HDS 325 Lumen longer throw offering...

[RCS1300]

Had my HDS XPG3 325 lumen Neutral Long Throw (NLT) flash light out on the golf course pre-dawn all week walking my dog. The light is fantastic and really lights up the course. If I spot eyes looking at me more than 100 yards away I have to break out my Thrunite Catapult long throw light to identify what type of animal it is - deer, fox, black bear, skunk, etc. With the XPG3 at 100 yards, with little to no moonlight from the sky, I can only see the creatures eyes and not make out the type of creature.

Was wondering if a very small footprint LED like the old Oshram Golden Dragon in a HDS light would throw further? I screen shot of that led in a HDS light can be found at 1:41 in the video below.

 

[Random Dan]

Had my HDS XPG3 325 lumen Neutral Long Throw (NLT) flash light out on the golf course pre-dawn all week walking my dog. The light is fantastic and really lights up the course. If I spot eyes looking at me more than 100 yards away I have to break out my Thrunite Catapult long throw light to identify what type of animal it is - deer, fox, black bear, skunk, etc. With the XPG3 at 100 yards, with little to no moonlight from the sky, I can only see the creatures eyes and not make out the type of creature.

Was wondering if a very small footprint LED like the old Oshram Golden Dragon in a HDS light would throw further? I screen shot of that led in a HDS light can be found at 1:41 in the video below.

I'm sure throw can be increased, but I doubt very much given the limited lumen output. I have a D25C modified by Vinh54 with an Osram White1 led and the throw is very impressive for a light that's smaller than an HDS, but it's also pushing ~700lm (IIRC) which an HDS isn't going to do.

 

[usdiver]

I ve walked the range of reach on the 250 and 325 and both are about the same. At that distance an HDS won't help you to identify small critters and I don't think it's meant to... in saying that, it's still enough useful light even at 140 yards plus to see what's going on or get a good assessment of your surroundings and not be left in the dark....

 

[RCS1300]

I'm sure throw can be increased, but I doubt very much given the limited lumen output. I have a D25C modified by Vinh54 with an Osram White1 led and the throw is very impressive for a light that's smaller than an HDS, but it's also pushing ~700lm (IIRC) which an HDS isn't going to do.

The XPG3 currently lights up a very large area at 100 yards. It is fantastic. I can definitely see the eyes of a black bear at 100 yards with the XPG. Right now with the XPG3 I am differentiating the black bear from the deer based on the color of their eyes reflected back at me. Yellow and 3 feet off the ground for the bear and blue for the deer.

What I am thinking is that the extremely small foot print of an emitter like the old Golden Dragon, which is no longer available, may take full advantage of the HDS reflector to create a more pronounced beam of light, or hot spot.

I run my thrunite Catapult at 170 lumens and it throws a fantastic tight beam of bright light over 100 yards. I get over 5x the battery life on low level lumens versus high and the difference visually is not worth the cost of battery life so I always run the light on low at 170 lumens. I believe the focus of the beam has to do with the reflector and the size and position of the led. See the lights specs here:

Specifications:

• LED: CREE XLamp XM-L emitter
• 2 Output Levels: High: 700+ ANSI lumens, Low: 170 ANSI lumens
• Reverse polarity protection

• Operating voltage between 2.7V to 8.4V

 

[Random Dan]

I just looked up the specs on SkyLumen website for the D3C with Osram white flat 1. He claims 600lm and 35kcd. I don't know how many lumens a white1 could do at HDS drive levels but looking at output graphs 200lm seems reasonable (performs close to 219c 5000K at 1A). That would put it at ~12kcd behind the D3C reflector.

There's a lot of speculation here but I would guess that if you could put a white flat 1 in an HDS and it behaved well with the reflector that you could see somewhere in the 9-15kcd range.

 

[RCS1300]

I just looked up the specs on SkyLumen website for the D3C with Osram white flat 1. He claims 600lm and 35kcd. I don't know how many lumens a white1 could do at HDS drive levels but looking at output graphs 200lm seems reasonable (performs close to 219c 5000K at 1A). That would put it at ~12kcd behind the D3C reflector.

There's a lot of speculation here but I would guess that if you could put a white flat 1 in an HDS and it behaved well with the reflector that you could see somewhere in the 9-15kcd range.

