LS4 will be 1W, 2W or 3W?

[Forge]

Peter, I have some real concerns about the upcoming LS4. Now that it's been delayed until March, I'm wondering which Luxeon you are targeting to put in the LS4? You were going to use the 1W Luxeon, but with the 2W and 3W coming out, are you thinking about using them?

I'm concerned how the 2W and 3W affect lumens and battery runtime. I'm also concerned that if you start down the 2W/3W route with the LS4, it's going to be delayed even beyond March of 2004.

Can you comment on all the above? Thanks.

Like everyone else, I am heartbroken over the delay of the LS4 until March. The Fall and Winter is far and away my heaviest times of usage for an EDC because of the shortened days. I was looking forward to the LS4 carrying me through this dark season. ;-)

 

[Double_A]

Forge I agree with your concerns.

With LED technology rapidly changing I would hate to see the LS4 delayed, but then again I would hate to see it a flop because all the new lights use the 2w and 3w and the LS4 only a 1w.

I would be pulling out my hair if I were in Peter's shoes.

Now that things are delayed, I'm wondering should I hold out for the LS4 or wait for the LS5.

Peter has said the LS5 will work on one cell. The SF KL4 head works unregulated on the E1e body. I would expect to lose some features and brightness, but have the option of going to one or two cells.

GregR

 

[Forge]

[ QUOTE ]
Double_A said:
Peter has said the LS5 will work on one cell.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you sure? I was under the impression that it *had* to run with 2 cells; in other words, it's not an EDC.

...and even with two cells, the battery runtime with a 5W luxeon must be truly misereable. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a half-hour.

 

[Double_A]

Nope it will run on one cell. I asked this here about 10 days ago I guess. Peter gave me a hint, I did some searching, found the answer and he confirmed it. Go back several pages here in this forum.

GregR

 

[Forge]

[ QUOTE ]
Double_A said:
Nope it will run on one cell. I asked this here about 10 days ago I guess. Peter gave me a hint, I did some searching, found the answer and he confirmed it. Go back several pages here in this forum.

GregR

[/ QUOTE ]

Huh. Good sleuthing GregR.

You've have to agree that the runtime has got to be miserable though. A half-hour????

 

[Rothrandir]

the optical package is configured for a 1w luxeon, and the the converters are set up for a 1w.

furthermore, we aren't sure when the 2w and 3w's will come out, and what they will be like.

i think (and hope), the ls4 will use the 1w, and the ls5 will use the 5w.

at this point (or even somewhere in the near future), it would make no sense to use anything other than the planned emitters.

 

[Kiessling]

... or Arc might end up planning and planning and never releasing, and we certainly would not want that, hm?
and besides, I think for a serious tool (spoken with the voice of PG) it is always best to use components that you know very well and that are tested and have proven themselves in various applications.
bernhard

 

[MY]

Unless the 2w or 3W are at least as efficient as the 1W, I think that it would be wise to stay with a 1W high bin LED. The increase run time is important and I think that it will be bright enough for 98% of the time.

I personnally think that extreme brightness but short run time LEDs are a curiosity rather than an EDC. An EDC light must have at least a 2+ hour run time (IMHO). There are many bright short run lights out there now.

Cheers.

 

[geepondy]

Based on past history, a lot certainly could change. The original Arc LS was going to be a five Nichia LED version. The Arc LSH was going to be a short lived interim offering in favor of the five watt LS. Now it is the flagship product. I agree, the longer the wait, the more ho-hum a 1 watt offering will be despite the micro controller features so I personally wouldn't be surprised if there is a change in LEDs before the LS4 is released.

 

[Dave Wright]

I don't know if Peter's counting votes here, but I would be in favor of a 1W high bin in the LS4. 700 mA boost mode matches my MM+Q3's output, except that I hear the output will be more focused. Plenty of light for 100% of my needs. I figure that anything else would just add cost to what is already going to be a pricey light.

 

[Double_A]

I guess maybe you just have to commit to buying something.

I think this is capable of locking up a persons brain. In the same manner as computer microprocessor chips can really muck up a decision. For example how many of us have decided to buy a 1.6 ghz whatever and then said oh wait I'll hold out for the 2.2 ghz that is coming out in 90 days, only to have a 2.4 ghz chip announced the day before you buy the 2.2 ghz....

anybody been there, done that?

