Opalec vs Inretech

[cmassicotte]

I have couple of the "old" style Mini Mags (with 4 holes in the plastic do not remove thingy), and I would like to convert them to LED.

I have a bunch of questions about the process.

The Opalec is regulated and the Inretech is not. This means, if I have figured it out correctly, that the Opalec will put out the same amount of light for about 10 hours - and then start to decline in output. The Inretech starts out at a higher out put and has a steady decline over an extened amount of time.

My questions:
1) Can I even use an Opalec? For that matter, can I use an Inretech with the old model?
2) Given that the Inretech starts out brighter than the Opalec, has anyone done a study of how long it takes for the Inretech to reach the regulated light output of the Opalec?
2a) Does anyone know what the light output of the Inretech is at 10 hours? It would seem to me that this info would enable one to get an idea of how the two mods compare.
3) Has anyone done a head to head comparison between the two and documented the results - specifically about light output over time - and if so, where can I find them.
4) I believe I read some where that the inretech mod actually only requires one to to pull and replace the Mini Mag bulb - with the option of replacing the lens if needed. Is this true?

It would seem to me that the idea of regulated power, thus keeping the same output for a certain know period is a very good thing. However, if the point at which the unregulated light reaches the output of the regulated light is somewhat near the end of the regulated output time, then it would make sense to get the initially brighter light.

I hope the above questions and comment makes sense. In any event, what ever info you can give me to help me make the decision will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Chuck

 

[Roy]

Look in the "Reviews" forum. You will find runtime plots there. The ones that I have performed are miliamp output of a solar cell vs time. They may be of some help to you.

 

[snuffy]

Welcome to CPF cmassicotte.
I can answer #1 & #4 for you. There are others
here that can take care of #2 & #3.
#1: People will tell you "buy both" but in this case it applies. Opalec for run time & to use up low voltage batteries. Inretech fits old & new styles.
#4: Correct.
Good luck - Jim

 

[McGizmo]

Welcome cmassicotte,

Comparisons of a population of Opalecs will likely yield similar results in terms of brightness with little variation. The Inretech on the other hand uses Luxeon LED's which can vary from 14 to 29 lumens (at 350 mA) as well as having variation in Vf to a significant extent. Because of these variations, you could conceivably have two Inretechs which might perform with one being 100% brighter than the other. Which would like to have compared to the Opalec? If you spend some time in the archives here reading up on the Luxeons, you will discover that apples and oranges come in the same wrapper but they don't taste the same.

This is not meant as a disparaging statement towards Inretech; merely a statement of the variations of Luxeons used within. If you are lucky to get a high luminous ranked Luxeon coupled with a low Vf, the light will be very bright compared to a low ranked luminous Luxeon with a high Vf. With constant current regulation, the Vf will effect run time but not luminous output to any real extent. Without regulation, as in the case of Inretech, the lower the Vf, the brighter the light.

An expression used here on CPF is YMMV (your mileage may vary). In the case of an unregulated Luxeon or even regulated for that matter, your mileage can vary as much as a Vespa compared to Mustang! Luxeons are as diverse and unique as we folks who use them. How bright is a Luxeon? Well, how much does a person weigh?

Now wasn't this helpful? I'm sure others can do a better job of providing you with the answers you seek.

BTW, I seem to have a target on my back

Wonder if anyone will take a shot.

- Don

 

[StuU]

It seems that my Inretech started out VERY bright on alkalines but quickly dropped into the average bright category. It seems that the Inretech works a whole lot better on lithiums.....I measured a draw of 176ma with new lithiums.

Opalec has a nice, useable, stable light all the way through it's battery life....no long slow descent into fuzzy darkness that is characteristic of unregulated leds.

If luxeons vary in brightness from 14 to 29 lumens at 350ma, there must be some issues with efficiency with this led, eh?

 

[Lurker]

Hi Chuck,
Those are some good questions.

