LW4000 Arrived

[budlight]

Just received my third LED flashlight today (others being an X5 and a Proton) and it is a handful. Fully loaded with three D-cells this puppy must weigh in at about two pounds. The light is bright and diffused but what really attracted me was the running time of about a month. Seems to be well made and the end mounted lanyard is a nice touch since I can loop it around my wrist and hang on to it at the same time. Got a good price on it too ($38 on eBay). Looks like it'll be a good, bang around light for just about any application. Only problem I can see is confusing it with my collapsible umbrella in my briefcase.

Anyone have any comments about the LW4000? Now it's on to the battery endurance test...

 

[Chris M.]

They`re nice lights. Just be careful not to tighten the head up too far or it`ll get stuck. Something to do with the arrangement of the threads and the o-rings.

Newer versions may have corrected this, but I really wouldn`t know.

Thankfully you don`t need to change the batteries very often at all!

 

[WarrenI]

Excellent construction as with well over a year using this light, it still functions without any problems. I gave a couple of LW3000 for Christmas presents, and they too are all running perfectly. They all, like my LW4000, are work or rough handling lights. Heck, my LW4000 is even stronger than the D cells inside. I dropped mines off a six foot ladder onto a concrete patio floor (while it was on, and created a great light show while falling). It fell on it's face and still functioned perfectly. After a few days, I opened the light and found that the positive tip of the top cell was pressed in about half way. It seems that when it was dropped, the cell got smashed down to this point on the tip. Since it was still working, I rotated this cell to the bottom of the pack. I wanted to keep a cell with a good positive tip at the top, to create a crumple zone...

Besides some scuff marks, my light still looks good and does not show any chip plastic or bumps after it's many drops. One great workhorse of a light...

 

[dano]

MOVED...to LED....

--dan

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

I also got the Lightwave 4000 via eBay. Got 2 of them, one for a friend. He brought it to my attention in a catalog we both get. He is an independant contractor, and it has replaced the 4D Mag-Lite, due to the beam quality and runtime. We both have Eveready Titaniums in them: brighter and an added 65 percent duration.

The downside, is that we both need channel locks to get the head off (gently applied of course). Once the seal is broken it unscrews easily, though it will reseal itself.

The standard D cell Mag-Lite belt holder: leather loop w/snap and plastic ring, holds it perfectly. There is more than enough flare at the head to hang it from your belt this way, without fear of it suddenly dropping through the holder ring. A 2D Mag is heavier than the 4000, and those holders are designed to carry their entire line of D sizes, including the monster 6D.

The wrist strap supplied with the 4000 is chintzy to say the least: too long and no way to snug it to your wrist.

John at LEDCorp told me to expect 7 days (24/7) of full brightness and 7 days of dimmer, but useful from alkalines. He tested one.

I lucked out, cause I called them to see about availability of 2 Cell WHITE Pro Series bulbs. Reds are the only ones listed on the website. This is due to the rarity of finding suitable Luxeon Stars in White for the 2 Cell. They just found some in their most recent batch, So I ordered one and will probably see it beginning of October (it takes about 10 days to make the bulbs, including shaping of the high dome). These are designed for Mag-Lites. I was impressed enough by the review at LED Museum to want to get one, even if I had to buy another Mag.

 

[WarrenI]

Charles; I'm kind of confused with your last paragraph. It is correct in regards to the 7 days of full brightness, with another 7 days of dimming light, as this is what I observed. After this is where I got lost. I suspect is has nothing to do with the LW4000. Just a question...

 

[Brotherscrim]

I've had one for a few months. I'll chime in on the "hard to take apart" problem. The easiest solution to this is when you've found the head won't come off, find a corner (doorway, table, rock, etc.) and give the head of your torch a solid (but not excessive) **whack**.

Loosens right up. Also, when you're screwing the light back together, I recommend screwing and unscrewing the light a little bit until you find the right amount of resistance - if you don't overdue it when you screw the head on, it's far less likely to get stuck.

