Spotlight Question

A

Andrew H

Member
I have been using a 2 million candle power handheld spotlight, which has proven to be bright enough thus far. However, I hate trying to drive the boat and hold the light the rare times I go by myself (which I know I shouldn't do, but that's another story). I found a spotlight that will mount to the grab bar on the top of my center console - it is rated 360 lumens, but I have no idea how bright that is. A google search comparing candle power to lumens generates answers that require a higher math degree than what I have to understand.

Does anyone have any personal experience with spotlights that are rated in lumens? Any idea if 360 lumens is sufficient to safely run a boat in the dark?

Thanks!!
 
i looked at mine and thats 160 lumens and it is bright enough for me so id imagine that thing puts out some light
 
Lumens are normally how LED's are rated.


Have you tried a headlamp for the boat.

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All of ours are rigged with a 2 prong plug that either the headlight or battery charger can plug into.

We use either Wanger 1,000,000 or 2,000,000 cp aircraft landing lights for the bulbs.

Instead of the on/off switch thast most come with on the back of the helmet, we rig ours with a lamp on/off switch spliced into the cord @ about waist height.
 
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360 lumens is nothing - maybe. Depends on how you intend to use the light.

Converting candlepower to lumens is not "doable" due to the way in which these lights are measured. There are equations that can approximate one to the other but it is not a real one to one thing.

Also, it is very common for less than reputable light manufactures to grossly inflate the lumen output of their lights. Lumens sell - more is always better according to many. This is not the case. If it is an LED light, the color temperature output of that light will make a HUGE difference. Most cheaper LED lights use cool temp LED's which emit a blue hue to the white. This blueness washes out colors at distance - especially green. I always call the manufacturer and ask about which LED is used and the color temp output of their light. Clears things up for me.

I know you are looking to get away from the handhelds. Something to consider would be to look at a couple of spotlights made by Stanley. One puts out 192 lumens and is the size of a beer, uh, coke can. Runs for well over an hour on a single charge and is bright enough to illuminate huting spots on lakes and small rivers/streams. Unfortunately it has a cool temp LED as the light source and it cannot be plugged into a 12V source to run this way should the battery runs low. This was my go to light until this year. Stanley SL5W09 - $39 at Walmart.

View attachment stanley1.jpg

This year Stanley came out with a new light, the Fat Max LIS. A 10W LED powered unit that is one of the best I have ever come across even when put up against HID or halogen bulbs. It compares with many throwers costing many times more. It utilizes a Cree XM-L LED which while on the cool side of white white, it is so much warmer than the older Stanley and right up there with the multi hundred dollar lights. Comes with rechargeable Lithium ion batteries and it can be run off a 12V light source should the batteries go low. It will out throw your 2 million cp light you have now and is half the size and weight. Claim is 2000 lumen which means Stanley has now gotten into the lumen exageration game. Most would estimate this to output 750 or so lumens which is still an unbelieveable number from a $50 light. Here is a great thread on this light.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/...ight=stanley+fat+max

[inline stanley2.png]


If you want answers to you spotlight questions, I would head over to the candlepower forum. These guys know their stuff.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/...and-HID-Flashlightsb

Mark W

View attachment stanley2.PNG
 
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Well, I guess I could use my coal mining hard hat and lamp!!


Thanks Mark for the recommendation and information. Those guys at Candlepowerforum take things to a whole new level!
 
If anyone cares.....

Wiki sort of has it right. You can directly relate Lumens and lux as lux is area dependant on radiant light. Candlepower is measured in a different chamber using different equipment. An LED light emitter is completley different than a filament emitter. Candlepower measures light in all directions as candles are area lights. An LED is a point light source emitter - completely different. The photometrics folks had to come up with completely new ways to measure light intensity out of an LED as the old ways of measuring did not equate. The problem is that the info provided depends upon ISOTROPIC radiation; that is, the radiation is equal in all directions. This is not the case in a lamp with a reflector which produces a focused beam, or an LED which radiates in a given direction. Thus, comparison between different units, as measured by different methodology is difficult if not impossible.

Candlepower depends as much on how the light is focused as anything else. A light that puts out 30 lumens in a tight spot will have a higher candlepower than a light that puts out 50 lumens in a flood. That's why you can never tell how bright a light is by candlepower. It's really easy for a manufacturer to make a pathetically dim light that is well focused and then brag about their candlepower measurement. The brightest part of a beam doesn't tell much about the beam overall.

