I was looking on Amazon (I know it’s not the cheapest place to buy from but I have some gift cards that need spending) and was considering one of the bigger zoomies. Just about every one of them that comes up is sold as “850 Nm Infrared Flashlight” even the ones offered by Uniquefire themselves. I just want a normal XM-L emitter in it. Is this just some sort of weird marketing or is there really some kind of IR emitter in there? I’m not super new to flashlights, but I haven’t run across this IR labeling before. Anyone know what this is about? I’ll attach a link as an example… Thanks-Badger4715
Yes it’s an IR LED. The ones we’ve been buying with white LED’s have been from mostly Chinese vendors. If you have the ability to modify/assemble the lights yourself, Mountain Electronics carries some of them as hosts, if you’re not keen on removing the stock IR LED and driver from the lights on Amazon that is. If you’re just looking to get the stock light with a white LED (which is pretty underwhelming until it’s modified) check out Banggood and Gearbest (be warned there are horror stories about both companies, Banggood seems to being doing better on average right now in the CS department).
This one looks sweet and free shipping http://www.amazon.com/UniqueFire-UF1407-Zoomable-Flashlight-Lanterna/dp/B011I9RU90/ref=sr_1_100?srs=9465274011&ie=UTF8&qid=1450757991&sr=8-100
XM-L2
Ok, great! Thank you! So it really IS an IR emitter… I had never come across that before and it stumped me. Yeah, pretty much just figured I’d swap in another driver and dedome the xm-l or try an xp-g2. Not sure which light I want tho- looks like the 1405 and 1504 are the same as far as throwing capabilities.
Huh, hadn’t seen that one yet! (1407)
Sort of, it depends on how hard you plan to run the LED. At 3A both will be the same, but if you want more than 4 amps, or fully regulated output (IE roughly same brightness through entire battery charge) you have to get the 1405. With 2 batteries instead of 1, a buck driver can be used to put as much as 5.5A of current to the LED through an entire set of batteries. With a 1504 you’ll eventually leave regulation because the battery can’t support the current so you get a gradually dimming light towards the end of the battery charge.
Right on. 1405 will probably be the one then… Appreciate the feedback!