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Pelican Mini-Flasher IR LED

Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:14 am
by workinwifdakids
My question is about inexpensive IR beacons; as an example, Pelican's Mini-Flasher IR LED for under $15. Is this a novelty, do you think? Or would it really be useful?

I'm thinking about its application if, for example, one were stranded in the desert, on a life raft in the open ocean, or injured while backpacking. Would a helicopter with infrared be able to see these strobe from the air? It isn't worth thousands of dollars, and I'm not deploying to BFE. I just think that if they work, this is a marvelous, tiny gadget for nearly no money.

Re: Pelican Mini-Flasher IR LED

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:24 am
by Combat Controller
Get some IR glow sticks and if you need them you have them.

Re: Pelican Mini-Flasher IR LED

Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:23 am
by workinwifdakids
Would IR glow sticks work if you needed to IR mark for a helicopter?

Re: Pelican Mini-Flasher IR LED

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:17 pm
by NVGdude
It depends. We use the IR glow sticks to mark off drop zones or a "box and one" for rotor wing use. You can see them a ways off with the NVGs. For search and rescue, a blinky IR light like the Phoenix IR beacon is much better, you can see those for miles with the NVGs.

Re: Pelican Mini-Flasher IR LED

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:57 pm
by workinwifdakids
NVGdude, PM inbound.

Re: Pelican Mini-Flasher IR LED

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 4:06 am
by JAG2955
I acquired a Phoenix Jr. for my E&E kit. Didn't get a chance to test it though. I also have one of the Firefly survival/rescue strobes, the kind that has an IR filter on the top, and you can also use it as a directional blue strobe so it's not mistaken for muzzle blast. The white light on the Firefly can be seen an extremely long distance. The Firefly is more than you want to pay, at over $100.

Might this be a good suggestion?
http://www.nitevis.com/Guardian_detail.htm

Re: Pelican Mini-Flasher IR LED

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:30 am
by workinwifdakids
JAG2955 wrote:I acquired a Phoenix Jr. for my E&E kit. Didn't get a chance to test it though. I also have one of the Firefly survival/rescue strobes, the kind that has an IR filter on the top, and you can also use it as a directional blue strobe so it's not mistaken for muzzle blast. The white light on the Firefly can be seen an extremely long distance. The Firefly is more than you want to pay, at over $100.

Might this be a good suggestion?
http://www.nitevis.com/Guardian_detail.htm

WOW. That link is great!

BTW, if you can please test the Phoenix Jr., the question is: is it visible to the naked eye, too?