My old strobe has seen better days and I'm trying to decide if I should have it refurbished or should I just replace it with the latest and greatest. What are you guys using? Do they work well or not? I'd appreciate any input good or bad.

Thanks,
Travis

Travis,

I like the Monarch DB but it depeneds on what you want to do with the strobe.

Search this site and you will find we have discussed this many times before.

I use a PK2 Pocket Strobe which I bought from Reliability Direct. Not too expensive ($665 for the kit), nice form factor (not too heavy, fits your hand good, you can use it with only one hand using the belt hoster), plenty bright, good battery life (3-4 days for typical usage). But you don't want to make a habit of dropping it.

I've used a Palm Strobe (Monarch) and it's good also, but I don't like to form (doesn't fit the hand very good, takes two hands to use it).

PK2X Pocket Strobe

Travis,

When buying a strobe I try and think of the following things.

* Where do I use it the most? inside or outside?
* Do I carry it all the time or is it only when you are fault finding?
* If I will be carrying all the time how big is it and how heavy can it get?
* Do I need to connect it to my data collector?

The cheaper units on the market are nice & small and robust but I believe are limited to use as they can be difficult to use outdoors, the flash does not seem bright enough.

I personaly like the Monarch style, you pay a little more for it but I think they are good value for money.

I'm using a Shimpo brand at the moment and it has good functions but it is very heavy.

Hope this helps,

Hooch

We have a couple of the PK2's from Monarch. They work well for us. As to using them outside, I've never had much success using any strobe in direct sunlight.

Travis - here is specs and pricing on a large variety of strobes:
http://www.reliabilitydirectstore.com/Stroboscope-s/42.htm

For doing detailed diagnostics, it's hard to beat the CSI 444 strobe. It is large and heavy and built like a Sherman tank, but is awfully powerful in terms of functions. I don't think CSI makes them any more (perhaps nobody wanted to pay $3500 for one), but I know a vibration guy who has a number of these (who knows why?) and he might part with one, but only to a "good home."