Candle power can not be converted to lumens unless it is the same at every angle of measurement which is impossible to do. There is no direct relationship. Candlepower is the apparent brightness as if the light source was an isotropic radiator. The optical or reflector assembly is anything but an isotropic radiator. The narrower the beam produced, the higher the ratio of candle power to lumens.

Candle power is roughly lumens /beam angle in steradians if the reflector or optical assembly is reasonably efficient.. I.E. the ratio of candle power to lumens is the ratio of apparent brightness to real brightness. A sphere is 4 pi steradians. So the short answer is there is no direct relationship between lumens and candlepower. You can get there indirectly but it is not an accurate comparison.

Better explained here

http://www.energybooks.com/pdf/D1150.pdf

Mark W
 
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90 lumen is the same brightness as a 4 d cell mag light

try a handheld gps or console mount they run about 200 for a console mount plot the course before season and you are good to go

this seams to work for us
 
Mark

On your recommendation I just purchased the Stanley 10watt Fatmax. I have to tell you that it is an awesome spotlight - bright, small and light, durable, easy to charge. Next test is run time.

THanks!
 
Mark and others,

I bought the 10 watt 50 dollar Stanley light.
This year Stanley came out with a new light, the Fat Max LIS. A 10W LED powered unit that is one of the best I have ever come across even when put up against HID or halogen bulbs. It compares with many throwers costing many times more. It utilizes a Cree XM-L LED which while on the cool side of white white, it is so much warmer than the older Stanley and right up there with the multi hundred dollar lights. Comes with rechargeable Lithium ion batteries and it can be run off a 12V light source should the batteries go low. It will out throw your 2 million cp light you have now and is half the size and weight. Claim is 2000 lumen which means Stanley has now gotten into the lumen exageration game. Most would estimate this to output 750 or so lumens which is still an unbelieveable number from a $50 light
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It is an awsome light, best output for its size. I highly recommend it. Only cavet is, instruction sheet says "not for wet envirorments" I just keep it out of the rain and under the deck when not actually using it.
 
John and Dave -

Glad you like the light. I used it for the entire season and performed beyond my expectations. I put it up against my buddie's HID and 2,000,000 cp lights and the 10W Stanely outperformed all challengers.

As far as getting it wet, Lithium and water do not mix. In fact, it could casue a small minor explosion. If dropped in the lake and if the battery got wet, you could be fishing with a net instead of duck hunting. Fat chance anything would happen but one never knows.

Mark W
 
Mark,

I bought the Black&Decker version at Wallyworld for $45.00. Great light compared to the smaller Stanley we both have. I hope the B&D is truly a clone.
 
I bought a browning high noon led spot light for this season. After 1 week end my buddies are getting them too. They run on three c-cell batteries,"I like the ability to carry extra batteries for long week ends", 200 lumens, high, low, flash settings. Best of all it floats! Merry Christmas
 
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As far as getting it wet, Lithium and water do not mix. In fact, it could cause a small minor explosion. If dropped in the lake and if the battery got wet, you could be fishing with a net instead of duck hunting. Fat chance anything would happen but one never knows.
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Mark,

This sounds like a situation befitting the phrase " Hold my beer and watch this! "
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Mark, You sold me on that light at LaCrosse and I got one at Wally World. Amazing amount of light and nice size. Charges fast. So far so good but as Dave said it is NOT WATERPROOF!!! I left mine in the boat overnight and the water drained back and soaked the light. The lens was full of water and water drained out of the body. No explosion but I tore it apart and dried it out..No real damage so far.I just bagged it in a gallon size Zip Lock and taped the opening. I was going to post a picture but couldn't get the picture down sized small enough to post. For now it will be my new "truck light"
 
Tom,

There are two different model Stanley lights; 5 watt = waterproof and floats; 10 watt= lithium battery, not for wet environments.

View attachment 22155 View attachment 22156
The 5 watt ( on the left)might be a better choice in a duck hunting environment but the 10 watt ( on the right) is a whole lot brighter.
 
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Tom,

There are two different model Stanley lights; 5 watt = waterproof and floats; 10 watt= lithium battery, not for wet environments.

View attachment 22155 View attachment 22156
The 5 watt ( on the left)might be a better choice in a duck hunting environment but the 10 watt ( on the right) is a whole lot brighter.
Click to expand...


Huh, was at the store today, and saw "one" on display...said to the wife the guys were raving about these...she said get it...I held out my hand and said "twist my arm"...anyway, while briefly looking it over, I noted the waterproofness which seemed contrary to the discussion here, but positive. Anyway, It will be brighter than what I got, and waterproof to boot.

Chuck
 
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