I've been away from flashlights for a couple of years due to new job, new baby, and a few other things. My current light arsenal has served me well. However, I made the mistake this weekend of revisiting a few of the vendors I once frequented and may have caught the bug again. I've already bought another light (there goes my wallet!).
I'm amazed at current LED technology and capabilities. As I browse CPF and the web with the little time I have, I find some claims difficult to believe, even when they're substantiated by 3rd party tests. I went through some review sites and found some test results difficult to believe. Most of these involve P60-sized drop-ins and Mag upgrades that seem to exceed the mfr rated capabilities of the LEDs. I browsed through those quickly though, but one caught my eye the most...the EagleTac lights (because I can remember the brand and because I like their lights).
The most accurate generalization relating LED lumens to OTF (Out-The-Front) or Torch Lumens has been OTF = LED * 0.65. Or, only 65% of the LEDs generated light comes out of the flashlight. This has always held true in the past and still holds true now when I look at test results vs. light and LED mfr claims. It holds true for all except those upgrades I mentioned above (which I can't remember the details of) and the EagleTac products.
EagleTac claims to only lose 20% of the light created at the LED, instead of the 35% loss. Their 1000 lumen light says 800 OTF. Their T20C2 claims 380 lumens LED and 300 lumens OTF, again only 20% loss. 3rd party reviews/testing seems to confirm the 300 lumens OTF for the T20C2 XP-G. However, this doesn't add up correctly. I doubt EagleTac has the magic reflector and lens combo that retains 15% more light than every other brand. Yet it's still 300 lumens OTF. So if it's really 35% loss (like it should be), that would mean the T20C2 makes 460 lumens LED. And EagleTac claims the LED is only driven at 1.2A. But according to Cree XP-G specs, the max possible output is just under 400 lumens LED at a drive of 1.5A. Nowhere near 460 lumens at 1.2A.
So how is 300 lumens OTF possible? Magic super-low-loss optics?...LEDs driven beyond the 1.5A rating to achieve higher than 400 lumens LED? Inaccurate test results?
As I mentioned, I like EagleTac's lights, but I like to understand what I'm buying if I decide to pick some up. This is important to me so I can understand whether EagleTacs (and the others with physics-defying performance) are truly better than their competition or if the claims, and the 3rd party testing, are inaccurate. So far, my brief time I can spend on CPF has shown no one questioning this inconsistency. So your fellow CPFers help and knowledge is greatly appreciated to help shed some light on this.
BTW, has anyone noticed the EagleTac T20C2 has near the exact same body as the Olight M20? The shape is exactly identical with the only differences being surface treatment (knurling, flat, etc.). I'm guessing the same contractor machine house makes the bodies for both and it's cheaper to buy an existing design with some minor surface changes than it is to have them make something completely new. That's how it is for all contract mfg I've been involved in.
Thanks.
I'm amazed at current LED technology and capabilities. As I browse CPF and the web with the little time I have, I find some claims difficult to believe, even when they're substantiated by 3rd party tests. I went through some review sites and found some test results difficult to believe. Most of these involve P60-sized drop-ins and Mag upgrades that seem to exceed the mfr rated capabilities of the LEDs. I browsed through those quickly though, but one caught my eye the most...the EagleTac lights (because I can remember the brand and because I like their lights).
The most accurate generalization relating LED lumens to OTF (Out-The-Front) or Torch Lumens has been OTF = LED * 0.65. Or, only 65% of the LEDs generated light comes out of the flashlight. This has always held true in the past and still holds true now when I look at test results vs. light and LED mfr claims. It holds true for all except those upgrades I mentioned above (which I can't remember the details of) and the EagleTac products.
EagleTac claims to only lose 20% of the light created at the LED, instead of the 35% loss. Their 1000 lumen light says 800 OTF. Their T20C2 claims 380 lumens LED and 300 lumens OTF, again only 20% loss. 3rd party reviews/testing seems to confirm the 300 lumens OTF for the T20C2 XP-G. However, this doesn't add up correctly. I doubt EagleTac has the magic reflector and lens combo that retains 15% more light than every other brand. Yet it's still 300 lumens OTF. So if it's really 35% loss (like it should be), that would mean the T20C2 makes 460 lumens LED. And EagleTac claims the LED is only driven at 1.2A. But according to Cree XP-G specs, the max possible output is just under 400 lumens LED at a drive of 1.5A. Nowhere near 460 lumens at 1.2A.
So how is 300 lumens OTF possible? Magic super-low-loss optics?...LEDs driven beyond the 1.5A rating to achieve higher than 400 lumens LED? Inaccurate test results?
As I mentioned, I like EagleTac's lights, but I like to understand what I'm buying if I decide to pick some up. This is important to me so I can understand whether EagleTacs (and the others with physics-defying performance) are truly better than their competition or if the claims, and the 3rd party testing, are inaccurate. So far, my brief time I can spend on CPF has shown no one questioning this inconsistency. So your fellow CPFers help and knowledge is greatly appreciated to help shed some light on this.
BTW, has anyone noticed the EagleTac T20C2 has near the exact same body as the Olight M20? The shape is exactly identical with the only differences being surface treatment (knurling, flat, etc.). I'm guessing the same contractor machine house makes the bodies for both and it's cheaper to buy an existing design with some minor surface changes than it is to have them make something completely new. That's how it is for all contract mfg I've been involved in.
Thanks.
)
