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Detailed
Information:
First of all, let me say that these replacement bulbs
are not "powerhouses". Their output will not
amaze you, nor will they allow you to spot a raccoon
at the top of a 50' tree. What they will do, however,
is turn an ordinary flashlight into a very long lasting,
reliable source of light with constant output which
will last many, many more hours than an incandescent
bulb. Need a nice campsite light without having to carry
lots of spare batteries? This may be just the ticket.
Kids playing with flashlights burn through batteries
like there's no tomorrow? Drop in one of these bulbs
to keep them happy and to keep you from having to buy
stock in Duracell.
All of the replacement bulbs in this series are variations
on a theme. They all use the same regulator circuit,
and since that circuit is quite tiny, they can be built
into regular PR base bulbs, screw bulbs or bayonet bulbs.
Most common is the PR base which is found in most flashlights.
Output is about what you would expect from small LED
lights. The Broad Miser (TLE-2) produces a wide flood
of light in all directions. Not really focusable, this
particular bulb would probably be most useful in a lantern.
The QuadSTAR (TLE-3) puts out a good directional flood
of light, but the beam is a bit blotchy. Still, it is
the brightest of the bunch and makes for a good general-use
conversion for most lights. The Spot Miser (TLE-1) is
very directional and produces a nice soft spot. Not
quite as bright as the QuadSTAR, but only using 1 LED
instead of four, I would expect the longest runtimes
from this bulb. At the same time it produces a rather
pleasant, usable beam.
Output table (numbers in parentheses
are for use when comparing on the Comparison
Chart )
| . |
Lux at one meter
|
Overall Output
|
| Broad Miser |
3 (1.63)
|
325 (3.25)
|
| Quad STAR |
23 (4.79)
|
500 (5.00)
|
| Spot Miser |
19 (4.41)
|
125 (1.25)
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As a bonus, when the batteries finally get to the stage
where the regulator circuit cannot maintain constant
output, the circuitry drops into "moon mode"
which provides lower output for a long time so that
you have enough light and time to find more batteries.
Since these aren't flashlights in themselves, I can't
go into the normal details that I would in a review.
Construction seems good and since they'll be protected
by the host body of the flashlight, they should not
be subject to damage. Of course, LEDs themselves are
impervious to shock and I don't see these bulbs having
the potential to be damaged by dropping, vibration,
etc.
Water resistance should not be a problem if the bulb
is installed in a relatively water resistant flashlight
body. However, just in case, the manufacturer has tested
the bulbs under water, unprotected, and indicates that
they continue operating just fine.
What I Liked: Water resistant,
Tough, Regulated, Long battery life
What I Didn't Like: Very little.
Other Things I Noticed: I noticed
a slight problem in that the usual solder blob found
on the bottom of the bulbs is missing. This caused the
positive contact in one light to fail to make proper
contact with the bulb until it was adjusted (read:bent).
It was an easy fix, but something you should watch out
for when installing these bulbs if they don't light.
Conclusions: Great little bulbs
for long lasting emergency lighting or for wherever
you need just a little light but really long battery
life. For the price, I would consider them to be a worthwhile
purchase if the combination of output and runtime they
provide will suit your needs.
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