New handheld and headlights from CentraLED! (pics!)

[mchlwise]

I was able to attend the Outdoor Retailer's Expo in Salt Lake City today courtesy of 4Sevens. That show was massive!

One of the many vendors there was CentraLED, and I found some very interesting information for those of us who have their worklight and know how good it is.

If you've seen or heard anything about it, you know its a VERY bright light which puts out a ton of lumens in a nice even wide flood pattern. Some of us have been suggesting a handheld version, or better yet a headlamp of some kind.

I'm happy to report... our wishes have been granted!

The FlashFlood, a 2 123 cell handheld:

Build quality on this prototype was very good. The tailswitch is similar in operation to Surefire, with a forward push momentary on and a twist for constant.

It also includes a really great feature... infinitely variable brightness!! While gripping the knurled section behind the head and twisting the body, brightness can be set from a very low low, to the full output of this baby, or anywhere in between.



For all you info junkies, I'm sorry I don't have any actual specs like lumen ratings, output, release date, or anything like that... but I think we can expect something within the next few months.

There were also a couple prototype headlights (which were both very similar, so I only took pics of one):

I didn't see a name for the thing, but it looked great! It runs on 4 AA cells, which I think was a great choice, and also incorporates infinitely variable brightness via a + shaped knob visible above on the top right corner of the battery pack.

:thumbsup:

These things look like they're going to be EXCELLENT! Bob (BPond) said they're still working on them a little and there might be some changes from these prototypes, but I can attest that CentraLED is on track to make another GREAT product.

(BPond and I)

 

[ernsanada]

Re: New CentrLED lights! (pics!)

Is the CentraLED running a Cree?

 

[Nitroz]

Re: New CentrLED lights! (pics!)

How much is the flashflood going to cost?

Unfortunatley, they have nothing on their site about these lights.
http://www.centraltools.com/lights.html

 

[mchlwise]

Re: New CentrLED lights! (pics!)

Is the CentraLED running a Cree?

No, it's running the same proprietary composite LED head as the work light, just on a 2x123 body.

 

[mchlwise]

Re: New CentrLED lights! (pics!)

How much is the flashflood going to cost?

Unfortunatley, they have nothing on their site about these lights.
http://www.centraltools.com/lights.html

No, these are prototypes that they are still working on that I got to check out, they haven't been officially announced yet.

Don't quote me (because he said but I don't really remember ) but it should be between $100-$150.

 

[knot]

Re: New CentrLED lights! (pics!)

How much is the flashflood going to cost?

Unfortunatley, they have nothing on their site about these lights.
http://www.centraltools.com/lights.html

http://www.centraled.net/

 

[Icebreak]

Re: New CentrLED lights! (pics!)

Good job, mchlwise! Thanks for the info.

It would be very hard to pass up that headlamp.

 

[Nitroz]

Re: New CentrLED lights! (pics!)

No, these are prototypes that they are still working on that I got to check out, they haven't been officially announced yet.

Don't quote me (because he said but I don't really remember ) but it should be between $100-$150.

Thanks!

 

[Nitroz]

Re: New CentrLED lights! (pics!)

http://www.centraled.net/

Thanks for the link. Good Info!

 

[JNewell]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

The worklight is an exceptional product. It'll be great to get some first hand reports on this one.

 

[Archangel]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

Both the Flashflood (2x123) and CHL1 (temp name) will put over 80lm out the front. Realistically, that number will be closer to (and over) 90, but like Heliotek, they state the minimum. All three use a Lamina array. Last i heard they're shooting for $125/August and $75/December, but things change, so don't quote me.

 

[soffiler]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

THANKS, mchlwise! I'm sorry I missed the chance to meet you at the show. I was roaming the show floor when you visited our booth... on the upside, I didn't clutter up the nice photo of you and Bob.

Both the FlashFlood(tm) and the new headlamp, which is as-yet unnamed but I've suggested "CentralHED" (anybody? anybody? Bueller?) use the same Lamina LED light engine and the same driver circuit complete with dimming function, so the output specs are identical. We have not had the opportunity to get a FlashFlood into an integrating sphere, but CentraLED has been measured in an IS and compared against Lamina published specifications, so I can make a good extrapolation. We are looking at 86 lumens typical, 80 minimum, OUT THE FRONT. Likewise the low end is just an extrapolation right now but we are in the ballpark of 6 lumens.

Runtime on the FlashFlood at max output is 75 minutes in regulation and another 50 minutes of "useful" output after that. Set to minimum output, it's 25-30 hours.

Runtime on the headlamp will depend on your favorite AA, whether alkaline, lithium, or NiMH. Testing done with lithium (L91) at max output gives 3 hours in regulation and 30 minutes of "useful" output. Set to minimum output it's about 70 hours. On alkaline, set to max output, it's about 30 minutes in full regulation but after that the decline is slow enough that it's difficult to notice initially, lasting for at least another 60 minutes. We haven't done a full test with alkalines set to minimum output, but because the current demand is cut way back, the alkies will be much happier. Some testing has been done on NiMH but I want to check it over before publishing it.

