How Do You Like Your Everleds?

Candle Power Flashlight Forum

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I was just wondering (like alot of people) about the temperature that this bulb reaches when in a plastic flashlight (no heatsink). If I read the Luxeon data sheet correctly, 120 degrees is the upper thermal limit.
I figure (I heated up some water and used that as a guage)that 120 degrees would be uncomfortable to touch, but not burning, and reports of people when they feel these bulbs is that it is just that, hot, but doesn't burn. This makes me think that the bulb is doing a good job of keeping the temperature down to near-but-within-tolerance. Is this the general feeling, or does everyone think that it is getting above 120degrees, therefore damaging the LED?

By the way, what is the highest order number that has been recieved? Just wondering when that great shipping e-mail will arrive! Mine is 840.
 
Can't answer the temperature question, as I am waiting like you for shipment. I received an email today saying it was shipped USPS today (no service specified, priority, first class, etc) and my order number was 780.
Rob
 
Can anyone who's received an EverLED describe how the unit is assembled, particularly the potting compound that seals it within the PR base?

Does it appear molded, or heated or professional or amateurish or smooth or whatever?

What kind of thermal/mechanical forces might it be undergoing to cram it into the base?

Would you order more?

Any problems receiving replacements or warranty support?

Sure be nice to see an X-ray of the unit (if that's physically possible).

Anyone notice dramatic light output dropoff if the unit becomes too hot?
 
[ QUOTE ]
PhotonBoy said:
Can anyone who's received an EverLED describe how the unit is assembled, particularly the potting compound that seals it within the PR base?

Does it appear molded, or heated or professional or amateurish or smooth or whatever?

What kind of thermal/mechanical forces might it be undergoing to cram it into the base?

Would you order more?

Any problems receiving replacements or warranty support?

Sure be nice to see an X-ray of the unit (if that's physically possible).

Anyone notice dramatic light output dropoff if the unit becomes too hot?

[/ QUOTE ]

The unit comes totally sealed. Appears to be heavily built and totally built into some sort of potting compound. Looks professional and quantity built. Does not come with any type of represented warrenty. Two of us have had one fail. I returned my failed unit about a week ago and have not heard from them yet.
 
I have 4 flashlights that the Everled doesn't seem to work in. I don't really know why. I think maybe the contacts aren't EXACTLY in the same as a PR type bulb. I'm not sure. I've had mine flicker and go dark also. I think that was while my batteries were dying though.
 
*****WARNING*****

THE EVERLED HAS NO REVERSE POLARITY PROTECTION !!!! I just ruined mine in a PT 40 by connecting the tip of the EverLED to the negative end of the batteries. POOF !!!!!! The instructions/packaging/web site carry no warning.

See my post elsewhere in this forum for details.
 
I just recieved mine yesterday. Waring: the "optic" is rather fragile. Through stupidity and clumsiness, I managed to chip the optic within minutes of taking it out of the box.

If my EverLED is any indication (and I belive the new EOS process implies that there are fewer variances from luxeon to luxeon), then those of you who ordered a white one are in for a treat. These things are white. No off-color corona, no blue or violet hot spot, just pure white.

In my 4D M@g, the beam is super white, with a very tight hotspot and good size corona. The wires are clearly visible though, and the ridges on the M@g's bulb retainer and (likely) the aforementioned chip I put in the optic makes a wierd jagged edge to the beam. That said, it's very impressive. I'm going to buy a Tec 20 this weekend and will post about the results later.

Long story short (too late): I'm buying at least one more.
 
How bright is it really? The claim of 4x brighter than a Krypton bulb are pretty strong. How does the EverLED compare to the standard bulb in your Mag?

Is the EverLED something that you could foresee using out in the woods for example? -- Or is it best for indoor or closeup work?
 
Compared to the standard bulb, my eyeballs tell me it's definately brighter. At the hotspot, the EverLED is a bit brighter than the stock bulb, no more than twice. But it has a big corona that is no less than 1/2 as bright as the hotspot, so the total output is definately much greater than the Mag stock bulb. This is on a 4D Mag with new batteries and under 30 minutes of wear on the original bulb.

The EverLED focuses very well. I haven't put the throw to test quite yet, but it's obvious that the light behaves more or less like an incandescent would. This is not some dim, diffuse, "indoor only" kind of light. At least not in a Mag. Like others have said, a small reflector won't produce these kinds of results.
 
Lambda's Krylon reflector texturizing trick (I always try to give credit - and Thanks - to Kevin) has worked well for me in many incandescent applications.

Chris's texturized factory second TigerLight lamps also have benefitted from a similar process.

It's not all that difficult to do, and I generally get better each time I try it. Mag reflectors are not all that expensive, and this process would probably help to minimize the relatively minor beam artifacts that many of you have been describing with the EVERLED.

There is always *some* trade-off between hot spot intensity and beam smoothness, and it varies depending on the degree of texturizing. More texture = more smoothness/less intensity. Less texture = less smoothing/more intensity.

