RI Chevy
Flashlight Enthusiast
...........lovecpf..........:goodjob:
The ArmyTek 120 day Challenge!!!
- Thread starter subwoofer
- Start date
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...........lovecpf..........:goodjob:
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
1/6th of the way there and rather unsurprisingly there is no change to report.
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
1/6th of the way there and rather unsurprisingly there is no change to report.
AardvarkSagus
Flashlight Enthusiast
This is fantastic! I love these tests. This is one of the only places that manufacturers have to really watch what they claim, because we'll find out!
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
And a little observation, mainly about the efficiency of a hot LED -
I'm testing the new Viking Pro and had this running on maximum output until it become very hot. I then switched it onto the lowest firefly mode and decided to visually compare it to the Predators on test here. It appeared significantly dimmer maybe a quarter of the output. Wondering if the lowest firefly mode on the Viking Pro was really that much lower it struck me that the LED would still be very hot. After leaving it to cool, the Viking Pro's firefly output returned to a visually similar level to the Predator X (unsurprisingly as the Viking Pro is the replacement for the Predator X). So the temperature of the XM-L2 LED did have a significant effect on the low level output of the Viking Pro.
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
And a little observation, mainly about the efficiency of a hot LED -
I'm testing the new Viking Pro and had this running on maximum output until it become very hot. I then switched it onto the lowest firefly mode and decided to visually compare it to the Predators on test here. It appeared significantly dimmer maybe a quarter of the output. Wondering if the lowest firefly mode on the Viking Pro was really that much lower it struck me that the LED would still be very hot. After leaving it to cool, the Viking Pro's firefly output returned to a visually similar level to the Predator X (unsurprisingly as the Viking Pro is the replacement for the Predator X). So the temperature of the XM-L2 LED did have a significant effect on the low level output of the Viking Pro.
I posted an update 2 days ago as we have passed day 30. How often do you want them?
For a 120 day challenge, we are not really talking edge of the seat stuff here are we.
I was considering some sort of daily update, with maybe a thought for the day thrown in as well, but it seemed a bit excessive.
Currently my intention was to post the 10 day milestone updates and any 'changes' such as a challenger dropping out.
Cereal_Killer
Enlightened
Subscribed.
So with this new Viking pro is there any talk of the predators being discontinued anytime? I want to pick one up but I can't choose...
So with this new Viking pro is there any talk of the predators being discontinued anytime? I want to pick one up but I can't choose...
No, the Viking Pro replaces the Predator X, not the Predator. The Viking Pro uses XM-L2 LEDs and the Predator with its tighter beam uses a smaller emitter the XP-G2.
The choice you need to make is over the tighter or wider beam.
Couple of clarifications plus a couple of questions
- clarification, the XM-L2 has a wider hotspot than the XP-G2 (10-degrees vs 5-degrees), but the spillbeam angle is still the same 40-degrees for both, so when you decide between tighter or wider beams, it's just the hotspot and intensity, as the the XM-L2's beam is not wider than the XP-G2's.
Questions:
- Is the Viking Pro simply a renaming of the Predator X Pro? At one point in time IIRC, the Predator Pro and the Viking had different UI's (with the Predator Pros having a more customizable UI). Do they both have the same UI but just different names now to differentiate the models by emitter/reflector? Their website claims that the Predator Pro UI has 5 modes vs the Viking Pro's 4 modes, but the website could need updating or have a typo (such as the Viking Pro Warm XM-L2's 620 lumens for 20h, where they obviously made a mistake with an extra 0. It should have read 62 lumens for 20h).
- Does this mean that the Predator Pros are now only going to be the XP-G2 models (OR at least till a another emitter comes out)?
Max
Indeed the total spill angle is in fact the same, with only the hotspot being wider with the XM-L2. Much of this information is available on the Armytek website.
The Viking was a much simpler UI, but that was before Armytek decided to keep the Predator as XP-G2 only and move the XM-L2 into the Viking range only. They then upgraded the Viking to the Viking Pro by using the same programmable driver as the Predator (Pro). So the Viking Pro is fully programmable like the Predator Pro and both models also have a simpler version without the programming without the Pro suffix.
I have a forthcoming Viking/Viking Pro review where the differences will be made clear. Armytek could have made it clearer that the Viking Pro had this fully programmable driver and so far have not included instructions that explain the programming, instead you need to use the Predator programming guide.
Thanks for the info. Good to know that the Viking Pro has the same programmability as the Predator Pro (so the 5-modes vs 4-modes on the ArmyTek website is another typo?). I'm still wondering about the possibility of swapping out the reflector on the Viking Pro for a beam profile that better suits my preferences, simply because I like the build and powerful UI of these lights.
Max
Max
So we have sailed past day 40. No visible change in outputs or relative outputs, but then again my eyes can't measure sub-lumen outputs. Frustratingly, I cannot measure the battery voltage as I do not want to disturb the experiment to take a measurement.
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
Last edited:
Day 50 has passed us by and there is no visible change to any of the Predators or change to their relative outputs.
As Armytek have kept me busy with other test samples, I've not had time to build my sub-lumen IS sensor however I do have a reference light to compare them with visually, the Viking Pro.
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
As Armytek have kept me busy with other test samples, I've not had time to build my sub-lumen IS sensor however I do have a reference light to compare them with visually, the Viking Pro.
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
I've started to use a Viking Pro on firefly as a visual reference to compare the outputs. All the Predators are brighter than the Viking Pro so I will be able to see if they start to dim.
We are half way through the challenge and no change to report! Even if they failed now 60days or 1440 hours is mighty impressive, however they are still going, and with no apparent change in output.
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
We are half way through the challenge and no change to report! Even if they failed now 60days or 1440 hours is mighty impressive, however they are still going, and with no apparent change in output.
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
Past day 70 now, that is now 1691 hours and counting.....
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
Day of
Challenge - Date
10 ---------- 19/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
20 ---------- 29/05/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
30 ---------- 08/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
40 ---------- 18/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
50 ---------- 28/06/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
60 ---------- 08/07/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
70 ---------- 18/07/2013 21:00 :thumbsup:
80 ---------- 28/07/2013 21:00
90 ---------- 07/08/2013 21:00
100 -------- 17/08/2013 21:00
110 -------- 27/08/2013 21:00
120 -------- 06/09/2013 21:00
Last edited:
WilsonCQB1911
Enlightened
I love this thread. Keep up the good work!
