Newbie now taking recommendations

[NotRegulated]

Hello all. I was a registered member of this forum several years ago (maybe more than that! I could not find my old posts.) I have visited the forum every now and then prior to just re-registering now. It's good to be back.

I’ve been using an E1 with the old KL-1 head for a while now. I really like the form factor. Also I like the versatility of also putting the head on my E2.
Now before I posted I made sure I scoured all the threads to bring myself up to speed. I find it hard to visualize / compare the light output from my current E1/KL1 setup to a new Aleph setup. Would a dedicated Aleph 2, 1-123 tube outshine my KL1 by much or are they comparable?

Also, how would an A2, 1-123 tube, Lux III compare to an A2, 1-123 tube, Lux V in brightness and runtime. If I go with the Lux V I can also use my 2-123 tube (or so I have read!).

It looks like option 1 is to go with a LE dedicated for the single cell and/or a LE dedicated for two cells
vs
Option 2 is to go with the lux V and be able to use it on both single and two 123 cells.

What do you guys think after owning these combinations?

 

[bajaiman]

If you like the versatility then Aleph 2/BB600?/LuxV might do the trick as it can be used in E1 and E2. I've got Aleph 2/BB650/LuxV WXOT and I can tell you that the output is a lot more than KL1's 15 lumens. Although the runtime may not be as long but its putting out a lotta light in a very small package.

If you don’t like the LuxV on a single cell you can always buy an additional light engine (BB or nexgen/LuxIII)

 

[Wolfen]

Do a search for the new KL1 and see if you like it. LedMuseum has a review of it. Then you could get a 2-stage tailcap for it and then get a nice 5 watt Aleph for massive light output / sidespill.

 

[NotRegulated]

bajaiman,
Thanks for your reply. There are so many combinations.

Wolfen,
I just happen to have a new KL1 on the way already!

 

[bajaiman]

Yes I know there are plenty of combinations for alephs, I couldn’t choose one so I’ve made myself some LEs to cover different combination..
I’ve got LEs for
BB700/LuxIII for 1 cell
DB917/LuxIII for 2 – 4 cells
BB650/LuxV for 1 – 2 cells
DB917/LuxV for 3 – 4 cells

 

[Miciobigio]

[ QUOTE ]
NotRegulated said:
Hello all. I was a registered member of this forum several years ago (maybe more than that! I could not find my old posts.) I have visited the forum every now and then prior to just re-registering now. It's good to be back.

I’ve been using an E1 with the old KL-1 head for a while now. I really like the form factor. Also I like the versatility of also putting the head on my E2.
Now before I posted I made sure I scoured all the threads to bring myself up to speed. I find it hard to visualize / compare the light output from my current E1/KL1 setup to a new Aleph setup. Would a dedicated Aleph 2, 1-123 tube outshine my KL1 by much or are they comparable?

Also, how would an A2, 1-123 tube, Lux III compare to an A2, 1-123 tube, Lux V in brightness and runtime. If I go with the Lux V I can also use my 2-123 tube (or so I have read!).

It looks like option 1 is to go with a LE dedicated for the single cell and/or a LE dedicated for two cells
vs
Option 2 is to go with the lux V and be able to use it on both single and two 123 cells.

What do you guys think after owning these combinations?

[/ QUOTE ]

1_ Every single Aleph combination will outshine your old E1/KL1 combo.

2_ When you ask "brightness and runtime" comparo between LuxIII and Lux V , you need to specified also the driver ( BB600 or BB-NG1000 or BB750 or ?? ).
The center of the hotspot produced by the BB750-LuxIII is twice as bright of the center of the hotspot of the BB750-LuxV ( LuxIII=longer throw ) , but the LuxV is twice as bright as the LuxIII ( more usefull for close to medium tasks , more side-spill , really more impressive , more WoW factor assured ).
You can have better runtime using the LuxIII.

