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Spot Light choices

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/30/2011 : 04:32:42

Looking to replace our dead 1million candle spot light.

Wondering what you guys are using/abusing/tossing out.

My ideal lamp would include:
1.. LED: For reliability
2.. Rechargable: ie. cordless
3.. Option to run off 12v power cord for extended run time.
4.. 1 million candles: When you want a spot light, it matters.

1, LED is not that important. Our typical use is to look for markers in channels, so I don't keep it on constantly, just when I expect to see something or wonder if something is there

Haven't found anything that meets all 4 criteria, haven't found one that has the option to be cordless and to run off 12v power. (did find several that had 12v recharge adapter)

Any "Don't get this" or "Would buy another of these" suggestions?

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 05:53:27

I have a 12v 1 mil candle power light which I've used twice since I bought it ten years ago. Both times there was a slight mist in the air and the light blew back in my face and I couldn't see a thing. It was like a flashbulb flashing in your eyes. Completely lost my night vision. I now use either a cheap 6-volt spot light....I keep two on the boat, or a military style flashlight with red filter lense. I still have the 12v model in case there is an absolutely clear night but it's essentially ballast.

Edited by - on

redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 05:56:17

IMHO just to think about.. one thing I have done is keep several relatively inexpensive 12v volt cigarette plug in lights stored at home. They are light in weight and last forever at home out of the moisture. I add them to my carry on bag if I am overnighting and navigating.

This is a backup light to the one I keep onboard.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 07:28:28

One other aspect regarding large candle power lights. If you are in a crowded sailing area or there are other boats in your vicinity, you may be flashing your mil candle power light in their eyes and blowing their night vision as well. You may hear some cursing in the night.

Something to think about.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 07:37:00

I have 3, which I almost never use, one of which is kept on the boat:
Coleman Powermate, 1 mill. cndlpwr., 12v rechrgbl., plastic case, can't remember the cost, probably about $20
Pro-Tork, 2 mill. cndlpwr., 12v rechrgbl., plastic case, on sale at Pep Boys, $10
Stanley (I think), 1 mill. cndlpwr, 12v rechrgbl., metal case, Xmas gift, on boat at the moment
The Stanley is nice because it has a small light on top that can serve as a small flashlight. All 3 give off a good beam.

However, my favorite big lens (5-6" dia.) flashlight is one from Auto Zone or Advance Auto parts. It's black and takes 4 D cell batteries, costs about $6. The battery compartment is slender, 2 columns of 2 batteries. I keep one in the garage and one in my car. It throws a huge beam easily 200 feet.
None of these is LED.

Here's a Stanley for about $18 that looks pretty good:
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-SL1M09-1M-Series-Spotlight/dp/B001U04M7Q/ref=sr_1_20?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1301496071&sr=1-20

And here's a LED spot that comes with a removeable red lens cover:
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-SL1M09-1M-Series-Spotlight/dp/B001U04M7Q/ref=sr_1_20?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1301496071&sr=1-20

Edited by - dmpilc on 03/30/2011 07:48:52

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 08:28:53

For me, the billion candlepower lights never last more than a season without breaking. I have bought expensive and I have bought cheap. I have had issues with bad batteries and poor construction, really these are a throwaway item to me.

This time of year you can pick them up cheap (around $10 at Bass Pro Shop or Canadian Tire) So I get 2 of different brands and accept that one of them will likely survive the season and one will not. If last year's light survived, then it gets added in as a backup. I have one that survived last year, but its lens is half gone, so I suspect it will be retired around the end of May once water gets into the housing.

We night sail about 8 times a year in whatever weather is thrown at us, and are very hard on these lights. It is not uncommon for them to take multiple bounces around the cockpit each trip.

In any case, I don't put a lot of thought into this purchase beyond the price and does it work. If it dies, I can get into teh harbours without it, so its not a must-have item anyway, but it is good for lighting up the sails, and picking off the daymark on teh entrance to teh Lagoon City Marina, the only harbour I really need the light for.

Edited by - on

JohnP
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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 08:34:09

Years ago I owned a rechargeable million candlepower spotlight in my car, but it would run out of power after an hour of delivering stuff at night and would take all day to re-charge. Heavy and unreliable. Never again!

