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Choices in Flashlights

Flashlights are available in so many styles, features, battery and bulb types that it is a task to figure out which flashlight will best suit your needs. Do you need rechargeable or disposable batteries? Which bulb—Xenon, krypton, halogen, LED or standard incandescent—will best suit your application? Will you be in a hazardous location or situation where a hazardous location rated flashlight is needed? Following are breakdowns of the different flashlight options to help you decide.

Battery Types

Rechargeable vs. Disposable: The situation can determine which type of battery is needed. The following information can help determine which type of battery is best for your use.

Disposable:

Alkaline—Are fairly cost effective. However, the performance is affected by heat and cold and the power curve drops off very quickly. They are at their brightest the first time they are used and decline rapidly thereafter.

Lithium—Becoming more and more cost effective. They are not affected by extreme heat and cold. They have a steady power curve over the life of the battery and have an extremely long shelf life of nearly 10 years.

Rechargeable:

Nickel-Cadmium (or Ni-Cd) —The most rugged rechargeable technology and proides the highest performance/cost ratio. Newer technology makes this battery more and more effective. This type must be fully charged to avoid developing a memory (this occurs at the bottom of the cycle and may occur as battery ages). These are rechargeable up to 1000 times. NiCd batteries must be recycled or disposed of properly according to local and/or state laws.

Lithium Ion—Rechargeable up to 1000 times with no memory effect problems. Lithium Ion batteries have a longer runtime and are more expensive than standard lithium batteries. These batteries are environmentally friendly and can be thrown away as a non-hazard.

Sealed Lead Acid—Similiar to a car battery. These are not affected by heat or cold. Sealed lead acid batteries give extremely long runtimes and are fairly large in size. This type of battery must be recycled or disposed of properly according to local and/or state laws.

Bulb Types

One of the biggest differences among flashlights are the bulbs used and the light they project. Also considered when choosing the bulb is longevity, cost and runtime of the bulbs. The different bulb types are described below.

Incandescent Bulb Types:

Krypton Bulb—Incandescent bulb filled with Krypton gas. A very economical bulb but not as bright as a Xenon or halogen bulb.

Xenon Bulb—Incandescent bi-pin bulb filled with Xenon gas. This bulb provides extremely bright light and are easily replaced. Xenon bulbs represent a good balance between cost and output.

Halogen Bulb—Incandescent bulb filled with halogen gas. These are whiter and brighter than other incandescent bulbs.

Incandescent lights, specifically xenon and halogen lamps, provide high output for their size and a white, natural-appearing light. Halogen lamps “blacken” less as they age and may have longer life than xenon. Both require periodic replacement and can fail on extreme impact. They are easily focused and are the most powerful, highest performance, top choice for long distances.

LED (Light Emitting Diodes) Types:

LEDs are a computer chip like device that emits light when power is added. The LED diode projects a wider, more dispersed light of 180 degrees. Their solid-state construction makes LEDs very durable and long-lived—up to 100,000 hours of life. LEDs do not require periodic replacement like krypton, xenon and halogen lamps.

Due to their soft focus and short range, LEDs are good for close work. Typically, LEDs provide much less power than incandescent lamps but offer the advantages of extremely long runtimes (100's of hours) at low illumination levels, unlike a xenon or halogen lamp that may have, at best, 5 to 9 hours of runtime. Safer—solid state lamps make LEDs safer in hazardous environments.

Tactical

Tactical flashlights are typically more rugged and more reliable and more powerful than the standard flashlight. Tactical rated lights can be used as add-on lighting to weapons or used on their own as a flashlight. These are used by the military, SWAT teams and police forces for that reason.

With the above information on bulb and battery types, you can now ask yourself the following questions to help select the proper light:

Is the work close up or is a long-range beam required?

• If your work is close up, LEDs are probably a good choice.
• If long runtimes and bulb life are important, LEDs are probably a good choice.
• If you are looking for a long range and high light output, LED, krypton, halogen or xenon lights are probably a good choice.
• Is cost of operation and continuous use a concern? If so, a rechargeable light may be a good choice.

Hazardous Locations

General-purpose electrical equipment can cause explosions in certain atmospheres. Equipment, such as flashlights, used in areas where explosive concentrations of dusts or vapors may exist must be equipped with specially designed switches and seals and other safety features for safety purposes. Hazardous (classified) locations might exist in areas such as aircraft hangars, gasoline stations, paint-finishing locations or agricultural areas such as grain bins. Firefighters typically use hazardous location-rated equipment also, because they are going into situations where the atmosphere is an unknown. Flashlights that are rated for these locations will have the class and division markings along with the third party approval stamped into the flashlight body. In order to make sure the correct equipment is used, these environments have been broken down into classes, divisions and groups to more specifically identify the hazards.

Flashlights that are rated for these locations will have the class and division markings along with the third party approval stamped into the flashlight body.

Sources for More Information

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.307 Hazardous (Classified) Locations

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Please Note: The information contained in this publication is intended for general information purposes only. This publication is not a substitute for review of the applicable government regulations and standards, and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the cited regulation or consult with an attorney.