Red LED light

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by pbadad

Does the red light come on first with the Walmart headlight?

Actually has a switch on top...flip it to the left-Red Light...flip it to the right-White Light. So you never have to deal with the White light if you don't want to.

they have another version w/ six leds but it sucks....you have to push a button on top 4 times to get to a red light...don't get that one, it'll drive you nuts

[WoodyCT]

I've had good luck with these lights that I buy at EMS. Best one has a Xenon? lamp in the middle with LEDs on each side. I made little red lenses for the LEDs out of a busted car tail light and some clear packing tape. It automatically dims when batteries are getting low to extend run time.

Jon

[reebok]

Originally Posted by Steve K

That is the one I use too. I bought mine at either Lowe's or Home Depot.

I think these require two hands to switch? I can't stand those. I don't want to stop and put everything down every time I want to turn the light on or go from white to red.

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Actually has a switch on top...flip it to the left-Red Light...flip it to the right-White Light. So you never have to deal with the White light if you don't want to.

they have another version w/ six leds but it sucks....you have to push a button on top 4 times to get to a red light...don't get that one, it'll drive you nuts

This is what I use for the dry stuff. But I have to say it's essentially a piece of crap when it comes to water resistance. A wave spraying your head can short it out. I know. The convenience in switching is what makes it. Not having to click through everything to get the red or white is a two thumbs up. But it's not for swimming, no way. Not even for aggressive wading.

[Steve K]

[QUOTE=reebok;698450]I think these require two hands to switch? I can't stand those. I don't want to stop and put everything down every time I want to turn the light on or go from white to red.QUOTE]

The Ray O Vac one I have can be turned on with one hand. Just turn the knob on the right.

[JohnR]

Yeh, I do one hand too, while cupping the light with the same hand to not allow too much unexpected light to escape...

[reebok]

[QUOTE=Steve K;699167]

Originally Posted by reebok

I think these require two hands to switch? I can't stand those. I don't want to stop and put everything down every time I want to turn the light on or go from white to red.QUOTE]

The Ray O Vac one I have can be turned on with one hand. Just turn the knob on the right.

Originally Posted by JohnR

Yeh, I do one hand too, while cupping the light with the same hand to not allow too much unexpected light to escape...

I'll have to give that one another look... maybe the one I tried was a different model. Thanks!

[Mr. Sandman]

Been down this road. Wrote a letter to Princeton tech a while ago detailing what I needed in a light for surf fishing. Got several nice letters back and they made some headway for us surfcasters. I have so many lights I was thinking about writing a column for the fishermen on surf lights. Anyway IMO the winner would be the newest Princeton tech tactical quad.

The new Princeton tech tactical quad is the way to go. really waterproof and what I like the most about it are the modes.

When you turn on most lights, you get a blast of high beam usually white. The modes here start off very dim and you have to cycle the button to increase intensity. The flip up red filter works great.
I have both tactical lights and the single beam unit is good but I find the button a little stiff. The tactical QUAD is the one I like the best. All regulated LED and the batteries last a loooooong time. One hand one wateproof button operation. The operational modes are the most logical. Amazon has a good price.

Here is part of one letter I got from them, some of it is a reply to comments I made in earlier letters:

The light requirements are:
1) The best waterproof rugged all LED light you can make- EOS is Made In The USA and submergible to 1 meter- as well as impervious to ocean spray and torrential rain
2) It needs to have two switches:
a. One switch mounted on one side of the light needs to control a single wide beam RED LED (for night vision) this switch should not control any white LEDs, just red. It just needs to be a simple on off switch for the RED LED.
b. The other switch on mounted on the opposite side needs to control just the white LEDs in 3 modes: EOS has 1 large button to activate all modes- also comes with a slide up red filter that is very easily actuated
i. Single white LED (for local general lighting) EOS has a single Ultrabright 45 Lumen LED (Use low setting for general area lighting)
ii. Cluster of 3 intense White LED’s ( for longer range illumination) EOS will illuminate up to 60 meters on high output and 15 meters on low
iii. Cluster of 3 White LED’s Flashing rapidly (for signaling) EOS is equipped with a signal strobe that will last up to 13 hours at 45 Lumens
We need a dual switch LED light because it is awkward to have to cycle thru the modes to get low level lighting you need and in general on most lights when you first hit the switch you get the brightest beam and it kills your vision when all you need is low level lighting in red. It would be better to break out a RED and white light with independent switches that are easily found on either side of the light. EOS starts on low output and works its way up to high. The red lens can be flipped up at any time

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You can always tell the guy with a ray-o-vac light..the modes cycle to every color and intensity before they settle in and they are not waterproof. They are cheap and can be bought at wallmart for a song though. Both incandescent and led the incandescent kinda sucks and burns thru the battery quickly.

[Steve K]

For those who are looking for the old style ray o vac sportsman, Amazon has them in a two pack for $25.