How good are LED torches?

[Bill]

Prompted by Maplin's recent sale adverts to get myself a decent household torch and they have 2 "1 watt led torches" on offer. I understand that the led's virtually last for ever and aren't heavy on batteries, but just how bright are they? According to the advert "10 times brighter than the average led" but that really tells me nothing. I don't need a torch that throws a beam for a mile but I do need something stronger than just for map reading or keyhole finding. Typical use would be for exploring the attic, going round the garden at night or using when the electricity goes off. Any advice appreciated. Bill

[Charlie]

A friend has one. The answer is 'very very bright indeed'. They recommend not shining it into your eyes....

Charlie

[Andy R]

IME LEDs are far better for flood type lighting, ie illuminating a large area but they are nowhere near as good for distance. I know it may not make sense but try a couple side by side and you'll see what I mean, one small LED can light a whole room enough to find things whereas a conventional torch will shine on things better in the distance.

Rgds

Andy R

[mrcheerful]

I have got several led torches, the only one that would really do what you want has seven leds. Generally I highly recommend led torches for their life, but if you want a really bright small torch (heavy on batteries though) then boy a pelilite versabrite. These show up stuff in bright daylight !! I use one in my business of car repair and inspection, they are quite literally awesome.

mrcheerful

[Steve Firth]

I don't know what power the LEDs are in the Torch I bought from Maplin. I got a 10xLED torch from them. It looks like a fairly standard torch with aluminium body with a black rubber grip. It's extremely bright, better than a 6V halogen bulb lantern that I use normally. I used it all last autumn and winter and it's still in the car for emergency use. Despite some heavy usage (including being left on for hours during a power failure) it's still on the original set of alkaline AA batteries.

It can be switched between 3 and 10 leds. On the lower setting the light is equivalent to a 3V maglite, perfectly good for negotiating the unlit path between house and garage. On the higher setting it will light up a large room if pointed at the ceiling.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

LEDs used for signal purposes do effectively last for ever, but it's not the case with these high output types. Should last longer than a 'bulb' though, although in torches these aren't usually a problem.

[Grunff]

I was going to mention this - I like LED torches a lot, but I can't actually remember the last time I had to replace a torch bulb...

[Richard Sterry]

You obviously don't use a 2 x AA Maglite (the service engineer's torch of choice) very often then! They eat bulbs, especially if you are a clumsy sod like me and keep dropping the thing.

Rick

[Grunff]

No, I have a big maglite. My toolkit holds a small 3 led torch.

[mrcheerful]

That is the one I have, (I thought it was 7 led, wrong its 10)

Just been using it for plumbing in the back of a workbench, lovely light, very diffused, no hot spots.

mrcheerful

[Mike Harrison]

I keep a small white LED torch on my keyring (streamlight keymate I think) - about the size of the smallest maglite. Not hugely bright, but usually more than adequate for when there just isn't enough light to see - e.g. dropped keys at night, reading small print in low light, looking for something in a dark cupboard.

[Graeme]

think) - about the size of the

isn't enough light to see -

something in a dark

If you have your torch on your keyring, how do you find your dropped keys? :-)

[Nick Brooks]

Turn it on before you drop them?

[G&M]

Don't bother. Instead get the 1,000,000 candle power H3 bulbed lead acid batteried torch that is on offer at £10. Absolutely brilliant - I've got four.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Yes - I've got a similar one, although it's not exactly a pocket torch. Wonder how many cycles the battery will manage, given lead acid types don't like being run near flat?

[mike ring]

"G&M" wrote in news:cb9ovh$fog$ [e-mail]:

They are excellent, but a bit big and ugly, if I read Bill's post right.

I must admit I'm interested in this discussion, as I have a 2 AA maglite which eats, or carbons up, bulbs, and a 2 D maglite which is only useful as a cosh.

My best torch is a 1 squid LED keyring job from the local Quick and Dirty, but I'd like u usefully sized bright one

mike

[Dave Liquorice]

To fing brilliant for most applications and battery life is a bit limiting, mine manages 20mins from fully charged. Damn good for seeing if anyone is lurking out on the fields though and it fups up their night vision to boot.

[Dave Liquorice]

Torch has a G sensor and turns on above a preset level.

[Ian Stirling]

I have one of these

(no relation to seller, other than satisfied customer). A tritium powered glowing thing that goes on your keys. Lasts 12 years before it's half as dim, and is on all the times. Adequate for use in utter dark as a walk around and not bump into things light, and can be used to read with if it's pressed up against a page. Combined with an AAA minimaglite -solitare, it works well.

[Lurch]

On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 16:28:14 +0100, Nick Brooks strung together this:

If you pre-empted dropping them wouldn't that be classed as throwing them?