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Tactical Flashlights: High-performance

LEDs Make the Difference

powerful flashlight

Law enforcement officers and other emergency service providers need reliable equipment that can serve them well as they serve others. Many of the tools that officers use are becoming more flexible. They can operate in several different modes that can change as the situation warrants. When a police officer is writing a ticket at night, he will want other light from a flashlight than when she is chasing a criminal down a dark alley. Sometimes a high-performance flashlight may have to stay lit for hours without being able to change the battery.

Police officers and rescue crews must consider the amount they can carry daily. They need to be prepared for any situation they might encounter. This is another reason that having multifunction tools is so important. If one piece of equipment can do the job of three or four, it will allow them to still perform all of their duties without being weighed down by a ton of equipment.

There are newer flashlights on the market, which are leaps and bounds above flashlights of the past. In many of these cases, LED lights are the bulb of choice. There are several positives to LED lighting. In older flashlights and spotlights, an inefficient bulb is used. Some of these bulbs put off significant heat, making them less efficient and susceptible to breaking easily when they receive a sharp blow. An LED bulb is much different. It does not produce much heat, so more energy is converted to light. No filament surrounded by gas has the light, but a small diode emits light when power is supplied. These diodes are much more resilient in the face of abuse and can stand up to some harsh treatment.

LED lights can also have variable light output, varying the number of bulbs, the amount of power applied, or both. Light at higher lumens is very bright and can produce a lot of discomforts when it hits someone in the face. These lights are often used to momentarily blind and intimidate suspects. At lower lumens, the light is going to be very soft. It may be used, for instance, to allow an officer to see their surroundings but not make them conspicuous to others. There will also be intermediate light levels for writing a traffic ticket or helping a stranded motorist change a flat tire.

Another great feature of these new lights is the relationship of the bulb(s) to the reflector. In the new LED Lenser High-Performance flashlight, you can twist a knob and adjust the beam size of the light. In other words, if you need a full floodlight, a twist of the knob will widen the beam of light as much as you need it to. Another twist will bring the light back down to spotlight proportions. Combine this feature with the adjustable light output, and you have fantastic, high-performance, multifunction light that can be used in various tactical situations. It is flashlights with these types of new functionality that are finding their way to law enforcement, fire and rescue, and other professional personnel.

 

Strobing LED Flashlights: Police and

Military Uses

powerful flashlight

Law enforcement, government agencies, and independent developers have all been searching for non-lethal and less forceful methods of subduing criminals and enemies. The use of tasers, rubber bullets, and various gases and sprays have all been, and are all being, studied to find out how much damage, both short term and long term, they do. Some of the newest and most promising devices are being developed using an existing flashlight feature - strobing LED light.

While it may seem silly to think that a pulsing light can stop a criminal intent on breaking the law or committing violence, it is very effective. Just think about how disorienting it can be when a bright light is suddenly turned on in a dark room. Most people will squint or turn their heads when light is suddenly introduced. In many cases, that is all an officer needs to get the upper hand.

The light emitting diode or LED bulb is well suited for this application. We most often come into contact with these lights on our electronic devices. They are the bulbs that let you know the power is on. Over the last ten years, they have played a more significant role in everyday lighting. They are prominent fixtures in the world of outdoor lighting equipment (think flashlights, lanterns, and headlamps). Many towns are starting to replace their standard traffic lights with ones made with LEDs. These lights are also being used as home lighting replacement bulbs and around the landscaping. LED bulbs burn much brighter on less energy, are durable, last longer spans of time, and come in various colors.

Strobing lights have the effect of disorienting the communication between our eyes and our brains. This forces someone looking at them to look away or flee from the pulsing of the light. Police officers have been using strobe flashlights for several years to stop running suspects by stunning and confusing them. This non-violent means of incapacitating a criminal is being looked at for wider use.

CBS News ran a story recently on what is being called the LED Incapacitator. This LED light takes this strobing concept to the next level without losing the inherent benefits of an LED bulb. It uses specific light frequencies that affect the brain and then cycles through those frequencies too fast for the brain to adjust. The light also shifts through various colors to cause additional confusion. This new police tactical light is bright enough to be used in brightly lit environments and in the dark.

These tactical flashlights are helpful for law enforcement officers and the military and are also considered beneficial for personal defense. Strobing LED flashlights are available to the public for use for their safety. With a push of the button, a general LED flashlight can turn into a strobing light in the event of an attack while in a parking garage or walking home at night. This pulsing light can provide a few extra seconds to get away or call out for help. Some who do not wish to carry pepper spray will find this an excellent alternative.

Strobing flashlights and torches are innovative and potentially life-saving. As new devices are being created for our uniformed professionals, we may see more and more derivatives of those products available to the public.

 

 

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