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Head Torches / Head Lamps Help & Advice
Whether you call them head torches or headlamps (or even head lamps), they've come to be known as a bit of outdoor gear that's truly a necessity for outdoor sports enthusiasts due to their obvious benefits such as hands-free convenient lighting. Each of these terms above will be used interchangeably throughout this help and advice page.
Head Torch Progress
Modern-day
headlamps have come on in leaps and bounds in regards to the technology
that they use. Many of the torches that CheapTents.com sell have been
carefully selected for a variety of outdoor sports enthusiasts,
including recreational walkers, reading, emergency use, elite /
high-performance sports people, non-intrusive lighting, and many more.
It's vital to have the right torch with the right technology to see
where you're going and doing. Having a head torch simply makes sense!
Headlamp Key Features
There are a few key features you might wish to consider when choosing a head torch / headlamp. These include:
- battery life (hours)
- lighting distance beam length (metres)
- beam strength (i.e how much light the head torch actually creates (lux lumens)
- beam pattern,
- size (cm, mm)
You can see a huge variety of reduced Petzl headlamps here.
Head Torch Battery
The battery life of a head torch is dependent on how strong the beam is. Most headlamps come with removable batteries providing easy replacement, whereas other come with rechargeable batteries. the beam strength iis often an adjustable feature to provide a more versatile function, to use a large amount of light or to save batteries when it's uneccessary.
Lighting Distance, Time & Beam Strength
The
measurement of the lighting distance for many head torches or
headlamps, including Petzl, is the distance at which the light beam
maintains 0.25 lux (the minimal light required, as stated by lighting
enginieers, to carry out an activity, aka "moonlight standard"). As the
headlamp is used, the batteries' power naturally diminishes and the
light range decreases. Many headlamp manufacturers therefore state the
light range of headlamps at the following stages of battery life:
- with new batteries (the headlamp's maximum capacity)
- after 30 minutes use (standard usage)
- after 10 hours use (equivalent to continuous use during one night)
Head Torch Beam Strength
Beam strength is the light duration as the total time (in hours and minutes) that the headlamp produces a light that provides at least 0.25 lux at 2 meters. 2 metres is the value used because this is the average distace of somebody looking down at where they are walking.
Headlamp Beam Pattern
- Flood light (or fixed width) Beam: A single beam width offers no adjustability. Easy to use and provides general light for slower-paced tasks whilst camping or walking.
- Spot light (or focussed) Beam: Some LED head torches have specialised lenses that direct the light rays to create a spotlight, throwing a narrow beam a long distance. This is often preferred during route-finding, adventure running, paddling or fast-paced hiking at night.
- Adjustable Beam: Beam width can range from wide to narrowly focused or in-between. It's a nice feature. A climber looking for the next pitch would use a spot beam; to study a map, a flood beam.
Headlamp types:
- Incandescent bulbs: Traditional bulbs filled with an inert gas, such as argon; they usually cast farther-reaching beam and produce higher lux numbers than standard LEDs.
- Xenon, halogen or krypton bulbs: Incandescent bulbs that contain a pressurized gas such as xenon. When introduced into a bulb's glass casing, these gases prevent oxidation of the filament, controling soot buildup that tends to darken traditional bulbs. As a result, these bulbs burn with high intensity, but for less time than most LED head torches.
- LEDs: They excel in energy efficiency while offering good, all-purpose proximity lighting for camp chores, map-reading and close-up work, but lack the benefits of lighting distances.
- High-output LEDs: 3-watt LEDs rival the brightness of pressurized-gas bulbs; 1-watt LEDs produce a light intensity that matches up well with standard incandescents—only they use much less battery power.
LED Headlamps
LEDs - light-emitting diodes are a simple type of semiconductor. LED's are the dominant headlamp light source, and they are growing more prevalent in regular torches as well.
Key benefits of LEDs for headlamps:
- They drain batteries 3 to 5 times slower than traditional incandescent bulbs.
- LEDs can have a life span of up to 100,000 hours; an incandescent bulb may burn out in less than 40 hours.
- With no glass or filament to break, LEDs are very tough and ideal for rugged use.
Halogen bulbs for long distance use
Halogen headlamps / head torches are generally regarded as better for long-distance uses, although their battery-life and bulb-life is not as long as an LED.
Headlamps for emegency use
- For Close-up Work needing a high level of illumination, the LED head torches offer brighter conditions than halogen lamps but have less range, making them more suitable for close- to medium-range work. The L2, L3 and L4 LED head torches are ideal, have an improved light range and are weatherproof.
