Show your H.I.D. spotlight, flashlight or... searchlight?
Any form factor, any size, post them here! I'm sure many of you have very interesting stuff :p Beamshots are welcome!
Here’s mine:
Firefoxes FF4 (aka poorman’s polarion? 
), It takes 4x18650 and have 3 modes: 24W, 40W and 60W. It throws further than any of my LED lights even at the lowest setting. It has the raw power that LEDs light lack and can run as long as the batteries can take it, heat is insignificant for this beast… But somehow I cannot trust this one enough to take it outdoors without carrying a backup, and I really can’t explain that. :~
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Next is the Surefire Hellfighter! Surely not a budget light with a MRSP of $4K, but you’d be surprised how much they sell for now! Without an internal battery, it makes zero sense to own this light if you don’t plan to make a custom battery pack for it, the hellfighter was designed to be mounted on a .50 Cal, run continuously for extended periods, and it can withstand abuse like no other. The whole handle/body is machined from solid aluminium, it’s built like a tank and weights like one as well. It uses a 35W ballast and the throw is amazing with that beautiful smooth reflector.
The battery pack uses hobby-style 5000mAh LiPo in 3S2P configuration and provides 3 hours runtime of 100% flat output. In the back you can see it’s connected via XT60 plugs, so the batteries can be charged while inside the case. I’ve also made a 12V adapter with an compact In-line LiPo charger, so it can work while being charged.
When it comes to practicality it earns a score of 0 out of 5, and 1 with the battery pack installed, this thing is REALLY heavy.
With amber filter on, the multi-AR coating is amazing.
I will try to take some decent beamshots soon, hope you liked it.
Here is my modded 9” Cyclops, it now has a 75W HID conversion and two 7.2AH / 12V SLA cells in it to power it, and shoves a beam a Klilometer away. ( the red tiny thing next to it is my smallest LED light for size comparison.)
Here’s mine.
The mini HID Jillite EZNITE. 10W HID. Reflector by Polarion.
The Surefire Hellfighter with my very own portable power supply. Battery is a High Discharge Zippy Flightmax 8000 series LiPo 4S2P. The Hellfighter came with a lens cover no filter.
This one is the ultimate. The Polarion Night Reaper CSWL.
Hellfighter on your left. Polarion Night Reaper CSWL on your right.
1 kW xenon arc searchlight:
I bought a large expensive military searchlight that mounts on a tank barrel, built my own mount and mega-powered charging system, then modded a large heavy duty precision motorized pan/tilt to aim it remotely from the helm.
So in short…
Buy this:
then convert it to this:
Now I can see where Im going at night! :bigsmile:
Info thread: Review: 150 Million Candlepower Militay Xenon Arc Battlefield Illuminator (AN/VSS-3A)
I started with a 100 watt incandescent spotlight and converted it to a 100 watt HID. The difference was amazing.
Before:
After:
Info thread: 8000 lumen 100 watt HID handheld spotlight conversion.
Move your mouse over the image for before/after…
Awesome conversion, does the host handle the heat? I wanted to do something like that with a 240 blitz.
And scare the other boaters out of the way because they think they’re going head on with a navy destroyer.
KuoH
I only have an FF4 but I find it pretty impressive for its size. No need for photos though as it looks the same as the one above.
However, I want to see some beamshots of that 1kW Xenon Arc and one of the Surefire Hellfighters! They look like they could throw some major light.
After boring the ventilation holes in the housing around the reflector, it runs cool. More details here: 8000 lumen 100 watt HID handheld spotlight conversion.
I also converted a pair of the massive Hella Rallye 4000 lights to the same 100 watt HID’s and hid the ballasts behind the font bumper of my truck for ventilation.
You shouldn't ever have trouble seeing where you going on your boat now! Like you strapped on a miniature sun!
Now if we can just figure out how to shrink these things down to a small headlamp size… :bigsmile:
Has anyone heard more news about the FF5? I remember there was talk about active cooling, better UI and 8 x 18650. A search didnt turn up any new info. :_(
This looks like its shaping up to be a good thread. I would like to know if any one has taken a lux reading off that Firefoxes FF4?
I had an HID 24W a few years ago but even at the time I was not impressed with the the throw. I did out throw other lights I had at the time, but still was nothing like the hype surrounding it.
That said I would certainly be willing to take another crack at them. Get a 60+ watt and see how it goes
If I remember correctly, BLF member RDfronty previously measured the FF4 @ 60w and got 435kcd. I’ll try to find that thread.
Edit: it’s 430kcd Firefoxes FF4 received and tested
When I was scouring ebay last week for some Short Arc parts I came across a medical 500 Watt (IIRC) Xenon short arc headlamp. Produced a super tight beam like a laser! I really wanted to buy it but it was like $850. Cant seem to find the listing anymore or I would post it up.
That is pretty good for a reflector based light that size.
I was considering one of these also. 100watt with a 9" reflector. I would just cut that cord and make a battery pack for it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121747755855
My only concern is with an unknown source if they do watt ratings the same way the do lumen ratings. Maybe its a 100w, maybe its 24w etc.
If you seach ebay for “xenon arc” and resort the list from price + shipping, highest to lowest, you’ll find a ton of such examples.
I agree… you’d be taking a chance that its not 100W and possibly something less. You could message him and ask if its a true 100 watt HID, then mention that the transaction would result in a PP dispute if it wasnt. Its hard to tell from the photos what the bulb is. The 70 & 100 watt version Ive seen have white ceramic bases, and this one appears to be the same.
Im often asked by others where to purchase the venerable AN/VSS-3A military searchlight, so thought Id post here before they are all gone.
These just popped up on ebay. Dont let the looks fool you, these are the real deal. The housings are hardened aluminum, and aircraft paint stripper will take them right down to bare metal. I believe these are AN/VSS-3 (not the AN/VSS-3A version)
”
“:http://www.ebay.com/itm/STD-Searchlight-Tank-Xenon-Projector-/271606524719?hash=item3f3d02ab2f
If interested, ask if they come with the storage box, cables and control head.
Here’s what appears to be a complete kit for $1500 with pics. AN/VSS-3 Search Light - SARCO, Inc
I own several of the 3A versions. Beyond the visual differences, I dont know if there are other internal differences, so you’d have to do some research and decide if they are right for you.