 

[bpond]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

Hi everybody,

Here is more of the info asked for regarding these two products.

The CFL1 Flashflood will have a published list of $129.95. We are beginning production the end of this month (just finishing up some fixturing etc). There should soon be an announcement regarding a CPF retailer that will be carrying this item. Stay Tuned!!!!!

The Headlamp (item number CHL1 but no catchy name yet; we may go with Steve's idea if we don't come up with something else) will go into production approximately December 1. We are finalizing some smaller design details and need to cut steel for the plastic molds. The date is an approximation right now but we will do everything we can to have it available before the holidays. Expected published list is $69.95. It is likely to be available by the same CPF retailer.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if you have any other questions about these products.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Windscale]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

Hi everybody,

Here is more of the info asked for regarding these two products.

The CFL1 Flashflood will have a published list of $129.95. We are beginning production the end of this month (just finishing up some fixturing etc). There should soon be an announcement regarding a CPF retailer that will be carrying this item. Stay Tuned!!!!!

The Headlamp (item number CHL1 but no catchy name yet; we may go with Steve's idea if we don't come up with something else) will go into production approximately December 1. We are finalizing some smaller design details and need to cut steel for the plastic molds. The date is an approximation right now but we will do everything we can to have it available before the holidays. Expected published list is $69.95. It is likely to be available by the same CPF retailer.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if you have any other questions about these products.

Thanks,
Bob

I am very interested in the handlight. Please tell me what the regulated voltage range is and whether it can run on 1x 17670.

Also do you have an agent in the UK?

(For UK members there is a thread in The Cafe for your benefits. Please come and take a look)

 

[bpond]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

I am very interested in the handlight. Please tell me what the regulated voltage range is and whether it can run on 1x 17670.

Also do you have an agent in the UK?

(For UK members there is a thread in The Cafe for your benefits. Please come and take a look)

Hi Windscale,

I do not have an agent in the UK but I suspect the CPF retailer that we are speaking with right now will be able to help you out.

I will allow Steve (soffiler) to respond regarding specs.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[soffiler]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

Hi Windscale,

I do not have an agent in the UK but I suspect the CPF retailer that we are speaking with right now will be able to help you out.

I will allow Steve (soffiler) to respond regarding specs.

Thanks,
Bob

Hi Windscale:

The internal diameter of the battery compartment is nominal 17.3mm and at the low end of the spec is 17.2mm. We have not done any work with 17670 to date, and I don't know how well they conform to their theoretical 17mm diameter. Fit might be tight, depending on the individual dimension of your particular cell.

Also, we haven't characterized our circuit performance on a 17670. The circuit falls out of regulation at about 3.75V when running on a lab power supply, and at about 4.0V when running 2xCR123A. Performance on 17670 would most likely be closer to the lab supply, since compared to 2xCR123A, the 17670 is a lower-voltage and higher-current capacity cell. Again, I am just making some educated guesses. If there's significant demand for 17670 we'll do some actual testing.

 

[Windscale]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

Hi Windscale:

The internal diameter of the battery compartment is nominal 17.3mm and at the low end of the spec is 17.2mm. We have not done any work with 17670 to date, and I don't know how well they conform to their theoretical 17mm diameter. Fit might be tight, depending on the individual dimension of your particular cell.

Also, we haven't characterized our circuit performance on a 17670. The circuit falls out of regulation at about 3.75V when running on a lab power supply, and at about 4.0V when running 2xCR123A. Performance on 17670 would most likely be closer to the lab supply, since compared to 2xCR123A, the 17670 is a lower-voltage and higher-current capacity cell. Again, I am just making some educated guesses. If there's significant demand for 17670 we'll do some actual testing.

Hope you would seriously consider making lights to work on 17670 (and even 18650) as it is much cheaper and friendlier to the environment.

It looks like you have a wonderful light if you can do the adjustments.

 

[soffiler]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

Hope you would seriously consider making lights to work on 17670 (and even 18650) as it is much cheaper and friendlier to the environment.

It looks like you have a wonderful light if you can do the adjustments.

Let's see a show of hands: who wants the FlashFlood(tm) to run on 17670??

 

[mchlwise]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

THANKS, mchlwise! I'm sorry I missed the chance to meet you at the show. I was roaming the show floor when you visited our booth... on the upside, I didn't clutter up the nice photo of you and Bob.

I was hoping to meet you also Steve, but my wife and I really had to get on the road to California for our anniversary trip.

 

[mchlwise]

Re: New CentraLED lights! (pics!)

Let's see a show of hands: who wants the FlashFlood(tm) to run on 17670??

I'm not too familiar with the 17670, but I've frequently seen the 18650 as a suggested alternative to the 2x123 configuration.

I'm sure you guys will make a great product no matter what... but being able to use multiple battery platforms in the same light is always nice.