The fine point would be knowing how to how to acheive just the right amount of smoothing for each given circumstance.

I generally tend to try for a lighter & finer application, hoping to avoid over-doing it. I find that in actual use vs the white wall test, less than perfect results are still quite a usable improvement.

The best part about this is that it allows the use of a quality lens (such as the UCL) for maximum lumen output, without the penalty associated with using textured film.

This is all just my opinion, of course, but for some willing to try it with the EVERLED - it might be an acceptable improvement.

Many thanks again to Kevin (Lambda) for sharing the idea with the rest of us...

John
 
[ QUOTE ]
Spectrum said:
How bright is it really? The claim of 4x brighter than a Krypton bulb are pretty strong. How does the EverLED compare to the standard bulb in your Mag?

Is the EverLED something that you could foresee using out in the woods for example? -- Or is it best for indoor or closeup work?

[/ QUOTE ]

I've compared my White Everled in a 3 c cell mag to a 3 cell halogen (Mag) and a 4 cell mag with a standard Krypton buld. In both cases the Everled far outshone the other lamps. By all means take it outside and use it.

I have my <font color="blue"> teal </font> Everled in a LSI combination flourescent/incandescent 6-d cell lantern. The bigger reflector really seems to maximize the capability of the led. I would hate to do a runtime test with this lantern, might go on for days. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I also thank Lambda.

I did Krylon sputtering to my Mag and it was really easy to do.
But it's not always easy to get the excepted result.
I got smooth beam but obviously lost intensity. I did it too much /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif
Be careful.

My EverLED haven't arrived yet. I have to check some things.
 
Brotherscrim said: "Compared to the standard bulb, my eyeballs tell me it's definately brighter....a big corona that is no less than 1/2 as bright as the hotspot, so the total output is definately much greater than the Mag stock bulb."

Wow!! Now I do have to get a couple of these. Thanks for the great first hand comparison.
 
I am being redundant, but I want to ask the question again.

Is there a difference in brightness between a 2 and 3 cell light?

Some people posted only a slight increase between the 2 and 3 cells, and no differecen with 4 and up, and some people said that the light was essentially the same brightness.

Reason?

I am betting the Mag-Lite 2C would be a GREAT light with this LED, for my two young Nephews.

The 2C Mag is a very sturdy, yet light, small light, but has a nice turbo head, and the C size makes the diameter a perfect fit for the hand.

My Space Needle 2 is a 2C, and it has an awesome feel to it. Almost identical to a Stinger HP.
 
[ QUOTE ]
N162E said: I've compared my White Everled in a 3 c cell mag to a 3 cell halogen (Mag) and a 4 cell mag with a standard Krypton buld. In both cases the Everled far outshone the other lamps.[ QUOTE ]


Thanks to you also Fred, for your report. My arc AAA is "bright", my Opalec is "bright", but a 3-cell Mag is in a totally different category. There must be a down-side to these Ever-LEDs -- They just sound too good to be true. I guess this will really put a dent in the sales for big multiple LED lights like my Lightwave 3000.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Spectrum said:
[ QUOTE ]
N162E said: I've compared my White Everled in a 3 c cell mag to a 3 cell halogen (Mag) and a 4 cell mag with a standard Krypton buld. In both cases the Everled far outshone the other lamps.[ QUOTE ]


Thanks to you also Fred, for your report. My arc AAA is "bright", my Opalec is "bright", but a 3-cell Mag is in a totally different category. There must be a down-side to these Ever-LEDs -- They just sound too good to be true. I guess this will really put a dent in the sales for big multiple LED lights like my Lightwave 3000.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea, it is a Luxeon Star LED, not a traditional Nichia LED.

Much brighter than the Nichia.
 
[ QUOTE ]
BuddTX said:
Is there a difference in brightness between a 2 and 3 cell light?

Some people posted only a slight increase between the 2 and 3 cells, and no differecen with 4 and up, and some people said that the light was essentially the same brightness.


[/ QUOTE ]

I've had a 2 & 3 c cell mags with Everleds in them side by side. As I see it there is a slight difference between the two and the three cell. Very slight but noticible. Between a three cell and a four cell I see no difference.

I think what many of us are seeing here is a led based bulb in a decent size reflector for the first time. Add to that the fact that they are the best white most of us have ever seen come out of hand carried illumination all put together in a very cool package. This is home grown technology we have ahead of the Govt.

These are not the brightest things going, just a very good product that will serve the needs of most people and do it well.

Now, when the 5 watt version comes out that will be a whole different story.
 
[ QUOTE ]
BuddTX said:
Now, when the 5 watt version comes out that will be a whole different story.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do they plan on making one? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Thanks Fred

zmoz,

I did not say that, Fred did, and I do not think there is any announcement of this, but if you were them, would't you be considering a product like that?
 
[ QUOTE ]

I did not say that, Fred did, and I do not think there is any announcement of this, but if you were them, would't you be considering a product like that?


[/ QUOTE ]

I have neither heard nor read anything about a 5 watt version. Just wishful thinking.
 
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