Run-Time Plot - VIP

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Roy

Roy

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Joined
Apr 14, 2002
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This runtime plot is for a VIP by CPF member "Mr Bulk". This light uses one CR123 size battery. A Surefire CR123 batteries were used for these plots.

Equipment used is a Extech Mdl 401021 Light Adapter into a Radio Shack 22-805 multimeter with a PC interface that is using ScopeView software (V 1.08).

The vertical axis is a measure of brightness in volts DC. The horizontal axis is 30 minutes per division.

Be aware that your actual battery milage may vary from that indicated by this runtime plot.


VIP on MEDIUM power
The runtime to 50% max brightness = 3 hours 30 minutes
vip-m.jpg




VIP on HIGH power
Runtime to 50% max brightness = 47 minutes
vip-h.jpg



VIP on LOW power
Runtime to 50% Max Brightness = 68 hours
vip-l.jpg
 
A runtime plot for the VIP on HIGH power has been added to the first posting in this thread.
 
It seems your VIP is more efficient than this_is_nascar's and mine. Lucky you! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I may try tweaking contacts to see if I can reduce the resistance.

---EDIT---
I did tweak electorical contacts and got 32 minutes runtime on the high level. It's still shorter than Roy's but was improved from previous measurements. I updated my chart.
 
these differences might be the result of the selection of the LEDs ... flux was the key and Vin ignored, IIRC.
bernhard
 
I agree the major part of the runtime difference is from the LED variation.

On the other hand, I assume the VIP checks the input voltage (or power) to see if it can continue to run on the high mode so I guess the contact resistance affects to the runtime on the high mode.

Maybe Chalie chimes in and corrects me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I am running a runtime plot on my VIP running on low power. It is still drawing a flat line after 24 hours!

It keeps going, and going, and going, and going............ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/huh.gif
 
Over 3 hrs on med and 45 minutes in high is amazingly good. Can the LED account for that great a difference?

When it's depleted enough you can shift it into "super-low" with 2 fast clicks. Have you tried that?

Brightnorm
 
No, but I did shift from High to Medium on the high power plot. By the time it started to strobe, it was almost too hot to touch../I attribuate the small peak just after the strobing and the switch-over to medium power, to the cooling down of the VIP.
 
I have noticed a difference here between the newer "tweaked" CR123A batteries of LOT# 03-2004 and newer compared to the 01-2004 batteries. It seems that they have actually made some improvements in recent months. That light on high really hits the battery harder than anything else I have around here including my L5. So if you are using 02-2004 dated or older CR123A batteries from us, they will not do as well. Sorry about that.
 
Kevin, the battery station battery that came with my VIP was quite weak and started strobing after less than two minutes of run time. I'm not looking for a replacement, just letting you know.
 
[ QUOTE ]
keithhr said:
Kevin, the battery station battery that came with my VIP was quite weak and started strobing after less than two minutes of run time. I'm not looking for a replacement, just letting you know.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here.
 
.....50 hours on low power and it's only down to 31 Fc......it was 46 fc at 24 hours!

Woof! Canidate for runtime champ!
 
question for you guys. I have 3 VIPs on there way to me. I do not have a light meter to test to see which one is the brightest etc. I do however want to mainly use the most efficient one out of the bunch. Can I use the battery station batteries, even though they don't fair well, in all three lights and see which one stays the longest on high etc? Then I can assume that even if I were to use a duracell or SF cell then it will still last longer than the other two.

I don't want to use my Duracell batteries for this type of test. Any ideas where I can find a light meter or something to use as a measurement to find out which one of the 3 I am getting is the "best"?

Thanks guys and sorry if my posts seems like I am confused....... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Curtis
 
Hey cue003:

It looks like Battery Station lights are not consistent, so in your test you might want to make sure all three batteries have the same starting voltage.

You can use layers of white paper as a rough measure of comparative brightness. But given your investment in lights, you might want to buy a light meter. I got mine for just over $100.
 
A photo (solar) cell and a digital-multimeter will get you started. You can compair lights with that setup. That's how I got started.
 
Or you may just measure the input voltage and current at the mid or high level. Because the output of the VIP is regulated, the most efficient one will require the least input power.
 
Thanks for the heads up guys. I will just buy 10 or so SF cells and use those for my testing. I will also try to find me a light meter. I already have the digital-multimeter.

Roy, can you provide some more info on this photo (solar) cell? Thanks.
 
Added the runtime plot for the VIP on LOW Power to the first posting in this thread. I started this runtime plot calculation at the one hour mark as that's where the plateau started. I ended the plot at 71 hours at which point the VIP was still putting out 19Fc @ 1Ft! The runtime to 50% max brightness calculated out to be just shy of 68 hours! A record runtime for me!

cue003.....Try your local Radio Shack....ask about a solar power demo kit.
 
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