the INOVA X-5 Tactical LED FLOODLIGHT which is here http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme gear/flashlights main/inova_x5_led_light.htm states that its visible from two miles. So that means it pretty bright?Or is there somthing Im missing? On the subject is this sturdy enough with one of those TID things to break through a car window if need be. Can you use the INOVA X-5 Tactical LED FLOODLIGHT like a surefure to temporarily blind someone? Appreciate anyone replying.
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Visible From 2 Miles??
- Thread starter SkarpKniv
- Start date
I have this light , and it is bright, but the beam is not focused, more of a flood light. I'm sure the 2 mile claim is correct, within certain conditions. Like "total" darkness which few of us have ever experienced. You could likely see the burning end of a cigarette at near a mile in "total" darkness.
As far as blinding someone, I'm not sure of your definition of "blinded". This ability is partly dependant on range/distance. Since it is not a focused beam, brightness drops off much quicker than with a focused beam.
As far as blinding someone, I'm not sure of your definition of "blinded". This ability is partly dependant on range/distance. Since it is not a focused beam, brightness drops off much quicker than with a focused beam.
Esav Benyamin
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SharpKniv, welcome to Bladeforums!
I have a couple of Inova X5T and I had an X5 also. They are extremely sturdy, but I don't see how they can take the TID. That goes on the Surefires. You might be able to break a car window with one, anyway. It's a cylinder of heavy aluminum stock.
I imagine you could see that there was a light shining directly at you from two miles away, on a clear night. It doesn't cast a beam as far as my Surefire E2, which is about the same size and also takes two lithium 123 batteries. It is about as bright as a 2 or 3 cell Maglight, though. And the lithium batteries go for about 20 hours rather than the hour or so of the Surefires. In fact, I use depleted batteries from my Surefire -- they still have enough power for about 10 hours in the X5T after they're too weak to light up the Surefire.
Close up, it will glare blind anyone. I am careful not to shine it at oncoming traffic when I'm out walking at night, since it would interfere with a driver's vision.
I have a couple of Inova X5T and I had an X5 also. They are extremely sturdy, but I don't see how they can take the TID. That goes on the Surefires. You might be able to break a car window with one, anyway. It's a cylinder of heavy aluminum stock.
I imagine you could see that there was a light shining directly at you from two miles away, on a clear night. It doesn't cast a beam as far as my Surefire E2, which is about the same size and also takes two lithium 123 batteries. It is about as bright as a 2 or 3 cell Maglight, though. And the lithium batteries go for about 20 hours rather than the hour or so of the Surefires. In fact, I use depleted batteries from my Surefire -- they still have enough power for about 10 hours in the X5T after they're too weak to light up the Surefire.
Close up, it will glare blind anyone. I am careful not to shine it at oncoming traffic when I'm out walking at night, since it would interfere with a driver's vision.
Cougar Allen
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A LED, even a very dim LED, can be seen from a tremendous distance. I've always thought it was because it was monochromatic light, but the same applies to white LEDs, so I guess I don't know why it is....
Try it for yourself -- take a little Photon II or any LED flashlight you have available, set it down on a bench in the park and walk away from it, looking back over your shoulder every now and then. You'll walk a looooong way before you can't see it any more.
The useful light it sheds for looking at things is very short range, though, especially with the little keychain lights. It's a peculiarity of LED light. It's a useful peculiarity -- for instance if you do any night fishing in a boat, put a LED on your dock and you can see it from across the lake and find your way home.
Try it for yourself -- take a little Photon II or any LED flashlight you have available, set it down on a bench in the park and walk away from it, looking back over your shoulder every now and then. You'll walk a looooong way before you can't see it any more.
The useful light it sheds for looking at things is very short range, though, especially with the little keychain lights. It's a peculiarity of LED light. It's a useful peculiarity -- for instance if you do any night fishing in a boat, put a LED on your dock and you can see it from across the lake and find your way home.
Under optimal conditions, human eyes are capable of detecting a single photon. If the INOVA X-5 tactical floodlight was aimed properly at your retina, you could see it dimly flicker from billions of light years away. (But the color would red-shift.)
I had a chance to play with this flashlight, this past weekend. It's a moderately bright, good flashlight--even if the marketing about how far it is visible is questionable.
--Mike
I had a chance to play with this flashlight, this past weekend. It's a moderately bright, good flashlight--even if the marketing about how far it is visible is questionable.
--Mike
thanks for the replies. I meant blinded as in how the surfire blind's people. I've never used either. Basically, what would be better to have as a defense tool and which as an all around the Surefire E2e Executive Elite HA or INOVA X-5 tactical floodlight ?
Esav Benyamin
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For defense, the E2 is distinctly more powerful a light for blinding, and is strong enough, even without the Tactical Impact Device, to damage someone as a striking tool.
I automatically carry my X5T in the evening and into the night in the small holster, but I prefer to carry the E2 as well. The X5T is a great way to save the E2 batteries, but it doesn't light up the road two blocks away the way the E2 will, even in fog.
All around, the Surefire wins in every category -- except economy
I automatically carry my X5T in the evening and into the night in the small holster, but I prefer to carry the E2 as well. The X5T is a great way to save the E2 batteries, but it doesn't light up the road two blocks away the way the E2 will, even in fog.
All around, the Surefire wins in every category -- except economy
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If memory serves me GG&G do make a TAD for the light in question. I think the only purpose of a TAD is as a self defense weapon...I really doubt you're going to be able to break a car window with one.
the E2e would be far superior for a SD weapon, the X5 isnt anywhere near as bright as the SF, the inova is more for illumination when walking at night, reading maps in the car at night (when a SF is way too bright) or around a camp/etc, the SF is much brighter, albeit w/a shorter batt life. the X5 wont "blind" someone, imho, even momentarily, sounds to me ya want a SF E2e
and the TID is available for the X5, FWIW
greg
and the TID is available for the X5, FWIW
greg
Esav Benyamin
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If you ever looked into an X5T at night and turned it on and weren't blinded by it, you were wearing pretty dark glasses! 
the inova is not that bright, ya can shine it in your eyes not a biggie, without dark glasses by the way, while a SF is a lot brighter,
if yours is that bright, something is wrong w/mine,cuz it aint that bright.
are you saying your inova is as bright as a SF???
if yours is that bright, something is wrong w/mine,cuz it aint that bright.
are you saying your inova is as bright as a SF???
Cougar Allen
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The Inova X5 is a flashlight -- if your eyes are dark-adapted and you shine it in your own eyes at close range, while you're holding it, sure it'll have some blinding effect, like any flashlight. A Surefire isn't just a flashlight; it's brighter than the high beams on your car. If you've never used a tactical flashlight, have you ever used a 12-volt halogen spotlight, that runs either from your car battery or from a 12v lantern battery? That's what a real tactical flashlight is like, only it fits in your pocket. There's a tradeoff though: in order to give you that much power in that small a package it eats lithium batteries and xenon halogen bulbs.
The Inova X5 has 5 LEDs so it's much brighter than a single-led flashlight like a Photon II or an ARC AAA, but it's not the same order of magnitude as a Surefire. It has advantages of its own -- the LEDs can't burn out and can't break even if you drop it off a cliff, and they're so efficient batteries last a long time. They're very different lights. Ideally, carry both.
The Inova X5 has 5 LEDs so it's much brighter than a single-led flashlight like a Photon II or an ARC AAA, but it's not the same order of magnitude as a Surefire. It has advantages of its own -- the LEDs can't burn out and can't break even if you drop it off a cliff, and they're so efficient batteries last a long time. They're very different lights. Ideally, carry both.