Surefire flashlight question
- Thread starter guns'ahoy
- Start date
- Status
That is burn time with one set of batteries at that intensity (many Surefire lights can be changed over to other bulbs and heads; the spec listed is for that one specific set-up). It is not the life of the bulb.
Check out Surefire's website. They have a section that is called something like "The Science of Light". Good reading to understand all these light specs.
Check out Surefire's website. They have a section that is called something like "The Science of Light". Good reading to understand all these light specs.
Yes, I am quite sure. I own a number of Surefire lights and have owned and used them for about a year or two.
When it says Lamp assembly/Run time they are saying that for this lamp assembly, the run time is this. If you use a different lamp assembly, the run time is that.
When it says Lamp assembly/Run time they are saying that for this lamp assembly, the run time is this. If you use a different lamp assembly, the run time is that.
thanks ... i just read some other sources and came to the same conclusion right before i checked back into this thread.
maybe it is because i am not familar with these ultra bright lights, but it seems like a flashlight that i am going to use in my car and/or house regularly should have a longer run-time than 60 minutes, it doesn't seem like a whole lot .. particularly if you ever go camping or spend time outdoors at night
stevelyn
Member
Sure-Fires and lights of their ilk aren't really designed for general lighting use. Their purpose is to deliver bright, blinding, retina-searing light as a force multiplier to give you an advantage over a threat in dark/low light conditions. To get this power, the lights rely upon lithium batteries to maintain their brightness. Run time refers to battery life under constant use.
Obviously, if you go to a higher powered lamp, it's going to require more energy from the batteries to maintain the specified level of brightness reducing the amount of run time available from the batteries.
I carry two tactical lights, a Pelican Black Knight M-6 @108 lumens and 1 hour battery life on my duty belt, and a Sure-Fire 6Z on a special pocket on the front of my vest carrier. I replaced the P-60 lamp assembly on the Sure-Fire with a P-61. The P-61 is rated @ 120 lumens for 20 minutes run time. For just general lighting needs I also have a Mini-Mag light on my belt and have a full-sized Streamlight SL-20X rechargeable. The tac lights stay put unless they're needed.
Obviously, if you go to a higher powered lamp, it's going to require more energy from the batteries to maintain the specified level of brightness reducing the amount of run time available from the batteries.
I carry two tactical lights, a Pelican Black Knight M-6 @108 lumens and 1 hour battery life on my duty belt, and a Sure-Fire 6Z on a special pocket on the front of my vest carrier. I replaced the P-60 lamp assembly on the Sure-Fire with a P-61. The P-61 is rated @ 120 lumens for 20 minutes run time. For just general lighting needs I also have a Mini-Mag light on my belt and have a full-sized Streamlight SL-20X rechargeable. The tac lights stay put unless they're needed.
I agree, if you need to have a light on continuously for times in excess of an hour, I don't think a flashlight is what you are looking for. A Coleman latern might be more appropriate. However, if you did need to use a flashlight for in excess of one hour at a time you are going to need spare batteries and I would rather have really small litium batteries than big D-Cells. You can carry a box of a dozen litium batteries in a box that isn't much bigger than a single D-cell.
Have you ever turned any flashlight on for a solid hour ? I never have but I would guess that a cheap D-cell flashlight wouldn't last much longer than the Surefire and produce far less light to boot.
Lights are tools, and like any other tool, you need to use the right tool for the job. Surefire flashlights provide very intense light, with a very high quality beam, in a small and reliable package. If you want extremly long run time, Sure fire has the answer to that also. You can buy a new LED head for most, if not all, Surefire flashlights. But, there is no free lunch. In exchange for long run time, you sacrifice intensity. This is just how the physical world works. You have a given amount of power in that battery. You can either have a lot of light for a short period of time, or less light for a long period of time. You can't have both unless you increase the size of the battery while still using the same battery technology (bigger isn't always better when one technology is inferior to the other as in a standard D-cell and a litium battery).
Have you ever turned any flashlight on for a solid hour ? I never have but I would guess that a cheap D-cell flashlight wouldn't last much longer than the Surefire and produce far less light to boot.
Lights are tools, and like any other tool, you need to use the right tool for the job. Surefire flashlights provide very intense light, with a very high quality beam, in a small and reliable package. If you want extremly long run time, Sure fire has the answer to that also. You can buy a new LED head for most, if not all, Surefire flashlights. But, there is no free lunch. In exchange for long run time, you sacrifice intensity. This is just how the physical world works. You have a given amount of power in that battery. You can either have a lot of light for a short period of time, or less light for a long period of time. You can't have both unless you increase the size of the battery while still using the same battery technology (bigger isn't always better when one technology is inferior to the other as in a standard D-cell and a litium battery).
