Laser excited phosphor (LEP) as weapon lights

Zigey

Zigey

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I've seen these new styles of torches online and I was wondering if anyone has any experience useing them or going up against them. 

I understand they are a kind of hybrid between a lazer and a LED torch, super focused beam with little splash but no risk of permanent eye damage like you'd experience from a lazer.

Heres a picture I shamelessly stole as an example. 

View attachment 103999

LEPs can cost quite abit more then your standard LED, still tempted to pick one up however. 

Curious to see what the community thinks of them. 

 
Zigey said:
no risk of permanent eye damage
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Which you'll be testing by staring directly at it before pointing it at anyone else.

I'd check with your local site(s) before committing, as this seems like the sort of thing that's going to get banned as soon as some 14 year old gets dazzled and runs square into a door.

 
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The use case I see for a light like this is almost solely anti-sniper, long range dazzling and camouflage defeating.

Also I imagine haveing a bright spotlight suddenly appear on you may make you flitch, helping to dig out the most stubborn bush wookie. 

As for eye damage I'm no eye doctor but I understand the beam is a few magnitudes dimmer then a lazer per square inch based from what I've read (mostly written from other non-eye doctors). 

That being said id not want to be that guy who stole someone's eyesight with a torch. 

 
I understand torches in darkened CQB hallways etc (even then power should be restricted), but intentionally dazzling people in woodland games is considered airsoft now?

 
 
Tackle said:
Already being marketed as weapon lights by Olight, although I don't suppose in a real steel application your too worried about the bad guys eyes lol?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374160971945?epid=10054751152&hash=item571dbb58a9:g:JA4AAOSwO0xiv1y2&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4EHkvF38W9P8xYMknK8KkJoTYxZ4zJDq9WnUjzZNU6d6VAM6mWzTm4HaMKcvVqYnxDAH0%2BcPkMX6K3Q%2F1uLBYJhoF6YyWTbTlmyrTGEZCIMhJNAHO4iYCdB7pgSsSJq4Q8qWXFVyAPIY7F4cTik8nL2psczlnv8sjfpOm3xjoD3N23ml8yytcVIcN7GtodwPYYbnKg4KxNYFGbX%2FletgIqRAzjvENdGTkejS2PaXQNVtKPRgkaEWIcJ2RGJAmOMdo%2BNgPUwznADgNudh84gYBRjMcke6908Nie19xnTlakR8|tkp%3ABk9SR_zxx_jfYQ
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They absolutely can be used as weapon lights and are being sold as such, but my point was that unless you're trying to hunt small game in the woods at night, such a tight beam is a bit pointless.

 
I've been using The Odin LEP for over a year now, so know a little about its capabilities.  It's a great unit, if a little specialised.

I run it purely for night airsoft, in conjunction with bino NVG's and a Jerry C5 thermal ecoti overlay.  I don't run an IR laser, and just use passive aiming with a Eotech XPS3.

On the rare occasions I use white light the LEP is pretty devastating, and wipes out the targets natural night vision, or causes their NOD's to autogate.  You can get this effect with many weapon lights, but the Odin LEP really spotlights the target at medium to long airsoft ranges.  It's especially useful for designating targets to other team members, whether they have NOD's or not.  It reminds me of a stage follow spot in a theatre.  

The light isn't a nice white high colour temperature, but more of a piss coloured yellow, which is disappointing, but acceptable.  It's not so great at short distances, as you can struggle to cover the whole target with the spot of light.  It's also pretty bulky, much more so than a Surefire Scout for example.  Battery life is very good, as are the mounting options, remote switch and value.  It's also great at reducing spill from your firing position, if you can mount it as far forwards as you can.

I've had it shone at me whilst messing about, and I didn't go blind - I think it's safe.  I have seen brighter torches, and I am more concerned over the various Russian lasers and full power IR designators out there damaging peoples eyes and kit.  It emits light at a frequency we can see and react to by shutting our eyes, unlike IR/red/green lasers.

It's a cool airsoft toy, but not really a game changer, IMHO.  I'm lucky and daft enough to enjoy all of my NVG kit, but none of it is guaranteed 'pay to win' when up against decent teamwork and moderate NOD's/thermals. 

 
Cr0-Magnon said:
I understand torches in darkened CQB hallways etc (even then power should be restricted), but intentionally dazzling people in woodland games is considered airsoft now?
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I think Captain Darling has answered your question; it seems to be a bit self-stimulatingish to me.

 
I’d tend to agree with this, and must clarify that I avoid using white light as much as possible - it’s far more satisfying to bean someone with a single shot out of the darkness. 
 

However there always seems to be a willy waving torch duel at some point. It seems to me that many airsoft deaths at night games are due to blue on blue, confusion and disorientation reigns supreme.  There is an argument for not really needing a mega powerful torch, and in lieu having something to flick on and identify friend or foe.

 
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In reference to others’ comments about intentionally dazzling other players, real world application, etc…

(Although the Russians probably won’t care too much!) the Geneva Convention prohibits light weapons that cause permanent blindness. Similarly, although this is only a game/sport we play, any negligence in the use of laser/light emitters that causes primary or secondary (like the eg above about somebody dazzled running into a door) injury, permanent or otherwise, would be an offence under UK law.

As good a torch as it is and as diligent as the user is, I’d caution against using something so bright in close quarters to other players.

 
I've seen IR versions being used with NVGs to make target acquisition easier at ranges past 100ft. Not sure how much use it would have in airsoft though. The hunting is a good point I wouldn't have thought of though 

 
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