What am I missing: Why does my 300 lumens light seems brighter than my 550 lumens light?

[MTHall]

I have a Coast 2AA (300 Lumens) and a Thrunite Archer (550 on High). Both have fresh AA batts, both are 2AA, and batts are same chemistry and brand. I realize the Thrunite is more flood and the Coast is more focused. However, I love the coast beam and brightness but the Archer seems more dim. Is something wrong with Archer or am I missing something? Still new to LEDs so I am not sure about all the factors. Thanks for any ideas. I wish there was a light with similar beam characteristics as the Coast but slightly lighter and double the lumens. Forgot to say I use the lights for walking after dark in a field.

 

[Chicken Drumstick]

Suspect it might be the tint and beam profile. But the only way to truly tell is to measure.

You can get a lux meter download on your phone. Just do a ceiling bounce test (dark room, maybe the bathroom. Point light upwards and see the lux reading, then repeat with the other light).

Then you'll know.

 

[thermal guy]

Ya a light that has more flood can be double the lumens and it will seem dimmer.

 

[alpg88]

The best way to compare brightness of different beam profiles is to do a ceiling bounce test, just point them at white celling and compare how they illuminate a room. profiles do not really play a role for such test.

 

[Msf]

Are you running an AA or 14500 in the Archer? It will not put out 550 with a regular AA. If you are running it with a 14500, then it's probably beam profile as said already.

 

[3_gun]

As said the light temp; 3000K warm & soft to the eye, 7000K cold & harsh & will appear to brighter even if the 3K light has a higher rated lumen level. Same with beams; a tight beam can look brighter than a flood beam even if the flood has a higher lumen level. Some lights will use more than one power source but different Lumen levels from each. Last the rated Lumen level isn't always what you end up with in real life as no one uses the same eqt for testing.

 

[bykfixer]

Are you running an AA or 14500 in the Archer? It will not put out 550 with a regular AA. If you are running it with a 14500, then it's probably beam profile as said already.

I have some lights like that. The double a offers about 1.5 volts, the 14500 some 3+ volts. So using a double a means x lumens and using a 14500 means WOW lumens.

 

[MTHall]

Are you running an AA or 14500 in the Archer? It will not put out 550 with a regular AA. If you are running it with a 14500, then it's probably beam profile as said already.

Just regular AA. Not familiar with the 14500 Is the 14500 a.rechargeable?

 

[Owen]

I realize the Thrunite is more flood and the Coast is more focused.

I think you answered your own question. A focused beam appears much brighter to the eye than a floody one-because it is...within the smaller area it illuminates.

 

[Chicken Drumstick]

Are you running an AA or 14500 in the Archer? It will not put out 550 with a regular AA. If you are running it with a 14500, then it's probably beam profile as said already.

Didn't they say it's a 2 x AA torch.

 

[Chicken Drumstick]

Just regular AA. Not familiar with the 14500 Is the 14500 a.rechargeable?

14500 is an AA sized Li-ion rechargeable battery. They have 4.2v. Don't put 2 of them in your light unless you are 100% sure it is designed for them. Chances are it'll fry the electronics.

 

[hsa]

Don't put one of them in there either. It is a 2xAA light.

 

[CarpentryHero]

The Thrunite 2aa doesn't support 2 14500's last I checked.

It's very much the throw that makes them look different, the Coast 2aa outclasses a fair number of 2aa lights for beam distance.
Tir optics help focus the beam alot, the other way to get throw is the smallest possible emitter with a smooth reflector. Which only a handful of manufacturers do for 2aa lights

 

[jon_slider]

I think you answered your own question. A focused beam appears much brighter to the eye than a floody one-because it is...within the smaller area it illuminates.

agree,

If I have a can of paint, to cover a small or a large area, I will have to use a thinner coating to cover a larger area. Same with light..