[Review] Acebeam W30 LEP 21700 flashlight

Thanks djozz. I’m sure more of these will hit the market, and eventually the prices will come down. I will have to get one.

My understanding is the LEP module works like this:

  • blue laser diode projects laser beam forward.
  • laser beam passes through phosphor material. Phosphor scatters some of the blue light, plus emits red and green. Result is a very intense point source of white light. This white light is not coherent, so is much less dangerous than the original laser beam.
  • An aspheric lens captures this white light and focuses it out the front in exactly the same way that an aspheric lens LED light works.
  • A small portion of the original blue laser light passes through the phosphor layer as a coherent beam. To remove this from the output of the light a small rectangular mirror is mounted on the back center of the lens. This mirror diverts any remaining coherent blue light 90 degrees harmlessly into the side of the bezel.

Result is no special eye protection should be needed for the use of an intact LEP light. However, the W30 is still a 1.4 million lux light, so don’t point it at someone’s face. I suppose you could blind someone if they looked into the beam long enough just as you could with a 1.4 million lux LED light.

If things go out of alignment so the beam misses the mirror or the mirror falls off the back of the lens then there might be a danger.

Thanks. Definitely not something to mess around with or shine at people.

No, the 1.4 million lux is only the number calculated back to 1 meter from measuring a collimated hotspot far away. But at a real 1 meter the beam is not yet collimated so you will never measure that 1.4 million lux there. The light is only just on its way from a fairly large surface, the lens, so yes it is blindingly bright but not really different from say a Brinyte B152 with dedomed XP-G2.

It seems W30 CRI model on back order everywhere, same with 6500k as the initial stock has sold quickly. Joyce at HK equipment informed me ACEBeam has back ordered due to LEP modules not arriving as expected for assembly. She told me she’d post beam shots on BLF of the different tint models when stock arrives…hopefully soon. I plan to get the CRI edition, as I prefer the tint, but if the beamn intensity is inferior to the 6500k I’d opt that way. If there is anyone out there with CRI edition, please post some beam shots :slight_smile: cheers all!

Andrew & Amanda said the HI CRI should be back in stock in 3 weeks

I don’t need one, but since I will most likely buy one anyway, I might as well order all three tints. LOL.

Also, I am 100% sure this light will never be offered with a crenelated bezel. The light will do much more damage.

Or else use the red filter from the W30 on your camera for red pictures (talking about marginally useful :person_facepalming: ).

I like the way you think.

:+1: Looking forward to tpur beam shots. Havent heard anyone mention anything about the 4000k version so it would be interesting to see :smiley:

I ordered the CRI one from Andrew and Amanda

Did compare the W30 6500K against my Astrolux MF04 6500K and BLF GT 6500K and results were as followed for 10 meter throw. .

  1. W30 was 15720 lux.
  2. MF04 was 13310 lux.
  3. GT was 11800.
    Results at switch on.
    Must say the W30 is a really a great thrower for such small size.

Hardusvd70, which W30 version did you get?

Also Vinh modded the W30 and got some crazy numbers

Not crazy, just irrational.

Uhh, yeah, nobody’s gonna get that…

He’s got some great numbers out of them. Sadly, when I sent mine in it would not accept any boost. It was the first time he couldn’t get any improvement over stock. Thankfully, mine tested at 1.8M cd in stock form, so I can’t be too disappointed… Or at least I shouldn’t be

That’s not good to hear. I just received my HI CRI at first and it measures only 228 lumens at 1s w/ both stock Acebeam battery and Samsung 40T :cry: Lumen output is the same w/ and w/o glass lens, which means the glass lens is very high quality.

Took some photometric measurements:

At beam center
CCT: 16255K
DUV: 0.0045
Ra (CRI): 85.7
R9: 36.9
Rf: 76
Rg: 89

At outer hotspot:
CCT: 2077K
DUV: –0.0099
Ra (CRI): 85.5
R9: 23.8
Rf: 78
Rg: 104

Will send it to Vinh. Hope he can boost it some.

Adhara, thank you for the feedback. I ended up placing an order with Vinh for a 6500k W30vn copy, awaiting receipt of goods, but sounds like I made the right choice. Atleast sheer output speaking. Been following the candlepower forum thread that AmericanDissent is talking about, so strange that copy wouldn’t boost, 1.8 is a tremendous output but I’m sure disappointing when expecting some increase. I know Vinh talked about inconsistent QC with alignment, but for it to not accept the mod at all is confounding. I’ll chime in when it arrives and let you guys know if the problem was isolated to that copy or not. Have a good one all!

Is that CCT at beam center a misprint? 16255K? Or possibly I don’t understand how CCT is calculated. Also, does the beam look warm or neutral?

SKV89,

Does 228lumen seem low? I know vinh was talking about only getting 300-350 from 6500k. Both are well under the claimed output. How does the HCRI throw? Look good? Do you like it? Any beam shots?

300-350 stock, before boost. 500+ with boost.