MODIFICATIONS PERCEIVED IN THE DEFINITIVE HEAD.
Once received the head seems that all the changes have been done at the electronics level. Nothing at the aesthetic level, nor of projection. Let's detail what I see that has been modified:
1.- On the display, the charge indicator goes slower than before. This does not affect the actual loading speed, which is still very high.
2.- There are a couple of new led indicators on the screen when the flashlight is on and it helps to locate the button when we carry it in the hand in the dark.
3.- The distribution of modes has been considerably modified, as we will see below.
DISTRIBUTION OF MODES, POWER, RUNTIME, LAUNCH AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT
Fortunately the modes have been corrected. Even so, it would be advisable for Imalent to adapt the manual specified to the reality of the current modes, runtime and throw. In any case as they are set up now they are fine. It should be noted that in the turbo mode I get much lower values, surely motivated by the calibration and characteristics of my integrating sphere, because Imalent sent me a document of a Test that indicated that the luminous flux was 32000 lumens.
As for the runtime, I performed the download in Turbo, Hi and Mi-Hi mode. I observe that the Step Down jump much earlier than they did with the previous head, and the specified in my manual. The runtime in Hi mode is somewhat lower, and is much lower in Mi-Hi mode, but keep in mind that the light flux is significantly higher than specified in this mode. Despite them, for the amount of sustained power I feel runtime correct, because in addition we still have other very powerful modes below.
Once received the head seems that all the changes have been done at the electronics level. Nothing at the aesthetic level, nor of projection. Let's detail what I see that has been modified:
1.- On the display, the charge indicator goes slower than before. This does not affect the actual loading speed, which is still very high.
2.- There are a couple of new led indicators on the screen when the flashlight is on and it helps to locate the button when we carry it in the hand in the dark.
3.- The distribution of modes has been considerably modified, as we will see below.
DISTRIBUTION OF MODES, POWER, RUNTIME, LAUNCH AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT
Fortunately the modes have been corrected. Even so, it would be advisable for Imalent to adapt the manual specified to the reality of the current modes, runtime and throw. In any case as they are set up now they are fine. It should be noted that in the turbo mode I get much lower values, surely motivated by the calibration and characteristics of my integrating sphere, because Imalent sent me a document of a Test that indicated that the luminous flux was 32000 lumens.
As you all know, my sphere has been calibrated with Fenix flashlights from less than one lumen up to 4400. The diode included in it does not capture light in a linear way, ie, if for example an X value is 100 lumens, a value of 10X they do not have to be necessarily 1000 lumens, so the analysis done estimates the lumens in a curvilinear manner, predicting what that curve is going to be, and it does so with a margin of error statistically lower than 1% up to those 4400 lumens. Does this mean that the data from those 4400 lumens are erroneous ?, not exactly, what happens is that the% error can increase from that value, what must be taken into account when interpreting the results.
My sphere usually estimates values well up to 10-12 K lumens. Values higher I do not know
My sphere usually estimates values well up to 10-12 K lumens. Values higher I do not know
As for the runtime, I performed the download in Turbo, Hi and Mi-Hi mode. I observe that the Step Down jump much earlier than they did with the previous head, and the specified in my manual. The runtime in Hi mode is somewhat lower, and is much lower in Mi-Hi mode, but keep in mind that the light flux is significantly higher than specified in this mode. Despite them, for the amount of sustained power I feel runtime correct, because in addition we still have other very powerful modes below.
In fact as seen in the graph compared to other models, I have no other, and I think I have the best there is, that is able to approach her by delivering light for 80-100 minutes.
As for thermal management, in the general runtime graph we see that a performance improvement occurs when forced ventilation is activated, but it is a slight improvement. That means that the electronic regulation acts, but that the lantern dissipates by itself quite well.
Following the suggestions of BLF users I repeated the test in Hi mode in three ways in order to analyze the role of ventilation holes, and see if they actually influence heat dissipation.
1.- Test without ventilation
2.- Test without ventilation surrounding the holes that this model has with aluminum foil.
3.- Test with ventilation, worse not applying air on the flashlight, but extracting it. I have placed the fan upside down and have some distance from the torch in the sphere, in order to generate a gentle air stream, instead of applying air directly on it.
What is observed is that there are minimal differences in performance between one method or another, but that these differences are caused by the temperature of the flashlight. In addition, it seems that those torch holes influence from a certain temperature. For example the temperature was almost the same with aluminum foil and without the one until the 50Āŗ, in which they begin to produce differences more evident in temperature.
As for throw, it is a great thrower, but not as much as your specifications indicate (I have to say that my candle measurements are always somewhat lower than other users).
CONCLUSIONS.
My conclusions are brief and clear. On the downside, I think Imalent should correct the manual to fit the specified to the real. Little more I can say, the flashlight is great because it has to be large and I think in a model that uses 8 batteries it is not at all crazy to use a proprietary battery pack.
On the plus side I think it is very well built. And I think I have to make clear one thing beyond whether it fits more or less to the specified.
I have many very powerful torches, and some are almost perfect. But from what there is no doubt, is that the DX80 is the best flashlight in the power / projection / throw ratio of all that I have. For me it is a reference in the market, or the reference in its segment (bearing in mind that its segment are big flashlight). We speak of between 6000-7000 continuous lumens for almost two hours.
