and I couldn't wait to get it out of the box. It had a little charge in it, so I fired it off - I couldn't believe how bright it was during the day. TDR member "PLafrombois" was there in person to see me giddy like a kid on Christmas morning. :-laf
Anywho - I charged 'er up and took it out that night. I won't go into all of the adjectives and expletives I used to describe how well the light works - it's unreal. In typical HID fashion - it fires off right away... but it gets progressively brighter over a period of ~15 seconds.
I still have a 2-million candlepower (55W halogen?) spotlight, but that thing just might start collecting more dust than it usually does. The HID spotlight is lightyears better (pun intended... ).
Out in the country, all kinds of folks drive by the house and spot deer in the fields with halogen lights. So, I played a few quick games of "your light isn't as bright as mine" with some passers by as a quick comparison... and learned that there is no comparison. My light was brighter and carries further than theirs... AND it uses less electricity.
Of course, the higher color temperature (6000° Kelvin compared to ~3000°K) of the HID lamp causes a perceived increase in light output compared to halogen... but it goes beyond that. The plain and simple actual light output between the sources (in lumens) is like comparing apples to kiwi fruit.
The light I bought is made by Vector Products - which appears to be part of Black and Decker. My other halogen light is made by them and I also have a 'smart' battery charger with that nameplate. So far, all of these devices have served me well.
Here's a review of the exact light I own:
LEDs - Gallium Indium Nitride UV, violet, purple, blue, aqua, turquoise, green, white. Also Gallium Arsenide and others. New LED MUSEUM! GaN, InGaN, SiC, GaAs, GaP, GaAlP, ZnSe, flashlight, flashlights.
I have no vested interest in this company - so I stand nothing to gain or loose by passing along what may sound like a big advert. As always, YMMV and you are your own warranty station.
Beers,
Matt - I love the sound of a HID ballast firing up in the evening...
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