I would like to get a waterproof flashlight for use as a signaling light when night paddling. In looking at a few lights I see ratings on watts, lumens, and candlepower. What is the minimum intensity in any or all of the preceding rating units that I should consider for a "white signaling" light. I would prefer something smaller than a regular flashlight which has LED bulbs and uses AA batteries. However, getting something bright enough to really help avoid a collision is the most important factor. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Mark J. Arnold *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks Mark S., I may wind up going that way. I have AA and AAA recharger and just dislike the idea of using non-rechargables. Maybe I just need to look into a charger that does C and D size. I keep thinking that I will be night paddling 2-3 times a week if I just get equipped for it. More likely I will wind up doing it less than 1 per month. In that case the Target light would be fine and I really will not need rechargables anyway. Mark J. Arnold ] > From: Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com> > > It doesn't fit many of your criteria, but I'm gonna plug it anyway! > For a inexpensive waterproof flashlight try your local Target. They sell a > yellow EveReady in two sizes, both waterproof. I've had two for about 5 > years and they've worked great. Less than 7 bucks, but selling for double > that at my Adventure 16 store. We're going out huntin' for Blue Whales > tomorrow evening out of Dana Point, CA and I'll be packin' my trusty > EverReady. > > Mark "Bargains" Sanders > www.sandmarks.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I read Mark Sanders' remarks on using Eveready but I'm not sure I'd go that way. At least, I didn't go that way. My signaling flashlight runs on AA batteries, has 5 LEDs, is waterproof (with O-rings in aluminum), has a lanyard (which is kinda wimpy) and cost about $14 at WalMart. Rechargeable (nickel-cadmium, at least) batteries are 1.2v and not 1.5v so for two of them the voltage is 0.6volts less than two regular alkaline batteries. This can affect brightness and with LED lights they may simply refuse to light at all. LED flashlights do not deplete batteries like incandescent bulbs do so they last a long time. Alkaline batteries have a longer shelf life (that is, a life while they are not being used) than rechargeable batteries. While an incandescent bulb just gets dimmer as the voltage in the batteries decreases an LED will not; instead it simply reaches a point where it goes out. It will then restart when the batteries "bounce back" but goes out quickly again. This can make you think you have a bad connection. There is a sports warehouse store in Kennewick, WA that carries the largest selection of LED flashlights I've ever seen and several of them in the $80 class look perfect for use as a kayak signal light. If I paddled more where there was significant boat traffic I would definitely take a look at these despite the high price. And, finally, bear in mind that a boat that can see you can hit you. There are some boaters out there that will actually aim for a light thinking that it's someplace they want to go. These are the same people who would aim for a lighthouse (which would be built on... um... rocks) but what can I say? If you must use a light to show a nimrod where you are then move it in different arcs; up and down, around in a circle, and sideways. There are few shore-based lights that go around in a circle. I carry another LED flashlight with a red lens fixed in place with silicone that I use to read the GPS, charts, maps, check the channel on the VHF, and make funny faces to amuse my wife. My theory is that the LEDs use up less valuable battery power than the GPS or VHF would using a backlight. I do not recommend having a fixed light on a kayak unless it's required by law. Craig Jungers Royal City, WA On 6/27/07, Mark Arnold <mjamja_at_earthlink.net> wrote: > > I would like to get a waterproof flashlight for use as a signaling light > when night paddling. In looking at a few lights I see ratings on watts, > lumens, and candlepower. What is the minimum intensity in any or all of > the preceding rating units that I should consider for a "white signaling" > light. > > I would prefer something smaller than a regular flashlight which has LED > bulbs and uses AA batteries. However, getting something bright enough to > really help avoid a collision is the most important factor. Any > recommendations would be appreciated. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I will look into your WalMart flashlight as it fits into my main critereon for a purchase--cheap. The LEDs have a lot going for them, but I've not yet overcome my crotchityness to accept their newfangledness. -----Original Message----- Behalf Of Craig Jungers Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Night Light ??? I read Mark Sanders' remarks on using Eveready but I'm not sure I'd go that way. At least, I didn't go that way. My signaling flashlight runs on AA batteries, has 5 LEDs, is waterproof (with O-rings in aluminum), has a lanyard (which is kinda wimpy) and cost about $14 at WalMart. