Fenix TA 20 TA 30

Hello all, I can't find any threads on the key diffrences between the TA20 and the TA30.Can anyone give any major points on how much they differ apart from the number of batteries. The TA20 seems to have a longer run time than the TA 30, but why is that? surely an extra battery with the regulated circuit should keep the TA30 going a bit longer. Maybe I've got the details foncused, but check the fenix web-site. To me it seems better value and more convinient to get the TA 20. My needs are specifically for military applications. please send your expert advice.

Thanks ye all!lovecpf

The Fred said:

Hello all, I can't find any threads on the key diffrences between the TA20 and the TA30.Can anyone give any major points on how much they differ apart from the number of batteries. The TA20 seems to have a longer run time than the TA 30, but why is that? surely an extra battery with the regulated circuit should keep the TA30 going a bit longer. Maybe I've got the details foncused, but check the fenix web-site. To me it seems better value and more convinient to get the TA 20. My needs are specifically for military applications. please send your expert advice.

Thanks ye all!lovecpf

Click to expand...

I think the run times look about right, TA30 goes longer than the TA20

TA20 .......................................TA30
Low (4 lumens - 170 hrs) .............Low (9 Lumens, 115Hrs)
Mid (50 lumens - 12 hrs) ..............Med (60 Lumens, 25Hrs)
High (225 lumens - 1.5 hrs) ...........High (225 Lumens, 3.5Hrs)
Strobe (230 lumens - 3 hrs) ...........Strobe (230 Lumens, 7Hrs)


Looks like Low and Medium have slightly different output, but you can compare High and Strobe and notice the longer run time on TA30 with its extra battery. I think there must be a bit of the plukert(sp?) factor occuring if these figuers from Fenix are accurate.

HTH

John

one thing more about the TA30. I own one and it can run using the following cells:

3xCR123/RCR123
2x17500
2x14500

so you have a wider choice of cells to use. i did not notice (to my untrained eye) any difference in output when using 17500s instead of CR123s

According to the specs the TA30 is more efficient at high mode when the stated runtime with 225lm is twice than TA20 with 50% more battery capacity. I guess that the true difference isn't that big, however.

In some review they measured the runtime to quite exactly 3hours at high mode for TA30. TK10 with the same brightness and battery configuration as TA20 has slightly more than 1,5 hours runtime at 225lm, and if they both have the same XR-E Q5 LED I guess that TA20 has same runtime as TK10. TA30 is more efficient at high mode anyway.

If my lightmeter is correct as well my TK10 and TA30 have exactly 1/5 of the output at the 60lm mode than 225lm. Both has exactly the same output at 225lm mode which seems to show that the 60lm mode is around 45lm. The question then is if mid mode of TA20 stated at 50lm is 40lm or less, I don't know.

I think that TA30 is a very good choice if you mainly want to use the 225lm mode. But I would prefer a mid mode with twice the brightness as the actual, 2/5 of high instead of 1/5.

hyperloop said:

one thing more about the TA30. I own one and it can run using the following cells:

3xCR123/RCR123
2x17500
2x14500

so you have a wider choice of cells to use. i did not notice (to my untrained eye) any difference in output when using 17500s instead of CR123s

Click to expand...

I tried my TA30 with 2xAA, and it worked also, but with a very low (but still useful) brightness...

Regards, Patric