Beam Shot Request (GH88).

[wingnut86]

First post here...

I was wondering if any of you fine folks could post beam shots of Reflectalite's GH88, if at all possible. Preferably in a Maglite with stock reflector. Or any configuration I guess, I'll be able to comprehend whats going on. Maybe compared to a stock 2cell Mag or Surefire
G2/6P, or any common light for that matter.


Frosted bulb would be a plus!

I hate to sound like I'm asking for a lot, but after hanging out here for a while, I know many people here are good at meeting other members needs...You guys are great!! :twothumbs

Devin

 

[Conte]

Gh88 you say ? Hmmm.

It's a push is, so like a typical PR base flashlight bulb.

I haven't tried the GH88, But I have tried the GH15 and GH24.
They are two other Halogen push in bulbs I ordered from Reflectalite.

I hate to say it but I was very unimpressed. Their tolerances were too off and yielded sloppy beams. With a stock Mag reflector it was almost impossible to get a good hot spot out of them.

They are decent if you are using a high end reflector like a FiveMega Throwmaster. But then, if you were bankrolling a build that would use a Throwmaster, you'd likely also be investing in a more exotic bulb.

If you really want, I can take a shot, of those bulbs. Unless they get their GH88 from a different manufacturer, I wouldn't expect any different performance.

Something to think about.

 

[wingnut86]

Yeah, the GH88 is a 2cell bulb that draws 1900mA. I want to run one in my 2C Mag with Nimh AA's or C's. I just wanted to see how bright it was compared to stock 2cell Mag or Surefire P60. I want a usable(40-60 lumens) rechargeable incan setup in the 2c that isn't 3x cr123a or Li-ion. I have a MOP reflector so beam quality isn't a problem...And I wanted to know if it was reasonable before I ordered them, guess I'll just order them and find out!!

 

[Conte]

2C? There are sooo many things you can do with a 2C.

What kind of runtime are you looking for ?

Oh . . . no Lion ? Why not Lion ?

 

[wingnut86]

Runtime I am aiming for is a minimum 40 min, preferably 1 hour.

I've done the 2x18500 and Mag 5cell Xenon, but cell maintenance is a pain. I've stopped using Li-ion altogether. And I already have a 2D that I run ROP high/low and mostly the 5cell Xenon with.

That's why I was looking into the GH88, I'd get almost an hour on Duraloops with hopefully 4cell brightness, and could use C alkies if needed. Would upgrade to Accupower Evolutions though. I thought of the LED route, but until there is a long running warm white drop-in option available, I'll stick with incand.

 

[Conte]

Lion maintenance ? A pain ?

I've been running Li-ions in my Hotwires for years. They've been the most reliable and low maintenance battery system I've used thus far.

I'm really curious as to what kind of maintenance you've had to do ?

I'd say get beefier Li-ions like a nice set of 18650's, drop them in said 2C, and continue using the 5-cell mag bulb.

That's almost exactly what I've been doing, except using Halogen HPR51, for about 2 or 3 years now in my Fultons. Had 2 Sets of protected batteries, they are still kicking today.

Nimh is way more a pain, I hate them, not sure about the newer loops but a typical Nimh is way more trouble then a Li-ion.

Ixnay on the Alkay, I don't think they'll be able to drive it well enough. Might stess a leak out of them and ruin your light. There is a reason they dont' put bulbs that bright in a 2 cell. And why those bulbs are so rare, they are specialty.

Notice how most all stock Alk bulbs are an amp or less, and they just add more cells to up the wattage ?

The GH88 still may prove an interesting bulb.
Make sure to update this, when you get the bulb. I'm very curious.

It reminds me of a D26 format, where you push well over 100 lumen out with only 3.7volts from a single 18650. That is my ECD setup. I use an AW Incan Driver, and it becomes a wicked usable light.

I'm with you on the Incan thing. Not a fan of the LED.

 

[wingnut86]

I don't generally have time to charge li-ions and be around to keep an eye on them. Nimh, I just pop them in and they go till their done, and the LSD cells are always charged when I need them, although li-ions would be too.

I also realize alkaline cells wouldn't hold up to well, but in a pinch they would work, I have enough Nimh AA's (all LSD) that I wouldn't have to use them though.

I actually have a pair of 18650's, but just really don't want to use them. Maybe I'll improvise an extender, and run those temporarily...

I'll be sure to post pics when I get the bulbs, may be awhile though, just finished college, and I'm currently unemployed.

 

[Conte]

I think maybe you dont' trust you lions.
Generally, if you have a proper lion charger you can jsut pop them in as described. I've actually had a Nimh explode on me before. Never a Lion.
Perhaps I'm just lucky.

If you want to try your 18650's in a 2C, you don't need an extender, jsut a basic tail cap mod. I have some examples HERE.

Well if you have a stock of Nimh AA's on hand, then hey, why not.
The new bulb is certainly going to be cheaper then a new set of Lions.

Looking Forward :thumbsup:

 

[wingnut86]

You are right, I generally don't trust li-ions, AND I just have a simple DSD charger (remember, poor college student not too long ago, now a poor unemployed college grad!).

The 18650's I have are Trustfire 2400mah protected, they have been excellent cells in my MTE P7(retired light, hate the blueish tint), but I tried them with my mag, and just using it without the spring, the tail cap doesn't screw down all the way, so I'm assuming they will be too long without an extender.

I figured that I could find the right size split ring, you know, like a key chain, and use it for an extender temporarily.

