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LOL This thread had died back in January.

No harm though.

txinvestigator wrote:LOL This thread had died back in January.

Every now and then it's fun to resurrect long-dead threads and see if they can draw in some new interest.

Oh, and KBCraig; I already carry a Pelican M3 Xenon on the job, with a Surefire G2 (with the P61 lamp, of course) for daily carry and backup work light, but I'm still drooling over the Borealis. The only problem is that when it says "instant blindness" it might mean it in a bit more permanent sense.

"But, your honor, my job is to observe, and I was just trying to get a good look at his face."

KD5NRH, how comfortable are you with the quality and support--particularly the support--for the Borealis? A year ago, Juan was designing it in his home. It still seems to be built on a basic MagLite frame.

It may be bright, but I'm still inclined to go with bigger manufacturers.

Skiprr wrote:KD5NRH, how comfortable are you with the quality and support--particularly the support--for the Borealis? A year ago, Juan was designing it in his home. It still seems to be built on a basic MagLite frame.

I've bought a lot of products that people were making out of their homes. While I'd like to see it go into large-scale mass production, that's mainly because it would bring the price down, rather than anything to do with support. A product that's being hand made (or at least hand assembled) by someone who has a real stake in the business is much more likely to be of good quality. Considering the primary advertising of the Borealis is via gun, police, and security web boards, a few public complaints on the same boards would likely kill the business outright, or at least force a change in the marketing methods.

The MagLite frame is advertised as a feature, and one that I like, since it both makes the shell cheap and eaqsy to replace, and makes it look no different from anybody else's cheap 3D MagLite when it's off.

Good points. Thanks.

Skiprr wrote:KD5NRH, how comfortable are you with the quality and support--particularly the support--for the Borealis? A year ago, Juan was designing it in his home. It still seems to be built on a basic MagLite frame.

It may be bright, but I'm still inclined to go with bigger manufacturers.

I'd never heard of it until this thread prompted me to go research it.

http://www.blackbearflashlights.com/

Very impressive stats and brightness. Way out of my price range at $200.

I'm very uncomfortable that there is no voltage regulation in a flashlight that is overdriving the bulb, to the point that you must let the battery pack "rest" for an hour after charging, lest the bulb blow instantly from over-voltage.

It's a cobbled system. Impressively cobbled, but cobbled nonetheless. The battery pack looks like something from a third-world country.

I'm pretty comfortable with my 2xCR123 lights. I really don't want a light that will set paper on fire.

Kevin

KBCraig wrote:Very impressive stats and brightness. Way out of my price range at $200.

Rechargeable puts it back into my price range, considering how quickly security work can eat CR123s if your primary duty is night work at a post without adequate lighting in several areas. It wouldn't take long for it to pay for itself; in the last month I've gone through about $14 worth of batteries, and almost half of my time on post has been in daylight.

I'm very uncomfortable that there is no voltage regulation in a flashlight that is overdriving the bulb, to the point that you must let the battery pack "rest" for an hour after charging, lest the bulb blow instantly from over-voltage.

It's not ideal, but any regulation would introduce more internal resistance. I've pondered the same thing, but I just can't think of a way to do it that wouldn't reduce the average output, and add another potential failure point.

It's a cobbled system. Impressively cobbled, but cobbled nonetheless. The battery pack looks like something from a third-world country.

Ever tear into any old Soviet gear? Messy and cheap looking, but easy to work on and impressively robust.