In the world of flashlights there is a category of lights for professional use which are characterized by their great output power, by the high distance at which the light beam is able to illuminate, by the presence of large battery packs capable of guaranteeing very high runtimes and also by their shape and size which often exceeds 500 g up to even over 2 kg. These are flashlights called "searchlights": these are torches that, as the word itself says, are born to be used for research. In particular, these lights find their application in all those situations where there is the need to illuminate large areas in which it is essential to have a beam of light available that reaches very far. These lights are used by civil protection, law enforcement or firefighters in search and rescue operations. For example, when looking for a person in the woods, with one of these lights it is possible to illuminate without problems from one mountain to another, or to perfectly illuminate an entire valley. Often the shot or defined range of a light reaches and in some cases exceeds 1 km. But it all depends on the dish that these lights use: in fact, if the flashlight is equipped with a very deep dish (or multi dish), its beam will certainly be more concentrated and will allow you to get very far. If, on the other hand, the LEDs are arranged very close to the lens, then the beam will be much more flood and will generate a wall of light in the immediate vicinity of the user. With this last type of light a large area will be illuminated since the beam has a very wide exit angle (90°-120°). Then there are also the intermediate solutions which provide not very deep parabolas which produce a broad beam of light but at the same time which reach very far.
On the market there are many lamps in the searchlight category but the brand that has certainly made itself known in recent years is certainly Imalent. This company was the first to create a portable flashlight with an output of 100,000 lumens (MS18). Imalent has created several lights capable of exceeding the km of distance and with over 50000 lumens of output. Like Imalent, brands such as Fenix, Acebeam and Lumintop have also created lights for search and rescue. Below we will describe the most interesting models that are nowadays on the market:
This multifunctional torch allows you to generate two different light beams to be used in different types of scenarios. In fact, it is equipped with a Luminus SBT90.2 LED mounted inside a deep mirror-polished aluminum reflector that allows you to generate a highly directive beam that reaches a distance of 1586 m. There are also 8 XHP70.2 LEDs that generate a diffused beam ideal for lighting at short distances. Maximum power of the MR90 and 50,000 lumens at the Turbo. The power supply of this torch is guaranteed by a battery pack composed of four 21700 cells. The weight of this torch is 903 grams and its length is 153 mm while the diameter of the head is 56 mm.
This torch is capable of reaching an output level of 20,000 lumens thanks to the CREE XHP50 LEDs with which it is equipped. It is powered by 6 high-capacity 4800mAh batteries and is capable of reaching a maximum distance of 740m when operated on the highest output level. The weight is 1500g, the length is 28cm and the head width is 50mm. Thanks to the practical handle with which this light is equipped, it can be transported and used for long periods of time in a very comfortable way. On the head there is also a small hole that allows you to insert the key ring which will then be connected to the shoulder strap. The switch is electronic and allows you to manage the entire interface: it is mechanical with double stroke. Near the switch is a size indicator with four blue LEDs indicating the remaining capacity of the cell. Under the lens there are also three small infrared sensors that allow you to detect obstacles and automatically decrease the emission of the flashlight.
This torch is equipped with 8 LEDs (1x CREE XHP70.3 + 7x XHP70.2) which allow you to generate different beams of light. The single XHP70.3 produces a directional beam that can reach 1315 meters when turned on at full power. The other 7 XHP70.2 LEDs produce a flood beam that allows you to illuminate a large area. Overall the total output is 58000 lumens. To power this torch you need four model 21700 rechargeable lithium batteries with a maximum length of no more than 71 mm, unprotected and with a flat positive pole. Recharging the batteries can be done through the type-c charging interface present in the queue. This flashlight is compatible with PD charging protocols that allow you to quickly recharge the battery pack using a common USB Type-C cable. Next to the Type-C charging interface there is a USB-A that allows you to use the flashlight as if it were a Power Bank, therefore all devices compatible with the USB standard such as smartphones, tablets, etc. can be recharged. Also at the tail is a small OLED display that keeps track of the remaining amount of charge of the instantaneous voltage and current drawn. Bundled with the torch also comes a handy carrying handle that allows you to use the torch for long periods without tiring your arms.
This flashlight is a searchlight capable of generating a turbo of 45,000 lumens. The optical part is made up of 8 CREE XHP70.2 LEDs, an aluminum multi-reflector and a mineral glass lens with anti-reflection treatment. The maximum reachable distance is 471 m. This torch is also available for sale with different colors with different color temperatures. There is in fact a Cool White version of 6500 K and a Neutral White version of 5000 K. The user interface is simple and intuitive and provides 8 constant light output levels plus a stroboscopic level.
This light is able to deliver a Turbo of 15000 lumens thanks to the 12*LH351D/519A + 1* Luminus SFT40 it is equipped with. Furthermore, thanks to the different aluminum dishes it has, it generates two different beams for long and short distances. The maximum achievable distance is 590 meters when turning on the light on the highest output level. The power supply is guaranteed by three 21,700-type lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged very quickly thanks to the type-c charging interface. This charging interface is also bidirectional therefore it is possible to use the flashlight as if it were a Power Bank to power any type of device that is compatible with the USB standard such as smartphones and tablets. The user interface provides different output levels but also the continuous ramp mode with which the user can select the level he prefers between the minimum and maximum output value.
The Fenix LR50R is a compact and powerful flashlight that manages to release a light beam of 12,000 lumens with a maximum range of 950 meters. It is equipped with 4 powerful Luminus SST70 and is equipped with a 3.6V 16000 mAh battery pack compatible with 21700 cells. It is equipped with an intelligent darkening sensor that allows it to automatically reduce the output when a dark light is detected in front of the lens. 'obstacle. The battery pack is recharged via a Type-C charging interface that supports PD3.0 and PD2.0 fast charging protocols as well as QC3.0 and QC2.0. The Type-C charging port is also bi-directional so you can use the flashlight as a power bank. The dimensions are 163 mm long by 88 mm wide of the head while the weight is 980 g including batteries. The user interface is very simple and there are quick access functions to Turbo and Strobe flashing functions.
It is a torch that produces a purely shooting beam with 20,000 lumens of maximum output and with a maximum reachable distance of 1160 meters. It is equipped with the latest generation XHP50.3 HI LEDs from CREE. The Imalent RS50 comes with a dissipating shell equipped with two fans that allow the active dissipation of the heat produced by the LEDs when using medium-high levels. The thermal shell also allows you to use the light comfortably when it gets very hot. Power is supplied by 3 x 4000mAh 21700 cells which guarantee a maximum runtime of 30 hours when the light is set to output 300 lumens.
If you are looking for a large and powerful flashlight that can come in handy in search and rescue operations, or if you want a light that allows you to illuminate from a distance to keep an eye on the surroundings of your home, or if you simply want a light that can amaze your friends with its power, then you must definitely opt for the purchase of a light from the searchlight category. These lights, as seen in the article, are very powerful and are characterized by powerful light beams and high-performance battery packs. Obviously they are not small torches like an EDC and they are not torches that can be kept in a jeans pocket, but they are rather bulky lights with a weight that often exceeds 500g. The common feature of these lights is the size of the head which must be very large to accommodate wide and deep reflectors: in fact, it is the latter that give the beam the directivity characteristics and allow the light to illuminate great distances. A brand that produces many lights of this type is definitely Imalent. In fact, it offers a wide choice of searchlights of all sizes and with different characteristics to fully cover the needs of any user.
