The Acebeam L18 uses 1 x Osram KW CSLNM1.TG LED, TIR reflector and 1 x 21700 Li-Ion battery. The powerful emitter in this flashlight provides up to 1500 lm output, 250000 cd intensity, and a beam distance of 1000 m.
It uses a TIR lens to form the beam pattern. This light has 6 modes of lighting. The memory function is a nice feature, the light will remember the last used mode. It has a strobe function, which is one of the most effective self defense tools available.
If it’s really doing 1,500 lemons, it must be KW CSLPM1.TG (Osram White Flat 2mm²) or KW CULPM1.TG (Osram Boost HX 2mm²). Maybe some reviewer can measure the output with a ceiling bounce app or lemon tube and the tailcap current with a clamp meter. I presume the maximum current will be somewhere around 8-10A.
That would be nice for throw, but 1500lm probably not possible since at 3A it’s still around 950’ish lm. The Boost HX and the 2mm2 are the only ones that can do 1500lm if driven hard enough. The L17 has the latter and is driven extremely hard (almost blue on a fresh cell) and barely does 1300lm.
I’d hope it’s the Boost HX, since the 2mm2 is old tech now and not nearly as efficient as the new 4040 size emitters. The L17 gets burning hot after 90 seconds and still only does around 1300lm in a fresh battery. Tail cap amps was 7A at 5 sec (maybe more since I used a multimeter).
Source on the 4040 pad versions being significantly “more efficient”? Everything I’ve seen shows they can simply handle higher current due to better thermals, with efficiency differences coming due to flux bin much more than anything else.
Not significantly more efficient. The HL and HX can handle thermals better owing to the limits of the 3030 footprint, and have higher surface brightness. I think overall they are a worthwhile upgrade from the OSTAR versions, especially when driven hard.
Probably the rating of the led. I’m leaning towards the cslp since it’s quite a bit cheaper and readily available than the Boost HX. You do lose some light through the optic.
Point being I don’t think even raw output from the CSLP has ever been rated that high, and those tests put it far past what would be healthy for the emitter even on a huge heatsink.
I have only recently understood the differences between the (4) more popular white Osram emitters - cslpm1 / culpm1 // cslnm1 / culnm1 and realize i am so excited for my first culpm1 - the convoy L21a. This light, I don’t know why they wouldn’t use the culp in it?