Looking for 1,000+ Lumens & 3 hour burn time??? Recommend

Wacki · Nov 26, 2019

What flashlight can guarantee at least 1,000+ Lumens and 3 hour burn time?

I was looking at the 21700 format Zebralight but this review says:

2,740 lumens for 20 minutes and then 900 lumens till 107 minutes (just under 2 hours total).

So I'm skeptical it could keep 900 lumens for 3 hours.

https://1lumen.com/18650-reviews/zebralight-sc700d/

parametrek · Nov 26, 2019

1000 lumens for 3 hours means 3000 lumen-hours of light. A good flashlight will convert electricity into light at 120 lumens per watt. 3000 lumen-hours therefor requires around 25 watt-hours of battery. That is more than a 21700 can provide and is at least 2x18650. Minimum.

There is also the matter of heat. A lot of lights will thermally throttle above 1000 lumens.

Look for lights that use 3 or more 18650 and you are likely to find the performance you want.

WalkIntoTheLight · Nov 27, 2019

Go for something like the BLF Q8. It's a 4x18650 soda-can light. Around $50, and it's a pretty-nice light, especially for that price.

bykfixer · Nov 27, 2019

Streamlight ProTac HL5 might scratch the itch.

peter yetman · Nov 27, 2019

A Malkoff XM-L Hound Dog will run on three 18650s and will give you in the region of 3 hours runtime on 3400mah cells. No step downs so a susatained 1000Lm or so. You'd need an MD4 tube and a 18650 extender from Oveready.
P

Eicca · Nov 27, 2019

Fenix PD36R sounds like it may fit the bill.

Fireclaw18 · Nov 27, 2019

Eicca said:
Fenix PD36R sounds like it may fit the bill.

Unfortunately, that won't work.

The Fenix PD36R manual includes a graph showing runtime and output at all modes. The only mode it has higher than 1,000 lumens is its 1,600 lumen turbo. From the graph turbo output steeply declines to a max of 800 lumens or so by the 20 minute mark. Then it gradually declines over the next 2 hours to approximately 650 lumens. Then output rapidly declines and terminates somewhere before the 3rd hour. If you do a Google search for "Fenix PD36r Flashlight review". The third item on the list, Zeroair's review, has photos of the manual including this chart.

As other posters have mentioned, what you want simply doesn't exist right now in a compact single-cell light. There aren't any single-cell compact lights that can sustain 1,000 lumens for 3 hours. LED and battery technology is not quite there yet. If you really must have 1,000 lumens for 3 hours, you could get a multi-cell light, but these tend to be quite large and heavy. You're not going to be able to pocket-EDC a multi-cell soda-can sized light.

If you really want 3-hours of runtime at 1,000 lumens in a semi-EDC'able format your best bet is probably to get something like the 21700 Zebralight PLUS a spare battery.

Zebralights are known for being extremely efficient with top-notch heatsinking. You're probably not going to find a more efficient compact single-cell light that is able to sustain 1,000 lumens without overheating. Carry that around with a spare battery in a pocket battery carrier. When the cell in the light runs low, pull out your carrier and swap batteries. With a spare battery you should have no problem achieving your runtime and lumen goal and then some.

Daniel44114 · Nov 27, 2019

I can say that I have personally seen many cheap flashlights which claim very high outputs that are patently untrue. I own a number of 1000+ lumen lights and know that these are VERY bright and cost much more than a few dollars. They also have good colour - warm or true whites without the horrid blue green purple tints and bad beam common in cheap lights.

So buyer beware.

Advice is to buy from a reputable specialist brand. Surefire, Fenix, Olight, Nitecore, Sunwayman, HDS, there are many. Absolutely look at Oveready.com 14 for the most amazing lights for people who use them often and depend on them.
The intended use should guide your choice of batteries.

Lithium batteries have been a benefit to flashlights because of their high capacity in a compact size. They also hold charge better than nimh or nicads. So they shouldn't be dead just from standing for 6-12 months.

Remember that rechargeables do need to be charged with the right type of charger and primary lithium batteries are quite expensive.
If you use a light only occasionally or may have difficulty recharging, then think about one that uses common AA cells or CR123 lithium non rechargeables.
No batteries that I can think of like the cold.

Lastly. You dont always need the highest output. 60 (real) lumens will blow away most of the big old maglights. 200 lumens bounced off the ceiling was enough for a roomful of people to finish their meal during a power cut in a restaurant. 20 is more than enough for close work after your eyes have adjusted to the dark.

colight · Nov 29, 2019

It sems that the Fenix TK22 V2.0 meet what you required, under the safe setting of overheat, the lumens will change aroud 1200 lumens until the battery runs out

Fireclaw18 · Nov 29, 2019

colight said:
It sems that the Fenix TK22 V2.0 meet what you required, under the safe setting of overheat, the lumens will change aroud 1200 lumens until the battery runs out

Nope. TK22 won't fit the bill either. Doing a Google search for TK22 review and then checking to make sure the review is for the 2019 version, 1lumen has a review with output and runtime graph.

