Fenix LD10 runtime

[Egsise]

My new 2000mah eneloops are only about 1900 with no load. So go down from there with a load. How many times have you cycled them? 10 times would be a good start.

Read the whole thread.
And please post your LD10 runtimes.

I tested my cells with E20 and i get the same runtimes what people get with 2000mAh eneloops, so i don't think the cells are the problem.

 

[2manybikes]

Read the whole thread.
And please post your LD10 runtimes.

Sorry, I don't have an LD10.

I did read carefully and understand what you posted about the E20. It is not conclusive. If you have a E 20 that is on one side of the tolerance variation stacking it may not be typical. Another E10 could be different.

Just as all LD10's have a tolerance variation too. Normal variation between manufactured parts are a part (but possibly not all) of this. Just as the battery has a tolerance variation.

If you add up just a small difference in each thing.....
estimating the time
battery capacity variations
Light variations
possible invisible oxidation on the contacts (wipe them all with alcohol, both ends of the battery, the spring, the head battery contact, the contact points on the tail cap junction, the head contacts and the head end of the battery tube, you could change it a lot.) I have actually fixed things that have this low a voltage that did not work just by wiping the contacts. It might even be enough to make the light brighter. I have also cleaned out swithces in a couple of clickys that did the same thing. It could even be the switch.

You could have enough variation to account for what is happening.

 

[Egsise]

Sorry, I don't have an LD10.

I did read carefully and understand what you posted about the E20. It is not conclusive. If you have a E 20 that is on one side of the tolerance variation stacking it may not be typical. Another E10 could be different.

Just as all LD10's have a tolerance variation too. Normal variation between manufactured parts are a part (but possibly not all) of this. Just as the battery has a tolerance variation.

If you add up just a small difference in each thing.....
estimating the time
battery capacity variations
Light variations
possible invisible oxidation on the contacts (wipe them all with alcohol, both ends of the battery, the spring, the head battery contact, the contact points on the tail cap junction, the head contacts and the head end of the battery tube, you could change it a lot.) I have actually fixed things that have this low a voltage that did not work just by wiping the contacts. It might even be enough to make the light brighter. I have also cleaned out swithces in a couple of clickys that did the same thing. It could even be the switch.

You could have enough variation to account for what is happening.

Well, you are kinda right but...
There is no difference on runtime between different cells that i have, they are not eneloops but rebranded Rayovacs, see this post. I believe there is no really big variation between these cells.
I just finished another test with LD10 on low, 20 hours +/-10min.
This time had cleaned all the threads and contact surfaces with alcohol, for lubing i use silicon oil.

Whats left, well Vf or something variation between different LD10's causing different runtimes.
I just never believed that the variation could be this big, and is it just the runtime or is it variation on brightness too?

 

[Gunner12]

Probably just runtime, since the driver sets the current and supplies whatever voltage the LED needs. Maybe the higher Vf also negatively affects the efficiency.

 

[Egsise]

Ok, if the Vf varies between 2.5V-3.1V at 27mA which is 9ish lumens(LD10 low).
The affect on runtime would be....quite big..
With 1900mAh batteries, winner in LED lottery gets 28h runtime, loser gets only 20h runtime.
No effect on brightness.

Due increased Vf, runtime drops 20%(?)
Due increased Vf, efficiency drops 10%(?)

*****************WINNER*********************************** LOSER*******************

Does these numbers make any sense? :thinking:
If not, keep those LD10 runtime tests coming and play with http://www.kenworster.com/ledcalc/

 

[StarHalo]

The Vf/runtime issue has become a much bigger deal now that we have more lights with ultra-low minimum output modes. This is why Selfbuilt rarely ever does minimum output runtime charts, because the difference in runtime between otherwise identical lights can be significant enough to make the data useless.

A good example is the current 2xAA runtime champ, the Nitecore D20; on a fresh set of L91s, you're looking at ~15 days continuous on minimum. But that means a variation as small as 5% can alter the result by an entire day (and Selfbuilt has indicated that many lights would have results that would be several days disparate).

If you're looking for max runtime, and have knowledge/experience with Li-Ions, just use a 14500 cell.

