HDS Systems EDC # 16

[someguy4747]

I got a Rotary 200 on the way! Does anyone have a glo ring around the emitter? Pics? Do you know what size?

Why don't you use the locator flash? It blinks once every 3 seconds on the lowest moonlight mode so you can find it in the dark. It is a great feature. It will run for 37 months on this mode! As soon as I realized it would run for 37 months I have used the setting. It has come in handy several times and I always use it on my nightstand. I don't knock my light over trying to find it in the dark anymore! 37 months!

[Flashlike]

Why don't you use the locator flash? It blinks once every 3 seconds on the lowest moonlight mode so you can find it in the dark. It is a great feature. It will run for 37 months on this mode! As soon as I realized it would run for 37 months I have used the setting. It has come in handy several times and I always use it on my nightstand. I don't knock my light over trying to find it in the dark anymore! 37 months!

Thanks for the tip on that. I knew the locator flash was a selectable option but thought it would sap the battery a lot sooner than that. Where are you coming up with the "37 months"?

[someguy4747]

Thanks for the tip on that. I knew the locator flash was a selectable option but thought it would sap the battery a lot sooner than that. Where are you coming up with the "37 months"?

Gotta love CPF cause somebody did a runtime test of course!

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sho...ost-204)/page9

[fnj]

Gotta love CPF cause somebody did a runtime test of course!

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?132584-HDS-EDC-locator-flash-runtime-test-in-progress-now-concluded!!!-(see-post-204)/page9

That test was done on a 2006 series HDS EDC. I believe the current models are vastly less efficient in low level, and would presume this to be the case with locator beacon as well. Did I miss something? Until I see such a test run on a current model, I am highly skeptical.

[Slumber Pass]

That test was done on a 2006 series HDS EDC. I believe the current models are vastly less efficient in low level, and would presume this to be the case with locator beacon as well. Did I miss something? Until I see such a test run on a current model, I am highly skeptical.

True, but if the current line-up is half as efficient as the "2006 series", that is still a freakin long time.

[LightWalker]

That test was done on a 2006 series HDS EDC. I believe the current models are vastly less efficient in low level, and would presume this to be the case with locator beacon as well. Did I miss something? Until I see such a test run on a current model, I am highly skeptical.

Why are the current models vastly less efficient in low level?

[fnj]

Why are the current models vastly less efficient in low level?

Because the design tradeoff now favors better efficiency on the high end.

[derfyled]

Also, the older line was using PWM in the lower settings, so a bit more efficient. AFAIK, the newest ones are 100% current regulated.

(I might be wrong though but I never seen any PWM signs on my Clicky...)

[pjandyho]

Also, the older line was using PWM in the lower settings, so a bit more efficient. AFAIK, the newest ones are 100% current regulated.

(I might be wrong though but I never seen any PWM signs on my Clicky...)

Is PWM more efficient? I have the impression constant current regulation would be more efficient but I may be wrong.

[derfyled]

Is PWM more efficient? I have the impression constant current regulation would be more efficient but I may be wrong.

Again, I might be wrong.

From what I know, PWM will be more efficient in low levels since there is no energy lost in heat.

[pjandyho]

Again, I might be wrong.

From what I know, PWM will be more efficient in low levels since there is no energy lost in heat.

I will be honest with you. My understanding of current and regulation are very basic. Wasn't trying to correct you nor challenge your statement, but rather I am trying to get a grasp of what is right and what is wrong so I know what to look for in future purchases. Whatever I know comes from all the reading here in CPF, of course that means that sometimes I may get the wrong info. What I have read is that one don't necessarily save power by running on low output using PWM because the circuitry is essentially running at high output pulses. The pulsing is what helps in giving the impression of a low output. Not sure if I sound right here. Whatever it is, I don't even know how the low output could be achieved just by PWM action alone. Maybe someone can clarify?

[the.Mtn.Man]

Because the design tradeoff now favors better efficiency on the high end.

Of course we're still talking hundreds of hours of continuous runtime on the lowest setting, so nobody needs to panic about the reduced effeciency.

[kaichu dento]

Of course we're still stalking hundreds of hours of continuous runtime on the lowest setting, so nobody needs to panic about the reduced effeciency.

Bingo - I almost posted as much a couple hours ago and decided to let it run its course, as I often learn a bit that way too.

Plenty of runtime either way.

