Tec 40 w/NiMH & Hot bulb

[ikendu]

I got my first Tec 40 this week.

It is quite nice, compact and bright w/Alkalines and the stock bulb. Although, I'd like to run it with NiMH rather than throwing away a bunch of Alkalines all the time.

I've seen postings about an even brighter Tec 40 by overdriving a 3C bulb w/NiMH for higher current but lower voltage (4 x NiMH AA = 4.8v).

Two bulbs were mentioned:
HPR53 4.0v @ .85a
KPR139 3.85v @1.2a

I can't find either one of these bulbs locally (checked Walmart, Target, R-Shack & an outfitter).

I found one site for the KPR139, sells for $1.

Bulbs from Inner Mountain Outfitters

They have the HPR53 for $4 but other internet sites show it as "discontinued".

Anyone know of a best source for these two bulbs?
And...anyone tried both in a Tec 40 to compare?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Doug S]

Originally posted by ikendu:
I got my first Tec 40 this week.

It is quite nice, compact and bright w/Alkalines and the stock bulb. Although, I'd like to run it with NiMH rather than throwing away a bunch of Alkalines all the time.

I've seen postings about an even brighter Tec 40 by overdriving a 3C bulb w/NiMH for higher current but lower voltage (4 x NiMH AA = 4.8v).

Two bulbs were mentioned:
HPR53 4.0v @ .85a
KPR139 3.85v @1.2a

I can't find either one of these bulbs locally (checked Walmart, Target, R-Shack & an outfitter).

I found one site for the KPR139, sells for $1.

Bulbs from Inner Mountain Outfitters

They have the HPR53 for $4 but other internet sites show it as "discontinued".

Anyone know of a best source for these two bulbs?
And...anyone tried both in a Tec 40 to compare?

Thanks in advance!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">http://www.4bobandbob.com/
This vendor has them too but they are not shown on their website. The HPR-53 was $4 last time I bought some.

 

[Alan]

If you want to keep your reflector intact and reasonable bulb life yet as bright as an E2, I'd recommend you to use KPR103 or WhiteStar from Maglit. If you only want to make it an impressive bright light and turn it on no more than a few minutes at a time, you might want to go for higher wattage bulb. For HPR53, you might have to risk a burnt dot at the lens.

Alan

 

[ikendu]

Give that man a cigar!

I haven't been able to find the 2 bulbs mentioned at the top locally, but, combing thru the CPF I found recommendations for 3 other bulbs, which I found tonight at Radio Shack.

KPR113 4.8v .7a 4.06 MSCP $1.29
KPR103 3.6v .8a 2.70 MSCP $1.29
XPR113 4.8v .8a 5.10 MSCP $0.97

I've been using my Brinkmann LX as the standard against which to measure these bulbs.

With 4 NiMH AAs loaded, the winner is:

KPR103 ! (as suggested immediately above)

It is easily as bright as the LX although the LX might just have a tiny edge on beam quality against a white wall. I'm not sure you could notice it outdoors.

This is great!

Now I have a really bright flashlight with inexpensive, rechargeable batteries and an inexpensive, locally obtainable bulb. That is good!

One last question for the forum...

If you notice the table above, I've listed the "brightness" in MSCP for the bulbs. I expected the Xenon XPR113 to be far and away the brightest.

Hmmm. It wasn't. It and the KPR113 were "close" in brightness, but clearly less than the KPR103 which although it has the lowest MSCP, it was clearly the brightest and whitest.

Since the voltage is the lowest of the three, I figure it is the one most "overdriven" by the 4.8v of the 4 NiMH...and, will likely result in greatly shortened bulb life (stated on the pkg at 15 hours).

Anyone got a good explanation of the MSCP numbers and the actual brightness I am seeing?

And...anyone got experience with the bulb life I can expect?

Thanks!

 

[Doug S]

Originally posted by ikendu:
Give that man a cigar!

I haven't been able to find the 2 bulbs mentioned at the top locally, but, combing thru the CPF I found recommendations for 3 other bulbs, which I found tonight at Radio Shack.

KPR113 4.8v .7a 4.06 MSCP $1.29
KPR103 3.6v .8a 2.70 MSCP $1.29
XPR113 4.8v .8a 5.10 MSCP $0.97

I've been using my Brinkmann LX as the standard against which to measure these bulbs.

