Here’s some data I measured from the two special editions of the Lumintop Tool AAA. My Tool Ti is a Reylight variant with an inverted mode switching (L-M-H). The Copper one is from Massdrop with the stock mode order (M-L-H).
The Ti has been in use for some time, so the tailcap capacitor has had to time to properly charge and activate the high mode. Some interesting findings were made especially in the highest mode. The Ti seems very inefficient compared to the Copper. The problem lies in the driver or the titanium body, since the copper version works well with the electronic tailcap from the Ti.
The copper version is a bit longer at 81,9 mm. Ti clocks in at 73,9 mm. Width is closer at 14,7 mm (Ti) and 14,4 mm (Cu). Copper is of course significantly heavier at 34 g vs. 23 g for the Ti.
The Ti’s electronic switch is flush to the tailcap and very quiet. Straight from the factory, its microcapacitor is empty and the high mode doesn’t work. After a day or so with a battery inside, it is charged.
The Tools lego just fine. Copper body with the titanium tailcap is my favorite to edc even though the other variation looks great.
Measurements
Please note: lumen measurements are only rough estimates
My diy 30 cm integrating styrofoam sphere has been calibrated using a Fenix E05 on high with manufacturer’s claim of 85 lumens. Verified with an Olight S10 that has been measured with a Labsphere FS2 integrating sphere by valostore.fi. Results may be more inaccurate with especially throwy or floody lights.
The Ti has more output at 0 seconds but it steps down after about two minutes to Cu levels. The Copper one has a marginally tighter beam and therefore higher beam intensity (after the Ti’s stepdown). The differences are not visible. There’s no PWM at any level. Copper tool also is significantly more efficient at high. It produces 70 % more total lumen hours on high. On mid the difference is gone. Without a cooling fan the Ti overheats and starts flashing the output at 12 minutes. Copper works much better because of its higher mass and heat conductivity.
On medium the lights are comparable. There’s really no difference in the total lumen hours.
When the Copper Tool is fitted with the electronic Ti tail switch, the efficiency drops just a bit. Even the slightest variation in battery capacity is probably bigger than the actual difference here.
Color rendering (light quality)
For spectral information and CRI calculations I have an X-rite i1Pro spectrophotometer with HCFR for the plot and ArgyllCMS spotread.exe for the data. For runtime tests I use spotread.exe with a custom script and a i1Display Pro because it doesn’t require calibration every 30 minutes like the i1Pro.
Explanation of abbreviations
CCT = correlated color temperature, higher temperature means cooler (bluish)
CRI (Ra) = color rendering index consisting of 8 different colors (R1-R8), max value 100
CRI (R9) = color rendering index with deep red, usually difficult for led based light sources, max value 100
TLCI = television lighting consistency index, max value 100
CQS (Qa) = Proposed replacement for CRI, RMS average of 15 color samples
CRI2012 (Ra,2012) = Another proposed replacement for CRI, consists of 17 color samples
MCRI = Color rendering index based on the memory of colors or 9 familiar objects
x,y = coordinates on a CIE 1931 chart
This is where the Nichia 219B shines. Both lights have a CRI of over 90 and a great neutral white tint. No green/magenta cast anywhere in the beam either as shown below.
Tint and beamshots
Tint in different brightness modes. No visible difference between the lights or modes.
Nice even beam with no discoloration in the corona or spill. Same goes for both lights.
. I have to some AAA eneloops first before I can do the test though.
Have you ever done this test? I have a ti tool on the way and I am very curious.