If this works out, maybe I'll start to trust li-ion cells more, and forget about the GH88, may have to get a better charger though!

Your input has been greatly appretiated though! BTW, where in Canada are you from?? I live on the border of Sault Saint Marie, Ontario...

 

[Conte]

I trust lions, and didn't have a fancy charger for the longest time.
Jsut a case of knowing how they click.

Trustfire ? Well, that explains why you dont' trust them, and why they don't fit, lol. Someone here made a "magring" for this purpose.

Oh, I'm in Sudbury Ontario. I'm sure you know it.

 

[wingnut86]

The Trustfires though, have been good cells, most likely not as good as AW's, but they get near stated capacity in my MTE P7. And the DSD does terminate right at 4.2 volts every time. I'm sure the protection on the cells could be better, but i've had no problems.

They are a good 3mm higher than where the outside of the cap on the 2c would be when screwed all the way down.

I have since resurected my OLD Minimag, and although dim, it sure runs nice on nimh, has kind of taken my mind off the 2c, it's near perfect for my "around the house" light.

I think i'm going to stipple the reflector and put in a SL Twin-Task 1 cell litium bulb for a minor improvement in brightness and beam quality. I think you can see what kind of light I am after! A simple usable incand!! I feel like I went back in time 10+ years...With all the latest and greatest LED's out there, I'm going back to my dim yellow Minimag... :thinking:

(Although I do have much better Incand's and LED's, Surefire, Fenix, ROP, etc...)

 

[apete2]

Try L91s if you have some spare bulbs. The brightness will suprise you, but you will only get about an hour of super white output, about double normal, before the bulb dies.

 

[wingnut86]

L-91's for the Minimag bulb, or the TT1L Bulb? I tried the Lithiums with the MM bulb, and the difference was hardly noticeable, not enough to compromise the bulb life anyways.

If you meant L-91's with the GH88, I don't think I would want to blow a $7 bulb in an hour...

 

[apete2]

are you using krypton or xenon bulb in minimag? xenon is noticably whiter. I also found glass lens was a great upgrade because you dont get artifacts from scratches

let me know if you find a source for the 1l bulb

 

[Howecollc]

Here's some info on the GH88; posts 19 thru 21. If you're going to use it frosted, then you won't have the problems Conte had with getting a round hotspot. Another high amperage/low voltage option is the KPR138 bulb, rated 1.2A at 2.0V. It is slightly overdriven with 2 NiMH or alkalines (20% overdrive, same as a 5 cell bulb run on 6 cells), and is a hair brighter than a standard 3D Mag. I bought my bulbs at Dorcy Direct; they are item #41-1671. They were a little brighter with 1 CR123 than with 2 D alkalines, so I can only imagine that 2 C alkalines would have a much more difficult time with the even higher 1.9 amp current draw of the GH88. I think your Eneloops, however, would give good results like Mesa232323 saw with his NiMH cells.

The KPR138 with 2 Eneloops pulls 3.23 watts.
A 4 cell Mag with standard Krypton bulb pulls 3.94 watts.
The GH88 with NiMH cells pulls 4.56 watts.

 

[wingnut86]

Here's some info on the GH88; posts 19 thru 21. If you're going to use it frosted, then you won't have the problems Conte had with getting a round hotspot. Another high amperage/low voltage option is the KPR138 bulb, rated 1.2A at 2.0V. It is slightly overdriven with 2 NiMH or alkalines (20% overdrive, same as a 5 cell bulb run on 6 cells), and is a hair brighter than a standard 3D Mag. I bought my bulbs at Dorcy Direct; they are item #41-1671. They were a little brighter with 1 CR123 than with 2 D alkalines, so I can only imagine that 2 C alkalines would have a much more difficult time with the even higher 1.9 amp current draw of the GH88. I think your Eneloops, however, would give good results like Mesa232323 saw with his NiMH cells.

The KPR138 with 2 Eneloops pulls 3.23 watts.
A 4 cell Mag with standard Krypton bulb pulls 3.94 watts.
The GH88 with NiMH cells pulls 4.56 watts.

Thanks for the link and the info on the KPR138, that sounds even better than the GH88 since it only pulls 1.2 A, probably a little more being overdriven though, but nothing the Duraloops can't handle...And they are MUCH cheaper, I'll have to get those, although I don't think they'll fit through my reflector without widening the opening.

 

[wingnut86]

are you using krypton or xenon bulb in minimag? xenon is noticably whiter. I also found glass lens was a great upgrade because you dont get artifacts from scratches

let me know if you find a source for the 1l bulb

I'm using the Xenon bulbs, and they are better than the Krypton bulbs I used years ago, no glass lens though.

The 1L bulb (2pack) can be found at Brightguy.

 

[wingnut86]

You all have been extremely helpful, much thanks for that...

After reading through many threads on this site I was half expecting replies like
"Dude, just get a Fenix", even though I posted in the Incan forum.

 

[apete2]

I wonder if we need a metal reflector for the 1L bulbs and if the bulb socket would be damaged. I bet Nimh would be the best and L91s would be way too hard on the bulbs

 

[wingnut86]

I think the stock components could handle the little bit of extra heat. It can't be a whole lot more than the original bulb, it's only rated for like 29 lumens, so not quite a super bulb, only like double the original.

I also think Nimh would be best, alkalines would probably do just fine as well.

I would prefer an aluminum MOP reflector though. Paired with a glass window, it would make for a nice, kind of small, extremely well built light, with descent runtime, and a beautiful warm beam. Only problem is finding that reflector...