Magnalight.com Introduces Low Cost Explosion Proof Strobe Light

Magnalight.com announces the release of a new explosion proof strobe light that works on 110 volts for US use and 230/240 volts for international applications and carries an IP67 waterproof rating as well as a UL Class 1, Division 1 rating for groups C and D.

After the popular introduction of our explosion proof fluorescent paint spray booth lights

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) October 7, 2008 -- On the heels of its introduction of a cost effective explosion proof fluorescent light fixture for paint spray booths, oil rigs and manufacturing plants, Magnalight.com announced the release of a new explosion proof strobe light. This explosion proof strobe light works on 110 volts for US use and 230/240 volts for international applications and carries an IP67 waterproof rating as well as a UL Class 1, Division 1 rating for groups C and D.

"After the popular introduction of our explosion proof fluorescent paint spray booth lights," explained Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics, "customers asked for an explosion proof emergency light. We responded with a Class 1 Div 1 fluorescent light that included a battery that fulfilled the requirement for a 90 minute run time emergency light, while operating as a functional fluorescent light for paint spray booths. We delivered these fixtures at an attractive price point with higher light output than most other options in the marketplace. We gave our customers more light output for less money. Then, those same customers came back to us and asked for a more cost effective explosion proof strobe light. Our new EPSL-80-R Class 1 Div 1 red strobe light is available under $900. Basically, we are in a position to meet all of our customers needs and it relates to OSHA compliance. We started out point solutions, like our explosion proof, cart mounted 24 inch tank light and paint spray booth lights. Now, we are branching out to accommodate the OSHA safety requirements throughout the facility."

Larson Electronics' Magnalight.com offers a complete range of explosion proof lights including, hazardous location flashlights, rechargeable lanterns, explosion proof string lights, hand lamps, intrinsically safe fans and cart mounted tank inspection lights. In an ongoing effort to improve their one stop shop convenience for petrochemical companies, refineries and manufacturing plants of all kinds, customers can purchase or rent hazardous location lights from Magnalight.com. Larson Electronics also designs custom solutions for customer applications, many of which can be found in the aerospace industry. You can learn more about Larson Electronics at www.magnalight.com or by calling toll free, 1-800-369-6671.

Magnalight.com Adds Explosion Proof Floodlights and Fluorescent Paint Booth Lights

Larson Electronics LLC (www.magnalight.com), a manufacturer and supplier of industrial grade lights to the military, utility companies, refineries and manufacturers announced the addition of new explosion proof lights. The new explosion proof lights include battery operated LED flashlights, 400 watt metal halide tank inspection lights and fluorescent lights for paint spray booths.

While our vehicle mounted lights are associated with cable, telephone and electric utilities and our HML-5M is the Escalation of Force military spotlight given to every deployed soldier in Iraq, we now have the largest selection of handheld rechargeable flashlights and lanterns for Class, Division 1 and Class 1 Division II hazardous location areas

(PRWEB) September 24, 2008 -- Larson Electronics LLC (www.magnalight.com), a manufacturer and supplier of industrial grade lights to the military, utility companies, refineries and manufacturers announced the addition of new explosion proof lights. The new explosion proof lights include battery operated LED flashlights, 400 watt metal halide tank inspection lights and fluorescent lights for paint spray booths.

Hazardous locations lights are necessary wherever flammable vapors and dusts are present. While there are different safety levels mandated by OSHA, magnalight.com offers a one stop shop experience for companies operating in mining, petrochemical, oilfield, aerospace, paint spray booth and manufacturing space. Ranging from the quadpod based EPL-24C series, that covers 22,000 square feet per fixture, to high output fluorescents lights found in the EPL-48 series, Larson Electronics, web based www.magnalight.com offers a wide range of intrinsically safe flood lights.

"While our vehicle mounted lights are associated with cable, telephone and electric utilities and our HML-5M is the Escalation of Force military spotlight given to every deployed soldier in Iraq, we now have the largest selection of handheld rechargeable flashlights and lanterns for Class, Division 1 and Class 1 Division II hazardous location areas," said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics. "We have the traditional incandescent explosion proof drop lights, but we also offer intrinsically safe LED flashlights, explosion proof High Intensity Discharge flashlights, Class 1 Division II LED spotlights and corded 26 watt fluorescent hand lamps. We also have intrinsically safe headlights, flashlights and LED emitters that run on common alkaline batteries. In short, when it comes to handheld intrinsically safe lighting, we have an option for every application."