[fnj]

There is no simple answer to which is the better emitter brightness control method. A linear regulator is not of much interest to us. A switching regulator, like a linear regulator, also puts out a filtered, steady output at whatever current it is set to; it just uses another, generally more efficient (over a wide range) design. A good switching regulator is good down to a point. Below that point, emitter efficiency drops off. I would guess that point is somewhere VERY roughly in the neighborhood of 10 mA for the emitters we would be interested in. OTOH, emitter efficiency drops off progressively, and eventually quite severely, as the current RISES ABOVE (very very roughly) a few hundred mA. The very highest emitter efficiency will be found over a pretty broad range in the tens of mA.

A switching regulator also has inherent losses of its own; more (as a percentage) as its output is reduced. And the emitter will give you tint shift as the steady drive current varies.

PWM "controls" the average current by simply switching the source to the emitter on and off very rapidly; so rapidly the eye is at least somewhat tricked into seeing a steady brightness (subject to strobe effects if either the source or some viewed object is moving rapidly in relation to each other). As such, the emitter is operating at full current a certain percentage of the time, and zero current the rest of the time. The emitter efficiency will ideally (and pretty much practically) be constant. If the current being switched is the full current of the highest setting, as it is in pure PWM, that efficiency will be substantially less than the emitter is capable of at less than full brightness. Then, as the brightness becomes VERY low, the same principles operates to prevent the emitter efficiency from dropping TOO low.

(Pure) PWM ideally contributes NO losses of its own. It is just an on-off switch operating continuously very fast. And it eliminates tint shift.

Thus it is impossible to say adjustable switching regulation is more efficient or PWM is more efficient. It is a more nuanced situation. At some brightness settings, one is more efficient, and at others, the other is more efficient.

In the past, and perhaps in the present, HDS has (and perhaps does) use a COMBINATION of switching regulation AND PWM. This was to address tint shift, and most likely to give the best compromise in efficiency at both high and low brightness.

IANAFB, and certainly don't have any inside HDS info, so this is not authoritative, but it is my understanding.

[Jackyl]

Why don't you use the locator flash? It blinks once every 3 seconds on the lowest moonlight mode so you can find it in the dark. It is a great feature. It will run for 37 months on this mode! As soon as I realized it would run for 37 months I have used the setting. It has come in handy several times and I always use it on my nightstand. I don't knock my light over trying to find it in the dark anymore! 37 months!

Oh I plan to, but the wife is a little nutty about sleeping with "lights on". It's so bad she has to cover the standby led on the U-Verse DVR in our bedroom or she can't go to sleep. I just tell her to close her damn eyes and she can't see it, but it's not good enough...LOL. I just told her about this awesome feature and she was like NO EFFIN WAY! LOL. I'm sure bezel down would be perfect and I can't wait to get my hands on this one.

Does anyone offer a reasonable priced ti. replacement bezel? If not WHY in the world not? This thing is begging for blue torch colored crenelations bleeding out into light gold.

[Imon]

Oh I plan to, but the wife is a little nutty about sleeping with "lights on". It's so bad she has to cover the standby led on the U-Verse DVR in our bedroom or she can't go to sleep. I just tell her to close her damn eyes and she can't see it, but it's not good enough...LOL. ...

Lol, your wife isn't nutty! I have to cover up the standby and power indicator LEDs on my laptop when I go to bed because I like complete darkness when I sleep. I have to admit now that you mention it, it does sound a little weird.
Still, I'm sure you guys know this but if you wake up in the middle of the night with night-adjusted eyes those small LEDs, while not that bright, can light up a room enough to navigate around - or enough to be annoying...

[kaichu dento]

For what it's worth I also bought into the idea of having the locator flash, but found it distracting and after a few days shut it back off. Would be nice if it could have been lower yet and also had the option of longer periods between flashes.

Great feature, but definitely not for all users.

[the.Mtn.Man]

In a dark room, even 0.07 lumen can appear almost blindingly bright.

[Darwinsdead]

I like the idea of the locator flash but in practice it needs to be customizable.

This is the response I got from Henry about the GITD rings:

I assume you are planning on putting it under the lens - in which case you will need a 1x19mm. Use two to put one on each side of the lens.

Or you may want to consider a 1x6mm under the reflector - around the LED.

Anyone have any idea about dealers that are getting or have HDS back in stock?
Still debating on HCRI or the 170t : /

[kaichu dento]

In a dark room, even 0.07 lumen can appear almost blindingly bright.

That's why I don't even think of it as a super low setting, but rather a low that is all too bright in many instances of use. Looking forward to .005 lumen ultra-low on my next light.

