<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Guy Guyer:
Sorry Brightnorm. I've been tied up the last several days.
I'm getting around 50 minutes runtime before the light just isn't a Surge anymore.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Guy,
I just finished a Surge runtime test using Ray-O-Vac Maximums (non-rechargeable but excellent and CHEAP)
The light ran for 3+ hours. For approximately 2 hours the Surge maintained good to excellent brightness, though of course not as bright as at startup, but pretty darn good. Between 2 and 2 1/2
hours it was becoming noticeably dimmer, but still quite respectably bright. Between 2 1/2 and 3 hours the beam began to yellow, though it was still functionally useful, and gradually dimmed until at three hours I turned it off, though it probably would have remained lit for another 15-30 minutes.
I suppose you could call this a three hour light, but I would characterize it as a 2 1/2 hour light. It's still darn impressive.
In terms of burn longevity, I would choose the UK 4AA, then the 2L , and yes, I know all about the beams!
Three hours seems to be a kind of basic limit to all these non-tac lights, with the exception of the Bison 2-C. I've never done runtime tests on the big Maglites (3-D and up)
I have been quite disappointed with the Tec 40, which starts strong, with excellent beam, but peters out much quicker than the UK's. Maybe some day UK will start using faceted reflectors. For now I just buy extras and pick the good ones for myself, and give the others to friends who aren''t so picky.
I will probably stick with non-rechargeables (especially lithiums) because, as a veteran of 9/11, and seeing how Mayor Guiliani got out of that cellar only because someone had a flashlight, I want something I can count on whenever I need it. I EDC belt-carry several lights.
Have a good day, and may your love for good lights keep "surging"!
Best regards,
Brightnorm