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Thread ID: 117134	2011-04-04 03:22:00	Best LED torch - Cree or Luxeon?	wratterus (105)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1191883	2011-04-04 10:16:00	I second that suggestion Somebody - it fits the bill pretty well, although DX lights do tend to be a bit of a lottery as regards quality - some are great, some appear great until you abuse them, and some are just junk. Wratterus, do note that if you get the light Somebody has linked, the runtime on max won't be great. It's bright as hell, but that particular LED will draw enough current to drain most 18650s in less than an hour. Runtime on the lower modes should be fine though, and will probably fit your requirements. Note also that due to the die size, the long-distance throw isn't great, but it's so bright that you'll still get a useful range out of it, even taking that into account.	Erayd (23)
1191884	2011-04-04 10:17:00	Would you consider using LiIon rechargeables? The 3+ hour runtime at max brightness you've requested will be *very* hard to find in that form factor when using NiMH AAs (unless you're happy with long runtime at a lower brightness), but you'll be able to get something that gets close to that if you're happy to go with 18650s. One other question that wasn't on the checklist - what kind of regulation are you after? Flat / full regulation (can run on constant brightness until the battery is drained). Buck only (constant brightness until the battery voltage is below the regulation voltage, then direct-drive [slowly declining brightness] until the battery is flat). No regulation, direct-drive only (rapidly declining initial brightness, continuing to gradually decline until the battery is flat). Not recommended, but can be cheaper. Also... am I correct in assuming that your dollar values are in NZD, not USD? Edit: If you're in the Wellington area you're welcome to look at a few of mine to get a feel for what is available these days, although I suspect mine are a little above your price range (although not by too much). Ah, I meant to get rid of the 3+ hour line. Don't need that long. Definitely want AAAs or AAs rather than 18650s. Buck Only would be ideal, but not super important, No Regulation would be OK. I do like the look of the DX but really would like it to run on normal batteries. The torch I had was a Mxdl brand, and had 3w LED. Anything even slightly better than that would be quite alright. img.photobucket.com One in from the left, exactly the same. Looks like it was a luxeon.	wratterus (105)
1191885	2011-04-04 10:45:00	Hmmm, I'd say this (www.fenixlight.com), except it's about three times your preferred budget. I'll have a hunt around and see what I can find that fits the bill...	Erayd (23)
1191886	2011-04-04 11:35:00	I get the feeling that you guys haven't seen a modern LED torch - these days they'll quite happily compete with car headlights for both brightness and throw. Wratterus: Could you be a bit more specific about what your requirements are? Ideally if you could cover all the stuff on this checklist (www.candlepowerforums.com) - you've already answered a few of those, but not really enough to recommend you a light yet. Also, if you're after a forum with real expertise in this area... give CPF (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/) a go (particularly the LED subforum) - you'll get a *lot* more info than you will here. Uh...Most likely I've only used cheap ones.lol	Ninjabear (2948)
1191887	2011-04-04 11:40:00	Hmmm, I'd say this (www.fenixlight.com), except it's about three times your preferred budget. I'll have a hunt around and see what I can find that fits the bill... I suppose you look at the Lumen for the measurement in brightness? Wouldn't it be something equivalent to this cgi.ebay.com.au hes&hash=item43a6462e0c ? Just that the website you pointed out looks prettier?lol Not sure how to tell the difference in quality other than reading what the lumen is.. Maybe there are different types of LED technology that gives more brightness than the other normal LED torches?	Ninjabear (2948)
1191888	2011-04-04 12:29:00	I suppose you look at the Lumen for the measurement in brightness?For total light output, yes. For throw brightness, the common measure is lux @ distance. Note also that the figures for many lights are exaggerated by measuring lumens at the LED immediately after switch-on, not actual out-the-front lumens a few minutes after switch-on (LED brightness generally drops slightly as the die heats up). Wouldn't it be something equivalent to this cgi.ebay.com.au hes&hash=item43a6462e0c?No. The light you've linked uses a Q5-binned LED, which is a lot less efficient, and uses 18650 LiIons, not AAs. They also don't list the LED type, but noting the claimed brightness & price, it's likely to be an MC-E or similar. Unfortunately they don't provide a photo of the LED, and haven't noted it in the description. Just that the website you pointed out looks prettier?lolHaha, the site I linked was the manufacturer's site (Fenix) - it's in their best interests to look pretty, their entire business is based on selling torches! They're not top-of-the-line, but they do generally make very good lights, and have a reputation for solid designs with decent build quality. In my experience with their lights, that reputation is well deserved. Not sure how to tell the difference in quality other than reading what the lumen is..LED brand, die type, package type, flux bin, tint, driver, and efficiency. Also worth considering the light body - materials, design, heatsinking, coating, seals, threads, switch type, switch durability, etc. Maybe there are different types of LED technology that gives more brightness than the other normal LED torches?Depends what you mean by 'normal'. The lights you talked about in your earlier post would either have been using *very* cheap LEDs (likely standard 5mm package ones, judging by your description of the number of LEDs and the resulting beam), or very old technology, or both. Decent modern lights generally use a single, much brighter LED (although some lights do still use multiple LEDs, those are generally battery-guzzlers, and only really needed if you're wanting to provide biblical levels of illumination). The downside is that these LEDs are more expensive, which means you're unlikely to find them in lights that fit in the 'cheap supermarket impulse-purchase' category.	Erayd (23)
1191889	2011-04-04 19:50:00	I get the feeling that you guys haven't seen a modern LED torch - these days they'll quite happily compete with car headlights for both brightness and throw. . Well how modern is modern? he bought the thing only a few months ago. He has hundreds of torches. Shine it under a dark house and the immediate area is ok, but it isn't much good for looking further under.	pctek (84)
1191890	2011-04-04 21:09:00	My mates caving light which is LED can light up a hillside at a minimum of 1/2 km away possible more but then it cost $900 my adapted light with a single 10W LED which cost $20 and gives an excellent spread due to the shape of the reflector runs on 3 AA's for 48 hours continuous use. So it can be achieved it just requires shopping around	gary67 (56)
1191891	2011-04-04 21:42:00	Well how modern is modern? he bought the thing only a few months ago. He has hundreds of torches. Shine it under a dark house and the immediate area is ok, but it isn't much good for looking further under. So to make husband as happy as Larry, spend $900.	Cicero (40)
1191892	2011-04-04 22:38:00	Well how modern is modern? he bought the thing only a few months ago. He has hundreds of torches. Shine it under a dark house and the immediate area is ok, but it isn't much good for looking further under.I meant modern design & parts, not when it was bought. If all it can do it light the immediate area under a house, then either it doesn't fall into that category, or you didn't realise it was set to a low output mode. ...my adapted light with a single 10W LED which cost $20 and gives an excellent spread due to the shape of the reflector runs on 3 AA's for 48 hours continuous use. So it can be achieved it just requires shopping aroundMmm, it won't be 48 hours on max brightness though - the math just doesn't add up for that. 48 hours of light is certainly achievable from 3 AAs, but it'll be an awful lot dimmer than what the LED is capable of. Being extremely generous with the batteries and assuming 3AH per AA, and ignoring voltage drop, that would only drive 10W for an hour. Alkalines would be even worse, as they don't handle high loads well.	Erayd (23)
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