SF G2L vs. G2 w/ dealextreme drop in?
- Thread starter dmz
- Start date
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KentuckyMike
Enlightened
Hey dmz,
Are you looking for better flood or better throw? Better whitewall profile? Better color (and for you is that warmer or cooler)? Hard or soft transition from spot to spill? Better runtime or higher output? Better build quality or price? Better thermal regulation, or more output longer (while risking the module?
Mo' betta' is pretty broad!!
Last edited:
WadeF
Flashlight Enthusiast
Have a link to the dealextreme drop-in you are looking at?
I have a Malkoff drop in for my SF G2 and I love it. However, it's driving a Cree Q2 at 1A, so I have to be mindful for how long I run it. Gene recommends no more than 15 minutes. In a G2, it gets pretty warm quickly because there is no metal to heat sink to.
You may need to keep that in mind for other drop-ins that run their LED's at similar currents. For what I do, I usually only use the light for a minute or two at a time, at the most, so it's not a problem. I hear the SF G2L isn't all that bright, it's claimed 80 lumens MAX, but some people say it is less. It may have thermal regulation built it, so when it gets too warm, it cuts the current back, dimming the light. This maybe why some people are reporting less than 80 lumens. You almost have to do this though in a plastic bodied light to protect the module. If you go with something "hotter" you will have to manually do the thermal management, by turning the light off before it burns up the module.
I have a Malkoff drop in for my SF G2 and I love it. However, it's driving a Cree Q2 at 1A, so I have to be mindful for how long I run it. Gene recommends no more than 15 minutes. In a G2, it gets pretty warm quickly because there is no metal to heat sink to.
You may need to keep that in mind for other drop-ins that run their LED's at similar currents. For what I do, I usually only use the light for a minute or two at a time, at the most, so it's not a problem. I hear the SF G2L isn't all that bright, it's claimed 80 lumens MAX, but some people say it is less. It may have thermal regulation built it, so when it gets too warm, it cuts the current back, dimming the light. This maybe why some people are reporting less than 80 lumens. You almost have to do this though in a plastic bodied light to protect the module. If you go with something "hotter" you will have to manually do the thermal management, by turning the light off before it burns up the module.
Size15's
Flashaholic
The P60L LED Module will have a 'peak' output of what SureFire are rating as 80 lumens when used 'momentarily' / briefly. It is normal for SureFire to be conservative with their output ratings. They are not "max" in the sense that if you were to put one in an integrating sphere the maximum output any example would ever achieve is its rated output.
SureFire use the term "max" to indicate that the output changes over time - generally decreases and that within the lumen output ratings SureFire uses for its products it considers the rated output to be the maximum it achieves compared to other SureFire products.
It is not possible to compare lumen output ratings for one manufacture to the next because there is no standardised method for measuring the output and determining the rating.
When SureFire use a lumen rating I consider it to be a realistic expectation of the actual output.
So a 100 lumen rating will indicate that typically the measured output will be at least 100 lumens. In the case of flashlights with 'flat regulation' this output rating will be achieved for the flat regulated runtime.
For lights without flat regulation (including incandescent lights) the output rating is not the peak output but rather the output one might reasonably expect during use as the output decreases. A P60 rated at 65 lumens is actually outputing in the region of 80-100 lumens shortly after fresh batteries are installed constant-on.
The P60L features a temperature sensor that reduces the output as the module heats up in order to prevent overheating. The constant-on output is better described as approximately 65 lumens regulated for 3 hours in the G2, or approximately 75 lumens regulated for 2 hours in the 6P. The output will then decrease considerably for another 9 hours or so of usable light.
There are few who can actually confirm a lumen rating using integrating sphere equipment but many who can perform their own output/runtime charts which in my opinion are significantly more useful than knowing the exact lumen output. I've yet to see any for the G2L or 6PL - has anybody posted one yet?
SureFire use the term "max" to indicate that the output changes over time - generally decreases and that within the lumen output ratings SureFire uses for its products it considers the rated output to be the maximum it achieves compared to other SureFire products.
It is not possible to compare lumen output ratings for one manufacture to the next because there is no standardised method for measuring the output and determining the rating.
When SureFire use a lumen rating I consider it to be a realistic expectation of the actual output.
So a 100 lumen rating will indicate that typically the measured output will be at least 100 lumens. In the case of flashlights with 'flat regulation' this output rating will be achieved for the flat regulated runtime.
For lights without flat regulation (including incandescent lights) the output rating is not the peak output but rather the output one might reasonably expect during use as the output decreases. A P60 rated at 65 lumens is actually outputing in the region of 80-100 lumens shortly after fresh batteries are installed constant-on.
The P60L features a temperature sensor that reduces the output as the module heats up in order to prevent overheating. The constant-on output is better described as approximately 65 lumens regulated for 3 hours in the G2, or approximately 75 lumens regulated for 2 hours in the 6P. The output will then decrease considerably for another 9 hours or so of usable light.
There are few who can actually confirm a lumen rating using integrating sphere equipment but many who can perform their own output/runtime charts which in my opinion are significantly more useful than knowing the exact lumen output. I've yet to see any for the G2L or 6PL - has anybody posted one yet?
If all you care about is brightness, chances are you'll find a drop-in on DX that can outperform the G2L. If you want a reliable light that will work no matter what, you're definitely better off with the G2L. You can bet Surefire did an incredible amount of testing to make sure that what's inside a G2L will not only mean brightness, but extreme reliability as well.
