HDS Tactical Rotary 325 Factory Brightness Levels

Robone

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I have this light and was wondering what the preset brightness levels are. I know that burst mode is level 24 and then strobe below that. I want to know the 12 levels below that. I can then reference the HDS site to determine lumens. There are 24 levels to choose from when reconfiguring but which of these are preset from the factory? The HDS website gives all 24 levels but doesn't indicate what my particular model is set to.
 

ScottFree

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I have this light and was wondering what the preset brightness levels are. I know that burst mode is level 24 and then strobe below that. I want to know the 12 levels below that. I can then reference the HDS site to determine lumens. There are 24 levels to choose from when reconfiguring but which of these are preset from the factory? The HDS website gives all 24 levels but doesn't indicate what my particular model is set to.

Did you check the manual. There should be a lumen chart on there. And for preset lumens the preset settings is normally described on the main page for each individual light. Example http://www.hdssystems.com/Products/EDC-E1S-250/
 

Robone

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Did you check the manual. There should be a lumen chart on there. And for preset lumens the preset settings is normally described on the main page for each individual light. Example http://www.hdssystems.com/Products/EDC-E1S-250/

Thanks for your reply ScottFree. On the clicky models the output levels are "posted" but the rotary ones are not. 325 for burst (Level 24) and strobe but the lower 12 no info. With that said, I know my answer is out there somewhere. As per my original post I have the 24 levels info, from the site, for the 325 but which 12 of the 24 is my model set to ? Each level will represent a different output depending on the maximum output of each model/ LED. 170 lumen, 250, or 325. Not saying you didn't know all of this but more to show what I know to help you help me.
 
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jon_slider

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I have this light and was wondering what the preset brightness levels are.
...
The HDS website gives all 24 levels but doesn't indicate what my particular model is set to.

I think the rotary has all 24 levels and the clicky gets 12 levels?:
there are 24 steps in this pic:
RotDiagram.jpg

and here are a couple of quotes from a page I found, which does not list the levels, maybe share what you found?

"The rotary control on the EDC Rotary allows you to easily and conveniently select the brightness level you want - even before you turn on your flashlight. You can choose any brightness level from 0.02 lumens to the maximum output of your flashlight. With the flashlight facing forward, rotate the rotary control clockwise for brighter light and counter clockwise for dimmer light."

I also found this on the same page http://www.hdssystems.com/Products/Details/, but imo the following is about the executive non rotary:

"Your flashlight can be fully customized to your specific tasks. Each of the preset brightness levels can be customized to any of the 24 internal brightness levels,"

ps, rereading your question, I do not know what the lumen levels are for your presets. suggest asking the maker.

found this
http://www.hdssystems.com/Products/EdcUsersGuide.pdf:

"EDC Rotary: your light turns on to the brightness level selected
by the rotary control. Use the rotary control to select any
brightness level between 0.02 lumens and Maximum. Doubleclick
toggles between the rotary adjustable brightness and
Emergency Strobe, or if you are on a different setting, returns
you to whichever of the two settings you used last. Triple-click
takes you to Tactical Strobe."

but still nothing about how many lumens the presets are, just words like Low, and Medium
 
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ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond

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Both the Clicky and the Rotary should give you the same 24 levels. I have an older HDS guide from the 2012 lights (before Henry went to using the chart) and it shows the stock levels as:

Low - Level 5
Medium - Level 16
High - Level 24
 

Robone

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I think I'm causing some problems here. I should call it EDC Tactical 325. Though it is/has a rotary it is not identified that way. So on the site, under the q/a for the corrected name of my model there is a question of what the brightness levels are (I have seen this in the past ). The far right column it lists all 24 brightness levels for the 325. Having mine dialed down all the way counter clockwise turns on at the lowest mine is set to. As I turn the dial up it has 11 additional step-ups in brightness.Continuing turning clockwise it then hits tactical strobe then on to the highest level. The highest level is indicated on the site as level 24 @ 325 lumens. So. which of these 23 levels are the presets for my lower 12 levels ? By the way, I really appreciate every one's help and I have researched/studied all of the responses.
 

Grizzman

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The "Tactical" model doesn't behave the same as the standard "Rotary" model, hence his description of only 12 brightness levels.

Even if somebody had both a Rotary and a Tactical, it's unlikely that they'd be able to identify the 11 levels unless they've got an integrating sphere or similar setup. Henry should be able to tell you their outputs.
 

jon_slider

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http://www.hdssystems.com/Content/LightFaq/

Level
140Lumens
170Lumens
200Lumens
250Lumens
325Lumens
24
140
170
200
250
325
23
95.3
115
134
166
213
22
64.8
77.4
89.8
110
140
21
44.1
52.2
60.2
73.0
91.7
20
30.0
35.2
40.3
48.5
60.2
19
20.4
23.8
27.0
32.2
39.5
18
13.9
16.0
18.1
21.3
25.9
17
9.46
10.8
12.1
14.2
17.0
16
6.44
7.31
8.12
9.40
11.1
15
4.38
4.93
5.44
6.24
7.31
14
2.98
3.33
3.65
4.14
4.79
13
2.03
2.24
2.44
2.75
3.14
12
1.38
1.52
1.64
1.82
2.06
11
0.94
1.02
1.10
1.21
1.35
10
0.64
0.69
0.74
0.80
0.89
9
0.44
0.47
0.49
0.53
0.58
8
0.30
0.31
0.33
0.35
0.38
7
0.20
0.21
0.22
0.23
0.25
6
0.14
0.14
0.15
0.16
0.16
5
0.09
0.10
0.10
0.10
0.11
4
0.06
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
3
0.04
0.04
0.05
0.05
0.05
2
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
1
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02

http://www.hdssystems.com/Products/EdcTacUsersGuide.pdf
TacDiagram.jpg

http://www.hdssystems.com/Products/EdcTacAdvUsersGuide.pdf
"Your flashlight comes with 3 brightness presets. They are referred to
as presets A, B and C. A is fully clock-wise against the stop and is the
press and hold preset, B clock-wise away from the stop, C is the
counter clock-wise half of the rotary control rotation."

still not finding what each of the 12 clicks on the tactical is equivalent to in Lumens.. closer though :).. I would guess its either all the odd numbers, or all the even numbered steps :)..

wondering what the preset brightness levels are.

