Reactor update

[Badbeams3]

Just spoke again with CMG...the Reactor does not have a step-up.
The LS runs straight off the batts.

It is a twist on/off.

It is water resistant but no claims are being made as to how far at this time.

It has a limited lifetime garrenty.

I asked if they were useing the lens provided by Lunileds on he said it was a secret and could not tell me.

"One Reactor L.E.D. is 3x brighter than your standard 4 L.E.D. cluster" says the add...and it`s true...but as our members all know, only if properly powered.

Well, got to go get another box of tissue...can`t stop crying.

Ken

 

[The_LED_Museum]

Bartells has 4-roll packs of MD toiliet tissue on sale for 79¢ if you run out of kleenax.

Is this a 2-cell or a 3-cell light? Resistor or no? It's already been proven that a LS can withstand direct-drive on 3 cells with no resistor; a commercial product will probably use one though.

Guess I'll just have to wait until a Reactor surfaces on my lab bench in order to find out.

 

[cave dave]

In my experience strait running LS on 2AA cells the brightness drops off dramatically. Less than half after 1/2 hr. By hour 10 it would barely put out more light than an infinity. (though it will run for days after that)

If we are to believe the claims on the add copy, the reactor needs to be regulated and boosted. Maybe CMG is sending out "disinformation" to throw off the compatition. Or the people answering the phone have no idea.

 

[Lux Luthor]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cave dave:
In my experience strait running LS on 2AA cells the brightness drops off dramatically. Less than half after 1/2 hr. By hour 10 it would barely put out more light than an infinity. (though it will run for days after that)...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I only have colored LS's at the moment, but I get better runtime than that. Just from memory, I would say after 6 hours they're about half as bright, and 1/4 as bright after 10. Mine might not be pulling as much current. There is a lot of variation in the current draw on these things. Peter suggested they must be hand picking them. Maybe this explains their claims.

Craig, it's a 2AA light.

 

[Spork]

oh well I have a secret for them. I'm canceling my order

They act like their working on some super secret and best flashlight in the world. I'm going to stick with my opalec until the arc-ls comes down in price. I bet the new x5 will be brighter than this if the reactor is direct drive from 2aa.

 

[Badbeams3]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cave dave:

If we are to believe the claims on the add copy, the reactor needs to be regulated and boosted. Maybe CMG is sending out "disinformation" to throw off the compatition. Or the people answering the phone have no idea.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well...you never know...but as they have already shipped it would think they would want to let the world know how great these are to drive up inital sales. They could always have said thats secret.

As far as the claims go...maybe it`s how one compares...maybe they placed a meter 75 feet away and compared the brightness at that range...the 4 led cluster would hardly have any light going the far (just not focused for distance lighting)...but an LS with its lens..even at 3 volts might be 3x brighter (an Arc LS might be ten times brighter). But if the test were done reflecting of a ceiling (for example) the Reactor and 4 led cluster might be much closer in brightness.

Maybe one of our members who has a LS with the new optics could post a comparison pic of the beam at 3 volts compared to a Trek 7 or some other well known lights they may have. Beg beg.

You and me...all the members of CPF have a standard idea of what to expect. CMG`s standard might be differant, as well as the general public.

Some one who is not a CPF member might be tickeled pink with this light.

Ken

 

[treek13]

Let us all not forget that sometimes the people who answer the phones don't know what they are talking about. If it wasn't actually someone in the know (as it were) who provided the info you can't necessarily trust it.

I'm afraid I've been stuck there and I've done that. Told somebody on the phone any old answer to their question because I was stuck answering the phone without any info and with other work to do and just wanted to be left alone.

Now I don't know if that has happened at all here but I suspect some of this info. such as that the light isn't regulated, doesn't use step-up circuit, etc. may have come from someone who just had no patience for one of us flashaholics and knew that the only way to get some peace was to give an answer, any old answer.

 

[Badbeams3]

Hmmm, well, I don`t think so. The guy seemed very well informed to me. He did not hesitate with his answers at all. In fact he sounded a little disapointed when he told me it did not have a step-up, like he wished I had not asked that question. Come to think of it...I asked how many ma it was running at...he said he thought it was around 200ma initialy. That sounds about right for an LS at 3 volts.

But I like your thoughts, it would be nice if you are right.

Ken

 

[treek13]

hi KenB,
You must have been just around the corner in the forum last time I posted.

