The torch is a hand-held or stationary, electrically charged light source. Usually, the light source is a small incandescent bulb or LED (so-called LED light). The standard spotlight is made up of several essential components: a bulb mounted in a reflector, a transparent cover to protect the light source (sometimes a lens), a reflector, a battery, and a switch. The torch is used to provide low light or comprehensive lighting in large or small areas, depending on the model. Flashlights are produced either manually (most often this type of projector in Bulgarian is called „фенери” (feneri))or for stationary use (the word "прожектори"(projector) is used in these, though the terms are often mixed and used as synonyms).
The invention of the dry cell and miniature incandescent lamps made it possible to design the first battery-powered torches around 1899. Today, flashlights are most often made of incandescent lamps or light-emitting diodes, and operate through disposable or rechargeable batteries. Some modern types glow by rotating the crankshaft or shaking the lamp, while others have a dedicated button or solar panels to recharge the battery. Spotlights are available in a variety of shapes, some of which are specifically suited for a more specific application - for mounting on the head (so-called "headlight"), for underwater use or inflammable conditions.
The body of each spotlight is made up of a lamp with a metal or plastic case, which protects it and helps to direct the light in the desired direction. The housing has an opening where the light comes from. Other components of most modern projectors are: lenses, filters and additional light-emitting devices.
Flashlight history
In 1887, the first dry cell battery was invented. Unlike previous batteries, it uses electrolyte paste instead of liquid electrolyte. This is the first battery type suitable for portable electrical appliances, as the electrolyte paste cannot be poured out and is more durable. Such a portable light source is proven to be more convenient and safer to use than candles, torches and gas lamps because it has no odour, no smoke, less heat and can be switched on and off instantly.
On January 10, 1899, the British inventor David Michel received a patent for the manufacture of the new electrical device. The Michelle spotlight is made up of a three-cell body, a reflector and a lens. He donates several to the New York police, for whom the instrument proves particularly useful.
Carbon light bulbs and very coarse dry cells made the first flashlights a luxury novelty on the market, but had low sales and low production interest. Tungsten filament bulbs, made in 1904, contributed to the development of better types of projectors, which are more useful, with improved batteries and, therefore, become more popular and sought after. The device offers quick control of the light on and off, as well as it lacked flame which is greater safety in use, gathered popularity and replaces internal combustion lamps. By 1922, several types of spotlights were already produced - the standard tubular lantern for manual use, the flashlight type lamp that can be put in one place, flashlights with pocket sizes, suitable for illumination of nearby objects, as well as large hunting lights - for further objects.
In 1922, it was reported that projector users in the United States were about 10 million, and battery sales for them reached about $ 20 million. A little later, the appliance became extremely popular in China, and by the end of 1930 spotlights were being produced by over 60 companies.
Projector materials
Initially, vulcanized fibres or hard rubber tubes with metal caps were used to make the projectors. Other materials were also used - steel, brass, copper, silver, wood and leather. Modern ones are usually made of plastic or aluminium. Plastics range from lower grade - made of polystyrene and polyethene to more complex mixtures of ABS or epoxy glass. Some manufacturers have their plastic templates for making their products. Plastics suitable for the production of projectors must be easy to cast and have adequate mechanical properties to produce the projector body successfully.
Aluminium spotlights can be plain, painted or anodized. Aluminium material is electrically conductive, can be easily treated and dissipates heat evenly. Several standard alloys of aluminium are used. Other materials are sometimes used - copper, stainless steel and titanium, which can be polished to give a better appearance. Zinc can also be cast in any complex shape. Magnesium and its alloys, on the other hand, provide strength and good heat dissipation, which is similar to aluminium material, except that it rusts more easily.
Some shaping metals can be used to add a cover to the body to protect the light source. Some types of LED spotlights have cooling fans built into the metal body itself. The metal body provides better heat dissipation with this type of projectors, but the plastic is not electrically conductive and resistant to rust and wear.
Light sources for spotlight
1. Batteries. The most commonly used power source for projectors is the battery. Type of batteries commonly used for this purpose are cell batteries, carbon-zinc batteries, alkaline batteries, and lithium batteries. Disposable batteries are the most economical option and are suitable for rare use of the unit. Some types of lithium batteries can be stored for years without the risk of leakage (unlike zinc). This is useful in cases where the projector is used only in emergencies.
