Post by Cwi555 on Mar 31, 2013 12:53:15 GMT -7
TJ posted some information on the LD20 a while back.
survivalbunker.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=2350&page=1
It caught my interest as it uses standard AA batteries. Upon review of the specs I see a lot of tall claims.
www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?products_id=362
Last Dec, i also see the HL30 listed and it also used AA batteries.
I am strongly adverse to using flashlights for EDC, BOB's, car kits etc that require specialized batteries. Even though those specialized batteries are rechargeable, they do have a finite number of times they can be charged, and if lost, the light is out of commission until a replacement can be found. Given that, your far more likely to find a pack of AA post SHTF than you are a 50 dollar specialized battery that only works in your flashlight.
The same logic applies to headlamps.
I had gotten in a batch of the LD20's prior to their coming out with the HL30, but restarted the trials with both the first of January.
My lab has long since been sold off, but I do still perform examinations and welding operations on my current project. I should only have to mention NDE hands or pipe fitting hands to make someone cringe in sympathy for the soon to be tested gear if you know what either are. I sold the project on the fact that they used AA instead of the much more expensive specialized battery variants we had been using. Given that a multitude of those batteries had developed a case of GCMS, they were all for a viable option that would eliminate the need for them, but wanted a test run before investing in them for the entire project.
Each light was base lined before issue, with no significant difference in rated output.
I issued both the headlamps and the flashlights to the NDE group (6 people), and a group of pipefitter/welders (36 units in total 18 LD20's and 18 HL30's) in the first week of January. I collected them all (what was left in a few of the cases) Last Thursday and have spent part of the weekend checking each one for wear, problems etc.
Six of them (four LD20's and two HL30's) were mysteriously lost. When asked, it was left on the lunch room table, or it was in the tool box, or don't know what happened. What I call the gypsy circus monkey syndrome(or GCMS). Of course they may have simply went on strike and walked off.
Three of the LD20's didn't make it out alive.
One of the LD30's didn't make it. The gentlemen is prone to hitting his head on scaffolding poles as he's 6'6" tall, he had been using it as a headlamp. Given most of the scaffolds are at 6', life is tough for this gentlemen. A new lens and bulb and it was back on the road.
For obvious reasons, I can't tell you what happened to the ones suffering from GCMS.
Regarding the rest, they performed solidly, with much praise from all that used them. The only negative I can say about these lights are the finish. The finish didn't fair very well in this test. For durability, brightness, etc, you are going to be hard pressed to beat them for a flashlight that puts out this much light, but uses AA batteries.
My review for what it is worth.
survivalbunker.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=2350&page=1
It caught my interest as it uses standard AA batteries. Upon review of the specs I see a lot of tall claims.
www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?products_id=362
Last Dec, i also see the HL30 listed and it also used AA batteries.
I am strongly adverse to using flashlights for EDC, BOB's, car kits etc that require specialized batteries. Even though those specialized batteries are rechargeable, they do have a finite number of times they can be charged, and if lost, the light is out of commission until a replacement can be found. Given that, your far more likely to find a pack of AA post SHTF than you are a 50 dollar specialized battery that only works in your flashlight.
The same logic applies to headlamps.
I had gotten in a batch of the LD20's prior to their coming out with the HL30, but restarted the trials with both the first of January.
My lab has long since been sold off, but I do still perform examinations and welding operations on my current project. I should only have to mention NDE hands or pipe fitting hands to make someone cringe in sympathy for the soon to be tested gear if you know what either are. I sold the project on the fact that they used AA instead of the much more expensive specialized battery variants we had been using. Given that a multitude of those batteries had developed a case of GCMS, they were all for a viable option that would eliminate the need for them, but wanted a test run before investing in them for the entire project.
Each light was base lined before issue, with no significant difference in rated output.
I issued both the headlamps and the flashlights to the NDE group (6 people), and a group of pipefitter/welders (36 units in total 18 LD20's and 18 HL30's) in the first week of January. I collected them all (what was left in a few of the cases) Last Thursday and have spent part of the weekend checking each one for wear, problems etc.
Six of them (four LD20's and two HL30's) were mysteriously lost. When asked, it was left on the lunch room table, or it was in the tool box, or don't know what happened. What I call the gypsy circus monkey syndrome(or GCMS). Of course they may have simply went on strike and walked off.
Three of the LD20's didn't make it out alive.
- One was being used by a pipe fitter to 'fit' socket fittings. Seems the end of it fits fairly snugly in the end of the fittings he was working on. He was using it to walk back the 1/16" clearance on the fittings by jamming into the opposite end and hammering it (with a hammer) back and forth until he got the required pull back. It lasted for two months of this.
- The second was dropped by one of the NDE hands from 200' up. It bounced through several layers of grating, piping, tanks, etc on the way down.
- The third got slagged where the welder had tapped the flashlight to the pipe when welding 6G vertical pipe. I am unclear why
he tapped it two inches from the weld area. I estimate the chunk of slag was around 1,900 degrees when it hit the lens. The lens was badly distorted but made it through, the bulb burst though; I suspect from heat convection. I cannot for the life of me think of an incidence where this would matter to a prepper, but there it is all the same.
he tapped it two inches from the weld area. I estimate the chunk of slag was around 1,900 degrees when it hit the lens. The lens was badly distorted but made it through, the bulb burst though; I suspect from heat convection. I cannot for the life of me think of an incidence where this would matter to a prepper, but there it is all the same. One of the LD30's didn't make it. The gentlemen is prone to hitting his head on scaffolding poles as he's 6'6" tall, he had been using it as a headlamp. Given most of the scaffolds are at 6', life is tough for this gentlemen. A new lens and bulb and it was back on the road.
For obvious reasons, I can't tell you what happened to the ones suffering from GCMS.
Regarding the rest, they performed solidly, with much praise from all that used them. The only negative I can say about these lights are the finish. The finish didn't fair very well in this test. For durability, brightness, etc, you are going to be hard pressed to beat them for a flashlight that puts out this much light, but uses AA batteries.
My review for what it is worth.
;D ;D ;D
