L4 (heat kills it???)

[dtsoll]

Well, my first L4 is 100 miles from me now and will be delivered Tuesday it looks like. I didn't buy one until now I guess because of the short (relatively speaking) led life. Kind of silly, if I do use it enough to smoke the led I can just send it to surefire for replacement under warranty (sheez, I didn't think of this til now??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif Is the reason for the short life of the led heat? If not is it something just inherent in five watt luxeons?? I will use the L4 as edc and will use it as intended but, if a person were to use it in short bursts and not let it get hot, would it last like a 1 or 3 watt?? Just curious! Thanks, I am looking forward to my "wall of light" Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[357]

I'm curious about this too. If the L2 (or L4) don't get too hot, will they still only have 500 expected life to 50%?


I have and use the L2. I wonder if low mode saves LED life? Or is the 5-watt just so inherently unstable that the life is low under ANY current level?

 

[Robban]

I just bought an L4 that is currently on its way to me from the states. Being the newbie that I am I didn't know about this short life of the LED. How short is its life, and will I have to buy a new head if it gives out (or will it be replaced by warranty as the threadstarter said)? That would suck, badly /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[dtsoll]

Robban, Surefire says "if it breaks we'll fix it" I hope this doesn't exclude the led itself. Others will know for sure!! Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[357]

[ QUOTE ]
Robban said:
I just bought an L4 that is currently on its way to me from the states. Being the newbie that I am I didn't know about this short life of the LED. How short is its life, and will I have to buy a new head if it gives out (or will it be replaced by warranty as the threadstarter said)? That would suck, badly /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

IIRC, 500 hours to 50% brightness. The LED won't blow, but it will lose brightness as it gets older. I think Surefire would replace the head for you, if the brightness goes down quickly. They claim to have a warantee of "if it breaks, we will fix it". I wouldn't worry too much, 500 hours will get you over a year of use if you average 1 hour use per day.

 

[dtsoll]

Another good question is: has anyone used their L4 enough to smoke the led?? That should be a bunch of cells through their L4!!!!! Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[357]

[ QUOTE ]
dtsoll said:
Another good question is: has anyone used their L4 enough to smoke the led?? That should be a bunch of cells through their L4!!!!! Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think the LED will "smoke". It will just get dimmer with age.

 

[dtsoll]

Yeah, I could have used a better term, that is what I meant though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Robban]

Alright, that makes me feel better about my investment. Thanks guys /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm just starting out in this wonderful world of flashlights. I first got a QIII and then shortly after an L4 (that has yet to arrive). My wallet is not happy... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[tequilathursday]

I just got an L4 and I have been wondering about the heat/life expectancy thing as well. Heat is a well known killer of electronics and I'm concious of not letting it get too hot. Though with that said, I did buy it to use on a regular basis. This light is awesome and I hate to think that it will start dimming (probably without my notice).
Think of it as a high end car. Enjoy it for what it is, and when the engine looses its pep, we have a free lifetime overhaul warranty. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/happy14.gif

 

[StEaLtH_]

The L4 is a great light, i recieved mine a couple days ago and am very pleased with it.
You'll love it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tequilathursday]

I just thought of something.
I've had my L4 for about 6 days now and I'm still on my original set of batteries. It's really way more light than needed to navigate in the darkness so it should get used less often. (I wouldn't use it for an hr straight while walking the dog. The x5t is great for that.) Though the L4 is always within my reach.

So if I'm using a set of cells a week, and it runs for 60 -70 minutes in regulation, hmmm. That 500hrs just turned into 500 weeks. Thats 9.5 yrs !!! Wow! I feel alot better now /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

I gota go, my gf is screaming something about F'n flashlights and us being late for something.....

see ya soon,

 

[cia]

Replace your L4 "clickie" with a McE2S Two Stage Switch
Then you can run your L4 on low and high power.
I have the 15 ohms switch. I can leave it on all night long on the low setting and it does not get hot or even warm at all.

 

[dtsoll]

cia,
how much light is output with the 15 ohm resistor?? Can you compare it to another light?? Similar to??? Thanks, Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[cia]

I would say it's close to the light output of a KL1
I asked Don before I ordered what one to get as I wanted the low output close the the output of the KL1 and he suggested I go with the 15 ohm.
I'm very happy with the switch. It makes the L4 a great EDC light.

 

[dtsoll]

Thanks, I am gonna have to get one of those, the low output ability would be very useful!!! Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[357]

Its very useful. I use low setting on my L2 over 95% of the time. Its plenty of light. The high setting of 100 lumens is overkill unless you are stuck in the middle of the woods and hear a bump in the night.

 

[MrMom]

[ QUOTE ]
357 said:
[ QUOTE ]
dtsoll said:
Another good question is: has anyone used their L4 enough to smoke the led?? That should be a bunch of cells through their L4!!!!! Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think the LED will "smoke". It will just get dimmer with age.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine just smoked with about 100 hours run time. When the light is turned on two of the segments and one strip of the third segment briefly flashes and then rapidily dims to nothing. This has been repeated several times with intermittent flashes of the angry blue color. Time to call Surefire-

 

[Hoghead]

MrMom,

Did you run your L4 on anything besides 2x123 primary cells?

 

[Brock]

First I heard of the 500 hour rating. Although typically an hour rating in light output is to 90%, not 50%. Secondly 500 hours is a LONG time, about 250 cells or about 90min a day, every day, for a year. I am lucky if I use mine total for more then 15 min a day, 5 days a week, so for me that would be over 7 years.

I would also suspect that is running straight, so using it in short bursts will not heat it up as much and I would think it would last longer.

Bottom line, enjoy it. When you hit 500 hours you will want the Q4 anyway /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif