LED Flashlights

The invention of the handheld flashlight over one hundred years ago and its subsequent improvements ushered a new era of convenience and safety to anyone that needed to light their way. Over the last decade the flashlight has been transformed by a technologic revolution. The use of LED technology in place of the standard incandescent bulb has resulted in a handheld lighting device that is brighter, longer lasting, and more versatile. A comparison of standard flashlight technology and LED flashlight technology reveals many factors that make the LED the new champion of flashlight technology.

SmallSun ZY-C37 $13.39

Standard flashlight technology typically uses a tungsten filament incandescent bulb which creates light by heating a suspended thin filament until it glows. This creates a great deal of heat while producing a yellow light. The inefficiency of this process requires heavy battery use and the suspended filament is very fragile and prone to breaking. Additionally, the light beam put out has varying levels of illumination from the center of the beam to its edges. Another disadvantage of the standard flashlight, is that the light output decreases as the batteries are drained reducing effectiveness over the life cycle of the cells.

Police style 6v waterproof flashlight $15.13

The Light Emitting Diode (LED) on the other hand, uses a charged semi-conductor material wrapped in a clear solid resin to create light. The light is created when an electrical current changes the state of the material by an exchange of electrons. This process requires less energy and its greater efficiency results in a light that is much brighter and more evenly distributed than a standard flashlight allowing the beam to be seen much greater distances.

In addition, the light produced is a white light that more accurately mimics daylight allowing for greater detail in the light zone. The solid resin covering of the LED also serves to protect it and this shockproof design vastly increases its durability over incandescent bulbs with their fragile suspended filament..

MLAWT 1000-Lumen LED Emitter $8.90

There are a couple of ways that flashlight output can be measured. Lux is often used and measures the amount of light that strikes a surface. This can be a decent rough overall measure when comparing two similar lights but doesn't take into account the different beam patterns that exist in flashlights and becomes misleading when comparing light from a flood type of beam versus a spot type of beam.

Lumen is the most accepted and accurate measurement for our purpose. It is a measure of the total light emitted and can be used to compare flashlights as well as other types of bulbs. An important consideration when interpreting the lumen number is whether it is emitter lumen or 'out the front' lumen. Emitter lumen specifications are the highest output directly from the LED emitter or bulb before it travels through the lens of the flashlight. There are some inevitable losses of output from the flashlight reflector and lens that must be considered. If possible, and 'out of the front lumen' value will be the most accurate and fairest method of flashlight output comparisons.

Although it is hard to make a fair comparison between lights of different type and configuration, a general result of the efficiency of LEDs gives them an output of around 25-60 lumen per watt while an incandescent bulb will produce between 14-17 lumen per watt. That means that for the same battery input, LEDs will convert on a more efficient scale..

The durable and efficient nature of the LED unit results in battery life that is ten times greater on average over standard flashlights. Some LED flashlights also utilize electronic controls that provide multiple levels of light depending on need which increases efficiency and further extends battery life. Also, many LED Flashlights have controls which maintain full light output up until the very end of battery life. Another advantage of this greater efficiency is that effective LED flashlights can be made much smaller than standard flashlights and still produce practical effects.

 Aurora AK-P7-5 $35.24

Greatly extended battery service combined with an average LED emitter lifespan of 100,000 hrs, and a virtual indestructibility make LED Flashlights an environmentally friendly choice as well as a greater overall value.

Keep checking in as I will be reviewing a few popular flashlights here and doing some comparisons that you might find valuable when shopping for a new torch.

Let's start with a very good light, the TrustFire X8. This is an impressive product. It has a nice beam that has three visible differentials; a concentrated center beam, a flood like intermediate zone and a more diffuse outer zone. Manufacturer rated at 1000 lumens, it is very bright with plenty of throw and a good combination of flood and spot. I don't usually like a lot of different modes on flashlights but this light features mode memory to keep the button pushing to a minimum.
It uses a Cree XM-LT60 emitter and (2) 18650 batteries and includes a charger. A typical clicky switch in the tail cap with 5 modes, High/Mid/Low/Fast Strobe/SOS. It has a glass lens and smooth reflector. There is excellent heat sinking to deal with the expected heat buildup. The light can be configured for one or two batteries and it feels very solid overall. What impressed me the most is the quality of the manufacturing. The fit and finish are superb and the fluorescent o-rings are high quality. The threads are very smooth throughout. A very usable belt clip is included too. The stainless assault cap is a nice touch and really gives this light a serious look.
Basically this is a great LED flashlight for the money utilizing a Cree emitter in a quality build.

The Eastward YJ is really great flashlight. The first time you get it in your hands you will immediately see and feel the qulity in the manufacturing. The light comes apart and goes together very smoothly due to the excellent machining of the internal threads. The black anodized finish in excellent and the light looks great.
This light features a Cree XM-L T6 Emitter rated at 900 Lumens (manufacturer rated) and is powered by a single 18650 rechargeable lithium (not included in my purchase). The tailcap located clicky switch is solid feeling and gets you into the mode of your choice; High/Low/Strobe. The typical digital regulated circuitry keeps the output steady throughout the battery cycle, and the heat dissipation is quite good.
This light is a real thrower, with a glass lens and a nice deep smooth reflector. This is one of the brighter single cell lights I have seen and it measures in at just under 6 inches, small enough for the pocket but powerful enough for just about any application. I highly recommend this flashlight based on its price, performance, and quality of build. Great all around utility light and small enough for the glove box or pocket.