Lumapower MRV SE

I don't think there is a thread on it. I'll do one soon. It certainly isn't manual - the lux measurements are, the output over time ones certainly aren't. I actually have two cheap datalogging meters though I need to use two PCs to get both of them running - the software that came with them doesn't seem to let me use more than one meter at a time. I run two copies of it, both of them see the same meter. Annoying...

23 hours. Still going strong

Still 77 lux still around 17 lumens...

24 hours

Still providing light - wonder how long it'll go on doing so?

73 lux / 16 lumens

25 hours

73 lux / 16 lumens

You're squeezing the efficiency of the LED now in low.

I can only imagine the runtime in low with a couple of good CR123A (1400mAh each), being able down the voltage until to throw them.

Almost eternal. Courage ... can not be much longer (or not).

Hey Don, when doing these kinds of tests, do you turn them off after a while because of the heat produced? Do you leave them on during the whole runtime test test period? Just curious. Thanks.

On high I stick a fan on them. I own quite a lot of fans from my mad overclocking days.

I will touch the light occasionally to see if it is getting silly hot. The MRV never has.

I don't expect it to still be giving light in the morning - 8 hours from now when I have to go to work again. But maybe it will.

And it is an unprotected 18650 so i hope I am not killing a cell.

However a 16 lumen (25.5 hours) thrower is not the most useful light in the world - a flood light would be much more useful at that light level. I am wondering how long it will stay lit for though - I will keep it running till it goes out. I thought it would give up about 10 hours ago.

26 hours. Still going at much the same level

72 lux / 16 lumens

Don have measured the temperature on the head and body?

And this is with a freshly charged 18650 with the MRV on low right?

Very impressive!

I've not run an instrumented temperature measurement, but I can. I keep a fan or two pointed at any light running on high or medium but once the cell finally gives out - 26.5 hours and it is still at 3.69V on low I'll do a temperature test. Problem is that Windows chokes on trying to run more than one meter at once. I'll dig out the Linux laptop which can handle more than one meter at a time and log temperature against output once I've got the software working properly. This will not be before next weekend as I have two machines to build and set up immediately. I hate building and setting up Windows boxes!

And given that I have had to work at the job that pays my mortgage every day for the last 49, I don't get a lot of free time to do the stuff I want to do.

Yup! I am impressed!

I've not done the current measurements yet but i am surprised by how long it has kept running. Having taken a break to measure the voltage, it still has quite a few hours in it. I will probably stop the test when i get up in the morning as otherwise I'm likely to kill the cell

Man, we really lucked out when we bought these MRV's at that really low price right? They're also my favorite P60 lights which I use but mostly play with all the time.

Gotta love 'em! Smile

For about the same price as a DX 18650, you can't beat the value. Even at 4x the price (or what they are selling them for nowadays) they are still good value

It finally stopped. Down to 10 lux / 2 lumens. Cell voltage just on the borders of acceptable at 2.8V.

That's simply amazing! Thanks Don!

Tell me - how come it's suddenly possible to build a great, long-running, extremely bright, cheap, Q5 (!) light?

Is it some magic LED? State-of-the-art driver?

If not, and it's just a great LED/driver combo, then what keeps us (or rather manufacturers) back from putting it in 16340 keychains, Solarforce Skylines or whatever?

Are there any under-$80 lights that can compete with this one?

No!

All of design is a compromise. You get to choose which bits matter. Look at the lumens on low. Most of the time a Fenix E01 can beat it.

Compromises

Choices.

And remember that the MRV is a bargain at $20.

Sure, usually it's choices...

But in this case - how many medium-sized lights can you think of, that are generally equal or better than this one?

Excluding secondary bits like lumens on low (not because of usefulness, but because setting different mode levels costs the manufacturer nothing).

Let's say I'll take one, rip the driver and led from it and put it in a 14500-type body.

Won't it be also one of the best AA-size light available?