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Night Light ??? > > I read Mark Sanders' remarks on using Eveready but I'm not sure I'd go that > way. At least, I didn't go that way. --Two additional suggestions... SOmeone gave me a Faraday Light which is a white LED flashlight that's waterproof (and it is) and uses a magnet through a coil to generate & store enough charge to run the LED. Nice & bright though I don't know how distant it may be visible. Seems OK around here in NJ. Another is something called a C-light which is mostly an ordinary flashlight with an extended lens so if held vertically it has a 360 degree view. I've seen them in the LLBean and EMS catalogs & stores in this area. Both run about $10 > > I do not recommend having a fixed light on a kayak unless it's required by > law. > Around here it is. Round Valley Reservoir, which is a popular paddlling venue does require one at night. The rangers will call you on it. It only needs to be a light source that allows other boaters to be aware of you so even a chemical lightstick will suffice. PA Fish & Boating used to require one (along with PFD & whistle) but backed off after a dumb case a few years ago where a ranger ticketed a whitewater paddler for not having a light on her person in daylight hours... There are still a few places in PA where one is required but those are also places with lots of power boats, so it seems reasonable. Joe P. Hopewell, NJ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Joseph Pylka wrote: > --Two additional suggestions... SOmeone gave me a Faraday Light which is > a white LED flashlight that's waterproof (and it is) and uses a magnet > through a coil to generate & store enough charge to run the LED. Just a word of caution. There are two versions of this. One is the "true" self-powered light, the other looks just like it but doesn't actually work by moving the magnet over the coil to generate a charge. Instead, it has a tiny lithium battery buried in the circuitry that powers the LED for a while. Once the battery dies, the flashlight is useless. The former are made by people with a desire to give you what you paid for (more or less); the latter are sold by scammers who lack morals of any sort. Same price. I'm not sure what to look for to tell them apart. The trustworthiness of the vendor may be a clue. BTW - someone commented on the difference between rechargeable AA and alkaline. Since LEDs run on about 3-3.6V, rechargeable batteries work fine. That's why most run on 3 batteries. Some have a voltage controller to set the proper voltage. Mine, a replacement LED for a (formerly incandescent) Princeton Tech headlamp, uses a step-up controller to provide 3.xV from 2AA batteries (2.4V or 3V depending on type). Unless the light maker specifically advises against rechargeables, you should be fine. Just watch for self-discharge in storage. If it's a light you want to leave with your gear and not think about, stick with alkaline. If you want it to be ready for a long time and under severe low temperature conditions, use AA lithium photo batteries. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
About six months ago on this discussion group (PaddleWise) was the topic of night lights and headlamps. If you want more detail perhaps a review of past threads may be illuminating. j Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_greatlakeskayaker.ca> wrote: Joseph Pylka wrote: > --Two additional suggestions... SOmeone gave me a Faraday Light which is > a white LED flashlight that's waterproof (and it is) and uses a magnet > through a coil to generate & store enough charge to run the LED. Just a word of caution. There are two versions of this. One is the "true" self-powered light, the other looks just like it but doesn't actually work by moving the magnet over the coil to generate a charge. Instead, it has a tiny lithium battery buried in the circuitry that powers the LED for a while. Once the battery dies, the flashlight is useless. The former are made by people with a desire to give you what you paid for (more or less); the latter are sold by scammers who lack morals of any sort. Same price. I'm not sure what to look for to tell them apart. The trustworthiness of the vendor may be a clue. BTW - someone commented on the difference between rechargeable AA and alkaline. Since LEDs run on about 3-3.6V, rechargeable batteries work fine. That's why most run on 3 batteries. Some have a voltage controller to set the proper voltage. Mine, a replacement LED for a (formerly incandescent) Princeton Tech headlamp, uses a step-up controller to provide 3.xV from 2AA batteries (2.4V or 3V depending on type). Unless the light maker specifically advises against rechargeables, you should be fine. Just watch for self-discharge in storage. If it's a light you want to leave with your gear and not think about, stick with alkaline. If you want it to be ready for a long time and under severe low temperature conditions, use AA lithium photo batteries. Mike --------------------------------- Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I bought a hat at Lowes, (actually 15 hats and gave them to my friends as Christmas gifts) with LEDs built into the brim. Excellent!! Just enough light to see what you are doing. Perfect for night time grilling, looking for the dog or trying to find your missing left Teva in the back of the closet......or getting a bearing on a compass or making a landing. By the way, everybody loved the hats and one of my friends bought 12 to give to his buddies and coworkers. They work as well or better than my Petzl head lamp for less than half the price. It's actually a very nicely made hat. I believe the brand is Panther. They tiny battery is replaceable and no one has burned one out yet. John MacKechnie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> SOmeone gave me a Faraday Light which is > a white LED flashlight that's waterproof (and it is) and uses a magnet > through a coil to generate & store enough charge to run the LED. Nice & > bright though I don't know how distant it may be visible. It