Multi level, how low is to low?

[thefish]

Ok guys I am once again working on some driver circuits in my free time. All my drivers are analog controll brightness (i.e. infinite levels), the question I want to know is how low is low enough? My 1Watt FishPill (see sig) went down to 80ma but that is to high I think, so how low do you guys like to see?

With the new Cree XRE's I am thinking we may need like 20ma for a "reading" level.

 

[Khaytsus]

My P2D is around 50mA on low.. I think it's a wee too low, so I'm guessing 60mA is a little better.

 

[greg_in_canada]

My MillerMods 3-level L0P has 30mA for low and usually it is good but sometimes is too bright (looking at the program in a theatre). I'd say a low of 10mA (or maybe 5mA for a very efficient LED) would be better for a multilevel light. For the 3 levels I have I think 25 or 30mA is about perfect.

Greg

 

[paulr]

2-level light: make low about 10% of high

3-level: low=1%, medium=25%, high=100%.

 

[aceo07]

I use the 2nd lowest level of my HDS (seoul) for my lowest. (on the original led, it's rated at 0.12lumens.) In the dark it still projects a nice beam across my room so I can see. It's perfect for reading books in the dark.

My primary is about 8-10lumens. High is probably 40-60lumens. Max is whatever max is.

 

[Derek Dean]

To me, this is exactly the attraction of a light like the HDS or the new Novatac 120P. Having 4 adjustable levels, and being able to set up the light so that I have 2 low levels, one for regular stuff, keyholes etc..... and another for the really low level stuff, like finding something in a dark theater or reading a menu in a dark restaurant without disturbing other folks. That's the kind of flexibility that appeals to me.

I think your poll might have given more useful information if you had started with some really low values and gone up. Like .5%, 1%, 2%, 5% and 10%. Oddly enough, one of the most valuable things I've learned from this forum is that to much light can sometimes be an undesirable thing. Good luck with your new driver.

 

[kanarie]

The 5% on a Dexlight X1 for example is too bright to go unnoticed for bystanders

 

[cv3po]

Simple, just carry more than 1 light. I use a white photon with a single 2032 for low level. Clipped to my right beltloop so i don't even have to dig in my pockets. Anything more and i use my lod-ce. with the 2 of them, it covers most uses................. (btw i use 10440's in the lod) :thumbsup:

 

[chevrofreak]

60mA isn't low enough. I think 5mA with an XR-E would be perfect for a low low.

 

[abvidledUK]

L1P low 90ma ≈ 8 lumens is just right, indoors.

Superbright Safelight high 70ma≈ 8 lumens, as above (9v)

 

[Grubbster]

The HDS on it's lowest setting is great for me. I am not sure what the drive level is, but it is very low.