Regulated VS Direct Drive

[Gaffle]

At this point in time I love my Streamlight ProPoly lux. I dig this light. I dig it a lot. I am currently thinking about a new light. After fooling with the PP for 6 months, I don't think I would purchase a light that is directly driven. I mean there are a few exceptions, but I like my 4 hours of bright PP action. No dwindling here!!!!

I have come to the conclusion that I enjoy the most amount of light for the most amount of time. I don't want my high powered light that makes batteries slowly creep to their deaths. I want that bright and fierce for awhile.

So, just for fun, lets have a vote. Who likes what?

For the record, I don't hate all DD lights. I mean, the mag led lasts a long long time for a DD, and I still like that brute.

 

[LukeA]

For alkaline-based lights, regulation is a must as far as I'm concerned. If I'm spending that much on cells, I'd better be getting every last mAh out of them. Rechargeable lights don't need to be regulated because I can just recharge them, but it's nice.

 

[o0o]

Make mine regulated.

Wish there were more regulated options for incandescents too.

 

[greenLED]

You get spoiled once you try regulated lights. The "moon" mode on most is still enough to navigate around for quite a bit too.

 

[Burgess]

i also don't HATE direct-drive . . . .


But given my choice, i certainly WANT regulated !




It's a floor wax, AND a dessert topping !



-

 

[OhMyGosh]

Why does it have to be one or the other? What I want is a regulated light that senses a nearly dead battery and automatically goes into low power mode.

 

[datiLED]

I not only want a regulated light, but I want perfectly flat regulation. The direct drive brightness drop is annoying to me, and the main reason that I became interested in LED flashlights.

 

[Fird]

Just make sure the direct drive has a 'moon mode,' if it indicates low power before dropping into moon mode, then it's good enough. The Go-go-go-off, without warning would automatically make me e-bay the light and go find a better one.

 

[greenLED]

Just make sure the direct drive has a 'moon mode,' if it indicates low power before dropping into moon mode, then it's good enough. The Go-go-go-off, without warning would automatically make me e-bay the light and go find a better one.

Moon mode is certainly good to have, but I have no plans of auctioning my McGizmo PD-S.

 

[Gaffle]

Just make sure the direct drive has a 'moon mode,' if it indicates low power before dropping into moon mode, then it's good enough. The Go-go-go-off, without warning would automatically make me e-bay the light and go find a better one.

I can handle a bit of curve when there isn't enough juice for regulation. I cannot handle, for example, a 100 lumen light that only shoots out 100 lumens for 15 minutes.

 

[o0o]

I can handle a bit of curve when there isn't enough juice for regulation. I cannot handle, for example, a 100 lumen light that only shoots out 100 lumens for 15 minutes.

Many unregulated lights typically don't even give the full amount for 15 minutes. Some begin to drop in output seconds after using.

What good is a light that is rated at XX lumens if this rating only applies for 30 seconds?

 

[Gaffle]

Many unregulated lights typically don't even give the full amount for 15 minutes. Some begin to drop in output seconds after using.

What good is a light that is rated at XX lumens if this rating only applies for 30 seconds?

Thats why I am a regulation kind of guy. I will not buy a DD light because of its lumen rating.

 

[Illum]

regulation or not depends on what the light is, if its a single celled light that has a high output for its size, hit the regulation....but if its something like the dorcy 3D 1 watt, where the D cells are already sufficient at supplying the one watter with all the power it needs, regulation would seem a bit excessive and unnecessary

I not only want a regulated light, but I want perfectly flat regulation. The direct drive brightness drop is annoying to me, and the main reason that I became interested in LED flashlights.

there has been cases in the past [especially in Nuwai lights] that the flat regulation goes and zip.. your in darkness. If I want regulation, its going to DD once the Voltage drop reaches a point where the regulator can no longer function.

