12v search light

I've had three of these so far, admittedly cheap and cheerful ones though. They all used motorcycle headlight bulbs and gell (I think) batteries. In all three cases the batteries failed long before any other part of them did, and replacement batteries are hugely expensive.

I'd be interested if anyone knows of bright (better than a million candlepower) LED searchlights. They won't require such hefty batteries I imagine?
 
I have a petrol station 'special' called a 'Search Guard'. It throws a brillliant white light and in the box stays charged up for ages. Only trouble is its good for about five minutes continuous use and then goes out. Leaving it for a while and it comes back. Great for quick looks or shining on sails at night. Depends what you want the searchlight for.
 
Nightsearcher 750

I have the slightly older halogen version, with a long lead and plug into the boat's supply instead of the battery pack.

More than just a bright torch, it's a genuine searchlight good for spotting buoys a significant distance away.

I also have an LED Lenser P7 as a general-purpose torch, and I take it sailing as it's handy when the full-on searchlight isn't needed.

Pete
 
I haven't looked back after replacing my 12v searchlight, which was never reliable, with a seriously good torch - no cables to get in the way and far less bulk. Plus you can take it in the dinghy.

Have a look at the Fenix range below. They're expensive, and I never thought I'd spend that much on a torch, but these are in a completely different league to your usual maglite. Feels a bit like holding a car headlight in your hand - incredibly helpful when creeping up a Brittany river in pitch black last summer!

http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/
 
You can buy a cheap searchlight using a 55W car headlamp bulb but as others have said batteries have short duration and stop holding their charge fairly quickly. One with a 12V lead is probably the cheapest reliable option.

Once you go dearer you have to seriously consider the LED range of torches with CREE technology. Battery life is so good and the brightness/beam from an apparent small hand torch is better that most searchlights. With modern torches size is misleading as some very small pocket torches are brighter than car headlamps!!

I went for the lenser P7 as a pocket torch and a Fenix larger torch TK 41 both with replaceable batteries. There was a thread about 15months ago where someone posted a link to some illumination examples - really illustrated the differences in effectiveness of modern torches.

Do get advice from suppliers though as LED torches are advancing in leaps and bounds and there are probably better choices now.

Be interested in others experience of best LED torch with spotlight ability.
 
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TORCH

sarabande said:
this B R I T I S H company makes a wonderful range of standard and LED lamps. We have about four on th efarm and they are excellent.

http://clulite.cluson.co.uk/
Click to expand...

I have one of these (ML8) PRO SPOT TORCH even on low power it is excellent. 20 hours on low power and 3 hours on full power which gives you a 250 metre beam. Spare rechargeable battery is about £14.
 
Flash light

This little flashlight has claims to being a small search light. It has a high powered LED and focus lens.
It runs on one AA battery or you can fit 3.6v Li ion battery. Despite the description of 7w it runs at about 1w on 1.2 volts and 3w on 3.6v so is very bright and cheap. Buy a 14500 battery and charger at the same time. olewill
http://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-C...ashlight-Torch-300-Lm-Waterproof-p-40270.html
 
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