Many people wonder, when it comes to LED Vs traditional flashlights, which is best? There are several things to think about when deciding what type is best for your individual needs.
What is a Traditional Flashlight?
Traditional flashlights contain either an incandescent light or halogen light, which have been used for many years in nearly all types of lighting. Halogen lights tend to be brighter than incandescent but both consist of a glass bulb and tungsten filament that gives off a radiant energy corresponding to its elevated temperature. These bulbs are usually filled with krypton, xenon or argon; others contain halogen gasses, which includes bromine and iodine. These bulbs are usually less expensive than LED´s and offer approximately around 9 hours of uninterrupted use before the flashlight needs to be recharged or have new batteries.
What Is an LED Flashlight?
LEDs are at least 20% brighter than incandescent bulbs, last up to an amazing 100,000 hours, hold a charge ten times longer than traditional flashlights, are very durable because the LED isnt glass, are shock resistant, have a more direct beam, are lightweight, dont flicker, dont attract bugs, and contain no mercury which makes them environmentally safe. Many LED flashlights come in several different designs and options, all of which have a brighter beam of light which can be used for a number of scenarios. In addition, since they are so energy efficient, in the long run they actually cost less than a traditional flashlight would.
A Respectable Measure
When researching LED Vs traditional flashlights, the end result should rest with the LED option. When choosing an LED flashlight, it is important to decide what brightness is adequate for your needs. LEDs are measured in watts (power) and lumens which measure brightness; with 10 lumens being the minimum, 30 being useful for general purposes and 90 lumens and up for high powered lighting thats perfect for hunting and camping as well as police and military usage. Watts measure the power input, and a decent flashlight should contain at least one watt with three watts being better for general purposes. 5-10 watts are now used in police and military flashlights.
What Other Features Should I Look For?
As consumers consider LED Vs traditional flashlights, there are many options to think about. Although brightness and battery life are the most important issues, other things to consider include having regulated power or voltage to maintain a more constant level of brightness, a safety switch to prevent accidental switching on (or off), a strobe feature for emergencies, a focusing head to adjust the width of the light beam, the ability to float if dropped in water, waterproofing, flat sides to prevent rolling, and ones that have different colored LED´s for night activities. Many flashlights now combine a variety of these features into one multi-purpose flashlight. There are even hand crank flashlights available that dont require batteries.
There is a perfectly good reason that LED flashlights are over taking the market. They are efficient, reliable, bright and often come in trendy designs. Have a look at some of the articles on this site for some more in depth information.
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