LEOs and LEDs

Goldtanker

Goldtanker

Joined
Oct 22, 2004
Messages
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Any current LEOs in the forum carry LED lights as primary on the job, either issue or otherwise? Included in this inquiry are other emergency service personnel, EMT, firefighters, etc.
 
I always carry a G2 Surefire light. I know that this isn't exactly what you asked but I have a headlamp I use camping that has a one watt LED and am very impressed with it. I am looking at a new full time carry light that has a 3 watt LED. If I am as impressed as I belive I will be I will probably use the surefire as a backup light and primarily use the LED light. I am an EMT who works for a fire department as a volunteer, for over 4 years now.

Ex Cav (11D20) also. :D

KR
 
LED's are good indoors, but suffer where ambient li9ght exists (i.e. moonlight, streetlights, etc). And LED's will never out throw a good incandescent light.

I've been using an Inova T4 "on duty" and it works well, but does suffer when the beam is diluted.

--dan
 
I often see cops here with LED lights in their pockets. The Surefire L4 seems a popular choice. That way they don't have to always carry around their big light all the time. I see a lot of Streamlight Strions too.
 
dano said:
LED's are good indoors, but suffer where ambient li9ght exists (i.e. moonlight, streetlights, etc). And LED's will never out throw a good incandescent light.
. . .
--dan
Click to expand...

I have at least two LED flashlights that are too concentrated. They effectively leave you blind to the area outside their circle of focus.

When I bought my .5 watt LED, it was the most powerful single LED on the market. A year later they have 3 watts all over the place. Next?

At least Toyota and Diamler Benz are using LEDs for headlights in test beds and project their use generally by 2010.

GE Nela Park Labs here in the Cleveland area are working on LED motor vehicle headlights and stadium lights.

Doesn't it seem there is potential for lots of throw somewhere there?

Ed: Oh yah. My son's an LEO and he uses an LED for his duty light.
 
Not as a primary carry light. Streamlight PolyStinger is almost universal here. I've got a feeling that when Streamlight comes out with a comparable LED light in this form factor then acceptance of LED lights will be much more widespread.
 
Streamlight 3w tasklight is my primary. More than bright enough and with 2 power levels, the batteries last longer. I am one of the few that do not prefer tail-cap switches and this light had a barrel switch. Same problem with edge of the "spot". You are either in the light or in the black. There is no spill-over. Even though the Streamlight is my primary light, my old 2AA mini-mag still winds up getting used more often.
 
dano said:
LED's are good indoors, but suffer where ambient li9ght exists (i.e. moonlight, streetlights, etc). And LED's will never out throw a good incandescent light.
Click to expand...


They already do; check out the Striker-VG from LED Logic. It features a 5Watt LED behind a good optic and has better output and throw than any other two-cell light out there, including incans. Throws a little more than a third further than the P60.

LED's (are already) but will soon really be pushing in on the lower levels of HiD output.
 
i agree with spoon LEDs will work just fine for tac stuff, i edc a SF E2e w/a KL1 head and its plenty bright and will do anything with the LED the incan would, which suprised me. the SF LEDs are better than the inovas imho. am gonna eventually put the higher output head on my E2e (the KL4 IIRC?) and imagine it will be the bomb for that size light as far as brightness goes. a few yrs ago i thought LEDs sucked now i wouldnt get anything else.
 
Now that I have some of the latest models of LEDs, including my current favorite, the SF L2, a copy of which I gave my son to take back to Iraq, I was thinking that I would never get another bulb light either. The reliability factor is such a benefit, that I would not hesitate to use an LED if I were still on the job. I wanted to see if others felt this way. I agree with SIFU1A and spoonrobot that the advances in the LED performance have been dramatic and they keep getting better at a rapid pace.
 
After a midnight tour last Christmas Eve, I resolved to lighten my equipment belt (no pun!!!). My 3D Kelight of 20 plus years was replaced by a Streamlight 4AA (the one with the 1 Watt LED) at about - and I am guessing here - 1/4 the weight and less than half the bulk. No regrets! A good strong light that actually seems brighter than my the old one. Much more comfortable in the car too. Unless you really want the "back-up" of a heavy light, I would recomend this one.

Safe tour, safe home.
 
Another consideration would be tint. All the white LED lights I own (and I own a lot of them, from i think, every major manufacturer) all have different colored beams. Some are greenish, some are purplish.

LED's won't eclips a good incan until the beam color can be manufacturerd in a consistent way.

-dan
 
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