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Despite its name, the Beast is only 15.5 inches long and weighs just 4.5 pounds – quite manageable with one hand. But it can crank out a 2,000-lumen beam of tightly focused white light, which is roughly equivalent to 130 two D-cell flashlights.
The Beast’s extraordinary light output comes from a High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamp. This is the same type of lamp found in streetlights and stadium lights, but Beast’s HID fits inside a reflector less then 4 inches in diameter. HID lamps are both extremely bright and extremely efficient, producing almost four times the lumen output of an incandescent lamp for an equal power input.
Originally designed for applications such as border patrol, maritime interdiction, search and rescue, and other situations requiring a super-rugged portable searchlight, the Beast is also uniquely suited for a number of outdoor applications, such as boat navigation, landmark identification, wildlife identification or surveying, outdoor photography, and big-room caving. Incorporating an array of 12 white light-emitting diodes into the reflector has further increased the utility of the design. The combined light output of theses LEDs is about the same as a two D-cell flashlight, which allows the Beast to function as a general-use light when the full blast of the HID lamp isn’t needed.
The Beast performs under all weather conditions and is brutally tough – it’s built from aerospace-grade aluminum with a hard-anodized finish, and is virtually immune to failure from mechanical shock because both the LEDs and the HID lamps have no filament to burn out or break.
The Beast features a unique rotary power ring switch located just below the head. To operate the HID lamp, rotate the ring clockwise. To operate the LEDs, rotate counterclockwise. A lock-out tailcap prevents accidental activation during transport or storage.
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