How many lumens were the original Surefire L4s?

[GTSECC]

Was it something like they were rated at 60, but more likely put oput 80?
How do I search the forums for this?
How can someone distinguish between older and newer models of the L4?

 

[half-watt]

not sure what you mean by older ones.

mine was purchased probably a 15 months ago is 100 lumens. it does NOT have the current emitter being sold in new ones. so, only 1h at HIGH output, followed by a couple of hours or so of diminishing, but useful, output.

i spoke w/a SF cust. srv. rep. 'bout a month ago about the same issue and here is what i was told:

"the new L4 has a 'B' in the serial # AB..." after more questioning to make sure that i understood, and more explanation, a second possibility seemed to emerge (perhaps i just misunderstood him - i think this is more likely, i.e., that i misunderstood his second re-worded response), "the new L4 has a B before the serial #".

anyways, there ought to be a 'B' associated or part of the serial number.

of course, if you can see one, perhaps looking at the emitter will reveal whether it is a new one or an older one.

 

[gswitter]

The KL4 head was originally rated at 65 lumens, IIRC. I have a vague recollection of it being rated at 80 lumens at one point as well.

Edit: The LED Museum review from June '03 lists 65 lumens.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

The first Lux V was rated at 65, then 100 and now it uses another emitter.

 

[Size15's]

It is important to note that no change was made to increase the output - only the rating was increased to be more representative of the actual output. The first rating of 65 lumens was not based on proper testing but rather a rush to get a rating in time for the catalog print. At that point it was certain the KL4 etc were at least that of the P60 so SureFire went with the P60's 65 lumen rating until they could test things thoroughly.

 

[easilyled]

I think the fact that the luxVs went through quite a few output (flux) bin improvements from when the L4 initially came out
(probably starting at Us then going to Vs and Ws) would have accounted for an increase in output especially if the driver
and the design of the L4 hadn't changed.

We were always told that Surefire used the latest bins.

If you drive a W-bin luxV at 750ma for example, a lot more light will come out of it than a U-bin driven at the same current.

 

[Illum]

its always been 120ish lumens...only back then surefire was extremely conservative hiding their big waffles and using smaller numbers ...now they're just dishing it out like fluffy pancakes:shakehead

 

[Size15's]

I think the fact that the luxVs went through quite a few output (flux) bin improvements from when the L4 initially came out...

I think this is a factor in the level of confidence SureFire are able to give to their ratings given how conservative they have shown to be.
The difference between a rating being an average or representative of a range of outputs mostly clustered about the rating value, and a rating being an 'at least' output or representing the minimum output with the cluster being obviously above and the high-performing tip of the range of outputs soaring far higher above...

Al