On the boat I have a plug-in 12V million candlepower spotlight that I keep handy every time I sail at night. I light up my sails when powerboaters come zooming up apparently unaware of my boat. Cheap, lightweight, and mine has lasted 4 years stored on the boat year round.

Edited by - JohnP on 03/30/2011 08:35:43

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5379 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 18:38:40

I bought a tractor headlight at the hardware store. It's got a halogen bulb inside of a glass and plastic enclosure, and I attached a wooden handle to it with a momentary contact switch that is placed next to my index finger (trigger style).

I ran the 16 GA wire out through the handle and have 20 feet of cable terminated in a cigarette lighter adaptor which I can plug in on the deck, or in the cabin. I've used it countless times finding my way at night and also digging around the storage areas on Passage. I sometimes hoist it part-way up the mast to light up the cockpit while at anchor or on the slip at night. It attaches with bungies to the mast, and I use the main halyard to raise it.

It does not work as a standalone flashlight, as it has to be plugged in to work, but it's as bright as a car headlight when plugged in. I think it takes about 3-5 Amps to run, but I've never measured it.

For navigation at night, I usually don't use the halogen light, as I have a black "police-type" flashlight with an LED bulb that uses four D-cell batteries and puts out plenty of light. All the nav-aids in my area have Solas reflective tape attached to them, so you can see them without a lot of light.

That goes a long way to saving your night vision. I imagine you can purchase rechargeable D cell batteries, but they offer only about 1200 mAH, so they don't last a really long time.

Edited by - on

GaryB
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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 19:21:55

I know it's going to sound like I'm exagerating but I'm not.

I've got a couple of these. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200230674_200230674 One at home and one on the boat. Should meet all your needs. It's kind of awkward but it will reach out and touch someone from more than a mile away.

My wife's mom lives out in the country and I can light up the side of a freight train from more than a mile away. It's not like daylight but you can see the color of the cars albeit dimly.

I've also used it a couple of times on the boat looking for markers and with their reflective qualities the markers stand out like in daylight for a mile or mile and a half.

Mines bounced around the bottom of the boat for a couple of years and is still working fine. I haven't charged it in over a year and when I used it awhile back it still had enough power to light up things a couple of hundred yards away.

Edited by - GaryB on 03/30/2011 19:24:17

skybird
Navigator

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USA
135 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 20:46:47

I like the Stanley LED one--got it at Lowe's for about 20 or 30 bucks. We promptly lost the charger and on its original charge it is still working months later. I will probably buy another so we can charge both!

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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1709 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2011 : 06:23:31

Gary,

Thanks for the Northern Tool info. I like the Brinkman Q-beam because of the red lense capability. I'm still not impressed by huge candle-power lights though for reasons I've stated above. After using them extensivley in the military for 20+ years, I am sold on filtered lenses at night. The problem with a red filter is that it dilutes any red detail on charts. Military flashlights are equipped with blue, amber, and green filters to overcome this.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2011 : 07:19:00

Gary thanks for that link.

Good info in this thread. Agreed, we have to be cognizant of the consequences of lighting up other boats.

I read though a bunch of reviews on various sites, and I read the March 2005 Practical Sailor reviews, although they are now out of date.

The big advantage of LED's in a flash light is the sturdiness of the lamp itself. But the good points made above would suggest that it's not worth it to spend bookoo bucks on a 'flashlight'.

I'll take a look at the stanley unit too.

Al, very good point! However, as a spotlight I'm not so sure that colored filters will be suitable. But in a handheld flashlight that will be used in boat (reading maps, peering into lockers, etc.) then the filters would absolutely be a valuable aspect.

So it looks like we're heading for two lamps. One a white spotlight, the other a multi-filter flashlight.

No decision yet (heck, look at our boat name

)

Paul

Edited by - on

JohnP
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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2011 : 18:39:14

For reading the chart at night I found a 3" long LED flashlight at the dollar store for $1 that has run on 2 AA batteries now for over 3 years with intermittent use. I have taped some red cellophane over the lens.

I have hung the little light off a lanyard around my neck for navigating by my handheld Garmin GPSmap76 at night. The light in the GPS is a pretty bright greenish color that reduces night vision. The little red light can be left on for hours and works perfectly for viewing the GPS.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 06:35:54

After pondering the input offered here, I adopted a different set of requirements:
1. Price - cheap - it may fall overboard

That made it easy: [url="http://www.harborfreight.com/one-million-candlepower-rechargeable-cordless-spotlight-66691.html"]

[/url]

I'll make a hood to reduce the ring of light that is shed outside of the spot.

