That part was a joke.
(edit: added a smiley to the OP to make it more obvious that I don’t actually think it’s broken … it’s mostly just demonstrating why throwers aren’t used at close range)
I’ll see if I can find a higher-amp cell for another turbo test.
Like all linear regulated drivers, it stays in regulation until the battery voltage falls below the emitter Vf. The amount of time it stays flat depends almost entirely on which battery is used.
I don’t have any high-amp 21700 batteries though, which are what you’d want if the goal is the longest regulation period on turbo. I only have high-energy (high mAh) cells, which give longer overall runtime with less heat, and are better for every mode except turbo.
In any case, I hope to add more runtime tests to the graph. It takes a while to run each test and recharge the cell though.
Why would you want to do that?
That part is hidden inside the light while it’s assembled, with no risk of shorting. While it’s split into two pieces though, it wouldn’t be a good idea to carry the handle by itself. It would get thread lube all over, and could get lint in the USB port. It’s not meant to be carried around like that.
At minimum, loosen the tailcap before trying to carry the detached handle in a pocket.
That’s fair. However, it’s not a cold blue tint like an Olight. I find it looks surprisingly good during use.
Other LED options are coming though, for people who want a lower color temperature and are willing to give up some throw. The one reviewed here is the version optimized for maximum throw.
This is my first Osram White Flat light, and mostly I’m just amazed how such a small light can actually compete against a massive thrower like the BLF GT.
More lumens or more throw… pick one.
I know which one I prefer for this light — definitely throw. But I recognize that not everyone will want to max out one characteristic… it’s okay to trade some performance for a more balanced result.
I’m not sure if it’s the first with smooth ramping. However, there is also a stepped ramp which is there specifically to make output consistent and runtimes predictable. If you want to know how much runtime to expect, use the stepped ramp.
There is also a “manual memory” function which can be used to make the light turn on at the same level every time. This keeps the output and runtime even more consistent, since you can save a favorite level and have a shortcut to it. Simply go to the level you want to save, then click 5 times. Then every time it turns on with a click, it’ll go to that level.
Not sure, since I haven’t tried the W2 version. Hank says the W2 regulates to 7.8A instead of 4.9A though.
About direct driving though, it might be safe when using a low-amp cell, but even my weak 48G can overdrive a 1mm White Flat a little bit beyond what is safe, and that quickly reduces the LED’s life span and performance. Also, an unregulated FET PWM driver doesn’t get flat output on any mode, so the output will always be different.
With a higher-amp cell, it’s definitely not a good idea to direct drive a White Flat. It can turn the LED into smoke pretty quickly. However, high-amp cells are fine in this light. The power regulation keeps the LED safe. It also makes the driver heat up faster though, so people may find that high-amp cells might cause thermal regulation to decrease output even when the light doesn’t seem hot.
That’s debatable. Cooler tints have more Rayleigh scattering, but cooler tints also make more lumens. Real-world measurements have shown that cool white throwers work pretty well. If DB Custom is around, he might have some test results to share.
Having tried both 4000K and 6000K throwers, I don’t see any difference aside from color. However, after using throwers with both XHP35 HI and White Flat, there’s a huge difference in performance per gram and per Watt. The larger emitter requires a much larger host and/or much higher power usage in order to reach the same level of throw.
With the LEDs on the market today, it’s basically a choice between two things:
- Warmer color temperature
- Smaller host
When I want a thrower, I’ll generally grab the smallest one which throws far enough for my needs. This tiny White Flat LED allows me to have a host half as large as I would otherwise need, and I think that’s a pretty worthwhile benefit. It’s the difference between carrying the K1 in my coat pocket or having to bring a backpack to carry the GT.