Is this the Oshram white flat:

Description:
1*1mm die
Domeless LED
Forward Voltage: 2.75v-3.00v @1000mA
Luminous Flux: 315lm-350lm @ 1000mA
Rated max forward current: 3000mA
Color temperature: 6000-6500K

https://intl-outdoor.com/osram-cslnm1tg-bare-led-p-933.html

 

[id30209]

Is this the Oshram white flat

Yeap...
Or just White1 (W1)

 

[Intothenightwego]

My first HDS light has cleared customs so I should hopefully have it this week, its a tactical 325 with a flush button an the NLT led, I can't wait to try it out. First real proper flashlight..

 

[desert.snake]

I see that the size of the legs of this diode is slightly smaller than the standard 3535, need a separate board for use, but it really will win in range all that is now

 

[id30209]

I see that the size of the legs of this diode is slightly smaller than the standard 3535, need a separate board for use, but it really will win in range all that is now

Yes, Osram Whites are 3030, not 3535 like XPL HI, 219B/C etc. It can be soldered to a standard 3535 MCPCB's but some skills are needed. But there are MCPCB's designed for this emitter in 16mm and 20mm size by led4power


Sent from Tapatalk

 

[tech25]

I have mentioned that DC-fix or a surefire diffuser cleans up the beam for indoor use.

A couple of nights ago, I was in a rural area that was minimally lit and I used my NLT without a diffuser. The extra punch is noticeable over my 4500k HDS and the beam on the NLT is perfect outside. I had other lights with higher lumens and more throw but this was my preferred light to use with an all around nicer combo of hotspot and spill that gave me more useful light.

The lesson is: Get out of the city!

 

[Modernflame]

My first HDS light has cleared customs so I should hopefully have it this week, its a tactical 325 with a flush button an the NLT led, I can't wait to try it out. First real proper flashlight..

Great choice! We hope you'll post photos along with your impressions.

 

[usdiver]

My first HDS light has cleared customs so I should hopefully have it this week, its a tactical 325 with a flush button an the NLT led, I can't wait to try it out. First real proper flashlight..

There are a few tutorials on the tube for programming plus I've done one the other day
You will love the light!

 

[Daniel_sk]

I have just received my HDS NLT - I need to wait for the night to test . But first I want to ask if this is considered normal. The threads are gritty and have an uneven coat of anodizing on them. I think the grittiness is caused by the anodizing, but I can't quite tell - maybe it's also the aluminum threads. Should this anodizing be in better shape or is just a leftover from manufacturing and it doesn't have any impact on the functionality or thread wear resistance?

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

It looks fine but if it feels gritty it needs lube. Did it come from HDS without lube on the threads?

 

[Daniel_sk]

Thanks, just wanted to hear that this is fine . It's difficult to tell if there was any lube, but probably only a very minimal amount or nothing. I have cleaned them now and I will add some NyoGel.
Edit: Adding lube helped, it's not perfect but acceptable - I don't really care since it's only opened for changing the battery.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

It will smooth up over time/use. You can get rid of the extra anodizing using lye and a Q-Tip... being very very careful. I just let my personal ones wear in myself.

 

[Intothenightwego]

She came today, an to say I'm impressed is a understatement, best little torch I've ever owned by a country mile. Now I just have to wait for darkness, are take my dogs up the woods later, be pitch black nearly so will get to see it in all its glory. It's going to take a bit of learning to understand it all but it seems quite free flowing to start with.

The strobe really does blind for a good bit, an I accidentally did a max burst while playing about an after 15 mins there's still a yellow dot with a halo around it..

Are try figure out how to upload a photo of it later.

 

[RCS1300]

...take my dogs up the woods later, be pitch black nearly so will get to see it in all its glory...

The day I got mine - months ago - I started using it exclusively to walk my dog pre-dawn and after sunset. It is an incredible beam of light - nice throw, spill, and easy on the eyes. Last week I was up on the top of a mountain with my dog and there was no moonlight. I was able to see very well 30 yards out with the light at about 150 lumens, or half its maximum lumens.

When you see the beam at night you will understand why it a unique high end light.

 

[wyt119]

Thanks, just wanted to hear that this is fine . It's difficult to tell if there was any lube, but probably only a very minimal amount or nothing. I have cleaned them now and I will add some NyoGel.
Edit: Adding lube helped, it's not perfect but acceptable - I don't really care since it's only opened for changing the battery.

The thread and anodizing were way better on the one I bought in 2017 on the right of the photo below than the two bought in 2019 . Hope new 18659 tubes will be back in stock soon with better quality.