1) Based on my experience and some others on this forum, you can definitely put an Opalec NewBeam into an old-style 4-hole Mini Mag. I could not detect any fit or looseness problems whatsoever with mine.

4) Installing the Inretech, I beleive, also involves removing the Mini Mag reflector and replacing it. This is also required with the Opalec.

I agree that the regulated output of the Opalec is desireable and I have been very happy with mine-- it has become my primary flashlight. Unfortunately I can't compare it directly to the Inretech because I don't have one. I did look into one last month and I wasn't overly impressed with the output/runtime information that I could find. There are a few amazing claims posted around the forums about the brightness and/or run time of the Inretech (mostly by the manufacturer), but I'm skeptical.

I can highly recommend the Opalec. I find I can operate it virtually for free because it works so well with rechargeable batteries, and I can count on a consistent level of brightness every time.

 

[INRETECH]

Here are some things to consider

Brightness:

Opalec uses 3x5mm LEDs, brightness should be approx 21cp; The InReTECH uses the Luxeon - approx 250cp

Warranty:

The Opalec requires you to disasemble part of your flashlight and void the warranty of the flashlight, the InReTECH does not

From http://www.opalec.com/support.html

Q: Will installing the NewBeam void the warranty on my Mini Maglite® flashlight?

A: Yes. Mag Instrument discourages taking apart the switch of the flashlight yourself. They state that this operation is best performed by their service department, and they do not sell the switch as a service item. Part of the switch is removed to install the NewBeam, and this constitutes an "alteration," which voids the Mag Instrument warranty.

Beam:

The Opalec uses 3 unfocused 5mm LEDs

The InReTECH uses a specialy designed lens to focus the light output

The InReTECH 2AA adapter does not operate on ReChargable batteries however; unless you step up to a TriLight or bigger

 

[Lurker]

I don't worry too much about the warranty on a simple item that can be replaced more easily and almost as cheaply as shipping it back to the manufacturer.

 

[mikes]

Originally posted by Lurker:
Hi Chuck,
Those are some good questions.

1) Based on my experience and some others on this forum, you can definitely put an Opalec NewBeam into an old-style 4-hole Mini Mag. I could not detect any fit or looseness problems whatsoever with mine.

4) Installing the Inretech, I beleive, also involves removing the Mini Mag reflector and replacing it. This is also required with the Opalec.

I agree that the regulated output of the Opalec is desireable and I have been very happy with mine-- it has become my primary flashlight. Unfortunately I can't compare it directly to the Inretech because I don't have one. I did look into one last month and I wasn't overly impressed with the output/runtime information that I could find. There are a few amazing claims posted around the forums about the brightness and/or run time of the Inretech (mostly by the manufacturer), but I'm skeptical.

I can highly recommend the Opalec. I find I can operate it virtually for free because it works so well with rechargeable batteries, and I can count on a consistent level of brightness every time.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Hi Chuck,
The Opalec instructions state that it is designed for newer Mini Mags. I ignored that and put the Opalec into one old Mini Mag and it worked well, but one of the two plastic pins on the bottom broke after a few months. Nothing a drop of superglue couldn't fix. I'm very happy with it, using it around the house.
That said, the Inretech is also a nice conversion. It worked perfectly in another, even older, Mini Mag. It seems very simple and reliable, so into the glove box it goes with a new set of lithiums for emergency use.
My simple, fence-straddling opinion is, buy both!


Mike

 

[jtivat]

Here is a link to some pics. http://www.candlepowerforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=003658#00 0000

 

[RAH]

You can get Minimags at Wal-Mart for about $8. If you're going to put a $25 Newbeam into an old Minimag and there's even a chance that it might break it (as mentioned above), wouldn't it be better to splurge and sink another $8 into a new Minimag?? I realize that people like to get good use out of old Minimags, but it seems kind of "penny-wise and pound foolish" to me.

