Manker LAD w 219c first impressions

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Im testing this light as a gift for a college student that is not into flashlights and is unwilling to put an AAA light on their keychain. The LAD turns on with a single click, and turns off by holding the button. I think it is serviceable as a keychain light for a non flashoholic. I like that the LAD comes with a USB charging cord, no need to remove and replace batteries.

I did a few lumen tests on my light meter, which is calibrated to a Lumintop Worm and Tool, all with Nichia.
I found that the LAD w N219c has much lower levels than the specs for the Cool White. Still, the LAD w Nichia is brighter than the Worm or Tool w Nichia

lumens are approximate, but useful for comparison
for reference here is a Lumintop Worm head w Nichia, on High, rated 80 lumens (battery is not fully topped off, but close)

Now the LAD lumens on my light meter (battery is fully charged)
1st mode

2nd mode

3rd mode

4th mode, red

the red beam is definitely a very narrow spot, full of weird artifacts (superhero beacon?), but sufficient for bathroom target acquisition late at night

The red light also works for reading:

About the CRI and CCT of the LAD compared to the 4500k N219b in my Worm. The LAD is slightly warmer and has a more yellow tint.

this is the Worm w N219b

this is the LAD w N219c

LAD on left, Worm on right

About the beam
The LAD uses a TIR optic and has no separate hotspot. I think it is a very useful beam shape.

About PWM
I cannot detect dots when waving the LAD really fast, but an extreme closeup of the LED does show some kind of interference or flicker, that is also visible in Video.

here is the Worm by comparison, no PWM interference in video nor extreme closeup

2

Thanks for the contribution, jon_slider.

Looks like a handsome toy. Nice it has integrated battery and micro-USB port; not so nice about the PWM. Pleased to see more CRI caring lights entering the market.

Cheers

3

If you can’t make out the PWM with the human eye, what does it really matter?

Does seeing PWM make you smarter or something?
Never understood the Cult like hatred for PWM.

Low obnoxious PWM is something totally different, but something that only a camera zoomed in can catch, whatever.

4

yes, fwiw, the PWM is not pure PWM, most people would not be able to detect or photograph it… I used my advanced strategies

there are a number of lights that use pulses that do not drop to all the way OFF, which is pure PWM… this is more of a hybrid pulse strategy… It is used by HDS, Zebralight, Eagletac, and also the Nitecore Tip, imo. I wish they would just use real constant current, like my Maratac, Worm, and Tool… anyway, theres a gradient from Pwm to Constant Current, and what we have here, which is in between, pulses that dont drop to Off but are still fluctuating… no sound btw… Maybe someone with a scope will contribute more info at some point.

totally agree
The LAD is my first N219c 4000k 90+CRI experience. I like it. Its slightly yellow, but as a gift to a college student, I feel good about giving something with a Nichia. For those that prefer more brightness, the LAD also comes in XP-G3 and XP-G2. With the Nichia the modes are about 10-40-140-0.2, thats about half the specs for the Cool White models.

The LAD w Nichia is brighter than my AAA lights w Nichia, a Lumintop Worm or Tool,
The LAD w Nichia is also brighter than my AA light w Nichia, an L11c
Though the runtime on the LAD is shorter, it is a smaller and lighter weight package, and easier to recharge.

I do think the LAD w N219c has useful modes, beam, and high CRI neutral tint. the light weight and small size make it a good option for a keychain light, and it has a newbie friendly UI. The USB rechargeable battery system also makes it a good gift for a non flashoholic.

I often hesitate to give away a light such as an AAA or AA option, because I dont want to worry about educating people about not buying Alkalines, the cost of Lithium Primaries, and the merits of rechargeable Eneloops. The LAD avoids the entire conversation about battery chemistry and management… Its as easy to keep the LAD charged, as it is to plug in a cell phone.

lets not argue, or judge each other
its OK if people have different opinions, about PWM.
I wont tell you to Care about PWM, do whatever makes you happy.
Dont tell me Not to Care about PWM either, and let me do what makes me happy.

5

PWM is a poor man's way of achieving lower modes. I have not said I despise it, it has lots of legitimate uses. In a flashlight, though, besides the flicker it impacts efficiency in an adverse and noticeable way. And, what is more, torches with PWM in the audible range are said to hum by their switches (and those using AMC7135s in these frequencies go out of regulation pretty fast).

Cheers

6

Its a percepion-based preference. Some people are more sensitive to PWM than others, while others (the fortunate ones IMHO) simply can not perceive it all. It has nothing to do with cults or ones intelligence… its more about perception and preference.

The OP is merely using a camera to help quantify the severity. One thing I have done before is used my multi-meter, set it to AC-Hz and measure for a frequency at the tailcap. The rapid power-draw is “seen” by the meter as an AC square wave and measures its frequency. I am not sure if this works with all meters, or I just my Fluke 179. Granted on a light like this, there is no tailcap and hence no way to access the battery

7

Whining drivers (or maybe it’s the sprigs or wires) due to PWM are a nuisance too.
Often it’s around 3 kHz, to which the human ear is most sensitive.
Other than that, the benefit of PWM is that the color temperature is more consistent throughout the modes.
Very low constant current may be most efficient, but the light is much colder than with PWM.

8

Thanks for the info on the tint shift at different levels on constant current, always thought that was because of heat buildup on the emitter.

Some whining drivers are because of poor physical contact causing vibration but some just whine regardless of mounting. And yes that can be annoying if in a quiet setting.
Nothing like the sound of a mosquito to rattle your nerves.

9

Will have to try that multi meter measurement method.

I understand the perception thing, what bothers is when let’s say a group is building a workup of a group buy custom flashlight and some members will just dismiss a build if it has any PWM, without even asking at what freq. it will be based at.
They will just say “If it has PWM, I’m out!” without ever giving the unit a chance.
There are many a fine expensive flashlight that uses PWM and it doesn’t bother 99% of the customers.
It would be interesting to see the percentage of “good lights” that do and do not have the PWM.
Must say the “dithering” of the signal on the LAD is a nice concept as any smoothing of square waves is good.

Love the LAD, still edc’ing it since new and it is a treat, can’t even feel it in the pocket.

I must apologize for my poor choice of words in last nights post.
Could have expressed it in a better way rather than coming off as an attack, so to the OP Jon_Slider please forgive me.
You are right in each of us having our own pursuit of happiness.
Thanks!
Keith

10

I agree, very easy package to carry.

Huge respect for your gesture of apology, no worries. Im overly sensitive to the PWM opinions becoming personal attacks, I also apologize for landing hard on your post.

I especially appreciate that you have rotated back on topic, the LAD. Posts in this thread that are solely about PWM and its merits or demerits, cannot possibly lead to changing hearts and minds, so I prefer not to try.

Visualize Whirled Peas in High CRI :slight_smile:

There I go again… “I wont buy a light with Low CRI”… LOL!
Fortunately the LAD offers a really nice 4000k N219c… Whats not to love?