"However, we know that environmental companies, oilfield operations and paint spray booth operators need larger explosion proof lights. We continue to add new explosion proof lights every day to meet their needs. Our explosion proof fluorescent lights are ideal for paint booths, inspections and other flood light operations. Our EPL-24C tanks lights produce more than 70,000 lumens and cover 22,000 square feet, which makes them ideal for cleaning and blasting fuel tanks and vessels. We have even adapted them so they can fit through common 18 inch and 24 inch man way access points into tanks and vessels. Our EPL-TP-2X70 series offers 2 waterproof, Class 1 Division 1 metal halide lights on a quadpod stand, covering 26,000 square foot of area. This explosion proof floodlight is popular with shipyards and oil rigs."

"Just last week, we added and explosion proof right angle light that can be clipped to a jacket, vest or helmet, enabling the operator hands free lighting as an alternative to our explosion proof headlight. We have a new intrinsically safe LED flashlight, EXP-LED-F4W, that is under $30 and puts out a tight beam reaching more than 100 feet. We even added explosion proof ventilation fans, the EPF-30P, that pull contaminated and stale air out of confined spaces. Customers that need explosion proof lights also need explosion proof ventilation fans. You combine that with our deep offering of remote controlled spotlights and now our new High Intensity Discharge Golight remote spotlight models, like the GL-3049H-M, popular for oilfield security, and you can see our 'one-stop' strategy really beginning to shape," Rob concluded.

You can learn more about Larson Electronics LLC at www.magnalight.com or 1-800-369-6671.

Contact
Rob Bresnahan
1-800-369-6671
rb @ magnalight.com

Magnalight.com Combines Explosion Proof Paint Spray Booth Fluorescent Lights With Explosion Proof Emergency Lights

OSHA stipulates that paint spray booths must use “explosion proof lights” that are rated Class 1, Division 1 under UL 844 requirements.  Fluorescent lights and emergency lights that meet these explosion proof standards do not create enough heat or spark to cause flammable vapors in Groups C and D to ignite in confined spaces, like paint booths.  “Often referred to as intrinsically safe lights, fluorescent lights are popular in paint spray booths because fluorescent lights provide even lighting and more consistent true color,” said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics’ Magnalight.com web sales channel.  “While our explosion proof fluorescent lights continue to be popular with oil rigs and aerospace companies as surface mount lights, we have seen more and more paint booth operators working to bring their shops compliant with OSHA requirements.  We offer explosion proof fluorescent lights that can be mounted on the ceiling or on carts with wheels.  In this way, the operators can either work with overhead lighting or position these hazardous location fluorescent lights to illuminate specific portions of the painted pieces,” Rob continued.

“We think we offer one of the best values in the industry.  Our explosion proof paint spray booth lights are certified to UL 844 for hazardous locations, UL 595 and 1598 as waterproof lights for marine and saltwater applications and UL 924 which covers the use of these intrinsically safe lights as emergency lights.  We have recently added a second ballast to our existing fluorescent fixtures that enables them to operate not only as a work area light in the paint spray booth, but also offer 90 minutes of emergency lighting in the event of power loss.  Our explosion proof fluorescent light offers dual duty as a functional work light and an explosion proof emergency light, saving the paint spray booth operator or the oilfield operator money, both in fixtures and installation costs, while meeting all the OSHA requirements for hazardous location lighting.  To top it off, we offer these fixtures, made right here in Texas, under $1000 each and usually with less than 2 weeks lead time.”

The explosion proof paint spray booth lights are the most recent addition to a growing line of intrinsically safe lights and explosion proof lights designed for oilfield applications and petrochemical plant applications for Magnalight.com. Specialty items include Class 1, Division 1 HID and LED flashlights, 24 inch tank cleaning lights and rail mount lights for hazardous locations.  “We really have worked to become a one stop shop for plant maintenance workers, oil field operators, paint spray booth operators and shipyards, who need a variety of explosion proof surface mount and portable lighting,” Rob concluded.

You can learn more about Larson Electronics and the full range of explosion proof and intrinsically safe lights at www.magnalight.com or 1-800-369-6671.     

6/3/2008 Kemp, TX 
Rising gas prices are changing the way Americans live, there is a bright spot in a $4 gallon gas economy.  It is the oil companies themselves.  Petrochemical companies spend their money in the United States.  Visit any local machine shop and chances are they are working on petrochemical projects.  Oil companies, oil field service companies and related suppliers that support that industry buy goods and services almost solely from local US based companies.  This is in sharp contrast to the US, state and local governments who are taking a larger share of every American’s income in the form of taxes and spending it in China. 

“We have seen a dramatic shift in just the last year in how the military spends in the lighting industry,” said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics.  “While the US troops are interested in our US made 24 volt military spotlights at www.magnalight.com, the purchasing decisions often favor cheaper Chinese made lights.  Other DOD suppliers in the lighting industry see the US military is buying Chinese made alternatives.  Thus, American suppliers react by finding new markets, discontinuing new development and reducing headcount.”

