Pacific -- XLR/HP/UP/SP

[this_is_nascar]

Per the website:

-- XLR 50cp.
-- HP 230cp.
-- UP 300cp.
-- SP 500cp.

As it relates to the P4 version, can someone equate this models to an approximate run-time? For example, if I have a P4 SP that runs for 1-hour with 1xCR2, how long should the UP run with 1xCR2? Also, from reading, it appears that most opted for the UP version in either Lux-III or P4. I didn't see too many folks with the SP. I was wondering why that is?

 

[paulr]

It may be that the SP was introduced later than the UP, so the early buyers didn't have it available. Does the SP really run for an hour on a CR2?

There was a thread in this forum or in MP where the battery currents for the different levels were measured. I think those CP measurements aren't very meaningful.

Hmm, I think also there's a super-ultra power (SU) setup and that may be the one that was introduced later.

 

[this_is_nascar]

It may be that the SP was introduced later than the UP, so the early buyers didn't have it available. Does the SP really run for an hour on a CR2?

There was a thread in this forum or in MP where the battery currents for the different levels were measured. I think those CP measurements aren't very meaningful.

Hmm, I think also there's a super-ultra power (SU) setup and that may be the one that was introduced later.

Not only does it run an hour on a CR2, it's crazy bright. I see no mention of an SU on the website, just those I mentioned in the subject. I'm really curious, if I'm getting an hour on the SP, does that translate to 1.5 hours on the UP (500 vs. 300)?

 

[paulr]

I think those CP ratings simply don't scale. They're not meaningful numbers. Peak does some really nice machining and manufacturing but their notions about flashlights are pretty naive if you ask me. Despite this they make some really good ones. It's sort of hit or miss.

 

[arty]

I get over 400 cp on my Luxeon 3W UP and the Seoul p4 UP with a CR2 battery. I haven't tested them with identical new batteries, but I would guess that output is slightly higher with the Seoul. When I called and asked Kurt about runtimes, he said that you should get about 1/2 the runtime when you go from HP to UP. This puts the Lithium AA in an UP at about 5-6 hours, and 1.5 hours for a CR2.

Light output drops about 100 CP when going from 3 to 1.5V on the UP versions.

I find the Ultrapower versions have a really useful level of light for many uses, but maintain good runtime. I really like the small size of the CR2 pocket body.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Thanks Arty. I think I made a mistake in getting the SP versions. I should have gone with the UP, maybe even the HP. I don't care for the SP runtimes at all. I'll post actual data later today or tomorrow.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Yes, I too like the CR2 configuration. I prefer the pocket CR2 body over the keychain style, but either make for a nice small pocketable light.

 

[arty]

I liked the Pacific so much that I have 4 of them - 2UP and 2HP.
My wife took one of the HP models with a CR2 pocket body in HA.
It is in an AW holster in her book bag for work - she learned the value of an edc after a power failure.

 

[arty]

I just took some lux readings with the Luxeon CR2 UP, Seoul P4 UP, and a HP luxeon Pacific with AA. The lithium AA has been in the light for some time and has been used.

The readings (@ 1 meter, of course) were:
CR2 UP Luxeon 3W 420 lux
CR2 UP Seoul P4 438 lux
AA HP 165 lux - but this light has gotten 200 lux on a new battery.

I may have a very bright Luxeon version, as there wasn't that much difference between it and the newer P4. I don't know about runtime.

Don't dump your luxeon lights - the beam is nice on my UP luxeon Pacific, with a larger hotspot than the Seoul. There can be large differences between individual lights.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

The Peak site sure is hard for me to navigate!

Not saying I could buy, but show me a link to an AA LUX Peak?

 

[arty]

I rechecked and made a mistake with the measurement of the AA version.
It really is 238 LUX. I mis-aimed.

The Peak website lacks a lot of information. If you order the light, you can tell Peak to not include the aaa body and substitute a AA body, either in pocket or keyring form. You can put this in the comments/instructions box. They will adjust price if needed. If you don't tell them to not include the AAA body, they may send both.

I recommend the pocket body in AA. Just make sure you are clear in your instructions. Call them if you have questions.

 

[regulator]

Here is some interesting information that I have.

I originally ordered a Pacific HP and UP with SSC. I wanted to see which I prefered and did not want to loose too much runtime.

HP - The box had "269 CP" hand written on it which may have been what Peak tested it at. I measured 210 mA with AA eneloop fully charged.

UP - The box had "404 CP" hand written on it. I measured 510 mA. The beam was kinda yellow on this one. But was slightly brighter than the HP model.

I sent the HP version back. I then had my UP version flicker and stop working so I sent it back. I then sent Peak a SSC emitter that I had bought from PhotonFanatic (USWOH) to build another UP version. This one came back much whiter and brighter with "540 CP" marked on the package. I measured 580mA draw from a AA eneloop. It was clearly brighter and whiter than the UP model that failed and was returned. I can get over 3 hours a regulated light running the Eneloop with a slow decline afterwards.

Running an a 3 volt CR-2 cell switches the converter into a higher ouput mode and unfortunately I do not have a CR-2 tube to try.

Hope that helps. P.S. I am pretty sure those CP numbers listed in post #1 are what Peak listed originally for the Luxion emitters.

 

[arty]

Color has been good on all my Peaks, Luxeon and P4. I only had one that had a swirly hotspot, and that one went to my wife.

I like the UP versions.

 

[regulator]

BTW:

I have a very unscientific runtime test going on right now between the Peak Pacific UP with SSC and the Nightcore DI. I adjusted the Nightcore by eye to match the output of the Peak and installed a brand new "cheap" alkaline cell in each.

