Lumapower D-Mini runtimes

[chevrofreak]

adirondackdestroyer asked me if I would like to do some runtime tests on his D-Mini to confirm the other reports that it is infact not regulated. Having not yet seen a D-Mini I took him up on the offer.

Total output numbers taken at the beginning of the run using my home built integrating sphere.

Lumapower D-Mini - AW high current 750mAh RCR123: 1671 (est 119.36 lumens)

Lumapower D-Mini - Energizer E2 CR123a: 1477 (est 105.5 lumens)

Here it is compared to the Fenix P1D CE on high.

I am actually fairly impressed with this light. The beam isn't as ringy as I was expecting from a smooth reflector, and it has insane throw. A pocket sized spotlight indeed! It's big for being only a 1x123 light, but it fills my hand very well and feels very solid. It's just too bad it isn't actually regulated, but the performance on AW's new high current 750mAh RCR123's is quite good.

Something to note, just before the circuit in the cell shut down the light started flickering fairly rapidly. If that happened reliably it would be a good warning that you were about to lose light.

 

[skalomax]

I was expecting a flatter discharge rate with the CR123A's

But, Oh well.

still seems pretty good.

thankS!

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

Dang! Looks like the other runtime graph that was done was correct. I really liked this light (still do) but that is one hell of a disapointment! I wonder what Lumapower will say about this consider they claim it is fully regulated and there are now two graphs proving it is not. I didn't even notice that it dropped off so quickly on a CR123. Even though it starts off at almost 1500 output it drops to 1200 in nearly seconds it appears. Looks like I'll be running this one with my RCR.

Thanks alot for doing the graphs Chevro, I guess I'm just a little bit disapointed because I was hoping for the best.

 

[StefanFS]

I have made measurements of the output from my D-Mini with my lightbox. The cell used is a Batterystation CR123A primary. Between measurements I put the D-Mini outside on a slab of concrete, ambient temperature -10 Celsius. I measured the lights outer temp continuously with a multimeter temp. probe and it never exceeded 22 Celsius.

This is the resulting graph from 0 up to 65 minutes. Measured every five minutes.

Blowup of the first minute. Drops 500 Lux in the first 40 seconds. Measured every five seconds.

My conclusion is that the D-mini is not regulated with lithium primary cells. It is a scorcher with RCR123 though.
Stefan

Edit. Fixed graphs.

 

[LowTEC]

My D-mini with either of my AW's runs consistently for 39 minutes before shutting down, and it never did flicker either

 

[chevrofreak]

Dang! Looks like the other runtime graph that was done was correct. I really liked this light (still do) but that is one hell of a disapointment! I wonder what Lumapower will say about this consider they claim it is fully regulated and there are now two graphs proving it is not. I didn't even notice that it dropped off so quickly on a CR123. Even though it starts off at almost 1500 output it drops to 1200 in nearly seconds it appears. Looks like I'll be running this one with my RCR.

Thanks alot for doing the graphs Chevro, I guess I'm just a little bit disapointed because I was hoping for the best.

It's still a decent light with a lot of throw (if you're into that sort of thing) and it feels great in your hand. Just feed it RCR123's and you should be happy.