Manufacturer:-
www.megaray.com Night
Vision Optics South Africa (Website not updated with this model yet)
Price :- On Application
Size:- Length(flood mode) 410mm - Length(spot mode) 500 mm - Height 300mm
-
Diameter (top of body) 104 mm
Weight:- Light Unit 3400g Battery Pack 2500g
Battery Type / Qty :- 1off Custom Saphion 285 watt hours 19.2 V (Ultra
Safe Lithium Phosphate Technology)
Battery Life :- 1 Hour on High Power 1.25 Hours on Reduced Power Mode
Recharge Time:- 2.5 Hours
Lightsource :- 175W Short Arc Xenon
Rated Output:- (Manufacturers Figures) Over 7500000 Candela Peak Intensity
(Estimated)
Estimated BulbLifespan:- Over 1000 Hours
Colour:- White
Colour temperature:- 5600 Deg Kelvin
Beam Divergence Spot mode 2° - Flood mode 6°
Lens Material :- Ultra high quality optical ground glass lenses
Electronics:- 12 to 30 VDC, 190 Watt max. - EMI/RFI conforms to CISPR22A
when powered from a 24 V battery pack (CE Compliant) Switched mode power
supply, Cooling Fan & Thermal Cutout.
Body Material :- High grade Injection Moulded Polymer plastic or similar
with metal fixtures for strap mountings, telescopic sight or night vision
equipment.
Options:- Additional battery pack modules, Vehicle battery
power leads, Optional 2.87 Kwh Vehicle mounted power source, IR lens filters,
Well where do I start describing this? This is probably most Flashaholics (See here for details) dream light.
This is the very first one in the world of this power and I hasten to add that it does not belong to me. I wish :-)
This is no normal flashlight. You will have worked this out by now if you have looked at the photos and the price tag. This version is the big brother to the existing 125 Watt Megaray. It uses the same body and lens setup as before but now has 40% more input power with the new 175 Watt short Arc Xenon lamp assembly. I have never seen the 125 Watt version so I cannot comment on the light output or compare the two.
But I can tell you something
for sure, this is the most powerful commercially produced handheld battery
powered spotlight in the world at the moment. It has also been improved
in another very important way. On the old Megaray the batteries used were
of the sealed lead acid type (SLA). This was due to the high current demands
of the light and the safety issues that revolved around the existing Lithium
Ion battery technology. The new Saphion (Lithium Phosphate) technology
cells that are used in the power pack for this light are many times safer
than any other battery technology currently available. They do not burst
into flames when overcharged or abused (no thermal runaway) and are totally
environmentally benign, disposable in trash.
They are also over 1/4 the weight and 1/5th of the volume than the SLA
they replace and they have a higher capacity!
So a quantum leap in
performance, safety and environmental issues.
Further information and
sales for the Saphion cells can be made here
So this means that this light is now extremely portable and comfortable to wear and use over long periods of time. This is important for the lights intended market.
The battery pack is joined with a high quality AMP industrial two pole screw latching connector. This feeds the Inverter power supply in the light with 19.2 Volts from the Saphion battery. Once the battery is connected then to operate the light is very simple. Just push the trigger mounted button. Be prepared, because you will not expect the sudden burst of light from the front to be so bright! Well not until you have used one anyway.
This is the brightest portable light that I have ever used. If its dark and you see something in the distance upto 1000m plus away. Point the light at it, switch on and watch it light up! It really is that good. Not only that but the beam produced by the light looks like something produced by a special effects company for a movie. It is laser like narrow and very visible. Just look at the photos to see what I mean. Using this light is serious fun. Other people (and me) shout expletives when they first see it switched on as it really does take your breath away.
The barrel of the light can be moved to alter the beam divergence. This varies from 2 Degrees in Spot mode to 6 Degrees in Wide mode. This does not focus the light is just alters the beam divergence. The beam is always in focus at all times. So if you want to light up a greater area then slide the barrel fully rearwards. To produce the tightest spot beam then slide the barrel fully forwards. This is done manually and offers the advantage that there is no delicate focusing mechanism to break if you drop the light or jolt it around in transit.
There is a 3-position toggle switch mounted on the lower front of the light that can be set to one of three operating modes. These are:-
1.) Middle Position
- Full power mode
2.) Rear Position - Reduced Power Mode (Not really low power as it is
still unbelievable bright)
3.) Forward
Position - 8Hz Strobe mode (Can be used as a non lethal weapon)
The lamp assembly gets hot when in use as do the power electronics that drive it. To aid cooling the lamp a fan is fitted behind the lamp assembly to blow cool air over it in a similar manner to a film projector. The Short Arc Xenon lamp runs at a very high voltage produced by the inverter power supply. This produces heat and you can clearly see the large anodised aluminium heatsink on the bottom of the light. If overtemperature ever did occur then there are two independent temperature sensors fitted to the light to shut it down before any damage can happen. This is indicated by a warning light on the side of the unit. The light can then be operated again after it has cooled down.
The side of the unit also contains a power on light and a battery low indicator. You may wonder why the light needs a power on indicator as you would have thought that it was pretty obvious when it was powered on! But I guess this is so that you know that the power supply is operating correctly. It could also be for the Infra Red (IR) filter lenses when the Megaray would not produce any visible light.
On to the pictures of the light in action. Please click on these for the larger versions as the thumbnails really do not do the light justice.
The picture taken with the person standing under the football goals (O.K. Soccer for the USA crowd :-) ) was from across the diagonals of two full size pitch's side by side with each other. This will hopefully give some idea about the power of the light.
The build quality of
the light is to say the least, rugged. It is mostly injection moulded
plastic, but don't let that make you thing it is not strong. Some automatic
weapons are also made from similar materials. The two halves to the casing
are held together with high quality socket head cap screws and screw into
metal retainers on the opposite side of the light.
It was designed for the military so it will take rough handling without any problems. There are standard mounting points for telescopic sights or nightvision equipment to be mounted. This is an excellent idea as the beam of light produced by the light can throw further than the unaided human eye can see detail at.
I am very grateful of the opportunity to look at this light while it was in the UK for the Military Equipment Exhibition. I have only used it for a few hours but can fully appreciate the thought that has gone into making this a very useful product. I don't think I would ever be able to justify spending my money on this light as an enthusiast shall we say. But if I was in an industry or profession that required this amount of portable light I would give it serious consideration. I think with the new safer and lighter technology batteries and the higher power lamp assembly this light is in a class of its own. Maybe I will have one if I win the Lottery!
28 March 2004
I have had a further oppertunity to test another Megaray. We really wanted to try and give a better idea of just how far it can throw its beam.
So here is the comparison photos from our test.
www.multimap.com (Ariel Photo)
www.multimap.com (Map)
Look for the radio mast symbol.
The arial photo shows the small sugar beet concrete standing that was used at the photo location. This is located on the map inline with the lefthand edge of the trees just to the left of Sudbrook Hill farm.
OK, now hopefully your interested where can you get one?
UK & European Sales for both the Megaray and Saphion Technology Lithium Phosphate Cells
www.aviation-find-a-part.com A UK site selling the Awsome Megaray, Marshalling Wands, Airfield Runway and Helipad Lighting systems.
Amberjac Projects Ltd
Megaray Manufacturer
Night Vision Optics South Africa