HDS Systems #23

[KITROBASKIN]

I would never ask HDS to put turbo maximum into a flashlight but would consider an 18650
rotary if they did.

Havasupai Gardens (Indian Garden) on Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon, Arizona.
Helicopter medical evacuation 15 second video

 

[ilikeguns40]

I definitely would like a turbo mode, or at least an option to turn it on or off, some people want it and some people may not need it, I'm the one who needs it. That's one big drawback I have. Feels silly having an 18650 light with 200 lumens, or even 325 max. There's a reason I carry an 18650 Zebralight, it does it all.

Add a user replaceable tailcap on rotary, actual machined clip integrated into the light, and higher max output levels and ill 100% buy one.

 

[AMRaider]

Beautiful collection, and a very nice stone surface (table?) as well. I am curious: What model HDS is the one with the dark lens?

I finally got my hands on a SPECIAL METAL RUN. My first impression is that I was surprised at the weight of this little light. It is heavier than the elzetta bravo. The texture and weight of the brass make this HDS rotary very special. It is interesting that the brass NB45 is slightly more rose-colored than my NB45. I don't know if it's because of the bezel color or the LED specifications, but I prefer the reddish tint, so I like that too.
View attachment 74973View attachment 74974View attachment 74975View attachment 74976View attachment 74977My HDSs are getting together and there should be more.

 

[muichimon]

Beautiful collection, and a very nice stone surface (table?) as well. I am curious: What model HDS is the one with the dark lens?

Thank you. The black lens is UV light. It has been used for various purposes such as cleaning toilets, checking for dust, and checking where the cats that come to play in the yard pee.

 

[BattleBrat]

To answer your question, yes. That is the plan.
This was my morning though… which isn't to say as a tactical light, some extra lumens is nice to have along with extra ammo!
I carry a 200 lumen High Noon at work. I have on several occasions used the strobe function to signal a medivac chopper in the Arizona wilderness… at high noon, in order to help them locate us and the improvised landing zone. Each time I do it, I ask the pilot if a. He could see it, and b. If it was helpful. I get the same response each time… "yes" and "yes". Just like this morning. The pilot said the on board paramedic pointed out the strobe and thus the landing zone. Apparently, there was another white truck 1/2 a mile away and the ambulance was hidden under some trees and was difficult to see from the air in the valley we were at.

I'm poking around the idea of buying one when my tax refund arrives. I was wondering you mention your Samsung 5000K 90CRI LED Limited option has a different beam due to the larger size. Is it wider? I'm looking for more spill if possible but with a still strong hotspot up to about 30ft at night. I would be getting the 2AA barrel and running eneloops if that effects performance at all…

 

[jon_slider]

I'm looking for more spill

A Wider LED makes a Wider Hotspot.
It does not make a Wider Spill.

Your present LED choices are here. They include Nichia 219b and 519a. The 519a is Wider (and more efficient, so it has longer runtime), than 219b.

The Nichia options are Higher CRI (9080) than the Samsung (9050), which is also reputed to have greener Tint DUV, but 50% more lumens (300 lm vs 200 lm)..

 

[TheJLew85]

A Wider LED makes a Wider Hotspot.
It does not make a Wider spill.
The Samsung is NLA anyway..

Your present LED choices are here. They include Nichia 219b and 519a. The 519a is Wider (and more efficient, so it has longer runtime), than 219b

The Samsung sdr50 is on the list of available emitters.

 

[KITROBASKIN]

HDS could say no warranty work on model that has direct drive?

 

[jon_slider]

The Samsung sdr50 is on the list of available emitters.

thank you!... edited my post

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

HDS could say no warranty work on model that has direct drive?

That isn't something we would do. HDS will always have a lifetime warranty regardless.

 

[p73rs]

I have got a question about the battery type. Is it possible to use LiFePO4?

I did some search. It sounds like it should not be used, but I would like to find out more about it.

Thanks.

 

[ilikeguns40]

 

[ilikeguns40]

Sitting next to a nice calming stream with a couple of pocket items

 

[p73rs]

Thank you very much for the information. Of course, it is there. I forgot about that.

From this, I would like to expand the discussion. The light detects the battery type. What is the voltage range which the light recognizes the battery as the rechargeable 16340 (like 4.3 to 3.5V) or the primary (like 3.5 to 2.7V)?

For this automatic detection, I understand that using the partially depleted rechargeable battery is also not good. The completely charged battery needs to be used to avoid the light goes into the primary battery mode.

Also, what is the voltage for the initial step down and the shut down for either battery? I am thinking like for the rechargeable 16340, the initial step down happens at around 3.3V and the shut down happens at 3.0V.



Thanks.

View attachment 75645

 

[jon_slider]

What is the voltage range which the light recognizes the battery as the rechargeable 16340

my guess is 3.3V would be detected as CR123a

what is the voltage for the initial step down and the shut down for either battery?

I dont know and The Manual does not say.

The light has no user accessible Battery Voltage indication, we just have to notice when the output steps down, to recognize that the battery is getting low.

When using LiIon we are not supposed to open the light to check battery voltage manually. But if you do, I suggest recharging any time it goes below 3.6V, as at that point the battery is less than half full.

And if you do a manual battery voltage check on LiIon, and it reads 3.3V or less, dont put it back into the light or the LVP will be disabled, and the LiIon will be overdischarged (as if it was a CR123a)

 

[desert.snake]

One time I inserted CR123 after removing 16340, but the battery detection system did not reset. As a result, I had a dim flashlight that did not want to die. That is, the flashlight thought that the 16340 was discharged and reduced the brightness, but the CR123 was almost fully charged, so the light did not run out. Although it was constantly blinking, very funny

 

[Mister Ed]

I have a copper HDS I'm going to sell, it has a custom leather holder. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[WarriorOfLight]

I have a copper HDS I'm going to sell, it has a custom leather holder. Thanks for the reminder!

You mean the BeCu Rotary. You may regret it if you sell itt. You should think about it. It is one of that (rare) special metal HDS lights you will not get easy again...

 

[muichimon]

I recently got some amber and am enjoying it. I can confirm that the monochromatic amber is easier to see than I expected. The visibility is good for the glare and I can comfortably see my surroundings in the dark. NB27, which looks like an incandescent light, looks about 4000K next to the amber.

this amber was said to have a problem that it did not recognize CR123A batteries, but when the battery compartment was replaced, it functioned normally even with CR123A batteries. When I replaced the battery compartment of the amber with another HDS rotary, the CR123A battery could not be used, so the problem seems to be on the battery compartment side. I will disassemble it when I have time and try to find out the cause.

 

[dc38]

How's everyone's battery life on a single cr123a? I remember when I had my two HDS, (one rotary, the other a tactical high cri rotary) the battery life was kind of abysmal, about 1h15m sustained on the medium brightnesses using surefire, streamlight, and duracell, (160ish lumens) before it started stepping down rather quickly. I was replacing the batteries once every couple of days with minimal usage, so I was convinced that there was some crazy high standby drain.