LEDAdd1ct
Flashlight Enthusiast
I wasn't sure if this was a flashlight question or an LED question, so please forgive me. 
I would like to "upgrade" my trusty Pelican 2440 as seen here:
http://pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=2440PLB
The light currently has five 5mm white LEDs in it, and as spec'ed in the link above, the light is rated at 33 lumens. The manufacturer does not specify whether this is OTF, so we'll leave that up in the air for now. The light works great, but a warmer tint would make it perfect for emergency *and* general use. The only problem is, I am not sure which LED to pick!
33/5 is 6.6, so if we hold Pelican's claim as fact, each LED is putting out 6.6 lumens. I would like a warm/neutral white LED with the following characteristics, if possible:
1) 5mm
2) as bright or brighter than the original (estimated at 6.6 lumens) at about 20mA
3) a beam angle suitable for flashlight use, i.e., should project a good amount of light forward but still leave plenty of spill. I'll try and get a picture of the integrated plastic reflector up later.
4) will not fade *appreciably* over time.
These criteria being the case, I scanned the warm white 5mm LED thread and asked a respected 5mm expert, and came up with the following candidates. I will state here that I am, at the moment, biased towards number one because of the pros I list. Here are the candidates:
1) http://tinyurl.com/mkjmtd
Pros:
a) JELED is a known seller with a good reputation
b) rated 28,000 mcd at 20mA
c) nice warm white that is not too yellow
Cons:
a) come from Hong Kong (long wait time?)
b) don't know how they will fare over time
Other:
Viewing angle is 25 degrees. Is this good or bad for the flashlight listed?
2) Radio Shack 276-017 as seen here:
http://tinyurl.com/m8dj6p
Pros:
a) this LED is held in high esteem by many on the forum
b) the tint is supposed to be nice (4200k according to JohnR66)
c) did not fade at all in JohnR66's tests
d) rated at 25mA
Cons:
a) rated at only 7,000 mcd when driven at 25mA
Other:
Viewing angle is 30 degrees. Is this good or bad for the flashlight listed?
3) Light of Victory Warm White
http://search.ebay.com/370080285721
Pros:
a) Light of Victory LEDs seem to stand up well over time (don't fade according to JohnR66)
<---this is incorrect; see JohnR66's post below correcting this.
b) rated 22,000 mcd at 20mA
c) held in high regard on the forum
Cons:
a) at 3000 kelvin, I think they may be more like candlelight, and less suitable for flashlight use (one man's opinion)
b) come from Hong Kong (long wait time?)
Other:
Viewing angle is 20 ±5 degrees. Is this good or bad for the flashlight listed?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
These three candidates appear to be the top three choices with respect to manufacturer reputation, potential longevity, and tint. The Light of Victory and Radioshack LEDs are reported not to fade, but the L.O.V. seems too golden/yellow, and the Radioshack seems too dim. I am leaning heavily towards candidate number one, the JELED warm white.
What do you guys think? Is this a sound choice? Am I missing anything (technically/electrically/optically) or (other candidates)?
LEDAdd1ct
I would like to "upgrade" my trusty Pelican 2440 as seen here:
http://pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=2440PLB
The light currently has five 5mm white LEDs in it, and as spec'ed in the link above, the light is rated at 33 lumens. The manufacturer does not specify whether this is OTF, so we'll leave that up in the air for now. The light works great, but a warmer tint would make it perfect for emergency *and* general use. The only problem is, I am not sure which LED to pick!
33/5 is 6.6, so if we hold Pelican's claim as fact, each LED is putting out 6.6 lumens. I would like a warm/neutral white LED with the following characteristics, if possible:
1) 5mm
2) as bright or brighter than the original (estimated at 6.6 lumens) at about 20mA
3) a beam angle suitable for flashlight use, i.e., should project a good amount of light forward but still leave plenty of spill. I'll try and get a picture of the integrated plastic reflector up later.
4) will not fade *appreciably* over time.
These criteria being the case, I scanned the warm white 5mm LED thread and asked a respected 5mm expert, and came up with the following candidates. I will state here that I am, at the moment, biased towards number one because of the pros I list. Here are the candidates:
1) http://tinyurl.com/mkjmtd
Pros:
a) JELED is a known seller with a good reputation
b) rated 28,000 mcd at 20mA
c) nice warm white that is not too yellow
Cons:
a) come from Hong Kong (long wait time?)
b) don't know how they will fare over time
Other:
Viewing angle is 25 degrees. Is this good or bad for the flashlight listed?
2) Radio Shack 276-017 as seen here:
http://tinyurl.com/m8dj6p
Pros:
a) this LED is held in high esteem by many on the forum
b) the tint is supposed to be nice (4200k according to JohnR66)
c) did not fade at all in JohnR66's tests
d) rated at 25mA
Cons:
a) rated at only 7,000 mcd when driven at 25mA
Other:
Viewing angle is 30 degrees. Is this good or bad for the flashlight listed?
3) Light of Victory Warm White
http://search.ebay.com/370080285721
Pros:
a) Light of Victory LEDs seem to stand up well over time (don't fade according to JohnR66)
<---this is incorrect; see JohnR66's post below correcting this.
b) rated 22,000 mcd at 20mA
c) held in high regard on the forum
Cons:
a) at 3000 kelvin, I think they may be more like candlelight, and less suitable for flashlight use (one man's opinion)
b) come from Hong Kong (long wait time?)
Other:
Viewing angle is 20 ±5 degrees. Is this good or bad for the flashlight listed?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
These three candidates appear to be the top three choices with respect to manufacturer reputation, potential longevity, and tint. The Light of Victory and Radioshack LEDs are reported not to fade, but the L.O.V. seems too golden/yellow, and the Radioshack seems too dim. I am leaning heavily towards candidate number one, the JELED warm white.
What do you guys think? Is this a sound choice? Am I missing anything (technically/electrically/optically) or (other candidates)?
LEDAdd1ct
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