Our breathing apparatus sets have Pelican Sabre lights attached - the 3 C-cell version, with an incandescent globe, some have halogen globes. http://www.pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=1800
They’re ok but not awesome. In training buildings full of thick smoke they’re quite weak and limited to a small spot.
So I’m looking for a torch that isn’t to expensive to buy and ship to Australia (<A$40), is relatively compact (ie up to 2 c-cells is fine), has a good beam that works well in a smokey environment such as a house fire as a flood as well as outdoors at night in the bush as a spot (to say 10m), runs on multi AA or C cells with at least 2-3 hours run time, ideally lo and hi settings, and can handle a bit of heat. Intrinsically safe is beneficial but not essential (I would be using it all the time in training, less often in real jobs).
Got here pretty quick I’m in regional NSW. It’s got a good weight, and feels good in the hand. Good rumtime, and 3 modes, and a low battery LED indicator at the back. The head is alluminimum but the body is a lightweight carbon fibre composite, which would make the torch quite resistant to heat. It has a great flood but still has a decent throw on high.
If you want something a bit smaller/cheaper, then I would strongly suggest the mini maglite pro plus (about 30-40 bucks). Maglite have really stepped up finally with LED torches, it’s the same maglite quality/durability, but now is super bright. Mine is comparable to the jetbeam, although the jetbeam is brighter.
Nice flood and good throw like the jetbeam. Simple UI, twist on/off. Default to high mode, if you want low mode, point the torch vertically and turn on. Couldn’t be simpler. Both torches can be turned on one handed. But I imagine the jetbeam might be easier if you are wearing thick gloves? Maglite also does candle mode which lights up the entire room evenly. It does tail stand also unlike the jetbeam, although the tail stand is wobbly unless you use it in candle mode and put the lens on the end like they recommend.
Only downside is the lens is plastic instead of glass on the maglite (not sure about the jetbeam), it’s clear and ok on mine, but if it got exposed to very hot heat it might not look as good? I don’t know, but you can get glass lens for them, very cheap on amazon, I’m getting a few myself.
I would get both if I was you
If you get the maglite just make sure it’s the PRO PLUS model.
I keep thinking that a P60 with NW drop in would be really good for your uses, the only bad thing is it uses 18650 Li-Ion batteries, which are pretty expensive (bring you over $40). Plus they’re not AA or C which is what you were after.
Firefighters here use Pelican recoil led lights, 80-100 lumens. The tight beam helps cut the fog.
The newer versions coming out by pelican and by Firefox are using a different technology to keep the beam tight. I haven’t looked into it further, the rep i talked to from Pelican said it was going to be out soon (last year)
If the Pa40 is to floody, look into the Fenix LD40. It has a smaller emitter and tighter beam
Thanks for the advice, but $70 shipped is more than I want to pay (I shouldn’t be paying ANYTHING as we should get top equipment, but we don’t, so i don’t want to fork out much cash for a work tool).
Anything in the lower price range. Battery config isn’t the biggest deal as long as I get a few hours out of it.
Thanks guys. Just before I buy, and feedback on this type of torch? http://www.firetrader.com.au/prod263.htm
Especially brightness - it could be good as its intrinsically safe and can be mounted on a helmet easily.
