Question about how different usage affects bulb life

[Niconical]

I was wondering specifically about Surefire lamps (I use the P60 quite a lot) but I suppose this would apply to any lamp.

So, when a bulb life expectancy is given, how is that estimated, lots of short bursts, or constant use? The P60 for example, I'm not even sure what the expected life for it is, but whatever it might be, do Surefire establish that assuming thousands of few second long uses, or do they assume run for an hour, change cells, run for an hour, change cells etc and that's how many hours you'll get.

Another way to ask the same thing, what would reduce a bulb more, 1000 bursts of 3.6 seconds each with a pause between to cool, or a straight 1 hour run?

Thank you.

 

[fivemega]

I was wondering specifically about Surefire lamps (I use the P60 quite a lot) but I suppose this would apply to any lamp.

So, when a bulb life expectancy is given, how is that estimated, lots of short bursts, or constant use? The P60 for example, I'm not even sure what the expected life for it is, but whatever it might be, do Surefire establish that assuming thousands of few second long uses, or do they assume run for an hour, change cells, run for an hour, change cells etc and that's how many hours you'll get.

Another way to ask the same thing, what would reduce a bulb more, 1000 bursts of 3.6 seconds each with a pause between to cool, or a straight 1 hour run?

Thank you.

That depends on many factors but in your case, stete of charge on batteries will have a lot to do.
If you use only first 30 minutes of your primary C123A cells then replace with new set, bulb life will be much less than if you use full one hour life of cells.
Most companies use average life of bulb using constant fixed voltage which is normaly same average voltage powered by batteries in first certain amount of time (lets say first 10 minutes under same load)
All these depends on bulb filament design, filament length, filament diameter, filament shape, bulb life, type of gas, pressure, envelope size and....

 

[yellow]

+ when the light has a softstart fearture (A2 f.e.,
the life expectancy gets better by factor 10 (at least)


... the more overdriven the hotwire is, the greater the benefit
(of a "cold strike" current spike reduction)

 

[Niconical]

Thank you :)