“On the flip side, we recently launched a line of portable explosion proof lighting on www.magnalight.com,” Rob continued.  “We are repurposing military grade lights to be used in hazardous location areas within petrochemical plants for use as work lights, inspection lights and confined air lights, for inspecting and cleaning tanks, plant turn-around.  We also rent lights, including our Class 1 Division 1 tank light for 18 inch and 24 inch man ways, quadpod mount wet area lights, vapor proof hand lamps, explosion proof drop lights and wheeled dolly work lights. We take permanent mount explosion proof fixtures and put turn them into portable hazardous location lights.  Given the positive sales response from oil companies, we feel comfortable investing more money, because we know that these customers won’t be looking at Chinese made alternatives for these types of critical petrochemical and aerospace lighting applications.  There is still competition, but we all share the same regulatory and tax burdens.”     

Government spending and taxation represent the largest influences on Gross Domestic Product of the US.  Every level of government is increasing taxes on businesses and consumers via higher property taxes, franchise taxes, etc. “Obama has regularly stated he favors taxing US businesses more,” stated Rob.  “If he is truly worried about the middle class American, he would better serve the country by ensuring that every tax dollar collected is spent here in the US.  This would go a long way to ensuring that US businesses are still able to employ the people that Obama is supposedly concerned with.”

You can learn more about Larson Electronics and their new line of explosion proof lighting at www.magnalight.com or 1-800-369-6671.

The Right Explosion Proof Light Can Save Your Life

Along the lines of The Colbert Reports’ Better Know a District, Larson Electronics is using www.magnalight.com to help their customers Better Know a Light. In this new series, Larson Electronics explores the latest advances in lighting technology, demystifies varies acronyms and terms and helps prospective customers make the best choices on lights. Although Stephen Colbert’s approach to unnerving various district’s representative in a fun and witty way, the Better Know a Light series is more informative and less humorous.

In this edition of Better Know a Light, we explore intrinsically safe lights and explosion proof lights. While term intrinsically safe is often used to characterize explosion proof lights, this term applies to a very narrow choice of lights. Intrinsically safe lights are defined as lights that create no heat, no spark and do not produce static electricity when dragged. Most spotlights and flood lights produce heat and some kind of spark, thus most lights are no intrinsically safe. Some specialty lighting products based on fiber optics are coming to market shortly that will meet these ultra-safe specifications.

Explosion proof lights are generally what customers need when searching for intrinsically safe lights. Explosion proof lights differ from hazardous area lights and are defined by the types of conditions their safety rating applies to. Class 1, Division 1 lights are the safest lights, meaning that they can be used in confined areas with exposure to flammable vapors and gases. The petrochemical and marine industries usually require Class 1, Division 1 lights to inspect and clean tanks, clean fuel cells, turn around facilities, etc.

Class 1, Division 2 lights are considered hazardous area lights, which generally means environments laden with pulverized dust, solvents and fumes. Class 1, Division 2 lights are required in grain silos, barges, sugar processing plants, paper mills, coal processing plants and grain silos where flash fires are a significant risk. The February 2008 explosion that incinerated an Imperial Sugar refinery, killing 6 people, in Georgia was the result of an ignition of sugar dust in a silo where refined sugar was stored before being packaged likely ignited like gunpowder. “The result was as devastating as a bomb. Floors inside the plant collapsed, flames spread throughout the refinery, metal girders buckled into twisted heaps and shredded sheet metal littered the wreckage. ‘There was fire all over the building,’ said Nakishya Hill, a machine operator who escaped from the third floor of the refinery uninjured but for blisters on her elbow.”

Safety ratings are based on several factors and generally the rating includes a group designation. Groups A,B,C,D are gas vapor related, including acetylene, hydrogen, benzene, hexane, naptha, acetone, benzol, lacquer solvents, etc. Groups D,E and F are specific to different types of dust. In general, Class 1, Div 1 are usually tested and rated for groups A-D. Given that is a more rigorous safety rating, it is assumed that Class 1, Div 1 will be sufficient for Class 1, Div 2 rated environments.

Finally, lights are assigned a t-rating which indicates that temperature at the lens. In order to receive a Class 1, Division 1 rating, the temperature at the lens must be below the ignition point of the gases and/or dusts it is rated for. This is why you won’t see anything stronger than 400 watts on an explosion proof light assembly. Beyond 400 watts, metal halide lights generate too much heat, raising their t-rating past the safe point.

The testing and certification of explosion proof lights is conducted within a lab environment. A chamber is filled with propane and the light is activated inside the chamber. If the light ignites the propane, then it fails the test. Secondly, the light itself is filled with propane and various variables are introduced to cause the light to explode. Combinations of tests similar to these are conducted in a controlled environment to determine the appropriate safety rating.

