Well I got my Versalux module in mail this afternoon. It is extremely bright. I am not sure how they do it but each led is slightly brighter than the Eternalight's led's. Combine that with 10 led's vs 4 and it will screw up your vision if you look at it longer than a second or so. I also am running it on 2 used AA batteries.
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I tried it on 6 volts and the current consumed was almost cut in half...from 350ma down to 150 and the brightness stayed exactly the same....blinding bright.
SO>.....
I am going to have to think about this a few more days to figure out what do do with it.
The minimum operating voltage is 2.2 volts so the more batteries I use, the more I can suck the batteries down... This is combined with the fact that the higher the voltage, the less current I use.
I am not totally sure what to make out of this....except that if I set it up for 6 volts, the current draw drops down from 360ma down to 170 for the same brightness.
I am trying to decide if I want to use 4 AA or 4 C cells. I could make an extremely small light with a killer punch....AND I could suck the batteries all the way down. It would of course become less efficient as it went down.
It is very nicely made and comes with a template for drilling the holes for the led, center hole and a hole to adjust the pot.
It adjusts all the way down to virtually nothing. At 6-10ma, all the led's are shining equally bright and fairly bright...about like the Pal on standby except there are 10 of them. If you keep turning , the lights finally go out. If you remove the battery, the lights still glow for a little while as the caps discharge.
This seems like a perfect light for a boat or camper where you wanted light and not to strand yourself with a dead battery. At 13 volts and at MAX output, it is drawing only 80ma. If you just crank it down a HAIR.....you get almost as much light and it only draws 30ma (at 12 volts).
I THINK I want to get a nice 4 D cell flashlight and make a scorcher that runs over 100 hours.
Any ideas... This is really so nice I hate to waste it on a cheap 5 buck flashlight.
I got the versalux last week and I have to agree...it is BRIGHT!!!!
Right now, I have it set up with 4AA's. I'm DESPARATELY trying to find a small light to retrofit so I can put this sucker in...
I found an ALMOST perfect 4AA light at Target, but it is just barely too small.
[img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
Radioshack has some 4AA battery holders..one even has a switch built into it...
I'm thinking of asking my roommate to machine me a nice rectangular-shaped housing that'll hold the versalux and maybe 4 or 6 AA's... Something the shape of an elongated box...just big enough to fit the batteries and the unit.
I spoke with techass and they told me that the led's are actually a driven a bit more conservatively compared with the eternalight (where they are overdriven a bit).
Thanks Gadget...That might be a great idea about the snake light.
Roger, how are you thinking about access to the pot?
I am thinking of drilling a hole and I have some of those rubber grommets that will "dress" the hole and use it for access.
I wonder about "conservative"... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
It truly hurts my eyes...and I only did it once.
I am also toying with the idea of getting another for a 2 banger.
I found the perfect contained but my wife would kill me... It is a container we take when traveling abroad for 35mm film. It is real sturdy, waterproof, and would accept 4 C cells. The only problem is I would get only one shot at drilling the holes and I am not that good working under pressure...plus the thing cost 30 bucks. I would be dead meat.. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KenBar: Well I got my Versalux module in mail this afternoon. It is extremely bright. I am not sure how they do it but each led is slightly brighter than the Eternalight's led's.
Roger:
I spoke with techass and they told me that the led's are actually a driven a bit more conservatively compared with the eternalight (where they are overdriven a bit). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Maybe your Eternalight has a little bit older LEDs?
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
I tried it on 6 volts and the current consumed was almost cut in half...from 350ma down to 150 and the brightness stayed exactly the same....blinding bright. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yes, thats the way with regulated lights .-) Therefore we make all the effort.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
I am trying to decide if I want to use 4 AA or 4 C cells. I could make an extremely small light with a killer punch<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
AA cells have better high current behaviour and 2 AA cells are better than one C cell for a current of 0.3A or more. And (at least here) 2 AA cells (same brand) are less expensive than one C cell (and are smaller and lighter).
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>AA cells have better high current behaviour and 2 AA cells are better than one C cell for a current of 0.3A or more. And (at least here) 2 AA cells (same brand) are less expensive than one C cell (and are smaller and lighter). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
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Hmmmmm!
Well that sure simplifies things for me size wise.
Are you sure this is so?
Why is this?(2AA better than 1 C)
How would you power this for max brightness?
I am going to have to redo all my thinking.. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I have a 4AA battery pack that has the top 2 batteries offset half and inch, so the whole battery package is a little "thinner".
I could put 2 of these together in series and that would give me 12 volts.
BUT THEN the current would be below 300ma ?? and better efficiency would be from C cells??
SO...perhaps the best overall battery would be 4AA or even 3AA...Hmmmm I woulder if that is why Eternalight has 3AA for power.
Anyway...Pelu, thanks for information. I really did not want a hog for a flashlight. This thing is really impressive with just a 2AA battery pack delivering this much punch.
Versalux vs Eternalight
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