moonlight runtime test

I have been using the matrix for backpacking. Having heard good things on the moonlight, I finally bought one. I decided to do a runtime test to see how it compares to the matrix. Here's the results.

time (h) current voltage
0.0 0.17 1.53
0.3 0.14 1.41
0.6 0.12 1.35
1.1 0.1 1.32
1.7 0.09 1.29
2.2 0.08 1.27
2.5 0.07 1.26
3.9 0.06 1.23
4.8 0.06 1.22
5.8 0.05 1.21
7.0 0.05 1.19
8.2 0.05 1.18
10.6 0.05 1.18
11.1 0.04 1.16
13.5 0.03 1.13
15.2 0.02 1.11
17.2 0.02 1.08
18.8 0.02 1.07

To my surprise, this light is a lot brighter then the matrix. It's more then 4 times brighter at the begining of the test. Since the moonlight is not regulated, I expected the output to drops below the level of matrix in a while. However, I was wrong! The thing is still twice as bright as the matrix at 9 hour! It takes 15 hour for it to drop the the brightness of the matrix. I will definitely take the moonlight in my next trip.

interesting, thanks.
here is part of an email you might be interested in from Jeff at Black Diamond customer relations, (maybe you can confirm the claims?);

"...There is a resistor (or more simply an "electronic element") in the
circuit which flattens the discharge curve.
We claim 70 hours, which is conservative and we feel that the brightness
after 70 hours is absolutely sufficient to perform basic camp chores or
even to see well enough to tie critical knots, although certainly not
well enough for difficult routefinding. Backpacker Mag has tested it to
over 140 hours although i have not seen their published article yet.
The reading thing is subjective---my nighttime vision is not very good
but other people can see just fine and read well after 100 plus hours..."

--enjoy! -- let us know how it works out.

Chuen,

Is the moonlight comfortable to wear? If you lean your head back on a wall, does the battery pack get in the way?

YC

At 70 hr, the light is quite dim, but definitly enough for doing basic camp chores. In fact, it still produces enough light for reading at this moment, after it's been running for 93 hrs. I would replace the battery earlier though since aaa is so cheap. I did take apart the moonlight to check the internals. The circuit is pretty simple. A 47 Ohm resister and 4 LED. Here is the result for 95 hours if anyone is interest.

0 0.17 1.53
16 0.14 1.41
37 0.12 1.35
1:08 0.10 1.32
1:42 0.09 1.29
2:09 0.08 1.27
2:32 0.07 1.26
3:52 0.06 1.23
4:48 0.06 1.22
5:49 0.05 1.21
7:00 0.05 1.19
8:16 0.05 1.18
9:23 0.04 1.17
10:36 0.05 1.18
11:06 0.04 1.16
13:30 0.03 1.13
15:14 0.02 1.11
17:12 0.02 1.08
18:46 0.02 1.07
28:35 <0.01 0.99
75:16 <0.01 0.93
93:41 <0.01 0.92

It's not comfortable if u lay down or lean ur head back on a wall, because the battery pack is at the back of ur head. This happens with all headlamp with the battery pack on the back. As a reading light, the matrix is better. Actually, the moonlight is not as bad as some. I have an old petzl mega(not megabelt) that have a huge 3C battery pack on the back. I can't even raise my head with a full pack on wearing that thing! On the other hand, the moonlight feel good on the head since it's light and well balanced.