SilverFox
Flashaholic
In other words - WOW!!! This is one bright light.
I wanted to get a McCulloch X990, but was informed by proxenon.com that McCulloch was no longer making these lights. They have a Bohemen BF-990. It is an improved version of the X990. Sounded like the same light to me, so I ordered one.
While I am waiting for the light, KartRacer31 posts problems he is having with the same light. Bernhard also has posted some interesting characteristics of the HID beam in his dive light.
My light arrived and just like KartRacer31 the battery packs are stamped McCulloch HID. The model number is different, JF-990S, but it looks just like the X990. I believe KartRacer31 mentioned the features, but let me recap:
0-90 degree adjustable head position with 5 click stops in between
Dust and Waterproof (but not submersible)
70 minute run time on NiMH battery (two batteries included)
4 hour recharge time charger
An upgraded ballast that is quieter and allows full brightness in 4 seconds
A higher temperature bulb (5500K instead of 4500K) with a life of 3000 hours
Some warning as the battery dies
and Proxenon is extending the manufacturers warranty from 1 year to 5 years.
I could not wait to charge the batteries up and just jumped right in and turned it on...
Wow, is that thing bright. I must admit that my TigerLight is brighter than the spill light, but the 990S just devours the TigerLight in the hot spot. I have seen several "X million candlepower" spot lights, but this thing is brighter by far. They advertise 1 lux at 500+ meters in spot mode and 1 lux at 331 meters in flood mode. That is a lot of light.
Here is the catch. Just like KartRacer31, my beam is yellow. In spot mode, the whole bottom half of the beam is yellow, like a fog light. It is really bright, but yellow. Similar to Bernhard's observations, the yellow follows gravity. If you shine it up at the ceiling, almost the whole beam is yellow.
Bummer...
I called Proxenon asking for a replacement bulb. I also did some research on HID bulbs.
Here is what I found out.
HID bulbs use metal halide salts (the yellow stuff) to maintain the arc after first strike. This allows the light to run at reduced current for better efficiency. These halide salts are used up over time with the result of the light getting dimmer (and the color getting whiter) as it ages. At the very end of its life, it will flash, then dim down to nearly nothing then flash again. You have all seen street lights suffering from that problem.
The original McCulloch X990 was manufactured with "seasoned" bulbs.
The Bohmen BF-990 (McCulloch JF-990S) uses a brand new "raw" bulb.
The HID bulbs used in automobiles have been seasoned by running them for 50-200 hours. During this time, the color of the bulb changes from a slightly yellow color to a whiter color. The greatest change is noticed during the first few hours of run time.
Well, there you have it. It seems we have a fine bottle of wine that needs some ageing.
I decided to run the light a while to see if there was any change.
I charged up the batteries and took the light out at night to see what it would do. Did I mention that it is really bright? In pouring down rain it made it look a little like it was snowing. The light reflecting off of the rain drops did limit the throw a bit, but I could still light up the docks across the lake over a half mile away. If I looked carefully, I could see a hint of yellow, but in normal use it was not glaringly noticeable. This light is really bright!
I started with the beam half yellow while in spot mode and mostly yellow while in flood mode. 8 hours later I have no yellow in spot mode while pointing at the wall, and yellow extending from 5:00 to 8:00 (clock reference) in full flood mode. The beam is worse when I point it at the ceiling, but I am encouraged by the improvement in the short time I have had it.
As far as the low battery warning goes, it is basically non existent on my light. I have two battery packs. One of them blinks 3 times then goes out, and the other one just goes out. The safe bet is just to charge up the batteries before going out to use the light. I am getting around 65 minutes of run time with the batteries. I will do a formal check after I cycle them a few more times.
I will continue to use this light and am greatly encouraged to see the improvement in a few hours of use. There was some mention in the Sylvania web site on automobile HID bulbs that they were designed to be used in a horizontal mode (the bulbs in the 990 are made by Phillips). This is not mentioned anywhere else, but I went from pointing my light at the ceiling to pointing it at the wall. It seems there was better progress using it in that configuration. Please note that the head is heavy and if you jiggle the table it will fall face down. It does not seem to be very stable in that position. I have a modification in mind to help with that and will report on it later.
This light is for people that can take the time to age the bulb. If you want to just pull it out of the carrying case and expect a perfect beam color, you will be disappointed. The extended 5 year warranty makes me think that Proxenon (and Phillips) have a lot of faith in these bulbs and this will give me a chance to use the light and see if the beam cleans up.
This light will not fit in your back pocket, but it is well balanced and comfortable to carry. It also has a carrying strap so you can throw it over your shoulder. I really like my TigerLight, but this light just blows it away.
