Was thinking about efficiency after getting my (2011) ZL SC600w (before it was Mk Anything) and using it for my typical make-a-sandwich and take-a-shower brightness tests. The D4 is OK at it’s IIRC ~125 lm CC mode, where it might get just noticeably warm after an extended run. Around 300lm is really better, though. Not sure where that is on the D4, or how long it’d run, but it gets darn hot (45+C?) if below the thermal control threshold. Double 350mA plus fudge for FET current efficiency loss maybe 1000mA, ~3 hours? The SC600w does 284 for 3h (NCR18650A 2900mAh) and gets “darn hot” too. Maybe they’re not so different. I was surprised the ZL was so hot at such a “low” level. (Turbo is 645) 2011 XM-L vs 2017 XP-G2. Thought I’d compare to the latest maybe most efficient 18650? ZL MkIV+ makes 358 for 5.1h (3400mAh?) and… after a half hour was cool to the touch. (705lm is 2.5, maybe PID kicks in). There’s been a lot of mention of how bright a light can be with this size and ability to dissipate heat. The next level up is 705lm (2.5h) with PID theoretically active, but just tailstanding the whole light gets just a little warm (40C). So at least 800 should be possible if 45 or 50C equilibrium is allowed. Which, explains why I was initially scowling when I set the D4 to, IDK, 400lm or so and it stepped down below 100 in a few minutes (with the default 45C limit, which is really 35C on mine).
The tint is so much nicer than either SC600, though. Only thing that comes close is the Jaxman E2L Nichia triple, which at half power (1050mA) gets a little warm (no idea of output, runtime must be about 3h).
I use Armytek Wizard clips on lots of my lights. It’s my favorite deep carry pocket clip. I grind off the ‘ears’ and sometimes thin the arms to better fit the grooves on the battery tube.
Here’s what it looks like on the Emisar D4 in bezel-up configuration. With some grinding, it could fit even better. Click the images to embiggen.
It’s too long to allow the D4 to tailstand if mounted to the rear groove, but could probably be mounted around the thicker part of the tube.
Yep, the Nichia will be the floodiest under the stock (10622) TIR. However, I think it can vary with specific LED/TIR combos.
Some emitters can perform differently and be more or less floody depending on the specific TIR being used.
If you look at the Carclo website, it looks like the XP-G2 is actually the more floody option with a 10623 optic (or rather, still a narrower hot-spot than the Nichia, but with more spill).
That said, if you are looking for max flood, I’d go with the floodiest TIR optic (10624), and find out which emitter gives the best performance under it. YMMV.
It’s extremely floody with a frosted optic. Also very smooth. But on mine, I switched back to a clear optic because it seemed too floody for outdoor use. I kept having to turn it up pretty high even for just taking a walk.
Watched a YouTube vid and did a google search and some say that the XP-L 3A is probably the best usable led with the 10623 optic. Can anyone here confirm that’s a good usable outside combo?
I have a D4 with 2 XP-L 3A and two XP-L 5D with the 10622 optic. I love it. My wife and I just returned from a long walk this evening in the local open space. Plenty of floody light to light our path, but still decent throw when you need it so light up the owls flying in the distance (short turbo bursts). I don’t have the 10623 optic to compare. I imagine it comes down to personal preference, maybe buy both?
I’m not a great photographer, but d_t_a requested some beam shots of the 2 xpl-hi V2 3A and 2 xpl-hi V2 5D D4 I have. I am going to compare it to my nichia 219C light, which is the other D4 I have.
Both lights started up “fresh”, so presumably at full current in on 7135. I am surprised to see how green the xpl-hi light looks, as it does not look that way with my eyes. I am just using my cell phone. xpl-hi on left, 291C on right.
Now at the minimum of the ramp
and looking directly into the light with both on low, 291C on top, xpl-hi on bottom
I like the more focused light of the xpl-hi in this light. Both versions are very floody, but the xpl-hi certainly give better throw between the two. I prefer the color of the xpl-hi in person also. It seems warmer to me, at least in person.
I’m a D4 owner. It’s a perfect flashlight, but I’d like a D4S with 21700 batteries so I could also use all my 18650’s and still be small enought for EDC.
Wish Hank reads this…….
I’m a D4 owner. It’s a perfect flashlight, but I’d like a D4S with 21700 batteries so I could also use all my 18650’s and still be small enought for EDC.
Wish Hank reads this…….
Question for TK: having just (finally) upgraded from my beloved A6s to the D4 I find myself badly missing the turn on at moonlight. I gather it was available in the first iteration of the UI, but was lost in the second. The only thing I have found requires ramping down before turning off the light, and I think I have sometimes mis-clicked and ended up blasting unintentionally. Any workarounds? Any way to “memorize” one level as the default? And thank you for all your contributions here (as well as your occasionally raunchy humor…)
Turn on at moonlight is still the long-press shortcut right?
Didn’t know they changed D4 fw, but my D4S will only memorize a ramped-to mode for the quick-click turn-on level. IDK if I prefer it or not. Not memorizing turbo, definitely, but I’m split on memorizing moon. Still, shortcut is always there, and natural to a long-time ZL fan.
Thanks, it helped. I wasn’t aware of the long-press and I still can’t really get it to ml since it ramps so quickly, but it helps to get it going on low instead of last-used. Thanks.
Sorry for late reply, That was when I just finished it. The shrink tube on clip has warn off, and I have lost 2 of the 5 magnets that where epoxied onto clip. It will still stick to the fridge. The inner tube can be rolled up to form a tacticool ring. Mouth holding happens The inner tube also helps with grip when I have wet hands. I consider this one of 2 Convoy keeper lights. The other is M2.
BOT. I bought and tried the mteletronics clip. It works ehhh, most of the time. I did loose it once. D4 ended up in my pocket and I felt the clip poking me.
I just found my armytek clip stash. Don’t know what this came off of, but its much bigger then the Wizard clips I have.
I have been seriously considering epoxying a neodymium magnet to the end of my D4, but after carrying it for several months there have not been a lot of times I would have used it. Perhaps someday . . . Also would want to know what the appropriate epoxy / attachment type material would be to get it right the first time.
The inner tube also helps with grip when I have wet hands. I consider this one of 2 Convoy keeper lights. The other is M2.