L5, L6, U2

[sovereign]

All 3 of these models use (or will use) the Luxeon 5 watt LED, correct? So, why are the L5 and L6 rated at 65 lumens and the U2 is rated at 100 lumens? Why is the L6 not the brightest of the bunch since it is a 9 volt system? Why are the L5 and U2 not rated the same? Is it because the U2 is able to push the LED to 100 lumens but the runtime will be less, say, 20 minutes? Confused...

 

[JediKnife]

Sorry I cannot offer you any help, but have you tried emailing or phoning the Surefire customer service reps with this question? They answered my questions within minutes on the telephone and same day for email. If you do, let us know what they say!

 

[kakster]

It might be that the U2 has a more efficient reflector. Remember, Surefires' ratings are whats coming out of the bezel. Perhaps one of the lucky guys who had the chance to handle it already can confirm or deny this?

 

[Kiessling]

you can drive a LED at different levels with different battery configurations within some reasonable limits.
think of our X3T BB750 combos running on 2x123 or imagine a DB400 with the same LED ... all depends on the driver.
and of course ... as you stated correctly ... runtime will suffer on a 2x123 setup with 100lm ... unless you have multiple brightness settings like the U2 .... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
thinking of this light I start drooling again, and it is all your fault! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/drool.gif
bernhard

 

[oldeng95]

Has anyone pushed passed 65lumens off of only 6v???

 

[turbodog]

Spoke to my wife about this light. She seems agreeable so far. Told her retail price ($270). She said that was less than she expected.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Blades]

How about a U2 Defender?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif




Blades

 

[CM]

I'm sure 65 lumens has already been well surpassed using 6V, or even using Li-Ion's. McGizmo's PR with the X3T BB750 put out more light overall than my Surefire 6Z using fresh 123's and the P60 lamp assembly. I also have an L5 that is roughly equivalent to the X3T LED in the aformentioned light. 65 Lumens is cake with decent 5W Lux.

As far as the U2 and 100 lumens, Surefire might have become less conservative in their ratings, or they got hold of several hundred reels of X-binned Lux's /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Also, is the 100 Lumens guaranteed, or is that, in the lingo of specsmanship, "typical". We'll only know for sure when the U2 comes out. I don't plan on getting one but I can't wait to see how the U2 pans out against expectations. 100Lumens is pretty impressive for a production LED light.

 

[Badbeams3]

[ QUOTE ]
Kiessling said:
you can drive a LED at different levels with different battery configurations within some reasonable limits.
think of our X3T BB750 combos running on 2x123 or imagine a DB400 with the same LED ... all depends on the driver.
and of course ... as you stated correctly ... runtime will suffer on a 2x123 setup with 100lm ... unless you have multiple brightness settings like the U2 .... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
thinking of this light I start drooling again, and it is all your fault! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/drool.gif
bernhard

[/ QUOTE ]

This is my thinking too. The U2 can get away with driving harder...and the reduced run time, because it gives the user lower light power saving options not found on the others. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sleepy.gif

 

[turbodog]

This thing will run on pila cells right?

 

[oldeng95]

does that mean I can mod a kl3 to a 5w and get more than 65 lumens?????
PAUL

 

[iddibhai]

also note that 65 lumems is average, peter gransee got 80 lumens in an integrating sphere out of an L4 few months back, so they might start out higher, similar to how the E2e starts out much higher than 60 lumens before quickly dropping down to a flat output

 

[Double_A]

Just speculating here, but perhaps some new LS is being used? Some new technology higher output per watt??

GregR

 

[Klaus]

Talking about those reels of X-bins waiting at SF to be put in U2s - no wonder we can´t get any since several months /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Klaus

 

[sovereign]

Damn, all this speculation but no one KNOWS the answer. I am interested in all of these lights and was thinking of picking up an L5 or L6 to supplement my new L4. I want a combat light replacement for the M2 I sold. More throw with the reliability of LEDs and maybe cross compatability with my 962C. It does not make since to go with anything until the truth be told about the U2, though. Does it truly offer 1.5 times the lumens of the L6? In a smaller package with 1 less battery and a much smaller reflector? Surefire must see the holes this presents in their LED offerings. What is the reason to go with the L5 or L6? They give up both punch and variable output to the U2. At the least, when the U2 is released, these lights must be getting the voodoo treatment to boost their output. Maybe a 100 lumen L5 and a 125 lumen L6? Where is Size15s?

 

[pjandyho]

I don't think anything conclusive is happening right now in regards to the U2 but though I would love to lay my hands on the U2, I would rather have the Arc 4 with variable power and something similar to the U2 but only at 100 or 120 lumens rating. For my use the only reason I would use a lower rating is when I am reading and walking. For that, a U2 though settable at a low 2 lumens (minimum) rating is still considered big physically to comfortably hold when reading a book. I faced the same problems when trying to read with my M2 fitted with KL3 and now KL5.

Andy Ho

 

[Kiessling]

Sovereign, do not forget that the L6 runs 100+ minutes at 65lm whereas the U2 will have quite a shorter runtime, most likely less throw and costs more. And besides, that is the way of progress, older products become outdated one day or another /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
bernhard

 

[luxlover]

Turbodog,

I am new at CPF, so I am reading all older dated posts, slowly but surely.

The person who told you that $270 is lower than she expected you to spend on the U2, is not a wife at all! She is a GODDESS! So don't get in her way on anything, if you want to have her continuing support for "your habit!"

Luxlover

 

[luxlover]

[ QUOTE ]
How about a U2 Defender??

[/ QUOTE ]
OK, Blades. But then your name would have to be changed to RAMBO!

 

[luxlover]

Good point, Double_A. It may be a "Stealth LED!" Isn't the theroretical limit of a 5 watt Luxeon 100 lumens anyway?