I suggest you :

A. Read the Aleph's FAQ.

B. If you go with the LuxIII chose the BB-NextGen

C. If you want runtime , go for 500mA Lux3 : if you prefer longer throw BB-NG-1000 Lux3 ( NB the BB-NG can't be used with the Lux V ; with the BB-NG you can use or 1 single 123 or 1 single Li-ion rech. R123 or Pila etc. )

D. If you want "lit up that room" go with the BB700/750 LuxV , you can use it with one 123 ( reduced brighness ) or two 123 or one Li-ion rech ( Pila etc. ).

E. Write on a paper your priority ( longer throw , longer runtime , maximum brighness , minimal dimension for EDC ).

F. MOST IMPORTANT ! if you have decided to go with the Aleph2 head i think that the LuxIII is a better choice , that little reflector produce a good "wall of light" also with the LuxIII ( i can't say the same thing for the A1 and the A3 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ) and the A2-LuxV becomes really HOT after few minutes of costant on !

Anyway ( tanks to Don ) you can , in a second moment , buy a second LE and swap from LuxIII to LuxV and viceversa . /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Kiessling]

[ QUOTE ]
miciobigio:
F. MOST IMPORTANT ! if you have decided to go with the Aleph2 head i think that the LuxIII is a better choice , that little reflector produce a good "wall of light" also with the LuxIII ( i can't say the same thing for the A1 and the A3 ) and the A2-LuxV becomes really HOT after few minutes of costant on !

[/ QUOTE ]

I just wanted to repeat this ... it is so true. IMHO the Aleph2 with the McR-20 reflector is the only application I can currently recall where a LuxIII produces a real wall of light with a bright corona and smooth hotspot that is well suited for close-up and medium field illumination. It is also the only combo where a LuxV does not tempt me that much any more, and that means something /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin07.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ... with the Aleph2 / LuxV combo you have a true flood light and a heat and energy problem without any real gain.

bernhard

 

[NotRegulated]

Miciobigio and Kiesling,

Thank you for you suggestions. You both have been very helpful.
I have read the Aleph FAQ's several times (great work Kiesling!You put that sticky FAQ up just as I was really getting interested).

Prior to posting here I was thinking that from what I've read that an A2, 1-123, slim tailcap, LUX III with BB-NextGen 500 or 750 would be a great little setup. I think that your advice reinforces what I may have already liked. It meets my minimal dimension for an EDC. I now just need to go dig around all of the posts and find runtime and brightness charts to make my final decision on for the drive level. The two-stage tailcap will give me plenty of light for most of my tasks and that maybe the 750 would give me a bright high I want.
Not being able to actually see the beam I was worried that all I would be buying was another light just like my current E1/KL1 setup.

 

[Darell]

Not -

You can even choose something between 500 and 750 mA if it come right down to a frustrating decision. I like the 666 myself. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin07.gif Really though, if you were pretty happy with the KL1, then a BB500 would give you exceptional runtime, and great, useful light.

All I can add is that yes, it'll be brighter than the old KL1, yes you'll love it, and yes it is a great form-factor!

 

[Hallis]

If you go with an Aleph2 i reccomend a LuxIII because all you'll get out of a LuxV in an aleph2 is more heat, shorter runtime, and $20 depper in debt. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Shane

 

[brightnorm]

[ QUOTE ]
Hallis said:
If you go with an Aleph2 i reccomend a LuxIII because all you'll get out of a LuxV in an aleph2 is more heat, shorter runtime, and $20 depper in debt. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Shane

[/ QUOTE ]

As I wrote in the "Goodby L4: the L4 meets its match" thread, I really love my Aleph 2 5w 700ma mounted on an E2D Defender with McE2S/Z54. I've come to think of it as an "L4 plus". It is smaller, brighter and better-tinted than my L4 and more aesthetically appealing, not to mention its unusual flexibility. While it does heat up faster than the more massive L4 I've found that really isn't a problem if stage 1 is used for extended run and stage 2 for periods where great brightness is required for a limited period of time.

I tried the 5w LE in the Aleph 1 and the Lux III in the Aleph 2 but found it not as useful for my purposes as A2-5w and A1-Lux III. I might use the A2 with Lux III and McE2s as a general purpose light if it was my only EDC, but I always carry at last three lights.

Brightnorm