Opalec Newbeam

[Brock]

Actually it slid in the older mag easier then the newer one. Maybe that will be a problem with it being not as tight? So far so good. I am using the tail cap switch on that one as well so maybe it won't be an issue?

Oh yes, for some reason the "reactor" just didn't connect for a second.

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05:00-31 red light on right when I go to bed
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07:00-17 my fresh Arc level
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11:30-10 finally hit the Infinity level
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OK who can make a nice little graph for me? It is truely flat for the first 8 hours until the little red light comes on. Then runs a long time while dimming. Very cool.

 

[BuddTX]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ken B:
I was worried that to ask this question would open me up to severe critasisom from the group...but then I realised that everyone here is great and kind. What is a Newbeam?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
http://thelightsite.cruxial.com/reviews/opalec_newbeam.htm
http://www.opalec.com/

 

[Darell]

Hey. Shouldn't you be in bed, brock?

Wonder why they don't want us putting these in the older style Mags? hmmm...

Man, sure looks like genuinely flat output, huh? Amazing. Man, how I hope this type of regulation will make it into other lights. Peter.... you listening?

 

[Wits' End]

Hmm 35,35,35,35 Why the change?
That is amazing!! It is frustrating to me to have a light fade over the couple weeks (sometimes months) the batteries last. I am so cheap I keep saying it's bright enough, then when I change them I say why didn't I do that a week ago. This light sounds like a great add on, now I have to see if I can find my long neglected mini mags.
Please anyone who has had a problem with the install let us all know.

 

[Wits' End]

Brock only six hours? Did you leave the PC watching the light or just figure no one was awake?

 

[Brock]

It's 4:40 and my turn to feed / watch the baby is just about over. Good thing I don't have to work tomorrow

I have my camera set to take a shot every 15 min from now on. More later...

 

[WaltH]

OK, I got to play with the newbeam in the dark lastnight and was very impressed. If you recall from my first post I put old batteries in to see how it would perform. It was like new so I found even OLDER batteries and put them in...still the same bright light. The regulation on this thing is amazing.
I also recall reading from an earlier post on these that the candle feature is no good because of the aim of the LED's. I still find the candle feature of the mini mag useful.

I am going to purchase a couple more of these along with 2 new mini-mags. $40.00 (including new mag) for this light is a good deal.

I highly recommend.

 

[Chris M.]

Thanks for conducting your test Brock, I too was curious to see if it were exactly flat or not. Looks like it is! Now the question is how long before it starts to dim, and how long after then before it`s too dim to be useful any more.

My own graphed testing should take place this weekend, and if I can do it I`ll stick a voltmeter in there too so we can see that regulator do its thing. Volts and Candela plotted on the same graph against time would be interesting to see.

 

[Brock]

OK, I just started the same test running a Lightwave 2000. I want to see how direct drive LED lights fair compared to a truly regulated light.

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[treek13]

Thanks Brock,

I am very interested in this; so thanks for the testing and for posting your results.

Pat

 

[steinie]

FWIW, just put two of them in old-style mini-mag's. Seems to work just fine, no rattles, no failure to function for either light.

 

[Brock]

I am going to try to stick with 30 min readings so it is easier to compare to the Opalec, but I will post some of these early ones in 15 min next to the 30 min ones.


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01:00-39 1:15-37
01:30-36 1:45-35 after an hour and 15 min same as the opalec

 

[Darell]

Do you always start these things in the middle of the night, Brock? Thanks for doing this for the greater good...

 

[Brock]

Yup, well after I got this camera thing figured out this will be MUCH easier. I have it set to take a shot ever 15 min. It worked really well last night.

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01:00-39 1:15-37
01:30-36 1:45-35 after an hour and 15 min same as the opalec
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[Chris M.]

OK who can make a nice little graph for me?

Leave it with me, I`ll get onto that later this afternoon.

Any preferential colour choices or shall I blend it in with CPF?

 

[Chris M.]

For now I`ve done it in CPF colours. I`m not 100% sure I`ve done it right,seems to be centering the numbers and plot points between the lines not on them, and I had a terrible time getting it to accept my values for Time along the bottom. Kept wanting to go up to 33 for some reason- even though the plot line was the exact same shape as it is there. Odd.....anyways:

Heck of a sharp drop once it falls out of regulation, but look at that nice smooth line before then. I`m impressed though, at how long it does keep a-glowing even with pretty much run out batteries.

Great little module.

 

[brightnorm]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brock:
...Off to get the light, new batteries and the meter...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Brock,

What kind of batteries?

Brightnorm

 

[Badbeams3]

Hmm, I will admit the lightwave dropped much faster than I would have believed. But it rate of decline seems to be slowing as would be expected. I think we should expect it to stabalize somewhat around 27-30 and hang in there longer than Brock can stay awake. So...it will be about 20% dimmer than the regulated light but run brightly long after the regulated light has bit the dust.

Ten hours of bright light is enough for any one night. But...say for a caving back up light...or emergancy light after that storm knocks out the power for several nights...the lightwave would take the lead. Also...even though the Newbeam has the red low batt warning light...it could let you down say on a camping trip...after 30 minutes the red light comes on...5 hours later it`s dead...but the unregulated one will still be running and as it dimms the milamp draw will drop giving you seveal nights notice of the low batt condition without leaving you in the dark.

 

[Brock]

I am running new Duracells. The other thing to keep in mind is the lightwave is running 3 batteries as opposed to 2 in the Opalec. I would suspect if you were running the same circuit you would get 15 hours out of 3 batteries in the Opalec.

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Ok I am going to hours since it has slowed so much
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12-17 See a pattern?
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[Badbeams3]

Jee, I hope we didn`t kill Brock. He hasn`t posted for a while. How long can a person live without sleep?