{"id":536,"date":"2022-11-12T20:19:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-12T20:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=536"},"modified":"2022-11-12T20:19:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-12T20:19:00","slug":"candelas-lumens-and-everything-else-all-about-tactical-lights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=536","title":{"rendered":"Candelas, Lumens and Everything Else \u2014 All About Tactical Lights"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Guy Sagi<\/a><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he confusion began more than 100 years ago with the first battery-powered flashlight patent. It was 1899 and, in a cunning marketing move, the company wisely rushed a donation of the newfangled devices to the New York Police Department. The response was resounding, and not long after law enforcement, the military and law-abiding citizens nationwide were clamoring to own one of the portable \u201ctorches.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The author cautions that a weaponlight with excessive light output could dazzle both you and the attacker and even wash out that red dot from a supplementary aiming\u00a0laser.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today\u2019s tactical versions are modern marvels compared to that original, which wore a carbon-filament bulb in a cardboard body and used bulky D cells for power. We\u2019ve entered an efficient light emitting diode (LED) era and bodies are either all metal or space-age polymer, but one thing remains the same. Standing out in the crowded flashlight business requires marketing and the improvements and seemingly shape-shifting terms can make it easier than ever for snake oil salesmen to exaggerate product performance.<\/p>\n

The Armory Life<\/em>\u00a0caught up with four industry experts recently to get the scoop and learn what gun owners should really weigh before making their next weaponlight or tactical flashlight purchase. The conversations began with total light output and the temptation to go too bright.<\/p>\n

Bites on Both Ends<\/h2>\n

The ability to temporarily blind and stagger a criminal with incredibly bright output is an often-heard claim, but is there such a thing as too much? \u201cYes, there absolutely is, especially in our world of law enforcement,\u201d explained Michael Hess, vice president of Armament Systems & Procedures<\/a> (ASP) \u2014 one of the foremost suppliers of law enforcement gear in the United States. \u201c\u2026in indoor environments, high-output lights produce backsplash against walls and other reflective or semi-reflective surfaces. This can actually reduce the amount that the user can see \u2014 the opposite of what a flashlight is for. Needless to say, for a police officer or anyone else in a potentially hazardous environment, being blinded by one\u2019s own flashlight can be really bad news.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"tactical\n<\/picture>
Today\u2019s tactical flashlights can be small and discrete enough for everyday carry with\u00a0ease.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Andy Skoogman, executive director of the Portable Lights American Trade Organization<\/a> (PLATO) agrees. \u201cA common problem in the wider consumer market today is too much output,\u201d he said. \u201cIf the target is within one to three meters and has any degree of reflectivity, shining a 500-lumen light at it will cause so much light to be reflected back towards the user that their eyes will adjust, making it difficult to resolve details within the target area.\u201d PLATO, a non-profit composed of some of the America\u2019s foremost companies in the industry, was founded in 2010 and helps establish, maintain and publishing voluntary standards.<\/p>\n

Tim Taylor, Streamlight law enforcement\/sporting goods division director agrees, but offers a solution for current owners of high-power, handheld tactical lights. \u201cBy using such tactics as bouncing the light off of a ceiling or floor, or using the periphery of the beam instead of its center, users can adapt lights to varying situations,\u201d he advised. \u201cMany users prefer to err on the side of too bright rather than not bright enough, as it\u2019s more difficult to adapt to an underpowered light in a situation. Ultimately, it\u2019s better to have any flashlight versus none at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"what\n<\/picture>
In 1948, candlepower was abandoned as the unit of luminosity emitted by an\u00a0object.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And selecting a model simply because it\u2019s designed for first responders isn\u2019t necessarily the ultimate solution, either. 5.11 Tactical<\/a> makes versions tailored for fire, EMT, rescue, law enforcement and, of course, self-defense. Matthew Noble, the company\u2019s lead gear designer cautions that, \u201cToo much can be blinding. Indoor\/CQB intensity is much less compared to an outdoor search and rescue style.\u201d<\/p>\n

Add the fact that self-defense distances are typically up close and home-invasions are confined, by definition, and it\u2019s obvious the ideal setup isn\u2019t always an opening-night-matinee searchlight. But how do you measure output when there\u2019s a lens involved, reflector, distance and even LEDs of different design?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Counting Photons<\/h2>\n

Candlepower was the first standardized relative gauge of an artificial light output. Scientists in England concocted the unit of measure in 1860.<\/p>\n

A single candlepower, by its original definition, is the amount of light produced by a 1\/6-pound candle with a burn rate of 120-grains per hour. It wasn\u2019t a wax surrounding that wick, either. It was material from the head of a sperm whale holding it upright.<\/p>\n

\"asp\n<\/picture>
Don\u2019t discount the EDC versatility of rechargeable flashlights like this Scribe penlight from ASP. It is discrete at the office and provides plenty of light when\u00a0needed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That standard of measurement changed several times since then, and in 1948 the candela replaced it. Roughly 1.1 candlepower glows as brightly as one candela \u2014 close enough for government work and it leaves labs smelling better.<\/p>\n