Larson Electronics offers a growing range of explosion proof lighting at www.magnalight.com which offers cart style tank lights, pedestal style lights, boom style lights, string lights, hand lamps and the only Class 1, Division 1 High Intensity Discharge (HID) flashlight with lithium ion battery. In addition, Larson Electronics can build to specification any explosion proof lights and/or hazardous area lights for their customers. Please visit www.magnalight.com or call 1-800-369-6671 to learn more.

Larson Electronics Supports Texas State Highway Patrol’s Trooper Fund

In an ongoing effort to support the US military abroad and the local law enforcement, Larson Electronics continued its support of the Trooper Fund for the second year. The Texas State Highway Patrol’s Trooper Fund assists families of officers killed in the line of duty. Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics, said, “100 percent of the funds donated to the Trooper Fund go directly to the families of fallen officers right here in our home state of Texas. We like that model and will continue our support in the years to come. Texas is a large and diverse border state, which creates a very complex and dynamic environment for the Texas Highway Patrol that is charged with the security of its highways. Our main facility is located on the US Highway 175 and we see a significant and active presence of the Texas Highway Patrol on a daily basis.”

Larson Electronics offers a wide array of spotlights, flashlights and other police and tactical equipment. The universal, plastic backup handcuff key, flashlight with pepper spray and high powered HID flashlights are the newest products to complement the existing line of light bars and post mount lights popular with law enforcement. You can learn more at www.magnalight.com or 1-800-369-6671.

Green Solar Panels Keep Batteries Working Longer and Out of Landfills

Larson Electronics began offering solar powered pulse battery chargers on its website, www.magnalight.com. The batteries in your car, boat, lawnmower, UPS and every other major mode of transportation and equipment are based on sealed lead acid technology. A series of lead plates imbedded in electrolyte are enclosed in a plastic battery box. If you have ever had a car that won’t turn over, that battery you are “jumping” is a sealed lead acid battery. This is the dominate form of large battery power on the planet. Statistics show that more than half of these batteries fail in under 12 months. 80 percent of those fail due to sulphation buildup. In conditions of high heat, long periods of idle or slow speed, the sulphates created during sub-optimal charging situations cover and corrode the lead plates in the battery, preventing proper charging. At battery not properly charged creates even more sulphation buildup. Very quickly, the battery dies and needs replacement.

However, with pulse charging, a very small amount of current is needed to “shock” the plates. This shocking will shake the sulphates loose from the plates, enabling the battery to take a charge. As the battery takes a proper charge, the sulphates are absorbed back into the electrolyte solution or gel, restoring the battery to a new condition. Given that a small amount of current is needed for this process, it lends itself well to a solar panel implementation. Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics, stated, “generally, if you are using a battery, you don’t ready access to conventional power sources anyway, so solar panels become a very smart choice for pulse charging anyway.”

Rob continued, “people need to understand that there are some very easy choices that can have a big impact on the environment. While a lot of people are looking at solar panels and wind turbines for power generation, these require massive scale and cost to produce a fraction of the energy that we receive through our traditional power generations sources. When you do the math, you can see why the wind mills need blades that are 100 feet long and why you see hundreds of them if you see any at all. Solar panels are extremely effective at collecting and delivering small amounts of current, however, finding the right application is important. If you plan on powering your home with solar panels, you will see that you require a huge panel array and substantial battery capacity to support it. The payback isn’t there in 20 years. At first glance, you think of solar panels for battery conditioning and charging and maybe you think ‘big deal’. But it is a big deal if you think of all the car, boat and equipment batteries that are consumed and discarded, day in and day out, around the world. There is no economical way to collect and re-use these. They end up in landfills. If your local garbage man is difficult about battery collection, then they end in the woods, lakes, parking lots and the side of the road. These batteries are big, contain caustic chemicals and batteries will not degrade over time. If you want to make a difference and be ‘green conscious’, our solar powered battery pulsing / charging systems can dramatically improve the life of your batteries, which ultimately keeps them out of landfills. At a minimum, you are free from finding an outlet, free from paying the utility company to charge a battery and free from buying a new battery. But going further, you really are making a difference in the accumulation of batteries in landfills.”

Larson Electronics offers a wider array of vehicle powered lighting products, including spotlights, flashlights, scene lighting and explosion proof lights incorporating High Intensity Discharge (HID), LED and Halogen light technology. To learn more, please visit www.magnalight.com or contact 1-800-369-6671.