has to be ready at all times. Imagine it going out exactly when you need it, or shaking it while trying to stay upright at the same time. With alcaline batteries it will be ready at all times - just replace batteries once in 12-18 months if you don't use it. > Another is something called a C-light which is mostly an ordinary > flashlight with an extended lens so if held vertically it has a 360 degree > view. I've seen them in the LLBean and EMS catalogs & stores in this area. This isn't a signaling flashilgt. It's more like a beacon. I'm wearing it at the back of my hat occasionally (sewed an elastic webbing for that purpose). Not too bright, and due to a regular incandescent bulb it lasts merely few hours. Regular bulb is more prone to failure too - compared to LED bulb. You can get either a very bright flashlight with halogen bulb (like Tech 40) - it will last a few hours. Or you can get a LED 4AA version a power from 1 to 3 watt and battery life dozens of hours, like PT Impact II or Impact XL; http://www.princetontec.com/products/index.php?id=20&type=0&use=2 http://www.princetontec.com/products/index.php?id=21&type=0&use=2 It depends on how often you are going to use it and how far you want it to shoot. I don't know whether there is much difference between Impact II (75 hrs) and its more powerful version - Impact XL (50 hrs)- I have the very first version of Impact II, with focusing lens - not bright enough for a searchlight, and this isn''t a searchlight, yet very narrow beam, shooting farther than stated 28m. Unlike regular incandescent bulbs (and I believe, xenon and halogen too) that drop both the output and visible spectrum when battery is near empty (shifting the light into invisible infrared band, i.e. heat), LED in PT II is wired so that it just becomes dimmer and dimmer, in the same white spectrum, and remains usable well beyond the point when incandescent bulb becomes useless. Impact II with battery near empty will hardly work as a signaling light, but will still work for some shore or cockpit tasks. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I use a Princeton Tec tec 40 http://www.princetontec.com/products/index.php?id=33&type=0&use=2 > [Original Message] > From: Mark Arnold <mjamja_at_earthlink.net> > To: <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> > Date: 6/27/2007 5:51:46 PM > Subject: [Paddlewise] Night Light ??? > > I would like to get a waterproof flashlight for use as a signaling light when night paddling. In looking at a few lights I see ratings on watts, lumens, and candlepower. What is the minimum intensity in any or all of the preceding rating units that I should consider for a "white signaling" light. > > I would prefer something smaller than a regular flashlight which has LED bulbs and uses AA batteries. However, getting something bright enough to really help avoid a collision is the most important factor. Any recommendations would be appreciated. > > > Mark J. Arnold *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The Housers; How have you found the "40" to use. Some months ago, there may have been a discussion on headlamps by this same company. How was it you decided to select a hand light? John H Santa Roasa, CA The Housers <houser4_at_earthlink.net> wrote: I use a Princeton Tec tec 40 http://www.princetontec.com/products/index.php?id=33&type=0&use=2 > [Original Message] > From: Mark Arnold > To: > Date: 6/27/2007 5:51:46 PM > Subject: [Paddlewise] Night Light ??? > > I would like to get a waterproof flashlight for use as a signaling light when night paddling. In looking at a few lights I see ratings on watts, lumens, and candlepower. What is the minimum intensity in any or all of the preceding rating units that I should consider for a "white signaling" light. > > I would prefer something smaller than a regular flashlight which has LED bulbs and uses AA batteries. However, getting something bright enough to really help avoid a collision is the most important factor. Any recommendations would be appreciated. > > > Mark J. Arnold --------------------------------- Get the Yahoo! toolbar and be alerted to new email wherever you're surfing. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> > Someone gave me a Faraday Light which is > > a white LED flashlight that's waterproof (and it is) and uses a magnet > > through a coil to generate & store enough charge to run the LED. .... > > It has to be ready at all times. Imagine it going out exactly when you need > it, or shaking it while trying to stay upright at the same time. With > alcaline batteries it will be ready at all times - just replace batteries > once in 12-18 months if you don't use it. It seems to hold a charge for a long time. When it dims it does so slowly. > > > Another is something called a C-light which is mostly an ordinary > > flashlight with an extended lens s...> > This isn't a signaling flashilgt. It's more like a beacon. I'm wearing it > at the back of my hat occasionally (sewed an elastic webbing for that > purpose). . --Which is what it's used for here. The beacon is required on some waters and it's all I need for the most part. Same with the Faraday light. I don't use it for a beacon either but only when I need a light closeup for adjustments or some such. In actuality these days I more often wear a Princeton Tech headlamp. Agreed, the C-light doesn't seem so bright and it wouldn't surprise me to see a re-design someday for a white LED configuration. Still, all the legal requirements for where I paddle are met by it. Joe P. Hopewell, NJ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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