Kobun
Member
If you need both a utility light and a bright light, you should have a look at the SF Aviator:
50 lumens for 60 minutes, and three LEDs produsing 3 lumens for 15h at max output and then 30h of minimum output.
The Aviator is available with different coloured LEDs.
No free lunch however at around $175
I have one on my list of stuff to get.
50 lumens for 60 minutes, and three LEDs produsing 3 lumens for 15h at max output and then 30h of minimum output.
The Aviator is available with different coloured LEDs.
No free lunch however at around $175
I have one on my list of stuff to get.
45R
Member
guns'ahoy
Surefires are one of the best designed lights out on the market. I have many many of the 6P variants.
The 1 hour runtime @ 60 lumens is plenty. I have a Surefire that sits in the sun glass comparment in my car for the last 6 months. I have no swapped out the batteries yet.
If you need something for camping you can always purchase the rechargable 6R kit. 50 lumens for 120 minutes or something like that. I have on hooked up to my mountain bike.
HTH
45R
Surefires are one of the best designed lights out on the market. I have many many of the 6P variants.
The 1 hour runtime @ 60 lumens is plenty. I have a Surefire that sits in the sun glass comparment in my car for the last 6 months. I have no swapped out the batteries yet.
If you need something for camping you can always purchase the rechargable 6R kit. 50 lumens for 120 minutes or something like that. I have on hooked up to my mountain bike.
HTH
45R
Vern
Member
If you want the best of both incandescant/LED worlds you can go with the previously mentioned A2 or an M2 w/either the p60 or p61 bulb and an extra KL3 head. The led head will give you significantly longer run times at a lower level of output. I have both and love them both for different applicatons.
Schuey2002
Member
Just how bright is the P-61 lamp assembly over the P-60 on a G2??
G&R Tactical
Member
SureFires make excellent car flashlights. The reason is their battery life. Lithium's will sit for 10 years and not go bad! Alkalines will only last about 2 years. If you need runtime look at the A2 or L4 both have about 15 hours of total runtime.
The P61 bulb does put out 120 Lumens, but I really can't say that it looks like double the output of the P60 bulb. Basically it widens your coverage area and extends your throw of light if that makes sense....
The P61 bulb does put out 120 Lumens, but I really can't say that it looks like double the output of the P60 bulb. Basically it widens your coverage area and extends your throw of light if that makes sense....
Guns, getting a Surefire was a really good decision on my part awhile back. We have them in both of our cars, the yellow G2's, makes em a tad easier to see, plus I EDC either an L4 or A2. Household 6 carries an E2E and backs that up with an L1, she'll be switching over to an A2 shortly.
They're great to have and you can always get a beam diffuser for it, we have those on the ones on the cars and it softens up and widens the beam when we need to.
But be very careful..they're highly addictive.
The A2's can be had for less than the asking price from the SF website, surf the web a bit and you'll find a better price or you can always talk to...***STAND BY FOR THE PLUG**** Grant at G&R Tactical, he got us in on a group buy and I gots me a whole new stable of SF's at a great price...talk to him...he's good folks....
They're great to have and you can always get a beam diffuser for it, we have those on the ones on the cars and it softens up and widens the beam when we need to.
But be very careful..they're highly addictive.
The A2's can be had for less than the asking price from the SF website, surf the web a bit and you'll find a better price or you can always talk to...***STAND BY FOR THE PLUG**** Grant at G&R Tactical, he got us in on a group buy and I gots me a whole new stable of SF's at a great price...talk to him...he's good folks....
G&R Tactical
Member
joyadecarolina
member
the PLACE for surefires is [email protected] .
he'll beat anyones price. tell him where you have found it and for what price and he will beat it.
he'll beat anyones price. tell him where you have found it and for what price and he will beat it.
G&R Tactical
Member
Hmmm I doubt he will beat mine. How can I say that you ask? Well, G&R Tactical is a part time home based business (I have a regular day job). I take ZERO profits out of the company and keep rolling it back in to increase my inventory levels. All SF dealers get the same % off so no other dealer gets a bigger discount than me. I always offer 20% off their stuff and just gave 30% off with the group buy on here. So what I am saying is that I can sell SureFire products at my cost and not lose any sleep over it to beat a compeitors prices!
www.gandrtactical.com
www.gandrtactical.com
Schuey2002
Member
Thanks, Grant.
joyadecarolina
member
wel i know that PSE is a FULL TIME store. and that they dedicate 100% of that time to customers. i am sure that you think that selling stuff for cost is cool but it really cheapens the product.
i have bought stuff from [email protected] aka PSE and he has really good prices. he's not trying to rip anyone off, just make a living. if you think by selling things at cost and ruining small biz people is a good thing then i wouldnt buy a dime for a nickle from you.
to each his own.
why is it you dont post your prices on your web site if they are that great? do differnt people get different prices?
post a few on this thread and i'll check w/ C and post some of his.
i have bought stuff from [email protected] aka PSE and he has really good prices. he's not trying to rip anyone off, just make a living. if you think by selling things at cost and ruining small biz people is a good thing then i wouldnt buy a dime for a nickle from you.
to each his own.
why is it you dont post your prices on your web site if they are that great? do differnt people get different prices?
post a few on this thread and i'll check w/ C and post some of his.