I do not mean to question you, I hope you understand. I'm just pointing out that there has been a lot of misinformation about this light and I can't imagine any of it is intentional so clearly people on the phones at CMG or somewhere must be making mistakes.(It is not an LS, it is an LS, it runs straight off the batteries, it may have step-up, it's got a new circuit board that does something.)

So I guess my point is that although it sure is fun to speculate, I personally don't think it is wise to jump to conclusions.

 

[Badbeams3]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by treek13:


I do not mean to question you, I hope you understand. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey thats ok...your not questioning me...only the accuracy of their info and believe me when I say I hope you are right.

I`m just reporting what CMG told me.

Ken

 

[vcal]

Something's SCREWY, here...
It's been my experience (with 2 Luxeons-at least)-that using 2-AA alkalines for power @ 3v., that flashlight will barely pull 100mA running "direct"-with no step-up..leaving that Luxeon severely underpowered, and just wasting it's considerable capability.(!)

-Unless they have selected some very low voltage Luxeons

 

[Graham]

This is what's been bothering me about this light all along. The specs they are advertising don't make sense.

They say it has a 10 hour "bright" runtime, but this would not be possible on 2AAs if it were a properly driven LS.
But if it is underdriven, then it can hardly be as bright as they claim.

Graham

 

[Badbeams3]

I`m sure your right Doug...I really did not know...I just knew it had to be less than 350ma and his guess of 200ma sounded about right to me...without knowing. They guy did say "I think around".

I know everyone is disapointed with this report and would like to believe it`s not correct. I for one believe this fellow was telling me the truth.

At the very least I think our members should, for the moment, consider it correct and base any decision to purchase prior to reveiw by our members who will already be getting them, on this info. I`m not saying don`t buy one...even at 3 volts they can be bright. But if you are expecting Arc LS brightness the chances are good you will be disapointed.

I felt I had a duty to convey this information to my fellow members so they can make informed decisions. It is possible the guy was all wrong, but...

Why don`t one of our other member call CMG tomorrow and see if they are told anything differant? Their phone# 1-888-699-0622...toll free.

Ken

 

[Darell]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Graham:
But if it is underdriven, then it can hardly be as bright as they claim.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
It should sure run forever though. Provided you can even find it when it's "on."

 

[vcal]

Yeah, Ken-their approach sounds just like a car company spending the money to use a 400 cubic inch engine in a car that is de-tuned to only put out only 100 h.p.

-Makes no sense, I tell 'ya.

 

[Badbeams3]

LOL yep Doug...well put! But if you remember...way back...Gransee considered something like this when he was first considering making the LS. He decided on the "brighter better" approach...it looks to me like CMG is going for a compramise between bright and price. Also maybe there is something to this "secret new lens".

Ken

 

[vcal]

Understood, Ken-but that's an expensive approach -for what they're (and we) are getting.
-Case in point.....I have a Pal [white] light in my hand right now that (with reversed lens) with a little DINKY 3mm LED in it that costs the company probably 50¢ -at most,.. that completely blows away my Lightwave 2000-when it comes to "beam throw".
-So my my question remains: why should CMG spend that extra money[/B ] for the Luxeon?

-I'll be phoning my local REI store in a week or so-to get this big mystery cleared up

-Epps corner did say, I believe, that REI would have it in stock before they get it

 

[Badbeams3]

Why not call CMG tomorrow see what you can get out of them...their phone# is 1-888-699-0622

 

[Wits' End]

I still wonder at an LS light for $30. I would guess wholesale in the $20 range. Their goal is to make money with a good product. I don't think they could get LS's for much less than $10. I would hope, and think it probably is, better than an Impact or Rebel. But I think we should get more solid info before jumping to conclusions. It is possible the person at CMG didn't know the difference between a Nichia LED and a LS. Not that they were not technically astute but didn't know of the newer technology or terminology.
Not to be a wet blanket but my 2 cents.

 

[Slick]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KenB:
Just spoke again with CMG...the Reactor does not have a step-up.
The LS runs straight off the batts

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

To heck w/that... I'd much rather have a "Lambda pill", even if I have to build my own.

CMG looks to be leading the cutting edge in producing dim "task" flashlights. And here I thought their purpose in using the Luxeon was to make it bright. I sure glad I waited to hear this BEFORE I placed an order..