UP-CLOSE Fenix Handheld & Weapon LED Lights
ger. With the CR123A, the runtimes vary from just over an hour (400 lumens) to 100 hours (5 lumens). The PD25 uses a semi-protected tailcap switch for the On-Off- Momentary functions. It uses a smaller body switch to toggle through the four brightness settings. The tiny PD25 does not have a strobe mode. Like the PD25, an orange traffi c wand is available for the PD35TAC. The 550-lumen bright but backup-oriented PD25 has an MSRP of $57.
PD35TAC The PD35TAC brings six levels of light up to 1,000 lumens to a compact package. The PD35TAC has a beam distance of 650 feet, over 200 yards. The PD35TAC is 5.5 inches long and has a 1-inch body and bezel diameter. These dimensions make it a good match for weapon mounting systems. Fenix makes such a fl ashlight rail mount to fi t any Picatinny-Weaver rail. The PD35TAC is powered by two CR123A batteries or one rechargeable battery. Importantly, the PD35TAC can operate in two different modes,
Tactical and Outdoor. A stainless-steel button switch on the body is used to change back and forth between these two modes. With the PD35TAC turned On, press and hold the stainless button switch for three seconds to go from one mode of operation to the other. Tactical mode deactivates the side switch and uses the tailcap
switch to toggle between four settings. These are the highest out- put (1,000 lumens), strobe function (1,000 lumens), and one of the lowest settings (60 lumens). The simplest and most direct action (just press) is either On or Momentary for the full 1,000 lumens. This fi rst press default was designed this way to work easily with the tactical remote switch. A press and tap once activates the 1,000-lumen strobe. A press and tap twice produces the 60-lumen Tac Low setting. Frankly, both of these press and tap motions take practice and
fi nger dexterity that may be lost during high stress. However, mounted to a rifl e or handheld with a pistol, that fi rst 1,000-lumen
On or Momentary is easy and reliable to do. In Tactical mode, the tail cap switch controls On, Momentary
and Off and only produces 1,000-lumen high; 1,000-lumen strobe, and 60-lumen low. However, in Outdoor mode, a much wider variety of light output is available. With the light On, push and hold the Outdoor (side body) but-
ton for three seconds. This changes the tail switch to On, Off and Momentary functions only. The Outdoor switch then toggles the PD35TAC through all six output levels: 8 lumens; 60 lumens; 200 lumens; 500 lumens; 1,000 lumens and 1,000 lumens strobe. Run- times vary from just over an hour (1,000 lumens) to 140 hours, almost six days (8 lumens). In Outdoor mode, the PD35TAC uses an intelligent memory cir-
cuit to turn On in the brightness level it was in when turned Off. In Tactical mode, the PD35TAC always turns on with 1,000 lumens (constant or momentary) light. The PD35TAC has an MSRP of $72.
Rail Mount
& Remote Switch The Fenix universal mount has an internal, removable plastic sleeve to make it compatible with a wide variety of lights. The plastic split ring spacer is needed with Fenix PD-series of lights but not used with the Fenix TK-series of lights and others that mea- sure exactly 1-inch in body diameter. The mount has three Allen screws to attach the light. The middle one locks the light into the exact rotational location on the mount. The outside two attach the mount to the weapon rail. A tactical remote pressure switch is also available from Fenix that
fi ts many PD-series and TK-series lights. One end of the remote switch replaces the tail cap, while the other end is a semi-protected pressure switch. Any function the tail cap switch does can be done by the remote pressure switch. The remote pressure switch can turn the PD35TAC On, Off, Momentary and also toggle between brightness functions. The remote pressure switch is actually dual switches: a push button and an inch-long pressure pad. The push button does On, Off and Momentary. The pressure pad does Momentary-only. The pressure pad uses adhesive tape-backed Velcro® strips to
attach to the weapon. No offi cer or operator trusts the tape. When you fi nd the best location on the weapon, use zip ties to lock the remote switch in place. The Fenix pressure switch is absolutely silent in operation. There
are no audible clicks whatsoever. These switches have a design life of 100,000 activations. The 9.5-inch coiled cable can be extended to 31 inches. This allows plenty of fl exibility in where on the rail to mount the light and where on the handguard to mount the switch. We removed the pocket clip, attached the mount and remote
switch, and mounted the PD35TAC on a Colt M4. The remote but- ton and pad were both easy to use. The 200-yard beam reach is perfect for a patrol rifl e. The rail mount has an MSRP of $14 and the remote switch retails for $20. All Fenix lights are made in Shenzhen, China. All Fenix lights are in compliance with the ANSI/NEMA FL-1 rating protocol. That means the posted lumen output, beam reach, and runtime are totally legit. We found the quality of the workmanship to be excellent, world class.
The TK75 is a big light, shown in comparison to a full- size Glock Model 22.
42 LAW and ORDER I June 2016 LaO Post your comments on this story by visiting
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