GregR

 

[rumar]

I deal everyday with Chipzilla's and Micro$oft's marketing FUD when I need to determine the best needs of the admin and researchers I support. I don't need this for my other tools. I tell the people I deal with to "just buy the tool you need now, forget about the tool coming down the road. Unless your budget is big enough to", bum, Bum, BUM...

"Buy 'em both" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/broke.gif

 

[Lara]

Since I got the L4, I hardly use the L1 anymore. I think future 1W lights either must be very small or very cost effective. I am not sure that the different brightness levels and the boost of the LS4 justify a price tag in the range of a regulated 5W light such as the L4. You'll stand in the forrest at night and brag: "Hey, look, I can boost my light for a few seconds!" The other guy/gal will just switch on his/her 5W light (for very much longer than a few seconds) and make yours look pathetic. I vote for 3W!

 

[Kiessling]

yeah Lara, but after his 65min runtime you still walk in the woods for a ling time with your dimmer function and after the trip you simply put your small light in your pant pocket ...
IMHO the LS4 sould fit into the "relatively small and versatile" group and is better with a 1-watter and a boost mode.
For the other tasks you already have your L4 ...
bernhard

 

[Double_A]

Kiessling-

The head of the LS5 is minimally larger than the LS4. So where is the size/weight savings, when run off one cell? The SF KL4 head is approximately the same size as the KL1. The combination of E1e/KL4 has become very popular. I wonder how many of us here who have made a recent purchase decided that they would rather have E1e/KL1 instead of the KL4 head?


GregR

 

[Gransee]

The biggest advantage of the LS5 over the LS4 will probably be the cost.

Other advantages of smaller importance are overall bulk and beam size.

Peter

 

[alanhuth]

[ QUOTE ]
Gransee said:
The biggest advantage of the LS5 over the LS4 will probably be the cost.

[/ QUOTE ]

Peter, could you elaborate on that?

 

[geepondy]

BUT...you have the option of running your 3/5W LSx in dimmer modes, therefore giving longer runtimes if so desired. Of course I'm sure there are added heat considerations which may be the largest stumbling block.

[ QUOTE ]
kiessling said:
yeah Lara, but after his 65min runtime you still walk in the woods for a ling time with your dimmer function and after the trip you simply put your small light in your pant pocket ...
IMHO the LS4 sould fit into the "relatively small and versatile" group and is better with a 1-watter and a boost mode.
For the other tasks you already have your L4 ...
bernhard

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Rothrandir]

[ QUOTE ]
Lara said:
Since I got the L4, I hardly use the L1 anymore. I think future 1W lights either must be very small or very cost effective. I am not sure that the different brightness levels and the boost of the LS4 justify a price tag in the range of a regulated 5W light such as the L4. You'll stand in the forrest at night and brag: "Hey, look, I can boost my light for a few seconds!" The other guy/gal will just switch on his/her 5W light (for very much longer than a few seconds) and make yours look pathetic. I vote for 3W!

[/ QUOTE ]

you're basing this on "brightness is evertying"

1watter still have every bit as much use as nichia 5watters. the ls4 is designed to be the ultimate compromise of brightness, runtime, usability, size, durability...etc. and i'm sure it will fill those needs perfectly.

for shorter runtimes and greater size, you have the option of the ls5. it's a different light to serve a different purpose.

if your number only criteria is brightness, you shouldn't be getting an arc at all, but should opt for an insanely overdriven mod.

 

[McGizmo]

Laura,

Try a new Fraen LP in your L1 and you will find it a very useful tool. I think luminous intensity is kind of like the volume setting on a stereo. When you are focusing strictly on the music or showing off your stereo system to others, the volume gets cranked up. When there are other tasks at hand with music just part of the picture, lower volumes are probably more suited. Sometines you want a light that whispers and sometimes you want a light that shouts! I think I have *mixed* metaphors enough here that I can't be proven wrong! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As to the LS4, I think it should be a S rank 1W or maybe T if they have come that far by then. Perhaps it will be a LED yet to be known?

- Don