With 4 NiMH AAs loaded, the winner is:

KPR103 ! (as suggested immediately above)

It is easily as bright as the LX although the LX might just have a tiny edge on beam quality against a white wall. I'm not sure you could notice it outdoors.

This is great!

Now I have a really bright flashlight with inexpensive, rechargeable batteries and an inexpensive, locally obtainable bulb. That is good!

One last question for the forum...

If you notice the table above, I've listed the "brightness" in MSCP for the bulbs. I expected the Xenon XPR113 to be far and away the brightest.

Hmmm. It wasn't. It and the KPR113 were "close" in brightness, but clearly less than the KPR103 which although it has the lowest MSCP, it was clearly the brightest and whitest.

Since the voltage is the lowest of the three, I figure it is the one most "overdriven" by the 4.8v of the 4 NiMH...and, will likely result in greatly shortened bulb life (stated on the pkg at 15 hours).

Anyone got a good explanation of the MSCP numbers and the actual brightness I am seeing?

And...anyone got experience with the bulb life I can expect?

Thanks!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">With increasing voltage, brightness increases roughly by voltage raised to the 3.4 power. E.g., if a bulb rated at 3.6 is operated at 4.8, brightness will increase by a factor of [4.8/3.6]exp3.4 or about 2.66. A bulb rated 15 hrs at 3.6 will have a life of less than 1 hour at 4.8V

BTW. 1 MSCP = 4Pi lumens

 

[ikendu]

Hmmm. I suppose there really is "no free lunch".

1 hour bulb life will hardly meet my needs for a bright light that is economical to operate. I could always drop back to the XPR113, still pretty bright, only $1, 35 hr bulb life at 4.8v.

The guy at Radio Shack says he thinks they are going to quit stocking the XPR113 (I bought the last one they had).

 

[lemlux]

I find that the XPR 113 isn't real bright with 4 alkaline AA's. It's better with 4 alkaline D's or C's. I do have one XPR 113 in a PT40 with lithium AA's as a car emergency light. It's dimmer than my other flame thrower PT40 meltdown candidates, but it should run nicely for 3 1/2 hours if and when needed anytime over the next ten years.

 

[Alan]

Believe me, I have been using Tec40 w KPR103 and NiMH for night hiking for sometimes. Normally, I turn it on for 30 minutes to 1 hour continously at a time. Although I always bring along 2 spare bulbs for night hiking, the first old bulb is still running good. It has been used for more than 20 hours!!!

Okay, in fact, it is not a real KPR103, it is Maglit WhiteStar 3-Cell bulb and I believe it's the same as KPR103.

I do have KPR103 on other Tec40 (I have 3 of them) but I keep it at home as utility light and not being used as much as the one I used for night hiking.

Alan

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

There is a PT LED module for the PT 40 and a few other PT 4 cells. Brightguy has them listed.

 

[ikendu]

Anyone with experience with the LED module?

Links to reviews?

I couldn't find it listed on Brightguy's site.
Link?

Thanks!

 

[x-ray]

Originally posted by ikendu:
Anyone with experience with the LED module?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I think Charles may be referring to the Tec 20 LED module, I don't believe PT make one for the Tec 40

You could use a PR based LED bulb replacement in the Tec 40, take a look at this link

 

[ikendu]

Hmmm.

I've read some of the posts for the LED module for the Tec 40...sounds like it is pretty dim even though it has 3 LEDs. Even dimmer than a single ARC AAA.

 

[txwest]

I would recomend getting one of JB's 3 or 4 LED PR bulbs. They work great in the Tec40, or any light you put them in. If you are going to use alkiline, get the 6V. If you use rechargeables, get the 4.5V. TX

 

[revolvergeek]

Ditto the suggestion of a jbetcho bulb. I have a 4 green led bulb running 6 volts in my Tec40 right now and love it.

 

[lemlux]

I also love the JBechto modules. I have 3 of his 4.5-4.8 V 4-LED modules. I run 4AA lights with 3 cells and a dummy unless I have 4 used alkalines that total < 5.0 V.

This practice is a great way to use up partially discharged alkalines.