2. Mechanical energy. Some types of mechanical driven projectors work by winding crank and spring connected to a small electric generator- dynamo. In some cases, the dynamo is used to charge a condenser or battery, while in other types, the projector is lit only while the dynamo is moving. Some generate electricity through electromagnetic induction. They use a strong permanent magnet that can freely slide up and down a tube, passing through a wire winding. When shaking the torch, the capacitor or battery is charged, which supplies current to the light source. Such flashlights can be useful in emergencies where mains power or batteries may not be available. Dynamo-powered torches were popular during World War II when spare batteries were difficult to find.
3. Capacitor. There are rechargeable torches that use a supercapacitor (an extremely large capacitor made of carbon nanotubes, barium titanite, air gel and other porous substances) to store energy. It can be recharged faster than a single battery and also repeatedly, without the risk of losing its capacity. Supercapacitors provide up to 10 times more power, require no maintenance, and have the property of delivering all the stored energy at 0 watts. They withstand sharp temperature changes and the electric charge does not decrease at low temperatures.
Specificity of LED lighting
Light-emitting diodes have been manufactured since 1968, gradually replacing incandescent bulbs used for standard flashlights. LEDs are semiconductor diodes that consist of areas with positive or negative current carriers and a p-n junction and, when current flows, emit incoherent light in the narrow spectrum. They contain one or more light-emitting crystals which are arranged in a housing with a lens that creates a luminous flux. The colour of the light that is emitted is determined by the semiconductor material used. LEDs are known for their low power consumption.
The first LED projector (Arc LS model) was designed in 2001. Since then, LED flashlights have been renowned for providing longer life expectancy and energy efficiency, several times better than incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps. Like filament lamps, unlike most fluorescent lamps, LEDs * provide bright light without the need for warm-up time. Also, the life of fluorescent lighting decreases with frequent switching on and off.
* LEDs do not emit light in all directions - the direction of light in LED spotlight depends entirely on their design. The luminous flux when using single LEDs is less than that of fluorescent and incandescent lamps. In most cases, multiple LEDs are used for greater light coverage.
White LED lighting is the most sought after on the market. It is suitable for all applications that require high efficiency at low power levels. Some of these applications include spotlight and lamps for stationary and manual use, solar-powered spotlight and walkways, bicycle lamps, home lights, lamps, and more. White LED lighting has longer life and higher efficiency (more light for the same power consumption) than most other types of lighting when used at the right temperature. The LEDs are compact, allowing greater freedom in the construction of the luminaire and good control over the light distribution through small reflectors and lenses.
Advantages of LED spotlight
Ordinary outdoor spotlight (parking lots, streets, squares, billboards, playgrounds, parks, warehouses, home lighting, etc.) are some of the largest electricity consumers. LED spotlight although more expensive, are much more economical than any other type of spotlight. LED spotlights have 5x higher brightness than standard metal halide, sodium and mercury lamps. They are environmentally friendly, maintenance-free, resistant to external influences, shocks, vibrations, dust and dampness. Besides, they can be combined with solar panels and used on solar energy. Such an investment is not only worth it, but it would also be the most reasonable solution if a person needs a spotlight that they will use frequently. Because:
If 10 ordinary 500W projectors work about 10 hours every night, for one year the electricity bill consumed by them alone will be about 1800 BGN. If replaced with 50W LED spotlights, the bill will be 10 times smaller, which means that LED spotlights are ten times more economical than regular ones. It guarantees high energy efficiency at low power levels as well as a longer life span (over 30,000 hours before changing lamps).
Types of standard LED spotlights
According to the power LED spotlights are: 10 W, 20 W, 30 W and 50 W.
Due to the high energy levels at low efficiency, these spotlights could successfully replace the halogen, respectively 100 W, 200 W, 300 W and 500 W. LED spotlights are available in different shapes, sizes and designs according to the application and user needs. They are suitable for all conditions, as all types have a high degree of IP68 query.
According to the application, there are three main types of LED spotlights: classic LED spotlight, PIR LED spotlight and RGB LED spotlight.
The classic LED spotlight provides durable illumination that can be relied on throughout the evening. Their power can be from 10 to 100 W. They could be connected to light sensors that would turn them on automatically when it was dark and turn them off at dawn. They also work when connecting to timers that are purchased separately.
The PIR LED projector is no different from the classic projector, except for the motion sensor added to it. This type of projector is usually used for hunting or security since it turns on when someone passes the motion sensor. The distance at which motion is detected can be adjusted by adjusting the projector. The same goes for lighting - it can be adjusted for how long the projector stays on after it has been activated by the sensor.
