How to test lumen output?

[nick__45]

I would like to test the lumen output of my flashlights, especially the 3D 3W LED Maglite. Many people stated that each watt is equivalent to about 15-20 lumen, but this Maglite seems much brighter than 60 lumen. It is definitely brighter than some of the 60-100 lumen flashlights I encountered. Therefore, I like to know if there is a device to test such light or if there is a website that list official and unbiased independent rating for many popular flashlights.

Thank you.

 

[Marduke]

I would like to test the lumen output of my flashlights, especially the 3D 3W LED Maglite.

There are two generations of Mag LED's, with the newer being easily over twice as bright as the earlier.

Therefore, I like to know if there is a device to test such light ...

Yes, it is called an integrating sphere.

..or if there is a website that list official and unbiased independent rating for many popular flashlights.

You're already there/here... :welcome:

 

[nick__45]

There are two generations of Mag LED's, with the newer being easily over twice as bright as the earlier.




Yes, it is called an integrating sphere.



You're already there/here... :welcome:

I am not sure if the last reply is correct though. Most review here is the same as what I would do, a very subjective feedback on the flashlight.

 

[Marduke]

I am not sure if the last reply is correct though. Most review here is the same as what I would do, a very subjective feedback on the flashlight.

Besides MrGman's thread with IS measurements, other reviews do an excellent job of doing objective light measurements comparing various lights and their outputs and runtimes on numerous cell combinations.

 

[M@elstrom]

There are two generations of Mag LED's, with the newer being easily over twice as bright as the earlier.

Not to mention all the aftermarket drop in modules like Terralux & Diamond :thumbsup:

 

[nick__45]

Besides MrGman's thread with IS measurements, other reviews do an excellent job of doing objective light measurements comparing various lights and their outputs and runtimes on numerous cell combinations.

So what's the lumen rating for the 3D 3 Watt LED Maglite?

 

[Marduke]

So what's the lumen rating for the 3D 3 Watt LED Maglite?

Which one??

 

[nick__45]

Which one??

The new large Maglite; 3D 3Watt LED.

 

[xenonk]

Besides MrGman's thread with IS measurements, other reviews do an excellent job of doing objective light measurements comparing various lights and their outputs and runtimes on numerous cell combinations.

The only downside is that direct comparison of output measurements is restricted to a single test bed. Runtimes are thankfully portable for the most part.

 

[Marduke]

The new large Maglite; 3D 3Watt LED.

Like I said, which one? The Lux 3, or Rebel 90?

 

[davidt]

Like I said, which one? The Lux 3, or Rebel 90?

If you are confused on whether you have the Lux 3, or Rebel 90; the pic below will help you identify what you have.

Here is a picture of the two side by side (new on the right):

Lux 3 on the left, rebel on the right.

The 4D lux 3 was independently tested to have 50 lumens of output at start up, with output dropping to 40 after 1 minute.

The rebel 90 will have greater output than a Lux 3

 

[xenonk]

rebel on the right.

Am I seeing things, or did they center the emitter package instead of the die?

 

[nick__45]

Like I said, which one? The Lux 3, or Rebel 90?

The one in this picture:
I wouldn't know how to tell what model it is. I didn't even know there were such things as Lux3 and Rebel 90.

 

[xenonk]

If you can look down the front, you can compare the emitter at the bottom of the reflector to the posted images.

 

[nick__45]

I have the Rebel as I just bought it and it looks like the one on the right. Also, it is bright, way too bright to be 50 lumen. Thanks davidt for the clarification.

 

[nick__45]

So what's the lumen output for this Rebel Maglite?

 

[xenonk]

It regulates to 3W draw and is around 80% efficient IIRC, so assuming it's a 090 (it may be stamped somewhere) you're looking at around 160 emitter lumens as long as thermal throttling doesn't kick in.

 

[nick__45]

Wow, that's a lot of lumen. I always thought each watt only yield around 15-20 lumen but was shocked at how bright the sucker is. How about the Mini-Mag LED from the same package. It is dimmer but also very bright. If it is any where near 70 lumen then I am pretty much done with light purchase for a few years. I can't let this hobby gets out of hand like my gun hobby.

 

[xenonk]

The emitter in the 3D is probably receiving somewhere around 700mA of drive current. The 090 bin Rebels are rated for 90 lumens at 350mA drive current, but efficiency goes down as drive current goes up so the output doesn't quite double.

I have no idea what the current draw on the minimag is, or if it's even using the same emitter bin or model.

 

[jenskh]

Wow, that's a lot of lumen. I always thought each watt only yield around 15-20 lumen but was shocked at how bright the sucker is. .

The most efficient available leds today gives more than 100 lumens/watt. By the end of this year we expect 140 lumens/watt.:twothumbs