Plastic Handcuff Keys Featured on National Geographic’s Lockdown TV Show

4/26/2008 Kemp, TX

While universal handcuff keys can open most brands of handcuffs, they all share one common characteristic. With one exception, ALL existing universal handcuff keys are made from metal. That one exception is Larson Electronics’ thermoplastic handcuff key, which is made from a proprietary material that has three unique properties. The key is encircled in a removable ring, made from the same materiel. The Magnalight universal cuff key is elastic enough to be manipulated into hiding spots on clothing tags, shirt buttons, watches, shoes, etc. Larson’s handcuff key is also stiff enough to enable the user to separate the key from the retaining ring with a thumb and finger quickly and easily. Finally, the cuff key is strong enough to be used as a daily duty key, while making no audible noise while unlocking the handcuffs. Finally, and most importantly, the patented plastic handcuff key is undetectable by metal detectors.

This concealable, universal handcuff key is available on www.magnalight.com. “The key is designed as an inexpensive insurance policy for law enforcement, corrections officers and soldiers in every branch of the military,” said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics. Rob continued, “on www.magnalight.com, we see police officers, the US Air Force, FBI, Secret Service, Navy SPAWAR and a variety of prison correctional offices purchasing the plastic handcuff key. In fact, our concealable handcuff key is being shown on an upcoming TV episode of National Geographic’s Lockdown show, featuring officers working in a ‘high max’ prison facility on death row at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia. Law enforcement and military personnel in high risk positions can insure themselves against hostage situations by using our concealable key to escape and evade fatal situations. Our handcuff keys continue to save lives.”

The concealable, universal plastic handcuff key is MADE IN THE USA and is available at www.magnalight.com to law enforcement officers, correctional officers and military personnel. All sales are verified before shipping. Please visit Larson Electronics on the web at www.magnalight.com or call 1-800-369-6671 for more information.

WWW.MAGNALIGHT.COM Donates Lights to US Troops in Iraq

Kemp, TX

Larson Electronics (www.magnalight.com) continued to donate lights to the US soldiers stationed in Iraq. “In January, we sent some remote control lights and our HML-5M 24 volt handheld lights to Cpl Baccus’ Task Force National Capital Region unit,” said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics. “Last week, we sent more remote control spotlights and HML-5M 24 volt lights for the HMMVs to SFC Jeremy Prickette’s unit.”

Larson Electronics’ Magnalight HML-5M (HLM-5M) 24 volt spotlight with magnetic base is part of the Escalation of Force Kit issued to deployed soldiers in Iraq. Typically, units charged with clearing roadways search for and clear IEDs at night. Using high powered spotlights assists these units in identifying the explosive threats. The HML-5M can be used handheld, mounted magnetically or attached to the outside of the armor using the armor attachment bolts.

Rob continued, “We are also sending over our new BC-1 bar mount bracket system. These adjustable brackets are machined from aluminum billet and can attach to any size round or square rail, bar, pipe or tube. The attached mounting plate contains the mounting pattern for the remote controlled spotlights, magnetic mount spotlights and our 1870-M 24 Volt High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights. Soldiers can use the BC-1 to horizontally or vertically mount lights on roof racks or the mirror support brackets on the HMMV or MRAP vehicles. These are the latest version of our bar mount brackets that are used on various work trucks, boats and heavy equipment to mount various lighting products.

Larson Electronics has been donating lights to the troops since the start of the US involvement in Iraq. Most notably, Larson organized a fairly substantial donation for SFC Henk’s unit in Iraq at the end of 2006, which received a lot of support from family members, other customers and the media. Through normal military purchasing channels and its website www.magnalight.com, Larson Electronics provides 24 volt spotlights, 24 Volt HID vehicle lights, Golight remote controlled lights, covert infrared light covers, LED IR emitter bars and its patented ‘escape and evade’ plastic, universal handcuff key to troops in Iraq.

New Law Enforcement Products Keep Police and Soldiers Alive

4/14/2008 Kemp, TX

With kidnapping and violent crime on the rise in the United States and abroad, law enforcement and military personnel need to take extra precautions to ensure their safety. www.magnalight.com introduced several new products that help save lives. The list of new officer and soldier safety products include concealable, plastic handcuff keys, rechargeable flashlights with pepper spray and a variety of covert infrared blackout covers for flashlights and vehicle mount spotlights.

The universal handcuff key is made of plastic, not metal. “This key is designed to be hidden behind buttons and clothing tags while being undetectable by metal detectors,” said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics’ www.magnalight.com site. He continued, “the UHC handcuff key is made of a special material that is tough enough to be a duty key, but flexible enough to hidden on various clothing and accessory items. Soldiers and law enforcement personnel can conceal it on their clothing and silently deploy and use the key to escape and evade their capturers. The Air Force and Air National Guard have made it a staple of their Escape and Evasion Kit.”

The plastic, universal handcuff key is popular with corrections officers, just as is the rechargeable flashlight with pepper spray dispenser. “Corrections officers are limited in the ways they can handle issues within the facility,” said Rob. “this FL-RH-PS-1 flashlight combines a high powered, rechargeable flashlight and a pepper spray gun into a single, easy to carry flashlight. Officers can carry less items and keep one hand free.”

