FLASHLIGHT vs LASER stranded on an island

alfiechip · Aug 31, 2010

Hello,

So, my wife asked me if I could only have lasers or flashlights which one would it be? She thinks I'm obsessed by the way because I have so many & keep getting more!

She asked me if we were stuck on an island which one would I rather have.

SOOOOOOO.......

I wanted to start this thread because I had to know what you would rather have stranded on an island. A laser or a flashlight? I can't decide... I like them both.

On the one hand I would love to have my Jetbeam-Raptor RRT-3 for the obvious reasons of more than ample lighting & signaling capabilities. On the other hand I would love to have my Arctic 445nm to start fires and for signaling. Also if you were to shine a laser at an airplane in an emergency would it still be a federal crime? Is it a felony to shine a high power / high lumens flashlight at an aircraft?

Which one would you rather have & why?

Thank you,

Alfie Chip

Mohrenberg · Aug 31, 2010

Surely they would overlook flashing an aircraft if it were an emergency situation. They sell mirrors for the sole purpose of flashing aircrafts.

I would easily go with a laser. You can start fires like you mentioned. they can also be used as flashlights as well.
I love using my unfocused green as a spot light. I can light stuff up at 100 yards easily as well as spotting animals with ease. Not sure of it's output. it's a 130-150mW module that's been pot modded.

hugo999999 · Aug 31, 2010

yep id choose a laser, and wouldn't care if it was considered a crime shining near an aircraft in an emergency (better go to court then die

)

Eudaimonium · Aug 31, 2010

You guys are missing some good logical holes in the story here, first off:

Unless you were dropped off by some nice people in uniforms on that island, it means that your lens is totally f*cked up, which at the powers the laser would be usefull presents a problem. Serious problem.

Second, you do not have conditions for storing your laser at all. You can't leave it in the sand or mud or whatever.

Third , battery needs recharging if the laser is any higher power. Given that it was not shorted by water while you swam to the island.

As much as I like lasers... I'd go with a flashlight on this one .

Ash · Aug 31, 2010

Eudaimonium said:
Second, you do not have conditions for storing your laser at all. You can't leave it in the sand or mud or whatever.

With all the waterproof lasers that I own, I would surely say a laser. Of course, a few extra batteries as well.
I would Probably chose a burning (focusable) bluray one, as it flouresces tons of stuff in nature very well, and the color would attract a plane, rather than blind the people who are your potential rescuers, as would a 532nm.

Eudaimonium · Aug 31, 2010

Ash said:
With all the waterproof lasers that I own, I would surely say a laser. Of course, a few extra batteries as well.
I would Probably chose a burning (focusable) bluray one, as it flouresces tons of stuff in nature very well, and the color would attract a plane, rather than blind the people who are your potential rescuers, as would a 532nm.

It would not burn because first drop of salt water on your lens is the end of it. If not totally useless, then power would greatly be reduced, way under a power needed to light wood on fire.

Flashlight would not suffer that problem. Bring a damned Wicked Torch's equivalent (not actual Torch because it'll kill you before rescuing you) and light all kind of stuff on fire.

Ash · Aug 31, 2010

Eudaimonium said:
It would not burn because first drop of salt water on your lens is the end of it. If not totally useless, then power would greatly be reduced, way under a power needed to light wood on fire.

Wow. So negative and with no real-life experience to back it up.
I'm so sorry that you're Mr. Negator today. Have some Cake :bday:

I have taken numerous lasers into the ocean with me and the 1,000th drop of salt water was not even the "end of it", but 20+ feet deep was the end of one of them.

Maybe the polluted water in your country (Croatia) will ruin waterproof lasers, but not here in California, or the Caribbean (the places where I have actually snorkeled [to depth] with lasers).

Eudaimonium · Aug 31, 2010

Ash said:
Wow. So negative and with no real-life experience to back it up.
I'm so sorry that you're Mr. Negator today. Have some Cake :bday:

I have taken numerous lasers into the ocean with me and the 1,000th drop of salt water was not even the "end of it", but 20+ feet deep was the end of one of them.
Maybe the polluted water in your country (Croatia) will ruin waterproof lasers, but not here in California, or the Caribbean (the places where I have actually snorkeled [to depth] with lasers).

Last time I was on seaside I wasn't into lasers. So you can guess it was a long time ago

Damn, now you got me all fueled up on this laser diving. And I know I ain't gonna see seaside for ... well, quite a while.

I am not negative here... I was trying to be realistic, seeing what one piece of crap does to my lens ...

And no, water in Croatia is not that polluted, it's cleaner than world's average so...

Disregarding that, there is slight hostility in your tone. Why is that? What have I done now?

Ash · Aug 31, 2010

Eudaimonium said:
I am not negative here... I was trying to be realistic, seeing what one piece of crap does to my lens ...

And no, water in Croatia is not that polluted, it's cleaner than world's average so...

I see.