Thats why I am a regulation kind of guy. I will not buy a DD light because of its lumen rating.

you know, if you use a light for an application long enough, you really don't notice its drop in output until the very end since your eyes will be adapting to the dimming

take any "lumen rating" with a pinch of salt unless its from someone who has the equipment on the forum or you will find actual light output to be quite disappointing

 

[Gaffle]

regulation or not depends on what the light is, if its a single celled light that has a high output for its size, hit the regulation....but if its something like the dorcy 3D 1 watt, where the D cells are already sufficient at supplying the one watter with all the power it needs, regulation would seem a bit excessive and unnecessary

That is why I still like my mag 4d led even though it is DD.

you know, if you use a light for an application long enough, you really don't notice its drop in output until the very end since your eyes will be adapting to the dimming

I know, I know. I use my Petzl Myo Xp a lot. That is a DD headlamp. When I use it around the house its great, but when I use it for fishing I get bummed out. I hate having a light that is weak on day 2. I end up using fresh batts to compensate, and then my fishing vest is full of partially used batteries.

Maybe on some cloudy day I'll go out and purchase the good ole PT Apex.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

I admit to liking flat current regulation, but there is an alternative, and that is a circuit such as a flupic where pulse width modulation controls the output. My flupic modded Arc First Run with a Cree P4 almost works like full regulation, but is actually a modification of direct drive. I have that "burst" mode where you can get the full benefit of all of the current and voltage left in your battery available in a bright beam. I have tested my Arc on low and high mode and over time it acts exactly like full regulation. Not so with the burst mode which runs in direct drive only, but it is always brighter than the high mode. PWM is always at its best where the power source is a LiIion, large or small.

Bill

 

[Long John]

In this thread are very good points and answers:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=166960

Best regards

_____
Tom

 

[LEDite]

Since nearly all my lights are #18650 lithium powered,

the light is very constant for 2.5 hours before dimming gradually.

Regulation would be no more efficient with this combo.

Larry Cobb

 

[cave dave]

I know, I know. I use my Petzl Myo Xp a lot. That is a DD headlamp. When I use it around the house its great, but when I use it for fishing I get bummed out. I hate having a light that is weak on day 2. I end up using fresh batts to compensate, and then my fishing vest is full of partially used batteries.

Try using rechargeables like the Sanyo Eneloops. They have a much flatter output curve and you can make the partially used batteries full again when you get home.

**EDIT**
Wow! I tried to find a runtime plot that showed both NiMh and Alkalines for a direct drive light and it was really hard. Almost all the reviews only do Alkaline tests and that makes the direct drive lights look really bad, when in fact they perform quite well on NiMh and still have a nice moon mode. This is the only plot with both I could find in my quick search:
(Is it OK to hotlink a pic developed for CPF?)
Chevrofreaks MiniMagLED 3AA runtimes - alkaline and Ni-MH

 

[big beam]

regulation or not depends on what the light is, if its a single celled light that has a high output for its size, hit the regulation....but if its something like the dorcy 3D 1 watt, where the D cells are already sufficient at supplying the one watter with all the power it needs, regulation would seem a bit excessive and unnecessary



there has been cases in the past [especially in Nuwai lights] that the flat regulation goes and zip.. your in darkness. If I want regulation, its going to DD once the Voltage drop reaches a point where the regulator can no longer function.



you know, if you use a light for an application long enough, you really don't notice its drop in output until the very end since your eyes will be adapting to the dimming

take any "lumen rating" with a pinch of salt unless its from someone who has the equipment on the forum or you will find actual light output to be quite disappointing

My 654c nuwai just drops dead but I like that because it doesn't overdischerge my ni-cd's.I just make sure it's topped off when I use it.
DON

 

[FlashCrazy]

Almost all the reviews only do Alkaline tests and that makes the direct drive lights look really bad, when if fact they perform quite well on NiMh and still have a nice moon mode.

Well said. Using NiMH batteries, direct drive lights can stand head to head with regulated lights.