 

[INRETECH]

They are "ok" flashlights, but they do wear out - the problem is that tiny piece of metal that they use for the switch, it gets rust on it or just wears out - and the flashlight is useless

I consider a flashlight as a very important tool to have at home/work/car/etc; and at $8/each - its cheap insurance like a fire ext in your kitchen

Test your smoke alarms

 

[alberto]

I can't comapre to the Opalec but the Inretec with lithium batteries is an excellent light. It's an easy conversion, looks OEM, and comes at a good price for a LS product.

 

[McGizmo]

Originally posted by INRETECH:
........................

The Opalec uses 3 unfocused 5mm LEDs

..................................................................

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Mike, there is a lens built into the LED envelope. The Nichia NSPW500BS has a 20 Degree half theta beam angle. Unfocused?

- Don

 

[BuddTX]

This was just discussed here:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=003982#000013

 

[Lurker]

The Inretech 2AA and the Opalec NewBeam are frequently compared at CPF, but really are not directly comparable. They are two different beasts that are best suited to different needs. Even though they are both LEDs that fit in the same flashlight body, they nevertheless work best on different battery chemistries and have completely different brightness output curves and beam color.

If I wanted brighter light and was willing to use the more-expensive lithium batteries, the clear choice between the two would be Inretech. If I wanted softer, consistent light or wanted to use batteries of any chemistry including rechargeable, the clear choice would be Opalec.

Obviously we all would want brightness, long run times and use of cheap batteries in one light. In this case you can pick any two. However, if you pick bright with cheap batteries, you may want to look at the BadBoy.

 

[Quickbeam]

Chuck -

Roy did a runtime test on the Inretech - it reached 50% brightness in 1 1/2 hours. My sample started at 65 Lux. By deduction, we would expect that the Inretech would reach ~32 Lux (50% brightness) in 1 1/2 hours, and continue to decrease in output. The Opalec started at around 40 LUX and maintained very close to that output for 7 1/2 hours in my tests. Both tests were with alkalines. So after around 1 1/2 hours, we would expect the Opalec to be brighter and maintain that brightness for another 6-7 hours(!) with output then diminishing.

Now, your mileage may vary, but I don't think it would vary so much that you would get 30 HOURS of brighter output from the Inretech....

 

[Lurker]

Originally posted by BuddTX:
"the InReTECH starts off much brighter than the Opalec, and it takes a long time (I don't know the exact number, but maybe 20-30 hours) until it would reach the brightness of the Opalec."

I interpret this to mean that the Inretech runs brighter than the Opalec (Opalec's regulated output) and does so for 20-30 hours on one single pair of lithium AA batteries before it's brightness falls below the Opalec (Opalec's regulated output).

No offence to you BuddTX, but I find this hard to believe as it seems to defy the laws of physics. I am aware of no other light capable of that kind of output for even a fraction of that time on 2 AA batteries. I would almost have to see it to believe it, but if it is accurate, the Inretech would truly be amazing and would blow away the Opalec.

Is this based on personal experience or on your interpretation of the runtime plots published on the Inretech website? If it's based on the Inretech data, I'll just say that I find those graphs difficult to interpret and that I prefer impartial sources. Not that I am suggesting that Inretech has done anything funny with the data, but that as a general rule, impartial is preferred. And I haven't run across any impartial data that seems to support this claim, but if it is accurate I would sincerely be very interested in knowing that.

 

[BuddTX]

I will put fresh batteries in my InReTECH 2AA and Opalec and run a test.

It will be a couple of days before I can do this, so you might want to look at Roy's graphs.

 

[Orcinus Orca]

I do not know if the Inretech is capable of maintaining superior brightness to the Opalec for 20-30 hours, but you must take into consideration that Quickbeam's evaluation is based on the use of alkaline AAs in both lights. If you venture over to Inretech's website and check out their tables comparing brightness and runtime using various battery types, you will find that when using lithiums, the Inretech starts out at nearly double the brightness as on alkalines--and then maintains brightness for a longer period of time.

Respectfully,
Dale Statler