I was curious to see how they compare in runtime on a modest output setting. The Peak regulator is current controlled and the DI is PWM I believe.

I know this is not extremely accurate but I wanted to see how they compare. I consider the Peak to be an efficient design using a single output mode. It will be interesting to see how the DI performs. I do know the DI is supposed to be more efficient when using the 14500 3.6 volt cell.

I'll post my finding when it is done (battery very weak and output not very bright).

EDIT: [1 hour] I have had them running for an hour (I started the test before writting the above). I am extremely suprised. There is a noticable difference in output between the two now after only an hour by doing a "ceiling bounce test". The DI is brighter! The DI does not appear to have lost any brightness and the Peak appears to have dimmed. This truely suprised me. The UP/SSC Peak is as bright as my original Peak HP/Luxion model doing the ceiling bounce test.

EDIT #2: [2 hours] The Pacific UP seems to have settled down to the brightness of the Pacific HP/Luxeon. The DI appears to be the same brightness from the start and is considerably brighter than the Pacific UP.

EDIT #3 [2.5 hours] The DI appears same brightness as start. It is approximatley twice as bright as the Pacific UP. The Pacific UP/SSC is about as bright as the Pacific HP/Lux (note: I only turn the Pacific HP/Lux on momentarily during the brightness comparision and it has an Enegizer lithium cell). The HP/Lux may be ever sooooo slightly brighter than the UP/SSC.

Edit #4: [3 hours] The DI still going strong on the cheap alkaline - wow. The Pacific UP/SSC is still ever sooo slightly dimmer than the Pacific HP/Lux and appears to be holding here. I momentarily put a fresh cell in the Pacific UP to see if the DI had dimmed any and guess what - still as bright as at the start!!!

EDIT #5: [3.5 hours] The DI is now lower in output and is equal to the Pacific HP/Lux (ceiling bounce). The Pacific UP/SSC is roughly 30% lower overall output than either the others.

EDIT #6: [3 hours 40 minutes] The DI is dead. The Pacific UP/SSC is approximately 25-30% lower than the Pacific HP/Lux. I recall that from this point on the UP and HP lights will level out to the same brightness in about a half hour and then run neck and neck till the battery dies. The Peak documented runtimes for the original Pacific HP can apply from this point on.

EDIT #7: [7 hours] The Pacific UP/SSC is at aproximately 50% as bright as a Pacific HP/Lux and still putting out usable light. It will comtinue to slowly dim over the next several hours.
Edit #8: [8 hours 15 minutes] The Pacfic UP/SSC is at approximately 35-40 % as bright as the Pacific HP/Lux. I am stopping the test at this point. It can probably go for a few more hours continually dimming.

 

[this_is_nascar]

This is probably one of strangest test results I've seen in quite a long time. None of it makes sense to me. As mentioned in my prior message, I'm wondering if I made mistake getting the SP version. Maybe a UP or even an HP would have been a better choice for the desired runtime that I'm looking for. What's strangest to me is the results on the Energizer E2 AAA Lithium cells. I was expecting much better peformance. At a minimum, increased performance over the Duracell alkalines was expected. With most of these test, I was so bummed, I stopped the tests much sooner than normal.

 

[regulator]

wow - that is strange TIN.

My UP version does not appear to be regulating with an AA very well at all. And it is not driving the the LED that hard. I do know that the original HP version was supposed to have impressive regulating properties with an AA cell and fantastic when using a lithium.

I wonder if the UP and higher versions use a different implentation of a regulator circuit (different design/topology) and not just a higher output of the original Pacific HP circuit. The original Pacific HP circuit was in the works for quit some time. It also had the capability to "step" up a notch when using 3 volts.

The UP Pacific runs much better on a NiMh but that is due to the inherent flat discharge of the cell.

 

[paulr]

That really is weird, the L92 comes out worse than the duracell alkaline in both lights? Could the batteries have gotten mixed up? Dud L92's? It looks like the light is already running in battery saver mode at the beginning of the run.

What are the measurements (length, thickness) of the Pacific with the cr2 pocket body? If you want a light like that (small 1-stage powerful twisty) maybe you should consider the Fenix P1CE, which is the only Fenix that I like right now. It's sort of a clone of tvodrd's 1x123 light, in the spirit of the original Arc LS. A cr2 light may be a bit smaller but the P1CE is one of the smallest 123 lights I've seen.

I was about to order a Baltic in super power but maybe I'll get ultra instead. I would run these lights on nimh cells though.

Thanks for these measurements.

 

[arty]

The pocket CR2 is 2.3" long. The head is .8" and the body is .7" - a bit smaller than the pocket McKinley.

I really like the ultra power versions. The HP is good, but doesn't put out as much lux as the ultra in AA or CR2.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Yea, it's really weird. I would never have imagined these types of results. I have the AA Duracell running in unit #1 now and I already know it's going to have similiar dissappointing results. I know all the cells are new and fresh and that they didn't get mixed up in the testing. At first, I thought maybe it was specific to the SP, but if regulator has seen similar findings in his UP, maybe not. I hate to have to go through every variation of the Pacific to find one to my liking. I can't recall, buy maybe you guys can. When the Pacific 1st came out, it only have two (at the most three) power options available, didn't it? I thought I remember something like a normal power and a high power. Is it possible the XLR is the old normal power and the HP the high-power as we once knew it?

 

[regulator]

From memory, there was only one output available - High Power. And from discussions with Peak (Curt I think), the HP is the original.

My UP almost seems as if it has prematurely "stepped" down and is trying to maintain regulation at a lower output. But that is not good since the cell still has plenty of power.