HDS Systems EDC #14

[fnj]

Really? Over 40 days of continues output on the lowest setting? If that can routinely be achieved with a Clicky that's impressive. Now if a comparable Rotary is getting 6 days that's a big discrepancy in runtime.

I'm pretty sure we're talking about the old generation HDS EDC (i.e., pre Novatac days) here. There was at least one test with a CR123A that reached over 40 days. I have some sense that the post-Novatac Ra clickies could not match that, and I'm pretty sure the current clickies can't.

 

[Thefo]

Fit and finish on the light seem to be perfect- bezel alignment, LED placement, etc. The new threads are top notch. I can't even find any defects in the anodization. The reflector texturing looks beautiful. No dust under the lens or fingerprints on the reflector. The rotary control has a wonderfully damped feeling and the functionality seems superb. The old click-doubleclick-tripleclick-press and hold interface seems almost quaint -- but having the ability to directly select a situational output level with button pushes complements the rotary function perfectly.

There is a ring near the periphery of the beam, however (about 10% of the beam radius from the outer edge), which is something I've never seen in an HDS light before. Is this a result of the new reflector manufacturer that HDS is using, or is it because of the emitter? Could someone with a first-run Rotary comment on whether their beam exhibits that artifact? I'll try to get a beamshot later on.

I have a first run rotary and mine too has a small ring near the periphery so the reflector is most likely the same used on the first run. Perhaps it could be a combination of the XPG and the thick o ring used under the bezel? In any case it doesn't bother me at all.

 

[TyJo]

Well, I have an update to my test above. The light went off today sometime between 148-156 hours.

My test just finished and I got the same results. I noticed the light flashing in the middle of the night so I turned it off. When I turned it on in the morning it only ran for about 10 minutes. On a surefire battery I got 6days 7-8hours, or 151 hours (rotary mode, lowest level). This test showed me that I don't need to be concerned with the runtime, 6 days continuous is overkill for me.

well for better or worse, your test confirmed my measurements (i saw around 10mA at 3V).

Yes your measurements were correct, my skepticism wasn't. I would love to hear what you get on a clicky if you get your hands on one.

There is a ring near the periphery of the beam, however (about 10% of the beam radius from the outer edge), which is something I've never seen in an HDS light before. Is this a result of the new reflector manufacturer that HDS is using, or is it because of the emitter? Could someone with a first-run Rotary comment on whether their beam exhibits that artifact? I'll try to get a beamshot later on.

I have a first-run rotary and after shining on a white wall I noticed a ring on the very outside of the spill, and then a very dimly lit ring on the outside of the main spill. I never noticed them before, they are perfectly concentric and transition well (aren't very "ringy"), so they haven't bothered me.

I just ran an AW RCR123 runtime test (voltage was 4.14v, so not fully charged but around what they usually come off of my pila). Rotary is in rotary mode, highest level, with burst enabled. With burst enabled on rotary max, I got 58 minutes till the first step down. The light stepped down rapidly after that for a couple minutes, so its probably a good idea to change the battery immediately after you see the first step down or decrease the output significantly.

O... And glad to hear everyone is getting their lights, have fun. Programming thread if you want to post your set-ups or get ideas.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

Well, I have an update to my test above. The light went off today sometime between 148-156 hours.

So a little over six days of continuous run time on low, or 2 1/2 months if used for 2-hours a day.

While it's technically less efficient than older models, seriously, who cares?

 

[Eric Isaacson]

So a little over six days of continuous run time on low, or 2 1/2 months if used for 2-hours a day.

While it's technically less efficient than older models, seriously, who cares?

While I'd love it to run forever on a single battery on low I know this isn't an option. I'm happy to know what I can expect and not unhappy with the runtime our tests showed. I'm loving my Rotary, and have no plans to stop carrying it.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

I talked to Henry earlier this evening too and he said the problems with his vendors are not only behind him, but the new shop he's working with is close by, better equipped, and has a better attitude when it comes to delivering on time. I believe there are a lot of good things on the horizon coming from HDS!

Yeah, man, bring on the high CRI Rotary!

 

[bondr006]

So a little over six days of continuous run time on low, or 2 1/2 months if used for 2-hours a day.

While it's technically less efficient than older models, seriously, who cares?

+100%. I agree wholeheartedly Mtn.Man. BTW....I just got my brand spanking new Rotary in the mail....

I will report back this evening. Gotta take the wife to the airport and then off to work. I can tell I'm gonna love it already though.

 

[chanjyj]

So a little over six days of continuous run time on low, or 2 1/2 months if used for 2-hours a day.

While it's technically less efficient than older models, seriously, who cares?

It's ALOT less efficient, IMHO.

 

[Pöbel]

I'm pretty sure we're talking about the old generation HDS EDC (i.e., pre Novatac days) here. There was at least one test with a CR123A that reached over 40 days. I have some sense that the post-Novatac Ra clickies could not match that, and I'm pretty sure the current clickies can't.

the rotary clocks in around 10mA, the old ra clicky around 1mA. I don't see why it should not get 1000+ hours

 

[gearmonky]

So a little over six days of continuous run time on low, or 2 1/2 months if used for 2-hours a day.