Finally, Larson Electronics offers a wide variety of covert infrared lenses on www.magnalight.com for a wide range of remote controlled lights, HID flashlights and HID equipment lights. “Infrared covers block the projection of visible light,” said Rob. “When an infrared pass through cover is placed on a light, the bad guys can’t see the light beam or the source of the light. When the soldier or officer uses their night vision goggles with the infrared blackout cover, they have the visibility they would normally have, while the subject of their investigation cannot see them at all. Initially, this was popular with the military, but now we are seeing a lot of law enforcement agencies use this technology to assist in their work. There are two types of lenses. There is a plastic lens, which offers durability, but minimizes the infrared light energy that passes through. The plastic lenses may be problematic in high heat conditions. Coated borosilicate lenses are basically hardened glass with 24+ coatings. These glass lenses are equally durable and enable most (nearly 90) percent of the light energy to pass through. While the plastic IR lenses are usually made in China, we make our high quality coated glass lenses here in the United State s. Either option dramatically improves the efficiency and safety of night missions.”

You can learn more about Larson Electronics’ growing line of tactical and law enforcement products at www.magnalight.com or 800-369-6671.

New Law Enforcement Products Keep Police and Soldiers Alive

4/14/2008 Kemp, TX

With kidnapping and violent crime on the rise in the United States and abroad, law enforcement and military personnel need to take extra precautions to ensure their safety.   www.magnalight.com introduced several new products that help save lives.  The list of new officer and soldier safety products include concealable, plastic handcuff keys, rechargeable flashlights with pepper spray and a variety of cover infrared blackout covers for flashlights and vehicle mount spotlights.

The universal handcuff key is made of plastic, not metal.  “This key is designed to be hidden behind buttons and clothing tags while being undetectable by metal detectors,” said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics’ www.magnalight.com site.  He continued, “the UHC handcuff key is made of a special material that is tough enough to be a duty key, but flexible enough to hidden on various clothing and accessory items.  Soldiers and law enforcement personnel can conceal it on their clothing and silently deploy and use the key to escape and evade their capturers.  The Air Force and Air National Guard have made it a staple of their Escape and Evasion Kit.” 

The plastic, universal handcuff key is popular with corrections officers, just as is the rechargeable flashlight with pepper spray dispenser.  “Corrections officers are limited in the ways they can handle issues within the facility,” said Rob. “this FL-RH-PS-1  flashlight combines a high powered, rechargeable flashlight and a pepper spray gun into a single, easy to carry flashlight.  Officers can carry less items and keep one hand free.” 

Finally, Larson Electronics offers a wide variety of covert infrared lenses on www.magnalight.com for a wide range of remote controlled lights, HID flashlights and HID equipment lights.  “Infrared covers block the projection of visible light,” said Rob.  “When an infrared pass through cover is placed on a light, the bad guys can’t see the light beam or the source of the light.  When the soldier or officer uses their night vision goggles with the infrared blackout cover, they have the visibility they would normally have, while the subject of their investigation cannot see them at all.  Initially, this was popular with the military, but now we are seeing a lot of law enforcement agencies use this technology to assist in their work.  There are two types of lenses.  There is a plastic lens, which offers durability, but minimizes the infrared light energy that passes through.  The plastic lenses may be problematic in high heat conditions.  Coated borosilicate lenses are basically hardened glass with 24+ coatings.  These glass lenses are equally durable and enable most (nearly 90) percent of the light energy to pass through.  While the plastic IR lenses are usually made in China, we make our high quality coated glass lenses here in the United States.  Either option dramatically improves the efficiency and safety of night missions.”

You can learn more about Larson Electronics’ growing line of tactical and law enforcement products at www.magnalight.com or 800-369-6671.

Golight Spotlights Help Boaters Stay Safe During Global Climate Change

April 3, 2008 – Kemp, TX

National statistics report that boating accidents due to collisions in rising dramatically. The boundaries of lakes, rivers and other waterways are changing as global warming’s impact continues. While some lakes with historically high natural levels are down dramatically, others are at record highs. Boaters unfamiliar with these changes experience expensive boat and propeller damage encountering logs, stumps, rocks and other unmovable objects that are just below the surface. These collisions can strand boaters and/or cause injury to boaters during the incident. Golight spotlights for boats and various high powered high intensity discharge (HID) lights can really aid boaters in keeping themselves and their families safe.

