Is the Lightwave 4000 underdriven?

soloco · Jan 8, 2004

I took out my old Lightwave 4000 and walked around the inside and outside of my house comparing it to a 2AA minimag with a wide open BB ls drop in. The luxeon seemed to do better at a distance (which was expected), but even up close the luxeon seemed much brighter. Is a luxeon that much brighter than 10 5mm LEDs? I suspect the Lightwave 4000 may be underdriven. It seems as bright as my Inova X5 and that's got 5 LEDs. Does anyone know of a way maybe lower/remove the resistance from the LW4000?

Charles Bradshaw · Jan 8, 2004

The X5 is overdriven. If the LW4000 looks a bit dim, check your batteries.

The_LED_Museum · Jan 8, 2004

I was just going to say the Inova X5 overdrives its LEDs (38mA apiece in the white version, which is high but not horribly so) but I see I got beaten to it. I don't know what current the LEDs in the Lightwave 4000 are driven at.

Zelandeth · Jan 8, 2004

Well, I don't know about the LW4000, but I know that the Nuwai AT-100 (10 LED's), lags quite a bit behind the output of my CMG Reactor 3. There 's a beamshot showing a pretty good brightness comparison here.

If I remember correctly, the AT-100 drives the LED's more or less at spec. I did measure it at some point, and I remember that they're not notably over/underdriven anyway.

MrMom · Jan 9, 2004

My old Lightwave 4000 was bright...until a few years ago - then one watt Luxeons started showing up. Now it's even dimmer since I've been playing with five watters. Hmmmm even the one watters are starting to look dim??????

george9c1 · Jan 9, 2004

Someone with more experience than me will have to tell you whether this makes it underdriven or overdriven but my Lightwave 4000 with 3 fresh alkaline D cells at 4.8v draws 340 millamps.

The_LED_Museum · Jan 9, 2004

If the current consumption is 340mA, then each LED is receiving 34mA. So it's overdriven, but not horribly so.
The resistor(s) dissipate(s) some energy, but I did not figure this into my rather rudimentary calculation. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

soloco · Jan 10, 2004

Thanks everyone. I swapped in fresh D batteries, but I am still disappointed. Oh well, I guess that's the price of progress.

JJHitt · Jan 10, 2004

Dont forget that RUN TIME is one of the LW's biggest selling points.

Leave the X5, 2AA drop-in and LW4000 turned on for 48 hours and then see which one disappoints you.

Is the Lightwave 4000 underdriven?

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