Comment on 24 LED Gemini Headlamp?

[Alan]

Hi folks, I am seriously considering getting the Gemini Headlamp. It seems like ideal headlamp for me. As I already got disappointed by many *excellent on paper* headlamps. I would like to get some opinion before I commit one again.

Have anyone seen this light in action? Any comment regardless of good or bad would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

Alan

 

[Plinko]

I 've got 15 or 20 different headlamps laying around here, and if I were going to make a suggestion for a single headlamp, versitile enough or any situation (close-up illumination as well as lighting things up at a distance) I'd get the 24 LED version so that you retain the ability to use the incandescent bulb if/when it becomes necessary. LED's are fabulous and all, but when it comes to illuminating objects at any distance, incandescents are still the way to go. Princeton Tec has realised this and will be offering a similar combination in the very near future. Good luck shopping

Cheers!

 

[Alan]

The 24 LED version is exactly the one I'm seriously considering. It sounds ideal but like I said, I would like to hear how it perform in action. I got many headlamps from Princeton Tec as well including the latest Switchback. I was quite disappointed by its performance and ditched it after 2 trips.

I found that Vortec with NiMH and WhiteStar bulb is still the best incandescent headlamp I've got. Unfortunately, it deosn't have LED in it.

Let's get back to Gemini, the reasons I want to check carefully before I commit one is because of its contradicted information on its web site.

1) According to the information in their web site, Gemini is drawing 270ma at 6v. It means it will consume 1620mwh and divided by 24 LED and 3.6v, it means the light is drawing only 18.75ma per LED. Does it mean the LED is underdriven even in Hi Mode and provided their circuit achieve 100% efficency?

2) they claim that their circuit will sustain constant light through 3.6v. It means the AA could be able sustain Hi-mode until it was dropped to 0.9v. It sounds excellent and ideal to me. However, the battery page says that 4AA will sustain 1.5 hrs on hi-mode. How could 4AA be dropped to 3.6v under 270ma for only 1.5 hours

?

3) During my search of LED headlamp, I also come across Lupine 26 LED Headlamp and they draw 4Wh for hi-mode and 1Wh for low-mode. Its current drawn in low-mode is in line with Gemini but big difference on hi-mode. I'm not sure if it's typo on Gemini web site

Alan

 

[ake]

Alan, which whitestar bulb do you use on your vortec, 3 cell or 4 cell bulb? A model number and spec would be great. Also, How is the runtime? I think it has the same head as tec40. Comparing a overdiven 3 cell bulb (KPR103?) with nimh on tec40 and the vortec, which one is brighter?

Thanks alot,

Ake

 

[Alan]

Unless you get KRP103 on well known brand such as Philips or Osram, I prefer 3 Cell WhiteStar which seems more consistent.

Alan

 

[ake]

Alan,

I just look on carley site and there are quite a few of them: (The row before the last one is brightness)

3 Cell 597 3.7 .7 2.6 2.7 1171
3 Cell 604 3.7 1.2 4.4 5.3 1177
3 Cell 605 3.7 1.5 5.6 6.6 1178
3 Cell 606 3.7 1.7 6.3 7.5 1179

Which one are you using? Any problem with melting the reflector and lens on the vortec?

Thanks a lot,

Ake

 

[cave dave]

Well I've seen the light in action and it is impresive. However, If it was me I wouldn't drop $200+ on a light that is already technologicaly obsolete. One or two luxeon stars could be brighter and less expensive too.

BTW: The LEDs in the gemini are not overdriven like many others to increase the life and for greater efficiency. Imagine 24 infinitys.

Also the 1.5 hr burn time is when it switches automatically to low beam and then burns for another 15hrs. (seems like a dumb feature

)

You need to read that fine print.

 

[Alan]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cave dave:
Well I've seen the light in action and it is impresive. However, If it was me I wouldn't drop $200+ on a light that is already technologicaly obsolete. One or two luxeon stars could be brighter and less expensive too.

BTW: The LEDs in the gemini are not overdriven like many others to increase the life and for greater efficiency. Imagine 24 infinitys.

Also the 1.5 hr burn time is when it switches automatically to low beam and then burns for another 15hrs. (seems like a dumb feature

)

You need to read that fine print.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree with you that LS is the way to go. However, I haven't seen any headlamp with LS yet. I guess it's due to heat sink issue on plastic headlamp case.

The 1.5 hr hi-mode part in Gemini confused me a bit. Its doc said the light will go to low setting automatically when the voltage drops to 3.6v. The point is, how 270ma load would drop AA to 0.9 volt in 1.5 hr. I think AA would sustain 270ma at least for more than 3 to 4 hrs without dropping to 0.9v. I sent email to the vendor for this but didn't get any response yet

24 infinity??? Good enough for me to drop the idea on acquiring a gemini (sigh)

Alan