Inova X1 (3rd generation) blues. dim dim dim...

[22hornet]

Hello,

Recently I received 2 Inova X1s: a gen2 green led and a gen3. I already had a gen1 white led.

Before buying, I looked at the runtime/output charts of Chevrofreak and learned the following about the gen3 X1:
- with alkalines: output diminishes gradually till the light starts strobing after some 80-90 minutes
- with Nimh: slightly brighter than a Fenix E1 and a slightly longer runtime.

http://lights.chevrofreak.com/runtimes/Inova X1 vs Fenix E1.png

http://lights.chevrofreak.com/runtimes/Inova X1.png

Well, I guess something is wrong with my new X1 as:
- with alkalines: output gradually diminishes, but it won't strobe.
- with Nimh (several tested): output is like a 5mm led (think about a Fenix E0 and at very most an ARC AAA-P), not the expected 12-13 lumens. Both my Fenix E1 and my Inova Bolt 2AAA are significantly brighter.

When doing the "ceiling bounce" the gen3 illuminates the room as much as my gen1 "spot", not more, and the gen2 green led is also in the same league.
Also, for navigating in a dark room, the gen2 green led is as bright as the gen3.

Do I have a bad Inova? What should I do??

Joris

 

[jdong]

I think yours might have a lower-than-average quality LED, and you should seek a warranty claim from Inova (email CS)

Mine does the strobe thing and is pretty bright, much brighter than gen1 when doing ceiling bounce.

 

[Kilovolt]

I have all three versions of X1. In a just performed ceiling bounce test Gen.3 illuminates the room much better than Gen.1, there's really no contest.

Your X1 is most probably defective, ask for a replacement.

 

[chesterqw]

your eyes are more sensitive to green light. that is why the green LED will seem brighter.

 

[22hornet]

After some use, the X1 gen3 remains below expectations with a brightness comparable to a Fenix E0. Whether I use Alkalines, Eneloops or regular MiMH, there is no real difference. The vendor says it may be normal and the light may not be defective. Besides, sending it back to the US is as expensive as buying another light, so to speak.

To avoid any further stress I will do one of the following:
- give it away
- use it as a target at the shooting range
- put it on a railroad track and see what happens

My other two X1: gen1 white and a gen2 green are good, however.

Lesson learned: the 2AAA Bolt is great :thumbsup: (and I use it a lot), the new X1 sucks.:scowl:

Kind regards,
Joris

 

[dim]

Inova really, REALLY needs to get their s[tuff] together on the X1 v3 (a new v4?). With all of the buzz and clamour for these new Cree/SSC/Rebel AA flashies, if Inova had gotten the v3 right, except for those who MUST have a clickie (did I say Bolt?) or multi level, the contest would be over. Inova would have gotten the buzz and the AA sales. Who'd want a cheaply made DX carried model when for about $25-$30, one could go to Target and buy a quality HA Inova with Rebel lumens and runtime? I've waited a long time for the v3 only to be disappointed. So, still, I wait for Inova to get it right.

73
dim

 

[Marduke]

To avoid any further stress I will do one of the following:
- give it away
- use it as a target at the shooting range
- put it on a railroad track and see what happens

There is a 4th option. Mod it with a rebel or cree.

 

[jdong]

http://severance.gotdns.org/~jdong/flashlight/100_0971.JPG

Hopefully this comparison helps.... I quickly whipped this together. From left to right, it's the LM31, Inova X1 3G, X5, XO

The Inova X1's brightness is slightly more than the LM31's low, but trails far behind all of the high-output lights. It's a perfect light output level for EDC night use -- anything brighter has that annoying effect of reducing night vision. But no, it's no Cree/Rebel


EDIT: A bit grainy, but X1 vs LM31-low: http://severance.gotdns.org/~jdong/flashlight/100_0972.JPG
The X1 has a better spillbeam in this case.

 

[Energie]

To avoid any further stress I will do one of the following:
- give it away
- use it as a target at the shooting range
- put it on a railroad track and see what happens

Another option:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=165203

 

[22hornet]

Maybe I was expecting too much of it...
I just wanted a fine 1AA edc flashlight to carry in my front pants pocket. I thought it would be as bright as a Bolt 2AAA, but it isn't.

It would really be nice if ARC would reintroduce their magnificent and superb AA.
But, wait a minute, I have an ARC AA Time to get it back out of the closet and use it.
The ARC AA is not powerful (it's like a Fenix E0) but the beam is very beautiful, very wide. It's a "wall of light" errr... a small wall :laughing:

It's a strange habit of mankind to try to replace things that are already perfect. A few years ago, an ARC AA was considered useful and bright enough and, as far as I know, the world hasn't gotten significantly darker, so it must still be a handy light.

Kind regards and sorry for ranting ,
Joris

 

[jdong]

Have you tried a Lumapower LM31 before? It's virtually the same size as the X1 (EDC form factor), runs off AA's, and has a high-stage as bright as you'd ever need?

 

[22hornet]

Yesterday I was playing with an Inova Bolt (2AAA) and it didn't function properly. This is no big deal, as a whack will always restore that light to brightness. So I gently threw the Bolt on the carpet in front of me and yes, it was bright as before.

This brought me to the idea of doing the same to my dim X1 and yes, after been thrown on the carpet, brightness went up. So, I guess the problem is somewhat solved. The X1 (gen3) remains visibly dimmer though than the Bolt but it is up from where it came.

Kind regards,
Joris

 

[StandardBattery]

Interesting! I've was very disappointed in the brightness of my X1. Sometime ago I discovered it was a gen3 from the forums here. It's such a nice build though I thought I would just use it for low light night stuff as I have other lights. Then I came across a gen2 so I got that because the runtime is suppose to be amazing.

I put the two side by side, and my gen3 has basically the same output as the gen2. I don't know how the runtimes compare though. I like the gen3 better because it is pewter/silver/titanium color and the gen2 is black. So either the early gen3 had the same runtime as the gen2 (because they had similar output), or there was a quality control issue. I've heard others now report that their gen3 is not much different than their gen2.

Maybe I'll toss it around a bit, and see if the output changes, I'd be surprised if it did.

I don't mind the low output level anymore I use it accordingly, but if the output is low I want the long runtime!

Nice quality builds though... and standard AA... love it!