While it's technically less efficient than older models, seriously, who cares?

don't forget, you can cut that down to about 60% for an rcr (around 80 hours). and sure, that's still over a month, given your example usage cycle. but, seriously, i (and others) still care. because here's the catch: your usage cycle isn't everyone else's.

first, we are talking about runtime at the lowest possible level. lets call it 80 hours at level 1. my normal usage is level 9 (unless i've just woken up or my eyes are very dark-adjusted). at this level, i'll probably see 60 hours usage on my RCRs.

second, inefficiency bothers me. maybe its just the engineer in me, but i do not like waste, especially when i know it can be done better. i understand tradeoffs were made, and i understand that the rotary isn't horribly inefficient, but the fact that there are other lights that will run 4 times as long for similar (low output) light levels bothers me. the more efficient the light, the longer it runs, and the less i need to recharge.

third, here's a scenario for you: you are away from home, your battery is depleted, (call it 5%), and now you need light. would you rather have light for 5% of 60 hours, or 5% of 160* hours? a 60 hour runtime isn't that bad, but it is an ideal case that assumes no other use of the light at all.


*the 160h number is assuming that of the 12.5mA i measured at level 9, 8mA of that is overhead.

i do, however, agree with your other post (though for me it might be a clicky, if they have better runtime):

Yeah, man, bring on the high CRI Rotary!

:naughty:

 

[Sparky's Magic]

Woohoo!!! Now the wait for the HCRI truly begins

+1 Hi-CRI.

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

It's ALOT less efficient, IMHO.

Technically speaking yes it is, but my thinking is that if 6 days of continuous run time on low isn't adequate for the average person then it can only mean the zombie apocalypse is upon us, and God help us all.



For the record, I do appreciate the difference in efficiency and understand why it might bother some people, but for my purposes, the Rotary will be more than efficient enough for me to get months of use out of a single battery. And since I use rechargeables and change them out every week or two, running out of juice would be even less of a concern.

 

[HighLumens]

...I intentionally ran the 200 lumen test on a battery that wasn't fully charged ...(IIRC it ran for about 1 hr 5 minutes before it stepped down and then I turned it off as I saw what I needed to) I have the burst turned off so it was full power for at least an hour.

...I just ran an AW RCR123 runtime test (voltage was 4.14v, so not fully charged but around what they usually come off of my pila). Rotary is in rotary mode, highest level, with burst enabled. With burst enabled on rotary max, I got 58 minutes till the first step down....

I' m a bit confused guys, Eric Isaacson said 1h 5m on a RCR123 (right? that's what I' ve understood) at 200 lumens continuos; TyJo said 58 minutes with the same battery at 140 lumens. :shrug: What did I miss?

 

[pjandyho]

I think full 6 days of operation on a single cell in level 1 is long enough. Maybe some of you might need an even longer a run time, but for the life of me I could not see why I would need that. Why would I want to limit myself to 0.08 lumen for the next 6 days? Remember, 6 days assuming you run the light 24 hours a day. Who does that? I don't care about emergencies because here in where I stay it is plenty bright and natural disasters are unheard of so I don't really see a need for superb long run time on 0.08 lumen. I know, some of you may live in hurricane prone areas where power could be knocked out for days or maybe even weeks. My short answer is, carry spare batteries. I believe most if not all who reside in hurricane or disaster prone areas do have a bug out bag prepared for such an emergency, so what is stopping you from throwing a dozen spare cells in the bag? If I am going on an extended trip I always carry more spare batteries than needed. On a day trip I have at least one spare battery. Question is, why limit your light to 0.08 lumen when all you need do is carry some spare batteries and make full use out of it? I don't mean to offend but sometimes I find such discussions to be moot.

 

[nbp]

Agreed.

BUT just because I'm curious, I might pop a new cell in my Clicky 140 and reprogram it so I have the lowest level and see how long it runs for the sake of comparisons. I've got extras.

 

[nbp]

Ok, as of 2:15pm, May 25 I have started a runtime test of my Clicky 140 (SSC P4) on level one. We'll see what happens. I better beat those Rotaries. :nana:

 

[calipsoii]

+1 Hi-CRI. It could be months before we see the Rotary down here in Australia and as for a Hi-CRI, well...

Yep, still waiting on the High CRI. I don't like that my 170Cn is sitting abandoned on my bedside table, but I just can't bring myself to use it's ugly green beam.

Until then:

 

[Blades]

I don't mean to offend but sometimes I find such discussions to be moot.

I'm not offended, but a lot of what is discussed on the internet is moot, but still fun to read.

 

[pjandyho]

I'm not offended, but a lot of what is discussed on the internet is moot, but still fun to read.

Yes, that's why I always come back to CPF. The lights are one thing, but the community is the main thing. You guys are cool!

 

[Eric Isaacson]

I' m a bit confused guys, Eric Isaacson said 1h 5m on a RCR123 (right? that's what I' ve understood) at 200 lumens continuos; TyJo said 58 minutes with the same battery at 140 lumens. :shrug: What did I miss?

I just ran mine again and I got 54 minutes before the first step-down, I continued to let it run until it stepped down a few more times. At 1 hour 17 minutes I shut it down, however, it was still running.

There is a difference between my earlier test and this one, I'm thinking I missed one of the "step downs" on the earlier test and just saw one of the later one's thinking it was the first. This is on an AW RCR123