 

[Egsise]

If you're looking for max runtime, and have knowledge/experience with Li-Ions, just use a 14500 cell.

Fenix LD10 can not handle 14500 Li-Ion, it has no buck circuit, only boost.

 

[Gunner12]

It can use 14500s, but you loose lower output modes. You do get much more output though.

 

[StarHalo]

Fenix LD10 can not handle 14500 Li-Ion, it has no buck circuit, only boost.

It'll go into beyond-Turbo overdrive for a few minutes, with no modes, but after that (once the cell is discharged beyond a certain point) everything will return to normal. On low/minimum, you're looking at a ~25% gain in runtime over a NiMH.

 

[Egsise]

And there is no fear of losing low/med outputs permanently, that has happened to some that used 14500 in the older L1D?
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2318079&postcount=1

On 14500, you loose all the low modes initially, as light runs in direct drive from max output until it hits the low mode level. At that point, it then switches into regulation – but only briefly, as the battery is typically almost exhausted by then. Note that Turbo mode (i.e. head fully tightened) is difficult to do on 14500, due to extra length of the protected 14500 (I had to use a copper ring spacer for it to make contact and screw down tight).

Again, could you please post your runtimes with LD10?

 

[StarHalo]

Wow, well that does sound overly complicated. Pardon my ignorance, but I stopped EDCing a Fenix long ago, in favor of other lights that were specifically designed to accept Li-Ions. It's a better deal all around, to have the option of more output and/or runtime, and still be able to use any standard AA.

But returning to the topic, it all comes down to a whole lotta Vf differences between otherwise identical flashlights. Even from a reputable brand, you're looking at a ~10% variance as being entirely normal.

If you're wanting max runtime from a commercially available 1xAA light, the Nitecore D10 holds the record at a minimum runtime of 146.7 hours (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=206178)

 

[Egsise]

What i really want is low-med-high-turbo runtime charts for Fenix LD10. :rolleyes:

 

[StarHalo]

Ask and ye shall receive; charts on both an Eneloop/LSD and a non-LSD 2700mAh: http://www.light-reviews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=343

 

[Egsise]

Ask and ye shall receive; charts on both an Eneloop/LSD and a non-LSD 2700mAh: http://www.light-reviews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=343

THX!:twothumbs

Quotes from that test:

2700mAh NiMH(sanyo)

Turbo: 01:41 to 50%
High: 01:55 to 50%
Medium: 05:35 to 50%

2000mAh LSD NiMH(eneloop)

Turbo: 00:45 to 50%
High: 01:16 to 50%
Medium: 03:33 to 50%

My results with 2000mAh LSD NiMH(sony cycle energy blue).

Turbo: 00:58 to 50%
High: 01:35 to 50%
Medium: 04:35 to 50%
Low: 20:00 to 50%

 

[StarHalo]

Using an Energizer Lithium ("Ultimate"/L91), you should be able to roughly match the 2700 NiMH numbers, without the Li-Ion complications.

 

[Egsise]

This would be ideal, it's just little pricey.

 

[StarHalo]

This would be ideal, it's just little pricey.

That's interesting, I haven't seen a 3V LiMN before.. normally there's no advantage in using a LiMN over a Li-Ion unless it's a very high drain application, but if their quoted mAh is correct, it probably could outrun an Eneloop.. It's got a larger, wide nub on the negative end and the positive is flat, which would be an issue in most lights..

But for the LD10 you'd still be over-volting, so you'd still have the same Li-Ion issues.

 

[UlrikJ]

I am using Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA with my LD10. Good combo, quite happy with it. Dont know about runtimes but I hope it is better than standard AA.

 

[JWP_EE]

I use my lights on the lowest setting most of the time. I did the runtime of the LD10 just to see how it compared to my L1D.

After reading some of the posts I decided to measure my LD10 on medium just to see how it compared. Once again using a Eneloop fresh off the charger.

MED: 5h 4m
LOW: 28h 30m

 

[kwalker]

I'm considering trying a Trustfire protected 3.7v battery in my LD10. Will it wreck my light or shorten it's life? ...will it fit!!??