TK45 Question

[TJx]

Hi
Just got this in the mail today and I have to say I'm pretty underwhelmed by the highest setting. I put what should be new Energizer Alkaline primaries in it and on turbo it just wasn't the level of brightness I was expecting, i.e. "Wall of Light" I thought maybe the batteries I had were not new as I thought so I put in the Duracell Procell alkalines that came with the light and no brighter.
I got my C3 with a M60 and compared, the TK45 is noticeably brighter, just nowhere near 3 times as bright, (understanding the advertised lumens in these 2 are measured differently), maybe 50% brighter at best.
I understand this light is meant to be run on rechargeable's but that should only effect runtimes not brightness, right?
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

 

[flatline]

NiMh rechargeable cells are capable of delivering far more current than alkaline cells. So if the light is designed for rechargeable cells, it's probably current starved when running on alkaline.

--flatline

 

[derfyled]

I'll quote Henry from HDS: Your eyes respond to light in a logarithmic way.

Doubling the lumens won't make you see 2 times the total amount of brightness.

 

[PSEUDOSENTIENT]

According to their spec sheets , if I remember correctly, it draws 1A on turbo. Maybe for some reason your alkalines are not capable of sourcing that much. But, I doubt it. That's probably as bright as it gets, if the batteries are new.

When first got mine, I didnt have the nimh batteries yet, so I used some cheapie alkalines from Costco. It didnt seem any less bright with those, but they didn't last long at all, just like you are saying. Probably only 1/2 hour on turbo before they gave up the ghost.

Could be it doesnt meet your expectations, or could be its a dud. I'm really happy with mine FWIW.

 

[g.p.]

The TK45 doesn't seem that bright as it doesn't really have a hot spot. Find a pitch black area and shine your other light on a wall from a 100ft back (I used a hanger at the airport). Then turn on your TK45. Instead of a small circle on the wall you'll be able to see the whole wall if it's working correctly. That's when my TK45 really blew me away. before that I was the same as you.........a little underwhelmed compared to my other 200-300 lumen lights. Remember, it's not a thrower.

 

[earthlight]

Hi
Just got this in the mail today and I have to say I'm pretty underwhelmed by the highest setting. I put what should be new Energizer Alkaline primaries in it and on turbo it just wasn't the level of brightness I was expecting, i.e. "Wall of Light" I thought maybe the batteries I had were not new as I thought so I put in the Duracell Procell alkalines that came with the light and no brighter.
Thanks in advance.

I'd charge a batch of Eneloops, load them into your TK45, go to a dark place with all of your lights and then compare.

At least my TK45 absolutely throws a wall of light that is very pleasing to use and walk with. It's not a lamp that throws a tight spot but, rather, a great diffuse bank of light.

Earthlight

 

[g.p.]

At least my TK45 absolutely throws a wall of light that is very pleasing to use and walk with. It's not a lamp that throws a tight spot but, rather, a great diffuse bank of light.

Excellent explanation..........it's very deceiving.