Did I mention that it is really bright?
Tom
I wanted to get a McCulloch X990, but was informed by proxenon.com that McCulloch was no longer making these lights. They have a Bohemen BF-990. It is an improved version of the X990. Sounded like the same light to me, so I ordered one.
While I am waiting for the light, KartRacer31 posts problems he is having with the same light. Bernhard also has posted some interesting characteristics of the HID beam in his dive light.
My light arrived and just like KartRacer31 the battery packs are stamped McCulloch HID. The model number is different, JF-990S, but it looks just like the X990. I believe KartRacer31 mentioned the features, but let me recap:
0-90 degree adjustable head position with 5 click stops in between
Dust and Waterproof (but not submersible)
70 minute run time on NiMH battery (two batteries included)
4 hour recharge time charger
An upgraded ballast that is quieter and allows full brightness in 4 seconds
A higher temperature bulb (5500K instead of 4500K) with a life of 3000 hours
Some warning as the battery dies
and Proxenon is extending the manufacturers warranty from 1 year to 5 years.
I could not wait to charge the batteries up and just jumped right in and turned it on...
Wow, is that thing bright. I must admit that my TigerLight is brighter than the spill light, but the 990S just devours the TigerLight in the hot spot. I have seen several "X million candlepower" spot lights, but this thing is brighter by far. They advertise 1 lux at 500+ meters in spot mode and 1 lux at 331 meters in flood mode. That is a lot of light.
Here is the catch. Just like KartRacer31, my beam is yellow. In spot mode, the whole bottom half of the beam is yellow, like a fog light. It is really bright, but yellow. Similar to Bernhard's observations, the yellow follows gravity. If you shine it up at the ceiling, almost the whole beam is yellow.
Bummer...
I called Proxenon asking for a replacement bulb. I also did some research on HID bulbs.
Here is what I found out.
HID bulbs use metal halide salts (the yellow stuff) to maintain the arc after first strike. This allows the light to run at reduced current for better efficiency. These halide salts are used up over time with the result of the light getting dimmer (and the color getting whiter) as it ages. At the very end of its life, it will flash, then dim down to nearly nothing then flash again. You have all seen street lights suffering from that problem.
The original McCulloch X990 was manufactured with "seasoned" bulbs.
The Bohmen BF-990 (McCulloch JF-990S) uses a brand new "raw" bulb.
The HID bulbs used in automobiles have been seasoned by running them for 50-200 hours. During this time, the color of the bulb changes from a slightly yellow color to a whiter color. The greatest change is noticed during the first few hours of run time.
Well, there you have it. It seems we have a fine bottle of wine that needs some ageing.
I decided to run the light a while to see if there was any change.
I charged up the batteries and took the light out at night to see what it would do. Did I mention that it is really bright? In pouring down rain it made it look a little like it was snowing. The light reflecting off of the rain drops did limit the throw a bit, but I could still light up the docks across the lake over a half mile away. If I looked carefully, I could see a hint of yellow, but in normal use it was not glaringly noticeable. This light is really bright!
I started with the beam half yellow while in spot mode and mostly yellow while in flood mode. 8 hours later I have no yellow in spot mode while pointing at the wall, and yellow extending from 5:00 to 8:00 (clock reference) in full flood mode. The beam is worse when I point it at the ceiling, but I am encouraged by the improvement in the short time I have had it.
As far as the low battery warning goes, it is basically non existent on my light. I have two battery packs. One of them blinks 3 times then goes out, and the other one just goes out. The safe bet is just to charge up the batteries before going out to use the light. I am getting around 65 minutes of run time with the batteries. I will do a formal check after I cycle them a few more times.
I will continue to use this light and am greatly encouraged to see the improvement in a few hours of use. There was some mention in the Sylvania web site on automobile HID bulbs that they were designed to be used in a horizontal mode (the bulbs in the 990 are made by Phillips). This is not mentioned anywhere else, but I went from pointing my light at the ceiling to pointing it at the wall. It seems there was better progress using it in that configuration. Please note that the head is heavy and if you jiggle the table it will fall face down. It does not seem to be very stable in that position. I have a modification in mind to help with that and will report on it later.
This light is for people that can take the time to age the bulb. If you want to just pull it out of the carrying case and expect a perfect beam color, you will be disappointed. The extended 5 year warranty makes me think that Proxenon (and Phillips) have a lot of faith in these bulbs and this will give me a chance to use the light and see if the beam cleans up.
This light will not fit in your back pocket, but it is well balanced and comfortable to carry. It also has a carrying strap so you can throw it over your shoulder. I really like my TigerLight, but this light just blows it away.
Did I mention that it is really bright?
Tom