I still cant figure out which ones are preset.. nice challenge question actually, the deeper I dig, the more I understand the question, but not the answer, yet..

my best guess is the presets are high, strobe and 1/2 of 325 = 163 lumens
 
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reppans

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You can do the calculation for good approximation. I have a 325 clicky and lightbox and did the calculation once and compared it to my metered results. I found the two to be close enough for government work, certainly closer than than the naked eye can distinguish, and much better than most Chinese-brand lumens I've tested.

If you look at the manual, under the section "internal brightness levels," you'll see that Henry strives for dead linear increments between each level, or ~ 1.5x depending upon starting and ending output. In the case of my 325, a ~1.525x increment works out, or 0.02 lms x 1.525^23 = 328 lms. In other words, 0.02 lms x 1.525 = 0.0305 lms (level 2) x 1.525 = 0.04651 lms (level 3) x 1.525.... etc, etc.

So assuming Henry is applying the same approach to the 12 level tactical, and you also have a 0.02 min and 325 max, a ~2.415x linear increment works out or 0.02 lms x 2.415^11 = 326. In other words, 0.02 x 2.415 = 0.048 lms (level 2) x 2.415 = 0.1166 lms (level 3) x 2.415 ..... etc, etc.
 

jon_slider

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In the case of my 325, a ~1.525x increment works out, or 0.02 lms x 1.525^23 = 328 lms. In other words, 0.02 lms x 1.525 = 0.0305 lms (level 2) x 1.525 = 0.04651 lms (level 3) x 1.525.... etc, etc.
like this?:
lumens
10.02
20.03
30.05
40.07
50.11
60.16
70.25
80.38
90.59
100.89
111
122
133
145
157
1611
1717
1826
1940
2061
2193
22141
23215
24328
In other words, 0.02 x 2.415 = 0.048 lms (level 2) x 2.415 = 0.1166 lms (level 3) x 2.415 ..... etc, etc.

good info, like this?:

lumens
10.02
20.05
30.12
40.28
50.68
62
74
810
923
1056
11135
12326

level six is 2 lumens, and that is Preset B?
 
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reppans

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I don't have my calculator out now, but if you were just continually multiplying by those constants, then yes, it looks right to me (based on your end max numbers). And as a check, it appears to line up closely with Henry's (?) 325 chart you posted above - (which wasn't published when I got my 325 - as mine was the first on CPF).

That would be my guess for the 12 mode tactical.
 

jon_slider

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it appears to line up closely with Henry's (?) 325 chart you posted above
yes, post 11 is the chart from HDS Faq page

thanks very much for the factors, I spreadsheeted them and I agree they match the HDS chart

Im still not sure how to answer this:.. can you:

I have this light and was wondering what the preset brightness levels are.
 

reppans

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The details on the regular rotary list the preset outputs, but for some reason they are left out on the tactical version.

Assuming the 12 mode output chart we came up with is correct, the OP could go to a preset, enter output customization, and count where that preset is (among the 12**) by counting clicks until he hit min... or max. He can exit without saving to leave the original preset in place. Then just match up to the chart you created to see the lumens for that preset.

** - edit. Actually, I now think this should be 24. The tactical rotary dial may be confined to 12 output modes, but I think the presets will have all 24 modes available for re-programming, in which case he can refer to the regular 325 chart. I would also guess, then, that the factory presets may be the same as a regular rotary?
 
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Robone

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The "Tactical" model doesn't behave the same as the standard "Rotary" model, hence his description of only 12 brightness levels.

Even if somebody had both a Rotary and a Tactical, it's unlikely that they'd be able to identify the 11 levels unless they've got an integrating sphere or similar setup. Henry should be able to tell you their outputs.
Mine does have 24 internal brightness settings accessible through reprogramming. Plus there is the chart on the site listing the "theoretical output" of each level as shown above. I would think the info would be easy to find. Level 24 for burst, Tactical strobe are mentioned. Level 23 would be next , dialing down, because burst mode drops down one level after 40 secs. Each level is evenly spaced based on how we perceive brightness. So if I was told my model was set to 1,3,5,7,etc. levels then I could reference the chart and know the estimated outputs.
 

reppans

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... So if I was told my model was set to 1,3,5,7,etc. levels then I could reference the chart and know the estimated outputs.

As I mentioned above, you can simply enter the output re-programming mode (2 short presses followed by one long press) for any preset and count the clicks required to reach min or max... that will definitively tell you where that preset is set among the 24 options. Even if someone told you what the factory presets should be, who knows if your sample was inadvertently changed by a QC check, customer return, etc.

Hogo has good videos in the beginning of the HDS #18 thread, if don't want to read the manual. It's simple, and one of best features of the light.
 

nbp

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I would just email Henry. He may not even realize that detail is left off the site and may want to add it on.
 

bdr

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I would just email Henry. He may not even realize that detail is left off the site and may want to add it on.
Hi from 2020 :) ))))) So no answer yet? I ordered tactical rotary and have the same question:)
 
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