“There are fundamental issues with light and water,” stated Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics. “Obviously, a broad flood light will enable you to see the best. Think of the flood light in your backyard, it can illuminate a large area. However, when you introduce flood lights into a marine environment, you get a phenomenon known as ‘casting.’ Casting is caused by the humidity in the air dispersing the flood light. Once the light is dispersed, the human eye can no longer focus on objects at distances beyond this curtain of dispersed light. In effect, flood lights make visibility worse. Instead a more focused spotlight is effective. The narrower, brighter beam cuts through the humid air and aids the eye at seeing objects at distance.”

The challenge with spotlights is that they only point at a single area in the distance. Life being what it is, the spot the light is focused on is rarely the one where the rock, tree or other obstacle is. Golight spotlights are motorized lights that pan and tilt via a 4 button remote control. The boat operator positions the light beam where needed, scanning back and forth to investigate their path ahead. Being able to position the spotlight brings the best of both worlds together, eliminating issues with casting, while enabling the operator to effectively discern issues anywhere near the vessel.”

Rob continued, “Golight spotlights are often installed by boat manufacturers, since they really want to address functional and safety concerns. For the aftermarket and boat builders, we sell a large variety of Golight spotlights on www.magnalight.com including permanent mount spotlights, magnetic mount spotlights, and the popular Perko post mount spotlights with red and green running lights affixed. We also offer a BC-1 rail mount solution, so that boaters can attach the lights as far forward on the boat as possible, eliminating all casting and improving the reach and effectiveness of the spot beam.”

Larson Electronics (www.magnalight.com) is a manufacturer and distributor of lighting products and other accessories for marine applications. You can learn more about Larson Electronics at www.magnalight.com or 1-800-369-6671.

WWW.MAGNALIGHT.COM Adds Waterproof, Eco-Friendly HID Light For Under $200

Larson Electronics (www.magnalight.com) released the HL-15 handheld spotlight. This high quality High Intensity Discharge (HID) light is the first weatherproof, 35 watt HID light under $200. Projecting a beam nearly 1800 feet, the Magnalight HL-15 is suitable for industrial applications and utility work. Given it's sub $200 price point and weatherproof construction make useful as a boat light and hunting light as well.

The Magnalight HL-15 operates using a high intensity discharge lamp, which lasts more than 5000 hours and generates light output comparable to 200+ watt halogen lamps. "HID lighting offers a lot of benefits to businesses, consumers and military personnel," stated Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics. ""HID lights are intensely bright, last 10 times longer than any normal filament based bulb and draw very little energy. On top of that, there is no filament to break, so they can sustain a lot of damage. When durable bulbs last 10-20 years, we are not filling up landfills with spent bulbs."

The HL-15, with a 35 watt HID lamp, rubberized weatherproof housing and booted toggle switch operates off of 12 volts via a 12 foot coil cord and cigarette plug. The Magnalight HL-15 can be found at www.magnalight.com.

WWW.MAGNALIGHT.COM BECOMES AN ORISS REGISTERED SUPPLIER

Larson Electronics (www.magnalight.com) announced that it is now a registered supplier on ORISS, the Online Rail Industry Supply System.  "We do business with all the major railroad companies, including Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, BNSF, CSX and Kansas City Southern Railway," stated Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics.  "Using Transentric is a way to streamline our interaction with them."

Larson Electronics (www.magnalight.com) manufactures and sells a wide variety of lighting products to the rail industry, from ATV lights for yard applications, portable handheld lighting and motorized remote controlled spotlights.

First Intrinsically Safe HID Flashlight Highlighted During Super Bowl

The half time show at Super Bowl will feature the first intrinsically safe High Intensity Discharge (HID) flashlight, the ATX-20-S.  HID metal halide lights are becoming better known for their blinding output, thanks in part to the adoption of the technology for the new Mercedes and BMW headlights.  HID lights are becoming cost effective, low amp draw alternatives for ultra-high wattage halogen lights common for theater, construction and scene lighting.  Now the first HID flashlight has received a safety rating that enables workers in hazardous environments to benefit from the intense light output without danger of causing explosions.

Intrinsically safe lights do not cause explosions.   Thus workers in highly flammable environments, including oilfields, refineries and chemical storage tanks are required to use intrinsically safe lights.  Very dusty environments common in the farm and agriculture arena also qualify as hazardous.  The lights are subjected to rigorous tests, using propane filled pressure chambers to simulate hazardous environments.  Lights that pass these UL specified tests are assigned a safety rating. 

“Typically, workers using explosion proof lights have been relegated to fairly low power handheld units,” explained Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics.  “On magnalight.com, we carry a wide variety of heavy duty, Made in the USA handheld, intrinsically safe lights.  However, most of these lights have beams that only reach 100 feet.  Now, we have the first Division 1, Class 1 approved High Intensity Discharge (HID) flashlight.  This means that this light can be safely used around flammable gases and explosive materials.  This ATX-20-S is a 20 watt HID flashlight that projects a 1200 lumen beam that reaches more than 1000 feet.  We constantly have inquiries by tank and pipeline inspectors for a more powerful explosion proof flashlight and now we have a fantastic solution on magnalight.com for them.”