Today some manufacturers still list candlepower or candela on their packaging and in marketing, but is still a viable measure for consumers? \u201cIt remains a valid measurement system, though rooted in the 19th century,\u201d Skoogman said. \u201cFor purposes of flashlight output comparison it is not very useful today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hess\u2019 company takes a more full-disclosure approach. \u201cI don\u2019t think I would say that any specs should be ignored, it really depends on the needs of the user and the credibility of the manufacturer,\u201d he explained. \u201cIf the flashlight maker is an established major brand, adhering to PLATO\/ANSI FL1 standards, then a buyer can trust the claims and may find candlepower useful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"hot\n<\/picture>
High-output flashlights can generate a substantial amount of heat if run\u00a0continuously.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5.11 Tactical eagerly provides the measurement. \u201cWe publish candela on our spec, but to keep it simple,\u201d Noble noted, \u201c\u2026lumens, run time and beam distance are your best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBuyers should always compare and contrast peak beam intensity (candela) and other ratings on manufacturers\u2019 packages as part of the ANSI FL-1 Standard for defining, measuring, and marking basic flashlight performance,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cThis is the best way to ensure that a flashlight will perform as advertised.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lux vs. Lumen<\/h2>\n

Those photons we see as visible light are moody, acting like a wave one moment and a particle the next. They also fall victim to that inverse square law we all snoozed through in physics class. That makes the intensity at the source exponentially brighter than it is at distance and then there\u2019s the reflectivity of the object.<\/p>\n

The math gets dizzying, fast, but loftier minds have done the calculations. Lumens and lux lead the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are different metrics for measuring light,\u201d according to Skoogman, who broke them down into layman\u2019s terms. \u201cLux is a way to measure the amount of light falling on a surface or target over a given area.\u00a0Lumens is a measure of the total amount of light leaving a source, regardless of where it falls.\u00a0Flashlight manufacturers use lumens as an objective measure to compare products and give consumers some guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Taylor concurs lux isn\u2019t an easily understood yardstick. \u201cLux is a proportional measurement of light output in a given area or on a particular surface \u2014 one lux is equal to one lumen per square meter.\u00a0As the distance between a light source and the object of illumination increases, the overall lux decreases. Since flashlights are designed to be carried and not used in a fixed position, the term is not commonly used to discuss flashlight brightness.\u201d He quickly added, \u201cWhile a flashlight\u2019s lumen output is a key metric to evaluate, it doesn\u2019t tell the whole story. A lumen is a measurement of the light output at the source. This measurement is made directly at the bezel of the light. The light\u2019s candela or peak beam intensity, on the other hand, measures its downrange \u2018throw,\u2019 and represents the brightest spot in the light\u2019s focused beam. So, you need to focus on both measurements to evaluate overall brightness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overlooked Ingredients<\/h2>\n

A sub-par lens can compromise performance and even cloud with age. The too often overlooked reflector plays another key role, and neither of the critical components get much attention.<\/p>\n

\"cree\n<\/picture>
The heart of a modern flashlight is the LED. Gone are the days of low-powered incandescent bulbs. Today\u2019s lights use brighter, more efficient light emitting diodes\u00a0(LED).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cBoth are critically important to a light\u2019s overall performance,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cThe reflector shape and size are determining factors in the type of beam pattern and how far the usable beam will reach.\u00a0Streamlight uses a variety of lens and reflectors depending on the application.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skoogman explained, \u201cThe geometry of the reflector \u2014 diameter, depth, etc. \u2014 determine the beam pattern\u2026and the resulting \u2018throw.\u2019\u00a0The quality of the reflector including material choices have a significant impact on how well the light performs, including how much is lost in the process.\u00a0Other optical systems that are widely used include a number of variations on the TIR optic.\u00a0Total Internal Reflectance optics can be custom made to achieve the precise result the designer is looking for and can be used without the need for a reflector.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s that burning sensation when you grip cheap LED flashlights left on too long. \u201cHeat dissipation and metal thickness is important,\u201d Noble noted.\u00a0\u201cAlso throttling the lumens to make sure the light body isn\u2019t too hot to handle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Avoiding the Snake Oil<\/h2>\n

\u201cSadly there are many,\u201d Skoogman said when asked if there are companies habitually making false claims about their tactical light\u2019s performance. \u201cHappily not any of the major, or top-brand providers in our industry, as adoption of the FL1 Standard has been very good among major suppliers.\u00a0However, in the broader market \u2014 especially in mass retail and E-comm \u2014 there are vast numbers of sellers who misreport performance claims.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"avoid\n<\/picture>
Quality companies are easy to differentiate from the snake oil corporations when you understand the specifications used to describe flashlight\u00a0performance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Understanding the terminology and standards is critical, along with buying tactical lights that have met ANSI\/PLATO FL1 standards. They are reflected by labels and mentions on the company\u2019s website, in marketing materials or on packaging. There is limited space on the latter, though, so don\u2019t expect to always appear on the box. The experts offered some additional tips to remember before your next purchase.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsumers should be careful not to be fooled by lights that feature both extremely high lumen and long run time claims \u2014 it\u2019s not possible to achieve both, given the limitations of battery technology,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it sounds too good to be true, look elsewhere,\u201d Noble added. \u201cThe lumen rating and battery quantity\/type are really important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThough there are certainly some value-priced flashlights of decent quality and performance, more often than not, when it comes to lights, you do generally get what you pay for,\u201d Hess concluded. \u201cWe view flashlights as critical safety devices, and therefore urge consumers not to skimp. Reliability, durability and performance are worth investing in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Guy Sagi The confusion began more than 100 years ago with the first battery-powered flashlight patent. It was 1899 and, in a cunning marketing move, the company wisely rushed a donation of the newfangled devices to the New York Police Department. The response was resounding, and not long after law enforcement, the military and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":537,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=536"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}