- For High-power and Long-range Head Torches, the Silva L1 has been optimised for long-range illumination (up to 63 m). The Petzl Myo XP is another LED head torch that has been boosted to provide greater range (up to 63 m). Alternatively, the Halogen Silva 480 or the Rechargeable (8.5 Ah NiMH) Headlamp Kits offer long range and are available with a rechargeable battery pack.
- For All-round Head Torches / headlamps that offer superb bright light for all conditions, the Petzl Duo LED 5 Waterproof Head Torch has both LED for short-range and Halogen for long-range work.
- For Emergency Use, the Petzl E-LITE Micro Head Torch can be carried around in its tiny case (similar in size to a pack of Tic Tacs) and used for emergencies - perfect for storing in the car glovebox.
Why a reference system for headlamps?
Petzl developed this lighting reference system to provide users with objective comparative criteria and dependable, precise data and it will help them choose the right headlamp. This reference measures the performance of headlamps in a scientific and reproducible manner.
It is inspired by empirical data, drawn from in-the-field experience.
What does this mean for headlamps?
Current light range and burn time information may change. That does not mean that our headlamps have changed, but simply that the headlamp information is more precise due to this new measurement method.
Headlamp light range and burn time information calculated using this new reference system will be marked with the symbol above.
Petzl continually strive to provide more information regarding the shape, even-spread and quality of the light emitted from their headlamps.
Light Measurement method
Light Recall:
- Distance = distance in meters at which the illuminance is 0.25 lux.
- Light duration = time (in hours and minutes) during which the light at 2 meters is greater than or equal to 0.25 lux.
Headlamp Lighting Distance
The formula that we use to calculate light range: E = I / d²
E = the illuminance, in lux.
I = luminous intensity, in Candela.
d = distance, in meters.
With a light meter, Petzl measure the illuminance (E) of the headlamp at a distance of 2 meters (d = 2). We use this value to calculate the luminous intensity (I) of the headlamp (I = E x 2²). With the luminous intensity (I), we can calculate the distance at which the headlamp would produce light equal to 0.25 lux by finding the square root of equation I / 0,25.
Headlamp Light duration
Manufacturers of headlamps measure the headlamp's burn time by placing it 2 meters from the light meter with fresh batteries. The elapsed time that the headlight emits a beam stronger that 0.25 lux is known as the total burn time.
Glossary
Luminous flux
Energy per unit time that is radiated from a source over visible wavelengths.
Headlamp Lumen (lm)
Standard unit of luminous flux.
Luminous intensity
In general, a light source
emits its luminous flux with a different intensity depending on the
direction it is shined. The luminous intensity is a measure of the
energy emitted by a light source in a particular direction.
Candela (cd)
Standard unit of luminous intensity.
Illuminance
The total amount of visible light illuminating a point on a surface from all directions above the surface.
Head Torch Lux (lx):
Standard unit of illuminance (lumens per square meter).
Waterproof Head Torches / Headlamps
Petzl waterproof headlamps are identified by the waterproof symbol. This indicates the maximum depth that the headlamp can be used.
Petzl headlamps are tested according to the EN 60529 standard. This test measures the degree of protection a headlamp offers against water entry, on a scale from 0 to 8: the IP index.
What does waterproof mean?
Petzl waterproof headlamps are rated IP X8, the highest level of the IP code. This means that water will not penetrate the headlamp, even if immersed for a prolonged period of time, down to the depth indicated on the waterproof symbol.
But beware: maintaining the waterproof qualities of your headlamps requires that you respect certain maintenance guidelines, as detailed below.
Waterproof headlamps maintenance
Choosing a waterproof headlamp is a decision that should not be made lightly, since maintaining its waterproof properties requires careful maintenance.
If moisture cannot enter the case, then it cannot escape either. If the inside of your waterproof headlamp gets exposed to moisture, (while changing the batteries, bulb, etc.), you must follow these maintenance guidelines before storing it:
- open the headlamp (battery case and lamp body),
- remove the batteries,
- if there are any foreign objects (gravel, twigs, etc.), rinse the headlamp thoroughly with clean water and clean the seals with a cotton swab,
- dry with a soft cloth and air dry completely.
A lamp exposed to sea water or other potentially corrosive environments must be rinsed after use (follow the guidelines above).
To preserve the waterproof qualities of your headlamp, it is important to regularly apply a silicone-based grease to the seals. Make sure you properly close the battery case and bulb housing when reassembling the headlamp.
If these guidelines are not followed, Petzl cannot guarantee the lifespan of its waterproof headlamps. Refer to your product's technical notice for more information.
Storing waterproof headlamps
As a general rule, never store a headlamp wet.
The batteries of waterproof headlamps must be removed before storage. Defective or used batteries and the presence of moisture could cause the creation of gases in the battery case that may dangerously build up pressure (the lamp is sealed from the inside as well as from the outside).
Refer to your product's technical notice for more information.