L0D CE owners: Can you see it flicker?

[jnj1033]

I've been eyeballing the L0DCE for some time now, but I am concerned about the frequency of the pulse-width modulation (PWM) on the dimmer settings. I'd appreciate it if people who either own or have owned this light could respond to my poll and/or comment on whether the flickering is visible or intrusive. Also, please mention how heavily you use the L0D, and whether you've had any reliability problems with it.

Thanks.

 

[musicalfruit]

I've only had my L0D-CE for about a month but haven't had any problems with it. The PWM doesn't bother me. Which is odd, because I usually am very sensitive to CRT refresh (has to be 75hz+).

Fairly light user. Have a 10440 in it right now because it's just so impressive running off li-ion. Also have a backup NiMH, just in case.

 

[light_emitting_dude]

The flickering is barely noitcable. If your focusing on what your shining the light at and not the light itself, you don't notice it.

 

[tedjanxt]

I voted the second option, however, this does not stop me from using this as my daily 100% EDC.

My P3DCE may or may not be with me on any given day, but the L0DCE stays with me even in the shower (neck lanyard, you sickos)

 

[JohnR66]

I can see flicker only when I look at it and wave it around. I can see strobe effect when I turn my head quickly when it is shining on something. Never really bothered me. I bought it in March or April. I use it every day with a Rayovac "Hybrid" Ni-MH (Ni-MH very recommended, by the way). I have not had a problem yet.

 

[Charley]

You wanna see something cool? Turn a ceiling fan on in a dark room and check out the different settings on your light. It looks like a strobe light when you shine it on the blades as it spins!

Chuck

 

[Lite_me]

I have 3 L0D CEs. One is the Q2 version. I always have 1 or 2 with me at all times. I run a 10440 in one of them, NiMh in the others. I voted the second choice. Under most uses the flicker doesn't bother me. Actually, I don't usually even notice it. I mostly see it when inspecting something up-close, with the light only a few inches away from what I'm looking at. Yeah, it'd be nice if they would increase the PWM rate so the flickering was all but unnoticeable but that's not a deal breaker for me. I love this little light!

I've had no problems at all with any of them and 1 or 2 of them get used quite a few times everyday. I bought the first one in Feb. The second one a month or two later, and the Q2 when they became available.

I have also purchased two for friends. They EDC them and have had no issues. I'd hear about it if they did.

 

[Lux Luthor]

I notice it, especially on low and when there's relative motion between the beam and nearby landscape, such as when indoors. It doesn't bother me, and I wouldn't be put off from purchasing this light because of it. It's an excellent keychain light.

 

[fluke]

I no longer use mine, after about 5 minutes I would start to get a headache.
Now use a modded L0P and an LF2, LF2 uses PWM but at a very high frequency, you cannot notice it.

 

[paulr]

I don't really notice the flicker if holding the light steady and looking at something that's not moving. If lighting something that's moving, the motion looks noticably weird. Sometimes I use the light to find my way to the toilet at night. Without getting too graphic, the PWM really turns the stream of liquid into something like stop-action photography.

 

[selfbuilt]

I found the LOD-CE flicker very noticeable on up close tasks, especially when using 10440.

I'm currently EDCing the Jet-u, and I find it's higher PWM (i.e. 317 Hz) not at all noticeable

I've compared both here: Jetbeam Jet-u and Fenix L0D-CE 1AAA shootout: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS, and TEMPERATURES

 

[Ice]

Strangely the longer I had the L0D the more annoying was the flickering! In the begining I didn't see it at all, but after I saw it the first time I knew what to look for (unfortuantely)...

Anyway, making such a poll was a great idea!!! :goodjob: Strange that no one has been thinking of that sooner!

 

[Frank Maddix]

You wanna see something cool? Turn a ceiling fan on in a dark room and check out the different settings on your light. It looks like a strobe light when you shine it on the blades as it spins!

Chuck

Wanna see something cooler? Take your L0D into a restroom and shine it (low setting) as you go with the flow. Do this alone as you are likely to be taken away by the people in white suits if anyone spots you.

 

[cv3po]

I heard someone on CPF remark, "ever since I learned about PWM, I see it everywhere! Alarm clocks, monitors, tail lights, traffic walk signals and lighting at wallyworld!" This is true. If you don't know ahead of time you usually won't notice. That's the whold point. Look at your monitor. The LOD-CE most likely has a higher pulse rate than your monitor. Can you see it? If you look close enough you will surely notice it. If you hand the light to a "layman" they will usually not notice it unless they wave their hand or whatever in front of the light. It does not get in the way of what the light is meant to be used for and is usually more efficient (?) than many other dimming methods.

BTW, i voted for #2

CJ

 

[cv3po]

Strangely the longer I had the L0D the more annoying was the flickering! In the begining I didn't see it at all, but after I saw it the first time I knew what to look for (unfortuantely)...


That always makes me laugh, the true sigh of the flashaholic. If you didn't notice it B4 and it wasn't a problem B4.................then you need to stop pointing it at blank white walls and waving your hand in front of it and actually use it to light stuff up and it will stop being a problem?

Anyhoo, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. It is my most used light (with a 10440) and even though I know the PWM is there, when I'm really using the light to actually light stuff up..................I forget all about it. :shrug:

CJ

 

[Gimmy]

Strangely the longer I had the L0D the more annoying was the flickering! In the begining I didn't see it at all, but after I saw it the first time I knew what to look for (unfortuantely)...


That always makes me laugh, the true sigh of the flashaholic. If you didn't notice it B4 and it wasn't a problem B4.................then you need to stop pointing it at blank white walls and waving your hand in front of it and actually use it to light stuff up and it will stop being a problem?

Anyhoo, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. It is my most used light (with a 10440) and even though I know the PWM is there, when I'm really using the light to actually light stuff up..................I forget all about it. :shrug:

CJ

Agree, I start noticing the flickering after i start reading about PWM on this site. Many times I turn it on and wave it around just to see the PWM flicker. A few times I even show my wife the flickering and she usually just shook her head.

 

[dandruff]

i dont think the PWM is an issue at all. it would be a shame if you passed on this light because u think the PWM will be bothersome. its a great light.

 

[Ice]

That always makes me laugh, the true sigh of the flashaholic. If you didn't notice it B4 and it wasn't a problem B4.................then you need to stop pointing it at blank white walls and waving your hand in front of it and actually use it to light stuff up and it will stop being a problem?

You are right saying that the flicker isn't a huge problem. It's just that I know it's there and can see it if I want, and as a true flashaholic I want my EDC light to be nothing else but perfect! And the flickering just makes it imperfect! :shakehead

By the way, quite some people seem to be rather sensitive to flickering.
I remember buying a 100Hz televison set because the 50Hz flicker just was too annoying and bought a TFT monitor replacing my 75Hz monitor as soon as I could afford one.
I think I would have seen the L0D flicker sooner if I hadn't had a P1D before which uses no PWM. Actually I would never have believed that flashlights use such a low frequency flicker for different brightness settings!

 

[TigerhawkT3]

The flicker didn't really bother me, and besides, I mostly "used" this light on high on 10440s. I say "used," in quotes, because I don't think I ever actually used it to light something up. It was just a "wow"-light. As soon as I realized that, I started looking into a replacement, and I settled on an LF2. I've been VERY happy with it.