I finally had time to test these lamps "head to head" in modified AA Mini-Maglites. When I received the Night Pearl lamps I held one next to a VersaLux lamp I already had and realized that if I put them both in a cup and mixxed them up, I would not be able them apart. Even the embossing on the PR base was the same. On closer inspection, I noticed that the top of the LED on one of the Night Pearl lamps was ground down closer to the internal cup and wires than on any of the other lamps. It emits just fine though and is a nice white color with a thin blue corona. The other Night Pearl emits a very blue/white color. Both of the Versalux lamps are white with a slightly bluish/purple corona, a bit purpler than the whiter Night Pearl.
The light meter results were the same for both the Night Pearl abnd the VersaLux, 1.8 Fc @ 6' and 20 Fc @ 6". Current draw was 70 ma for both as well.
It seems from these results that there is some support for the idea that these lamps are the same/made by the same vendor/unbelievably close copies of each other.
It also does seem that the assertion by Technology Associates that the LEDs on the VersaLux are a better grade/have tighter quality control than those used in the Night Pearl may be somewhat true. Although it puts out just as much light, the blue NP is not as pleasent to work by as the white NP is. Both the VLs are a good color.
But remember, my sample size is two lamps from each vendor and LEDs vary a lot, so YMMV considerably.
The light meter results were the same for both the Night Pearl abnd the VersaLux, 1.8 Fc @ 6' and 20 Fc @ 6". Current draw was 70 ma for both as well.
It seems from these results that there is some support for the idea that these lamps are the same/made by the same vendor/unbelievably close copies of each other.
It also does seem that the assertion by Technology Associates that the LEDs on the VersaLux are a better grade/have tighter quality control than those used in the Night Pearl may be somewhat true. Although it puts out just as much light, the blue NP is not as pleasent to work by as the white NP is. Both the VLs are a good color.
But remember, my sample size is two lamps from each vendor and LEDs vary a lot, so YMMV considerably.