G&R Tactical
Member
joyadecarolina, there were several posts on here from my customers stating that I had excellent prices and great customer service. Then you come along and say that so and so has the best prices and he'll beat anyones price on SF gear. So just to prove a point to you, I made it clear that your statement was not accurate. PSE cannot beat my prices day in and day out because I have zero overhead. If you read my post, I clearly stated that I ALWAYs offer 20% off all SF gear and just did 30% off on a group order on this board. My goal isn't to "cheapen" the product, but to NEVER be under sold. If you knew anything about selling "tactical" gear you would know that companies like Aimpoint, SF, EOTech, Trijicon, BHI, PRI, etc do not allow you to publish below Minimum Advetised Price (MAP) on your web site. Since I want to sell the products I carry below that price, I have folks call or e-mail me with their pricing questions. That way I can tell them my prices.
Thanks,
Grant
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Thanks,
Grant
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
joyadecarolina
member
oh, i see. you make an agreement w/ a company like surefire not to sell below MAP (min. authorized price) then you turn around and sell for below map. what about that is honest?
i'm done here. i'm not gonna argue w/ you.
i'm done here. i'm not gonna argue w/ you.
G&R Tactical
Member
joyadecarolina, since you are in need of education on how things work in the REAL world, I will be your teacher. The MAP is designed so that no dealer will list products below a certain price so that it appears to the general consumer that everyone sells their products at the same price (technically it is called price fixing and is illegal). In the agreement you sign, it allows you to quote a customer any price you want, just as long as its private. Every single dealer on the internet does this, including your friend PSE. So don't be so quick to judge me for giving my customers great prices on over priced gear! I will also say that I probably provide better customer service than most other dealers. My day job is computer based in nature and I am always up on e-mail so my ability to answer customers questions is extremely fast. I am also right next to a post office which allows me to receive a customers payment at 4:45 PM and still get their item out that very same day. Not many dealers can do that! Please let me know if I can clear anything else up for you...
Sincerely,
Grant
www.gandrtactical.com
Sincerely,
Grant
www.gandrtactical.com
joyadecarolina
member
i called the store and told cohiba about your sales practices. his quote...
"yeah, OK, whatever. he wins. i'm not in the biz of competing w/ people who sell stuff out of the trunk of their car. my reputation stands on its own. i do however have a buisness to run. a STORE FRONT operation w/ real inventory and rent and bills. so i do have to make money. this is my lifebloods work, this store. not an afternoon hobby. tell the guys i said hi and i miss the site"
"yeah, OK, whatever. he wins. i'm not in the biz of competing w/ people who sell stuff out of the trunk of their car. my reputation stands on its own. i do however have a buisness to run. a STORE FRONT operation w/ real inventory and rent and bills. so i do have to make money. this is my lifebloods work, this store. not an afternoon hobby. tell the guys i said hi and i miss the site"
G&R Tactical
Member
I am not sure what a Cohiba is (other than a good cigar). Did you feel it was your job to call this store owner? Do you have a personal stake in what I sell my products at? I just find it strange I guess...
Store owners always have higher prices, but the trade off for the customer is being able to handle the gear. That is the down side to me "selling out of my car." The purpose of my company is not to take food out of any ones mouth, but to provide fair prices, excellent customer service fast shipping. I was simply making the point that it is virtually impossible for most dealers to beat my prices....
V/R
Grant
www.gandrtactical.com
Store owners always have higher prices, but the trade off for the customer is being able to handle the gear. That is the down side to me "selling out of my car." The purpose of my company is not to take food out of any ones mouth, but to provide fair prices, excellent customer service fast shipping. I was simply making the point that it is virtually impossible for most dealers to beat my prices....
V/R
Grant
www.gandrtactical.com
no again
The last thing we need is another one of thease threads......if you don't know what I mean, then don't ask. PSE is a tactical and police outfitter, and due to that, and with the hands on experience of the owner, it is a very nice place to shop. If you are looking for better prices, then mabey mr grant has then by a slight margin, but I enjoy the personel touch.
PS: Mr grant, I think we all live in the real world, so there is no need to teach us.
The last thing we need is another one of thease threads......if you don't know what I mean, then don't ask. PSE is a tactical and police outfitter, and due to that, and with the hands on experience of the owner, it is a very nice place to shop. If you are looking for better prices, then mabey mr grant has then by a slight margin, but I enjoy the personel touch.
PS: Mr grant, I think we all live in the real world, so there is no need to teach us.
- Status