Incandescent Bulbs
There are three kinds of incandescent bulbs: krypton, xenon
and halogen.
The chart below features some highlights and
facts about each type of bulb to help you make a choice:
| Krypton |
Xenon |
Halogen |
| Filled with krypton gas |
Filled with xenon gas |
Filled with halogen gas |
| Less bright |
Extremely bright, white light |
Extremely bright, white light |
| Performs well close up |
Performs well at long |
Performs well at long |
| Blackens quickly with age |
Blackens less quickly with age |
Blacken less with age |
| Periodic replacement required |
Periodic replacement required |
Periodic replacement required |
LED Bulbs
Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs , are a computer chip-like
device that emits light when power is applied to it.
- More durable and longer lasting than incandescent
styles thanks to solid-state construction
- Up to 100,000 hours of life, never need to be
replaced *
- Work well in both long distance (can be seen up
to a mile away) and up close situations (have wide dispersion
and soft focus)
- Will run for hundreds of hours at low illumination
levels *
- Less powerful than incandescent bulbs
*Refers to bulb only. Does not include battery life.
Incandescents vs LEDs
While the initial expense of LEDs may seem inordinately
high, in the long run they are generally more cost effective.
| Incandescent |
LED |
| Draws a large amount of current |
Draws a small amount of current |
Light produced has a yellow haze
|
Produces a natural, whiter light |
Requires replacement
|
Never needs to be replaced |
| Produces 95% heat, 5 % light |
Produces 5% heat, 95% light |
LED Colors Your choice of color depends on how, where and
what you're planning to do with your LED flashlight.
Here's a guide to help you decide:
|
White |
Blue |
Green |
Red |
Most popular for universal use
|
Extremely bright
|
Extremely bright
|
Ideal for signaling
|
Close to natural light
|
Preserves night vision
|
Preserves night vision
|
Preserves night vision
|
| Permits you to see true color |
Ideal for leak detection |
Can see red lines/arcs on maps |
Galls most popular color * |
* For map reading at night, red LEDs wash out red lines
on maps. Blue or green lights are more suitable for night
time map reading.
Light Measurement Light output is calculated by one or
the other of two basic methods: candlepower or lumens. Candlepower
which is measured with a foot-candle meter, calculates the
brightness of the light at the center of the beam, but not
the overall brightness produced by the light. Lumens which
are measured by lumisphere, calculate the total amount of
light released from the bulb or LED. Candlepower and lumens
measure the raw output of light. Neither one measures the
ability of the reflector to focus the raw output.
