Run-Time Plot - CMG Reactor

This runtime plot is for a CMG Reactor with a LS Led. At the end eight hours, it was still putting out enough light to see your feet with.

Equipment used is a photocell and a Radio Shack 22-805 multimeter with a PC interface that is using ScopeView software (V 1.08).

The vertial axis is in MA and the horizontal axis is in 30 minutes per division.

Be aware that your actual battery mileage may vary from that indicated by this runtime plot.

Runtime Plot using 2 Everactive Alkaline batteries


ADDED:09-29-02

Runtime Plot Using 2 Lithiun Batteries

Nice info, Roy. Thanks.

Addendum:

That looks like a plot for Alkalines. I would expect Lithium AAs to be better.

Added a runtime plot using Lithium batteries.

Roy,

I just want to say a quick thanks for sharing your runtime graphs with us. Not having the equipment to do it myself, I really appreciate having your information to look at.

Thanks,
Pat

this looks like one of the more efficient lights using lithium batteries. According to brightnorms review stays brighter longer than the x5 and opalec. I have my reactor with improved switch on the way from brightguy.

Runtime on Lithiums: WOW!!

Those lithium's sure make a difference, thanks for the info.

Hey Roy!

I have to ask - are you sure about that lithium plot? If that's correct, (and correct me if I'm wrong - I don't know how the light sensor detects the output) the Reactor on alkalines reaches 50% of it's starting output after 1 1/2 hours. On Lithiums it reaches 50% of it's starting output after 20 hours.

That means even if the Lithium batteries cost 10 times as much, you are still getting your money's worth and then some.

BTW, you are one "hoopy frood" who knows where his towel is! (obscure HHGTTG reference)

Originally posted by Quickbeam:
Hey Roy!

I have to ask - are you sure about that lithium plot? If that's correct, (and correct me if I'm wrong - I don't know how the light sensor detects the output) the Reactor on alkalines reaches 50% of it's starting output after 1 1/2 hours. On Lithiums it reaches 50% of it's starting output after 20 hours.

That means even if the Lithium batteries cost 10 times as much, you are still getting your money's worth and then some.

Click to expand...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Actually, those plots look absolutely correct for a Luxeon driven directly from a two cell flashlight. As you drain an alkaline battery, it's voltage falls quickly at first, then the voltage falloff rate tapers off to nearly linear. Two alkalines might start out at 3.1-3.15 volts, and quickly fall to 2.75-2.8V. From there the voltage continues constantly creeping down. Fresh, they produce barely enough voltage to effectively drive a Luxeon. If you took them out when the Reactor's light was no longer useful - they would still have a good amount of energy in them that the Reactor couldn't use. I bet you could take those AA's out of the reactor, and use them in a CMG infinity (which has a voltage boost circuit) for another 20 hours - as they still have a lot of usable capacity, though their voltage is depressed.

Two Lithium AA cells start at 3.2-3.4V, and under current drain fall to 3.0V - BUT they stay at 2.9-3.0V until they are nearly dead. At this point the voltage begins creeping down. By the time the Reactor's light is no longer useful - you've extracted most of the energy from the Lithium cells - you got your money's worth.

The Reactor would be a more useful light with a switch mode boost circuit driving the Luxeon - like the ARC LS, and all the famous maglight Luxeon "pill" conversions. (I'm a homebrew switch mode boost circuit hacker).

I prefer slightly dimmer, but longer runtime.

Moved to reviews. Follow via the link up by your name.

Wow...remember how bad we had it!

Way to go digging up an OLD thread!!!

I remember having one of these and showing it off to my mates - would love to track it down wherever it's hiding in my house now - I'm sure I'd love the feeble sickly green glimmer it gives out compared to my P4's and cree's!!!

Have mine still laying around here, never really used it (as well as my Streamlight TL-3 LED) because of that ugly green pee-tint

Just wanted to let the newer guys know how bad we had it a few years ago diro.

V8TOYTRUCK said:

Just wanted to let the newer guys know how bad we had it a few years ago diro.

Click to expand...

These newbies don't know how lucky they are with their fancy "Q5 I can hit a barn door at 300 yards and the beam is pure white" posh torches.