[cowboy1964]

I have a Quark Tactical QT2L-X (runs on two CR123 batteries). It gets almost too hot to hold after about five minutes on high (360 lumens). Just wondering if this is typical of small high output lights.

 

[collim1]

Of the old school incandescent lights then yes, they used to get hot. My newer LED's have never gotten hot to the touch, maybe "warm" but nothing more.

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

Every single new LED gets hot. That's why they are built with heat sinks and why the power is automatically adjusted after x amount of time.

I've got a Fenix LD12 that runs on a single AA that has kicked on a few times in my back pocket. It get's hot enough to notice for sure

 

[itstime]

It is normal. If you look at a quality light with high output they have big heat sinks on them.

Mine get pretty darn hot.

I have one with an internal fan to cool it.

 

[Deputydave]

I usually use either the Sipik 68 (w/14500) or the 96 (w/18650) or one of the clones. They get warm but I wouldn't say hot.

 

[actionshooter10]

Hot.

IMO, "tactical" lights aren't meant to be used continuously for a long period of time.

Get a smaller light for edc use.

 

[cowboy1964]

My Quark has a low output mode that is fine for everyday use, so it's not a big deal. I was just playing with rechargeable CR123s and left it in high mode for awhile for the first time and that's when I noticed how hot it really gets.

 

[RWBlue]

My tactical lights don't get hot.






But this is because I turn them on to spot something, then off. If I left them on the insides would get very hot. The outside and the battery doesn't.