E Lite

MarkCid84

MarkCid84

Joined
Mar 13, 2000
Messages
838
Monday night, a co-worker & I were out on a wreck (We are LEOs). Tom was explaining the paperwork to one of the parties, and was holding his flashlight between his ear and shoulder, kinda like you would a telephone. Afterwards, he told me we need to come up with a light that can clip to a shirt.

I paid a visit to Appalachain Outfitters and look what they found!

http://en.petzl.com/petzl/LampesGammes?Gamme=128

Light weight, 10-year shelf life, bright, emergency modes, pan/tils/swivel,
one handy light.

Gonna show it to him tomorrow, might try to talk the city into buying them for all patrol officers. Not tactically useful for searches, but for close-up illumination that's hands free...
 
Those are great emergency headlamps, in my opinion, but not great for sustained use. Coin cells just don't do well at sustained current draw. If you use your E-Lite for extended periods, don't be surprised if brightness drops off rapidly (most coin cell lights have a serious brightness dropoff after even 5 minutes of sustained use). If your planned usage is short in nature, you'll probably be fine, but I am also not a huge fan of coin cell capacities either (maybe I'm just being too grumpy about it, ha).

I think the perfect niche for the E-Lite is in a lightweight, small size Bug Out Bag or emergency kit (or whatever preparedness package you want to call it). Some sort of kit where every ounce counts but you still need an emergency light.

There are a lot of other clip/headlamps these days that I think would do better for sustained usage periods though.

I really like the Zebralight H50, personally, but it's definitely a different creature than the E-Lite. It only has one main LED (a CREE) but has three modes (low, med, hi). It runs regulated for constant brightness off a single AA and is purely flood with great runtimes. This makes it great for hands-free work up close like you are describing. You can use it as a headlamp or as a clip light, or attach it to some straps/webbing (they include a lot of accessories).

I use one on low every night as a reading light. I run it off an Eneloop rechargeable and unless I go to use it for other duties on the higher levels, it seems to keep going forever without a charge. If I'm doing work with my hands I'll use it on Med or occasionally High, depending on ambient lighting conditions and how my eyes are adjusted. Stuffing a lithium primary cell in it gives even MORE impressive runtimes.

There are lots of reviews out there on it, but I always like this guy's since it's very much real world usage:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=178839

It's more expensive, has different features, and is a different animal. I'm not saying it's a replacement for the E-Lite, just that I find mine handy for the type of usage you're describing. I don't think an E-Lite is necessarily a bad choice for what you're describing, I just think that you might have to change out the coin cell often and I wonder how the plastic parts might hold up to the inevitable banging around they will receive from an active law enforcement officer.
 
there are plenty of lights that can clip to MOLLE gear that u might like,
there is always the old school army elbow flashlights
 
Check out the Inova 24/7 light. Here is a review.

I have a couple at home. I like them, small and bright enough for what I used 'em for. They have a clip on the back and are capable of standing on their own or you can purchase an accessory pack for it. The downside is that they are small and lost both of them for a little bit.
 
Pelican makes a waterproof clip on light for LEO's etc for about $20. Very well made and lifetime warranty.

http://www.pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=2220

pelican.cliplight.jpg
 
In my search, I found that lights using AA or AAA were too heavy. This light clips to the front of my uniform shirt. I don't see it being used for more than a couple of minutes at a time. I'll try it this weekend on night shift and post here next week.
 
Bushman5 said:
Pelican makes a waterproof clip on light for LEO's etc for about $20. Very well made and lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...

I'm on my second one. It's a replacement for one that broke on me during a camping trip. I have no explanation for why it stopped working, other than it's not as well built as I thought. Luckily I had another backup light on that trip. That said, I like the light and its clip-on function. I just wouldn't depend on it as an only light.
 
Get a light with a pocket clip style clip and clip it to the button seem on your uniform, letting it sit on a button and in the middle makes it not sag down on your uniform.
 
Don't ruin the guy's purchase! The E+Lite is awesome, and probably one of the most innovative headlamps out there. It has a pretty good runtime (I've yet to burn out my first set) and packs an incredible amount of versatility in a tiny package. I have been on the search for a "bigger" E+Lite that takes AA or AAA or even 123 but I have yet to find anything "as good" in a larger package.
 
I too like the e+Lite in its 'intended' role, i.e., emergency or back-up, esp in our car kits. But it isn't well-made for regular use: power does dim fairly quickly, and the plastic swivel nob for adjusting the light's angle wears down pretty quickly, too. It really wasn't built with regular use in mind.

As a kit light it is great for _anyone_ to use because the switch markings are obvious, and the selections with white and red LEDs for emergency use are great. Pretty idiot proof. If you do want to use regularly, the case also easily accommodate a spare set of batteries.
 
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I've had a couple of the original Quiqlites for several years now. Work great for their intended purpose, clip it to a pocket, it is very lightweight, you don't realize its there until you need it. I don't use them a lot, but they are good if you need a specialized flashlight that clips to a pocket for close-in use.

http://www.quiqlite.com/
 
:thumbup::thumbup: I've used mine on a couple outings now, I also have three different models of the Petzl Tikka. While I prefer to use the TacTikka XP for most things, I really like the small size of the E+. I don't care too much for the small headstrap, but with the headstrap removed it is barely noticeable when clipped on the brim of a hat, which is where it works best for me. The clip is quite robust, I have never worried about losing it.
 
Some weeks ago I was stopped in a Norwegian police checkpoint and the guy checking papers had a very small light that looked like it was clipped to his zipper pull and had a green light. It was about the size of a Maglite Solitaire. It could also have been something from Fenix. Anyway, since it was almost pitch black in the outskirts of the city it worked really well. He just hold the papers next to his belly and could read it easily.

Also you have those cheap lamps you clip onto your cap. It looks quite cheap though.

I know it might be a tactical disadvantage to have a proper headlight but doesnt that really solve the problem. Either you put it on top of your cap or just on your head.
That was what I thought the big black plastic thing or US Army helmets were for at first. They looked like miners helmets :)
 
Most people don't like lights being shined in their eyes. If it is on your head and you are looking at the person it is going to blind them (or at least be uncomfortable).

I think something that either points down or mounts at a lower point on the body would be more beneficial.
 
NeonLight said:
I've had a couple of the original Quiqlites for several years now. Work great for their intended purpose, clip it to a pocket, it is very lightweight, you don't realize its there until you need it. I don't use them a lot, but they are good if you need a specialized flashlight that clips to a pocket for close-in use.

http://www.quiqlite.com/
Click to expand...
THAT is what I was trying to think of!! I used to have one, it worked great. I gave mine to an LEO friend of mine.
 
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