Just $15 - but got a discount too :)

Paul

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 07:05:01

Is that the Harbor Freight one?

Post up your opinion of it after using it a time or two....I've got that one on my radar as well.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 08:42:56

Yep, Harbor freight (click on the image)

In the back yard, it has an obvious halo that would be awful in fog. But I read the article on Practical Sailor and figured it needs a hood.
So I'm doing a mod

l

Paul

Edited by - on

dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 09:04:55

At my work, we have a bunch of Streamlight Liteboxes, an industrial quality rechargeable flashlight. They can be set up to turn on automatically in the event of a power failure and you can get hours of use (like nine) on a single charge.

Reading the reviews on your Harbor Freight light, it appears that thing self destructs rather quickly.

Edited by - on

PCP777
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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 15:33:57

You guys started me looking at flashlights on Amazon. I hate those big flashlights and recently I've been using a couple of mag light like LED lights to light up my slip when coming in or for looking at my windex.

This one says it can spot stuff at 150 yards, I might try it out.

http://www.amazon.com/Nebo-Redline-Tactical-Flashlight-Strobe/dp/B0049M8I22/ref=pd_cp_hi_0

This one also got good reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/LED-Tactical-Flashlight-Throwing-7224bk/dp/B0027BQO2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1301955814&sr=8-1

Apparently there is a huge difference in the types of LED bulbs these things use.

After reading reviews, I'll probably go with this one...

http://www.amazon.com/Dorcy-41-4750-Lumen-Flashlight-Batteries/dp/B002OOZERY/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

Edited by - on

skybird
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USA
135 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 20:56:46

[quote]Originally posted by PCP777
 You guys started me looking at flashlights on Amazon. I hate those big flashlights and recently I've been using a couple of mag light like LED lights to light up my slip when coming in or for looking at my windex.

This one says it can spot stuff at 150 yards, I might try it out.

http://www.amazon.com/Nebo-Redline-Tactical-Flashlight-Strobe/dp/B0049M8I22/ref=pd_cp_hi_0

This one also got good reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/LED-Tactical-Flashlight-Throwing-7224bk/dp/B0027BQO2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1301955814&sr=8-1

Apparently there is a huge difference in the types of LED bulbs these things use.

After reading reviews, I'll probably go with this one...

http://www.amazon.com/Dorcy-41-4750-Lumen-Flashlight-Batteries/dp/B002OOZERY/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

I carry one of these in my back pants pocket all the time. It uses 2 of the 123 batteries and puts out an amazing amount of light

. Also available in a shorter 1 battery size called PT1L. Batteries at the same source for about $1.50 each!
http://www.bigcountrysupply.com/streamlight-pt-2l.aspx

Edited by - on

redeye
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Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 04:43:34

I've had a few occasions when the "big light" saved my ass. Don't think that day won't come. It is fun but it is scary. It has never happened up on Lake Lanier yet, but it happened on the Gulf Coast.

On of my fav stories was my Dad and brother Greg crossing from Appalach to Tampa and making the seabouy at night, using LORAN and Greg did the nav, saying "It should be right out in that direction", pointing with his arm.

They pointed the big light out to 1:00 and there it was....

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 05:08:54

The problem with rechargeables is that they are often discharged when you need them. A 12 v plug-in is always ready to use. I have one on my boat, and haven't needed it in several years, but I know it will work when I need it. I lack the discipline to recharge a rechargeable every couple of months, just to make sure it's fully charged, when I'm unlikely to actually use it.

This one is at Defender for less than $20.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 04/05/2011 05:11:14

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 07:10:23

Peter, that last link you provided looks like a winner.

Steve I agree with your review of rechargeable lights, but the ability to walk the lamp to the bow without a lamp tether is a plus for me.

When I was considering lamps with expanded prerequisites, I dug into the reviews. My conclusion was that even the most expensive lamps had their critics, which seemed to translate into: Go cheap, if it doesn't workout then go cheap with another brand.

We (forum members) always turn up something different, so I always feel that it's worth posting even something as innocuous as this topic.

Paul

Edited by - on

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