High-lumen LED headlamp July 14, 2014, 07:04:28 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147364Do you have a favorite LED head lamp (worn on the head, not the vehicle) with output of 1000 lumens or more? I recently bought this one:http://tinyurl.com/oesysbw I was a tad bit disappointed because the title mentioned AAA batteries, but when it arrived, it came with 18650 batteries and a separate charger. Since I like to carry spare batteries and prefer the more standard AAA or AA for backups, this one is only going to be used close to camp, not on longer hikes.It's a pretty nice, bright headlamp otherwise. Prior to this, I was buying these Cree headlamps from Meritline.com:http://tinyurl.com/krsjta5 They've been mentioned on this list. They worked fine for a couple years, and then I had two of them fail recently. With one, the switch no longer functions properly. I even disassembled it and applied some Deoxit to the contact point. It only works if I hold the switch down, which defeats the purpose of being hands-free. It also isn't quite as bright as I would like.Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.--Jan Forseth
Re: High-lumen LED headlamp Reply #1 – July 15, 2014, 12:40:17 am Yahoo Message Number: 147382Jan,If you want an honest 1000 lumens or more, you are probably not going to find that with a light powered by AAA's or even AA's, unless it's belt fed like a machine gun . . . at least not one that will run at high output for any length of time. LEDs are efficient, true, but it has been only recently that Cree has reached 300 lumens per watt, and it'll be awhile until they find their way to market. So a more realistic (and honest) 800 lumen light is going to consume at least 3 watts.To get an idea of how much power AAA or AA batteries contain, see:Battery energy storage in various battery sizesI'll try to make this non-technical, lithium batteries, like the very "standard" 18650 that you have some experience with, are a good way to go. They have much higher power density (light weight and more power) than AA or AAA. This means a brighter, longer lasting light that weighs less too. Yup, you may want to buy several 18650s and carry a spare.The Zebra light I have uses one 18650, no separate battery box. Sleek, well designed, on brightest setting runs for up to 2 hours, (I seldom need full brightness). I also recommend a neutral white light (not cool white) for better color rendition . . . much better if you are using the light for working on things. This is the one I use:H600w Mk II 18650 XM-L2 Headlamp Neutral WhiteNote that it is also available in a frosted lens "floody" version. I prefer the standard lens with a fairly wide hot spot. The reflector is still lightly textured, so it throws a nice ever peripheral light. It comes with a removable top band, but the light is so light ( :c) the top band isn't really needed unless you are a spelunker.Yup, it's pricey at $89 (free shipping) - and over $100 on Amazon, but it's really a good quality light and gets very positive reviews on the "LED light fanatic" forums.bumper
Re: High-lumen LED headlamp Reply #2 – July 15, 2014, 02:41:12 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1473941,000 lumens are a lot. A headlamp with that kind of output is going to be heavy and bulky. The 18650-based headlamp you mentioned is a good example--that's a lot of gear to wear on your head. I find multiple over-the-head straps annoying, and feel the same way about back-of-the-head battery packs. The wiring from the front to the back can get tangled and become nuisance.If you really need 1,000+ lumens, then Bumper's recommendation (H600w Mk II) is probably your best bet. But it means buying spare 18650 batteries--and based on my experience, I recommend against getting the inexpensive "UltraFire" and similar brands. Out of four of those batteries in my possession, two lasted less than a year before they'd refuse to hold a charge. I ended up replacing them with $23 Nitecor batteries--three times the cost of the UltraFire batteries, but they have proven reliable so far. (Bumper, what brands of 18650 have you found to be best?)The zooming Meritline headlamps you mentioned are OK, but I found the cabling to be a nuisance, and the separate battery pack was never comfortable. Also, the tilting reflector refused to stay put; it would keep changing angle.I ended up with this Sensor+ ADV model. It only puts out 100 lumens, so if you really need more than that, it's not for you. But I've found it to be plenty bright for my purposes. It zooms to a tight, brilliant beam when desired, but I usually keep mine set at wide angle, where it yields a broad, absolutely even beam with no hot spots. It runs on AAA batteries, and in my occasional use, has shown good battery life. Its all-in-one design is comfortable to wear, and it stays aimed where I put it. I've been through at least half a dozen headlamps in the past ten years, and this is the best one so far.Andy BairdTravels with Andy As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: High-lumen LED headlamp Reply #3 – July 15, 2014, 07:36:03 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147406I'm with you, Andy, I find additional battery packs (whether on the head band or on the belt) and multiple straps annoying. A headlamp should be comfortable, light weight, handy (on the head or not), reliable, and put out a decent amount of even usable light.The Zebra light I recommended weighs 3.3 ounces, and that's with the battery. It's various power settings are all useful, I don't use it's highest settings often, as the two medium settings put out a lot of light. It is accepting of a number of brands of batteries I've tried, both with raised and flat positive terminals, as it has gold plated spring contacts for both ends. O-ring sealed, waterproof. A quality light (as it should be for over $80) - - and well worth it.18650 batteries are a bit of a conundrum. There is a lot of counterfeiting and skulduggery going on in the marketplace, with shady sorts getting used computer battery packs and repackaging the old batteries on eBay and even Amazon. If an 18650 battery costs just 3 or 4 bucks, you know where it came from. Expect to pay about $7 - $12 each. Make sure the battery has a "protection circuit", this is a little round circuit board at one end of the battery (inside the packaging) that protects the battery from over charging or discharging, as well as the amount of current in and out. Don't buy 18650's without it for general consumer use.I too have been burned by the "good deals" on Amazon - - once buying 20 batteries and sending them all back. I only opened and tested 1 pack of four batteries and two of those were under voltage and wouldn't accept a charge - junk.So how to get good batteries? Read the customer reviews on Amazon. Search 18650 reviews on-line, places like CandlePowerForumsare excellent. There's people there that obsess over LED's and what powers them like some of us do about our LD's :c)Note: Size is important. 18650's are supposed to be 18mm diameter by 65mm long. Some are significantly larger. The Zebra light will accept up to about 18.5mm - length not so important. See:http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?257543-LiIon-18650-battery-comparisonbumper
Re: High-lumen LED headlamp Reply #4 – July 15, 2014, 07:49:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147408Thanks, Bumper and Andy, for the LED headlamp suggestions. I definitely need the high-lumen type, so I guess I'll just make do with the one I've got and buy some more of the 18650 batteries. Thanks for the suggestions on those, as well.--Jan Forseth
Re: High-lumen LED headlamp Reply #5 – July 15, 2014, 08:34:06 pm Yahoo Message Number: 147410"The Zebra light I recommended weighs 3.3 ounces, and that's with the battery."Really? I'm impressed. My current favorite headlamp weighs 3.7 ounces with its strap and AAA batteries.Andy BairdTravels with Andy
Re: High-lumen LED headlamp Reply #6 – July 16, 2014, 01:22:41 am Yahoo Message Number: 147416Umm, yup! Really! Before I wrote that last post I plunked it down on our postage scale, just 3.3 ounces and with a light so bright it'll peel paint off the wall (well, maybe, almost :c).Been doing some more research on the counterfeit 18650 problem, there are even Chinese sites selling the shrink wrap brand wrappers for repackaging the batteries! The counterfeiters get the cells from various sources, including old lap top batteries, and package them up for sale. Even Panasonic (NCR) is not immune. Best to buy batteries from a trusted source, or as is the case with Amazon Prime, someone who will replace or refund at no charge and no questions asked. Good to charge and test batteries upon receipt.bumper
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