Why the strobe function?

S

ss Dragonfly

Joined
Nov 9, 2006
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257
Why is the strobe function so common on todays LEDs? Do you all have any insite? I am really unable to think of a viable use. Maybe self defense somehow but the function is usually omitted in tactical models so I am still unsure of its intended use?

Cheers,
Shane
 
It is used to blind an attacker/unsuspecting friends. It is way more disorientating than just being flashed with a regular light of the same brightness.
 
It's primarily for SD.Disorientating strobe

Most will be disorientated,some will get nauseous,could even cause convulsions in some people.

It's all about getting that needed extra second or two,to strike first.


It's also highly visible.Could be used by night time joggers & dog walkers.


[edit] Dang,I write slow :o
 
Most are useless because they are at the completely wrong frequency. Some do work well enough to make those with night adapted vision fall to the ground but most you can just stare at with little effect.
 
JTR357 said:
It's also highly visible.Could be used by night time joggers & dog walkers.
Click to expand...

There was some testing done about 20 years ago on a strobe that could be mounted on the back of a bicycle or motorcycle. Results were that car drivers actually came closer to people using the flashing strobe than those who used a solid light. The scientists conducting the tests called it 'targeting.' Drivers would turn their heads to look at the strobes and in doing so, turn their steering wheels a bit without noticing. It's one of the reasons so many bicycle riders think that car drivers are forcing them off the road.

I see this same sort of lighting device being sold today, so I guess either the results were flawed or people just don't care.

Stitchawl
 
They are good for signalling. Any use for SD is a great idea, but not very useful at all. I am not about to depend on a light for SD.
 
Flipincanadian said:
It is used to blind an attacker/unsuspecting friends. It is way more disorientating than just being flashed with a regular light of the same brightness.
Click to expand...


Couldn't have said it better myself. Now what really annoys me is the extra "SOS" mode that these lights are coming with. Why can't we just get a nice AAA EDC light with 1hr high (as bright as current led eff. will allow) and maybe 3-5lm low? Personally I wouldnt mind a flash mode, but not strobe, something like a flash per second would be ideal since my EDC is also my backup helmet light for cycling :thumbup:
 
If the truth be told: in a competitive market, you've gotta have something to sell. If you're a flashlight manufacturer, how can you distinguish your product from everyone else? You've got on and you've got off. In this day and agenof LEDs, everyone buys their lamps from one of just a few manufacturers, Avago, Cree, etc. Making LEDs requires a tens-of-millions-dollar investment in a semiconductor fab, so no flashlight manufacturer can afford their own. Much the same can be said for batteries; everyone uses the same limited selection. When you're putting the same lamps on the same batteries, the light itself is gonna be much the same. So, someone came up with the idea of a flashing mode. It's not hard to do or expensive. All that was left was to come up with some perceived need for it and convince people that they need it. With that done, the first person to think this up and do it had his distinguishing feature to make his product stand out in an otherwise undistinguished competitive market. And his compeditor had a bad year because his lights didn't flash. So he thought about it long and hard and came up with the idea of making it flash in an SOS Morse code pattern. And so the game continues.
 
^^^ I like that explanation.

Coop
 
I like the options for strobe and SOS when I'm camping but I really prefer my 3 mode lights for edc. It's annoying having to pass up those two settings just to go from low to high.
 
The strobe is pretty darn effective at signaling and warning. I have used mine for everything from preventing a vehicle from backing up too close to me (walking) to dissuading the neighbor's attacking Chihuahua.

Most strobes tend to be down at the end of the function cycle, so if you don't have to use it if you don't want to. You never know its there.
 
powernoodle said:


Most strobes tend to be down at the end of the function cycle, so if you don't have to use it if you don't want to. You never know its there.
Click to expand...

That IMO is why they are not good for Self Defence. If you have to cycle your light to get to the strobe setting to Disorient/blind someone then it's to late to use. You need to be able to do it Quickly. Now some modern flashlights will remember their last used mode and it it's strobe then you have a better chance at getting the jump on someone.

A few days ago a friend and I did an experiment, we got our eyes adjusted to low light then shined my new iTP E50 into each others eyes for a split second. Wow, we couldn't see a durn thing for a second or two then we were seeing blue spots with one big one that lasted almost 5 minutes. Was really impressed by what a really bright light would do up close in someones eyes. Don't feel the need for strobe for Self Defence.

I have 3 LED Head Lamps and all have Strobe and SOS modes at the end of their cycles. IMO they are great for signalling your location or asking for help but not much else.

Heber
 
I have a couple of Quark lights for EDC, and have them set up so that it just requires a double click to access the strobe. I have also a Streamlight Stinger LED, and you can double click that for the strobe too. But if one does not like the strobe, you can completely ignore it. Thats the best of both worlds.

The point I guess is that if one does not like a strobe, then don't use it. :thumbup:
 
JTR357 said:
Could be used by night time joggers & dog walkers.
Click to expand...

This is an excellent use for the strobe feature. When crossing a poorly lit street, the strobe is far more noticeable than a steady light source. I particularly appreciate having a good strobe mode at night when I'm navigating my way through a large parking lot at a major sports venue with kids in tow.
 
when it comes to lights the simpler the better. a strobe seems nice but i personally wouldnt have a use for it. but that is just me.
 
powernoodle said:
I have a couple of Quark lights for EDC, and have them set up so that it just requires a double click to access the strobe. I have also a Streamlight Stinger LED, and you can double click that for the strobe too. But if one does not like the strobe, you can completely ignore it. Thats the best of both worlds.

The point I guess is that if one does not like a strobe, then don't use it. :thumbup:
Click to expand...
I have the cree R2 5 mode and you can't ignore the strobe, you have to cycle past it. For instance, I leave the light on low but if I want to go to high for a few seconds, I have to cycle past strobe and SOS to get there. Not a huge deal but somewhat annoying at times.

I still like the option but also find high beam to be just as disorienting in most but not all situations. My 2 year old son likes to play with my lights and once caught me off guard by hitting me in they eyes with the high beam. It literally had me staggering backwards and almost tripped over some toys. This was with the Surefire G2 w/5mode LED. I'd trust my safety to it that's for sure. That said, any one of the 5 modes would disorient an attacker.
 
Buck268 said:
Couldn't have said it better myself. Now what really annoys me is the extra "SOS" mode that these lights are coming with. Why can't we just get a nice AAA EDC light with 1hr high (as bright as current led eff. will allow) and maybe 3-5lm low? Personally I wouldnt mind a flash mode, but not strobe, something like a flash per second would be ideal since my EDC is also my backup helmet light for cycling :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Look at this one

https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_49&products_id=639
 
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