[AnAppleSnail]

That's why I don't even think of it as a super low setting, but rather a low that is all too bright in many instances of use. Looking forward to .005 lumen ultra-low on my next light.

See our experiments on ultra lows we can't measure here:
Project Lamplighter

A similar project

Yet another

I find that 2 D-cell alkalines, a 10 k-ohm resistor, and a white LED is enough light to get to the bathroom in the dark. Soon I'll have an HDS to compare this output to.

[Mark-60]

I just ordered my "EDC CustomTM-built Rotary Flashlight" and it's going to be a loooong 6 week wait. I'll take some photos and share them with everyone once it arrives.

[pjandyho]

Thanks fnj for the detailed explanation. Now I get a clearer picture.

Regarding locator flashes, I found it uselessly distracting too. If I were to need a locator beacon, if would have to be one using a very dim blue LED by the side or the tail of the light. If you guys had seen how some mobile phones emit a slow and dim beacon to show that it is active you will understand what I mean.

[pjandyho]

I just ordered my "EDC CustomTM-built Rotary Flashlight" and it's going to be a loooong 6 week wait. I'll take some photos and share them with everyone once it arrives.

It may be much longer than that. I ordered mine a couple of days just after the new year and have yet to see anything. Henry is now still clearing the backlogs.

[Imon]

It may be much longer than that. I ordered mine a couple of days just after the new year and have yet to see anything. Henry is now still clearing the backlogs.

I have to agree with you. I ordered my HDS in early Jan. as well and as recently as a week ago, when I emailed Henry, he told me to expect a few more weeks of wait time... I don't know. I just don't know what to expect anymore. I'm not totally convinced hes fixed his supplier problem or maybe he just has a massive backlog.

So ... honestly you might have a better chance getting an HDS from a distributor. Maybe that's why there's such a big backlog - the distributors are receiving the lights first.

[tjswarbrick]

I'm not totally convinced hes fixed his supplier problem or maybe he just has a massive backlog.

So ... honestly you might have a better chance getting an HDS from a distributor. Maybe that's why there's such a big backlog - the distributors are receiving the lights first.

I've had a Hi CRI Rotary on order since late January. I've had a little eMail contact with Henry, but these are my words, not his.
From what I understand, it's first-come, first-served, subject to parts and components on hand - so those who have been waiting longest get their lights first.
Of course, distributors and dealers likely order in larger quantities, so that could cause a delay to anyone who ordered afterwards.
A few folks have received clickies, so I think it's just a matter of filling orders for those. But I'm sure it's a pretty hefty backlog.
The new supplier is still working out the kinks on the (much more complicated) Rotary - it sounds like Henry will have another sample to evaluate in a week or two.
Actual shipping will depend on those passing his inspection.
I, personally, anticipate additional delays due to ordering the Hi CRI emitter. I expect some parts will be in short supply for some time.

Every communication I have with Henry is answered promptly, and he's straightforward about what's going on. It's just hard to predict ship dates on parts that a new supplier hasn't shown themselves able to produce.
I'm content to keep waiting. The anticipation just keeps building.
Of course, I had to get myself a semi-custom just to make it through the wait.

- Tom

[BIG45-70]

Are these now in-stock at battery station or anywhere else? I've been waiting for a EDC 200 Executive.

[Mark-60]

It may be much longer than that. I ordered mine a couple of days just after the new year and have yet to see anything. Henry is now still clearing the backlogs.

Thanks for the heads up. It'll be like waiting for an NFA tax stamp. I'll just forget about it and wait for it to suprise me when it arrives...

-Mark

[Flashlike]

For what it's worth I also bought into the idea of having the locator flash, but found it distracting and after a few days shut it back off. Would be nice if it could have been lower yet and also had the option of longer periods between flashes.

Great feature, but definitely not for all users.

In a dark room, even 0.07 lumen can appear almost blindingly bright.

I like the idea of the locator flash but in practice it needs to be customizable....

Well, at first I thought that the locator flash would be the cat's meow. I left my Rotary 200 standing upright with bezel end down on my computer desk overnight (after enabling the locator flash option). In the middle of the night even that wee bit of light flashing between the bezel crenelations was rather distracting. I like the idea that Kaichu Dento suggested of having a .005 lumen ultra-low mode option -- if that could somehow be accomplished.

[notsofast]

Does anyone know if the clip from the 170 Ti will fit the other lights of that generation? I am thinking it will but want to confirm from someone that has installed one...TIA