Great light, everyone I show it to loves it. Shadow puppets look crazy with the thing!

-Scrimmy

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

WarrenI, I have a 2D Mag-Lite and a Lightwave 4000. The 2 weeks of light is lightwave 4000. The rest is about the Pro Series LS based bulbs for the Mag-Lite. They normally have RED only for 2 Cell lights. I called to find out if they were ever going to have any in WHITE for 2 cell Mags. They just sorted out a batch of 1 watt Luxeon Stars and happened to find a small number for 2 Cells in WHITE. That is why I mentioned this. I called to find out something simple and wound up getting a head full of technical data.

I was lucky in that I called at exactly the right moment to inquire about the bulb. It saves me the additional expense of buying another Mag-Lite to match the bulb. All I have to do, is wait for the manufacturing process (about 10 days).

The info about the LW 4000 was a bonus. Most of the tech data was over my head like a high altitude balloon.

 

[Roy]

I'm planning on doing a runtime plot on the 4000 in the near future. First I need to come up with a 9vdc power supply with enough power to keep the multimeter running for several weeks 24/7!

 

[Albany Tom]

Originally posted by Roy:
I'm planning on doing a runtime plot on the 4000 in the near future. First I need to come up with a 9vdc power supply with enough power to keep the multimeter running for several weeks 24/7!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Easy - get an LM317 3-terminal adjustable regulator, I think even radio shack has them. You can use 2 resistors and take a 12v ham supply (bet you've got one...

), and step it down to 9. If memory is right, and sometimes it is, you can make it adjustable by putting a 120 ohm resistor from output to adjust, then about a 5k linear from adjust to ground. Linear, so not efficient, but really easy to use and reliable. You don't need any caps on it unless you're driving a really weird load.

 

[cannon50]

Got my LW4000 to ride out hurricanes on the Gulf Coast and found that its a pretty good all around source of useable light. Got it about 6 months ago and changed batties once so far. No problems with the threads. Along with my Wayne Y. Mad Max pill in a mini mag I feel I got all bases covered. Well, maybe I could use a spot light too.

 

[Doug Meister]

One way to loosen up tight threads is to put a dab of Brasso on them and work it a while. Then clean the brasso off real well.
--Ðøug

 

[The_LED_Museum]

I just got some Nyogel products, and after I figure out which one is which, I might try that on mine and see what happens.

Until now, the only sure-fire trick to address the LW4000 sticking issue is to not overtighten it. Supposedly there is a fix that relieves the problem by reducing the surface area that becomes "glued shut" on the LW4000, but I do not have an example of this new construction to test for myself.

(Edit) I figured out which is which. Meaning I use the 779ZC on the plastic lights, and use the 759G on the metal ones (Arc, Surefire, etc.) where maintaining conductivity and continuity is essential.

Later in the morning when I'm not so tired and prone to making a huge uncleanable mess all over my still-new computer, I'll try some of the 779ZC on my LW4000.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

right after reading all this, I went to the next survival-shop and bought a LW3000.
I did compare it to the LW4000, but deceided to take the smaller one since it is easier to handle with smaller hands (wife, kids).
I have to explain at home why I bought another light.

Those lights are really cool. Even my wife liked it.

Greetings
red

PS: definitely not my last led-light

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

Red, cool! They are robust lights, even recommended by a caving website. They called it "The first Real Flashlight."

They are only rated for a couple of feet of depth. Generally, that is good enough if you are not diving.

 

[carbonsparky]

Originally posted by Roy:
I'm planning on doing a runtime plot on the 4000 in the near future. First I need to come up with a 9vdc power supply with enough power to keep the multimeter running for several weeks 24/7!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Check out the "PowerLine" digital universal AC adapter model 0900-33. I picked up mine at Wal-Mart for my digital camera for about $15. It has a selectable output, covering all the standard battery voltages from 3 to 12 volts and is good for one amp. The nice thing about it is it's a switcher and is very light and compact for it's ratings. The output is much better regulated than the old style of wall wart battery replacers.