Packaged in a traditional flashlight format, the ATX-20-S combines power and convenience into a single model.  As such, the coordinators of the Super Bowl halftime show choose the ATX-20-S to help them organize a special effect that includes spectator participation during the break in the most popular of gridiron football games.  

Larson Electronics manufactures and distributes a wide variety of spotlights and flashlights for military, industrial, boating and hunting applications.  You can learn more at www.magnalight.com or 1-800-369-6671.

Spotlights and Flashlights Go Green and Save Environment

Kemp, TX 1/7/2008

The growing interest in energy conservation, global warming and “green” environmentalism efforts have made new technologies popular.  High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights help protect the environment and offer a wealth of additional benefits to industrial, military and consumer markets.  Due in large part to ultra bright headlights integrated into BMW, Mercedes and other luxury automobiles, everyone is learning about the unmatched power of HID lights.  While HID lights dwarf incandescent bulbs in light output, people may not know that they consume less than 50% of the energy of the common light bulb.  HID lights also put out far less heat than incandescent lights.  Moreover, HID lights often last several thousand more hours than comparably specified halogen lights.  This dramatically reduces the landfill impact, since most HID lights last decades.  On the other hand, most halogen lights are treated as consumable items and are discarded and replaced every few months.

“On www.magnalight.com, we are really seeing our sales of HID spotlights, flood lights and flashlights sky rocket,” said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics.  “Businesses, utilities, soldiers and outdoorsmen want HID spotlights and HID flashlights for high power and durability.  These same customers want low amp draw and minimal maintenance and replacement costs associated with bulb replacement.  There is a very real cost of halting their efforts to find and change bulbs.  This costs businesses, like airlines, railroads and utilities substantial money.  These customers seek out our Magnalight HID lights because they realize the total cost of ownership is much lower than incandescent halogen lights.  Their goals are closely aligned with customers concerned about “going green,” who want to reduce energy consumption and landfill use.  As more customers react to global warming concerns, they are starting to connect the dots, realizing that HID’s attributes deliver “green” advantages.  It’s really a win-win situation for the users of HID lights and the environment of planet Earth,” concluded Rob.  

While a significant investment is often required to “go green” and save the environment (i.e. buying a more fuel efficient car), High Intensity Discharge lights are a natural and easy transition.  Incandescent lights will fail over a normal course of usage, so replacing old spotlights and flashlights with new HID powered lights is simply a matter of being aware of the choice.  You can learn more about HID lights and Larson Electronics at www.magnalight.com or 800-369-6671.

Hunting Lights Move Into the 21^st Century

While computer processing power increases at the rate of Moore’s Law, and nanotechnology produces new materials at the atomic level, most hunters are still using the same light bulb that Thomas Edison designed nearly a century ago. However, the advent of low cost, compact high intensity discharge HID lights and ballasts is dramatically changing lighting products. HID flashlights and HID spotlights of all kinds have made their way into the hands of outdoorsmen and hunters while meeting the needs of the military and industrial customers that they were designed for.

High Intensity Discharge HID lights use 2 electrodes to ignite a paste inside the light bulb. The paste turns to gas and a ballast regulates the current to the electrodes to keep the gas lit. “The burning gas produces more light and less heat with half of the current needed by incandescent lamps,” said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics. “On magnalight.com, sales of HID lights for military, industrial and hunting applications are growing rapidly. Customers are learning that lights, like our 35 watt RL-11, produce a beam that can reach 2500 feet, while drawing only 3.3 amps. This translates into long battery life. Also, HID bulbs have no filament to break, which means they will last thousands of hours. Comparable incandescent bulbs will only have a fraction of the distance and life of HID bulbs.”

HID technology, made popular by its use in vehicles like BMW, has dropped in cost. As component costs fall, HID lights for handheld and vehicle applications have moved from military applications into the hands of hunters. Larson Electronics sells a wide range of HID hunting lights, including HID flashlights AEX25, rechargeable lantern style HID lights

RL-11 and direct vehicle connect HID searchlights CML-15. These HID hunting lights come with accessories, including red lenses, infrared lenses, magnetic bases and vehicle chargers that are ideal in assisting the outdoorsmen in making the most of these HID lights’ power and durability. “Our HML-6M HID light, with its 3000 foot beam and 200 pound grip magnetic base is as popular with hunters as it is with the gunners on the Abrams tank in Iraq,” concluded Bresnahan.

Larson Electronics is an emerging leader in the production and distribution of high powered lighting products for vehicles and handheld use. Please visit www.magnalight.com or contact Larson Electronics at 1-800-369-6671 for more information.