Sorry about coming of a little harsh on you, but I have a passion for waterproof lasers and I felt like I was under attack. :undecided:
I was speaking from experience about salt-water and lasers. Salty-spots on a laser lens are minor, usually a little spit-and-polish will clean them up fine.
I totally get your point though. When the smallest amount of dust/smoke on a greenie can down the output by ~20mW or so, one probably wouldn't think taking one onto a desert Island would be the best for the optics or keeping it's burning capabilities up.
But, I guess this thread is really just hypothetical anyway. :na:

In that case. I would settle for nothing less than a fully-waterproof 1W 445nm laser and a solar-powered battery charger, (and, of course, OD4+ safety glasses).

rangedunits · Aug 31, 2010

I would get the 30, 000 lumens flashlight from the guy on CPF with a huge solar panel.

It start fire, cook egg without need of wood, what else do i need? I dont need a lasers for signaling, that flashlight iself make a big beam.

Eudaimonium · Aug 31, 2010

Ash said:
I see.
Sorry about coming of a little harsh on you, but I have a passion for waterproof lasers and I felt like I was under attack. :undecided:
I was speaking from experience about salt-water and lasers. Salty-spots on a laser lens are minor, usually a little spit-and-polish will clean them up fine.
I totally get your point though. When the smallest amount of dust/smoke on a greenie can down the output by ~20mW or so, one probably wouldn't think taking one onto a desert Island would be the best for the optics or keeping it's burning capabilities up.
But, I guess this thread is really just hypothetical anyway. :na:

In that case. I would settle for nothing less than a fully-waterproof 1W 445nm laser and a solar-powered battery charger, (and, of course, OD4+ safety glasses).

Oh

Thanks for understanding, sorry for calling your approach hostile

I'd love to have a waterproof laser, it's just that I've never had one.

Dude, 445nm underwater , imagining it makes me drool over my keyboard. It would sure be awsome.
It was by no means an attack of any sort to you, my apologies for it ending looking like one.

I gotta try some waterproof hosts , perhaps I can see what can I get machined tight, triple O-ring and Herculean effort to thread it down, perhaps it would keep it watertight for my taste (which is at least 3 meters deep for infinite time).
Simply "rainproof" or waterproof without taking some pressure (half meter already) is not appealing to me, because if I will be taking a laser to water with myself, it better be able to keep up with me under 2 meters.

What kind of hosts do you use ?

Ash · Sep 1, 2010

Eudaimonium said:
Dude, 445nm underwater , imagining it makes me drool over my keyboard. It would sure be awsome.

What kind of hosts do you use ?

Working on a waterproof 445. Thinking about keeping it under 300mW.

I use the cheap-o rayfoss hosts:
Link -> $15

They keep their seal to about 3-5 meters. I have had a few flood at depths greater than ~20 feet. :undecided:

alfiechip · Sep 1, 2010

Hello Everyone,

So.... after reading the comments in my previous post there are some great 'debates' & situational developments in regards to environmental conditions, being dropped off on the island, swimming to the island, battery power, etc.

I love the idea of a waterproof laser & I think I'm leaning more towards that direction but after rangedunits mentioned that 30,000 lumen flashlight I still cant decide.

It seems to me everyone is split down the middle and there are great reasons being given for one or the other.

So to decide once & for all (without all the situational factors being weighed in) I'm starting this simple POLL.

***You're stranded on a tropical jungle island, about a mile offshore in a life raft. You can have only the power (battery) in the unit you choose to carry which would you rather have with you in this survival scenario....a high powered flashlight of your choice or a laser of your choice?***

Thank you,

Alfie Chip

jedirock · Sep 1, 2010

I'm going with a flashlight. Bigger beam, more useful for seeing stuff, can still be used for lighting stuff if powerful enough, and can be more easily seen if pointed towards a rescuer.

jayrob · Sep 1, 2010

A flashlight is probably more useful...

Hope the batteries last!

If I could just have one, how about a dual one?!

(flashlight on one end, laser on the other)
http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/tutorial-blu-ray-laser-flashlight-combo-schweet-45385.html

ossumguywill · Sep 1, 2010

LOL, a laser would be next to useless once the batteries run out... :na: my quark AA^2 is rated to run over 720 hours straight on a single set of alkalines, and recent testing suggest the actual run time may be well above rated (think an extra 20% on NIMHs, longer on alkalines). On top of that, the chances of a plane being low enough to notice your laser above some random island is next to zero. And trying to walk around at night with just a laser would be difficult, to say the least... and starting a fire with a laser takes dry, dark tinder. Not a lot of that on an island. Just my 2c

FLASHLIGHT vs LASER stranded on an island

THE POLL Once & for all Flashlight v/s Laser

High Powered Flashlight of your choice

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*THE POLL* Once & for all Flashlight v/s Laser

High Powered Flashlight of your choice

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THE POLL Once & for all Flashlight v/s Laser