The RGB LED spotlight is used for decorative lighting for home and garden as it offers thousands of colour options that can be adjusted via remote control. These projectors provide beautiful light effects with the ability not only to change colours but also to overflow all colours.
The ordinary hunting spotlight is portable by hand, looks similar to standard torches in design, but is made of lighter materials. In addition to hunting, it is also suitable for camping, as the mandatory factor that is important for any camping equipment is weight. LED bulbs on a standard hunting spotlight usually glow in white or red. The red light does not scare the animals as much as the white, it is reflected in their eyes and they are visible. Some also offer green light suitable for card reading. Portable hunting flashlights are usually small, pocket-sized, but there are also larger models. A mandatory requirement for this type of projector is to be waterproof to be able to operate in adverse weather conditions. Impact resistance and good grip that prevents the torch from slipping or dropping are also important features.
Tactical torch
Tactical torches are especially suited for hunters and guards. They are durable, useful and efficient, and LED technology guarantees the economy and excellent light quality. Also, tactical flashlights are ready to work in any condition. The most commonly used tactical projector models combine LED light and a red laser beam to help locate the target quickly. The quality models offer three modes of operation - only an LED flashlight and only a red laser or a combination of both types of light at the same time. Tactical torches are different from the usual ones in that they can be easily mounted on the weapon, but also used independently.
Blood Spotting Projectors
LED spotlights for detecting blood are especially useful during hunting. They help the hunter find the hole of the animal he injured by highlighting the colour of his blood. For this purpose, a special LED technology was used in the design of the blood-spotting projector, with a filter that scatters red on green light, making blood traces stand out even when it is dark. The two lights, combined, instantly distinguish the red colour of the blood. Another convenience is that they can be used independently in other situations. The red light is suitable for lighting a small area, and the green light when the hunter is moving and wants to be sure that the spotlight will not give out. Some models are also fitted with the standard white LED light. Normally, High mode and Low mode are provided giving stronger light at higher power and low at lower.
Floodlights for protecting feeders
For the good lighting of animal feeders, it is recommended to install special floodlight for feeders. They provide unobtrusive light that does not irritate or frighten animals. At the same time, the light is good enough to allow the hunter to spot the game and shoot from a faraway place without the need for an additional spotlight. Activation is by PIR (illumination time: 20 seconds) or photocell (between 2 and 6 hours). The PIR detector captures the infrared energy that is produced from the animal's body heat, and the photocell detects any movement automatically.
Headlights
Headlights are flashlights specially adapted for mounting on the head. They are an excellent helper for both miners and hunters. Most models are suitable for all weather conditions, they are waterproof and very durable. They are also suitable for camping, climbing, cycling, hiking, at home, as well as for any activity in which one finds himself with two busy hands and needs additional lighting. The headlight are lightweight and compact, convenient for mounting because they consist of an elastic band that attaches the LED light source. For even more ease, some models attach to the head with a thin, double-sided textile band that prevents them from popping and slipping. They allow comfortable of the light, the possibility of changing the angle of illumination and directing the spotlight to the specific place, which is dimmed. They are usually available in three operating modes - strong, weak and flashing. The LED bulbs installed in the headlights ensure bright light and complement the quality of the product. Some models offer two types of light - white (illuminated) and red (emergency). The hunting head can also serve for other needs - temporarily remove the lamp from the headband and mount it on a helmet or act as a bike light.
Hat lights
The second type of hunting projectors that have a hands-free function are hat lights. Unlike headlights, which can be mounted on the head but can also be mounted on a helmet or attached to a hat, this type of spotlights is specially designed for attachment to a visor on a hat and cannot be fitted without one. Another feature that distinguishes hat headlamps from headlights is the number of LED bulbs - with headlights there is one, and with hat lights, they are usually up to five but smaller in size. The size, arrangement and type of LED bulbs depends on the model itself - in standard models all bulbs have a white LED light, but there are more special ones where one of the bulbs (most often the middle one) has white light and the other four have another, such as green light. Hat caps are quick and easy to install, comfortable and compact, not heavy, fastened firmly without the risk of falling, and light does not directly affect vision. They can tilt at different angles to better direct the light in the desired direction. This makes them suitable not only for hunting and camping but also for other activities or emergencies that require a flashlight and provide also freedom of both hands. An important feature of them is that they are waterproof. Battery reliability is also critical during extended hunting. Particularly useful in hunting are camouflage-style torches that merge entirely with the characteristic camouflage hunting hat has if they wear one.