On turbo, output starts at 1600 lumens. It then rapidly declines to about 750 lumens over the next 15 minutes. Then over the next 90 minutes output oscillates between 750 and 1000 lumens with average output approximately 875 lumens. After that output declines rapidly to around 500 lumens at the 2-hour mark and then drops off from there.

Even the 2x18650 Nitecore EC4 doesn't achieve the output and runtime goals the OP is looking for. I think the best option to achieve those goals in a pocketable format is the 21700 Zebralight plus an extra battery in a carrier.

peter yetman · Nov 29, 2019

This is an interesting demonstration of how clever marketing is.
Even reasonably well informed people are still convinced that their lights are giving them a specified output, when it clearly isn't.
Clever stuff.
P

Bazar · Nov 29, 2019

with intermittent use I get 3 hours or so out of the Acebeam L30. it is however apparently under 1000 lumens, maybe 800 to 950, and which model depends to. I absolutely do get 3 hours though, maybe just a ting more, intermittent. straight use, I've had about 2 hours and 20 minutes. after all, 19.5 watt hours, the xhp70.2, and overestimated lumen claim make it very efficient.

thermal guy · Nov 29, 2019

Also keep in mind that 1000 lumens from one light/reflector will look different then others. You can get a 1000 lumen light that will throw 650 yards and another set up to just be a flood. So it depends on what you need the light for. Look to that. Not just lumens. Also keep in mind that there is really NO difference between say 750-800 and 1000 to your eyes. Way back and maybe still today guys would jump all over the newer version of a light because it went from 110 lumens to 125. Lol. Just keep that in mind and get the beam you want and lumens second.

Fireclaw18 · Nov 29, 2019

Bazar said:
with intermittent use I get 3 hours or so out of the Acebeam L30. it is however apparently under 1000 lumens, maybe 800 to 950, and which model depends to. I absolutely do get 3 hours though, maybe just a ting more, intermittent. straight use, I've had about 2 hours and 20 minutes. after all, 19.5 watt hours, the xhp70.2, and overestimated lumen claim make it very efficient.

The review of the Acebeam L30 here on CPF has runtime graphs. When set to 1,000 lumens mode, the light produces a flat output of approximately 950 lumens for 2 hours and 22 minutes. After that the light drops out of regulation and output declines steeply over the next 10 minutes or so.

That output fails to achieve OP's goal since it's still 50 lumens too low and 38 minutes too short. Still... 950 lumens for 2 hours and 22 minutes on a single-cell light is excellent. That puts it right up there with the 21700 Zebralight in terms of output and efficiency.

Fireclaw18 · Nov 29, 2019

thermal guy said:
Also keep in mind that 1000 lumens from one light/reflector will look different then others. You can get a 1000 lumen light that will throw 650 yards and another set up to just be a flood. So it depends on what you need the light for. Look to that. Not just lumens. Also keep in mind that there is really NO difference between say 750-800 and 1000 to your eyes. Way back and maybe still today guys would jump all over the newer version of a light because it went from 110 lumens to 125. Lol. Just keep that in mind and get the beam you want and lumens second.

There needs to be an approximate 20% increase in output before the difference is visually noticeable. So a 1000 lumen light will produce more light than than 800 lumen one ... but the difference is barely noticeable and doesn't matter for real-world use.

That said, lumens do matter for some purposes. If I'm taking out the trash at night without dark adapted vision I need a light bright enough to illuminate wet bricks so I don't step on slugs. I can really tell the difference between an 1800 lumen light and my 4300 lumen D4.

I assume OP wants something with continuous 3-hour runtime. Maybe for going on long walks at night or bike rides. So probably a general purpose beam.

CREEXHP70LED · Nov 30, 2019

Not an easy EDC for sure (but I have) but my Olight X7 does 1,000 lumens for 6.5 hours. Of course I have never used it that way, my uses are different so I use it at 9,000 lumens if I need that much of a flood light. The other options above like carrying spare cells is a better option most likely for you.

dan05gt · Nov 30, 2019

I agree completely - beam pattern is important to identify up front. What is the intended purpose of the light? As others have said you are not likely to notice the difference between a true 800 lumen light and a true 1000 lumen light, but if the beam pattern (flood versus spot, smoothness of transition, etc.) is not what you need that will become a problem real quick.

Bazar · Dec 1, 2019

delete

Bazar · Dec 1, 2019

delete this

Bazar · Dec 1, 2019

Fireclaw18 said:
thermal guy said:

t

I assume OP wants something with continuous 3-hour runtime. Maybe for going on long walks at night or bike rides. So probably a general purpose beam.

Click to expand...

then you go on to openly admit you are making an assumption. it is likely the OP simply wants the best that exists. any 70.2 is going to do it. xpg set ups like Zebra light are in my experience inferior.

Looking for 1,000+ Lumens & 3 hour burn time??? Recommend

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