EEVblog #78

[armandas]

Here's my multitool - Leatherman Squirt S4:


Very small and handy, always on my keychain. Great quality, sharp knife, and *serious* scissors. There's tweezers as well.

I don't have a flashlight though, maybe I should get one some time.

[DJPhil]

Dave! You found my favorite brand of flashlight!

A few years back I was poking around online looking for a good flashlight when I stumbled on the candlepower forums and a few other similar sites. These guys really take their flashlights seriously. After poking around a while I picked up an L1D, which is an older AA cell version of yours, but with a button on the end for power and mode settings. I also bought the body for an L2D, which allows me to swap out for 2xAA if I wish. The model I've got has a different reflector than usually comes with it, it's called 'Orange Peel' or some such and diffuses the beam a good bit more than the standard spotlight-ish reflector.

I used mine for everything you can think of, it even went with me for some hard outdoor work testing rail on a rail truck for a few months. I changed the lanyard so it'll stand on its end and wrapped a few turns of electrical tape on the back so I can hold it in my teeth (really sucks when it slips a bit and the knurling goes by your front teeth). I also put one of those little clips on the lanyard so I can clip it to a longer line and wear it around my neck if I need.

It's been a good tool for going on three years now, I'd recommend it to anyone and often do.

I threw in a few pictures in case anyone's curious.

[Zad]

Good choices Dave! I can see the argument for Leatherman type multitools, but my folks bought me my first Swiss Army Knife when I was 16 and I am still using it (even if it is a bit knackered). I suspect the Philips cross-head screwdriver has handled more screws than the rest of my proper tool kit put together. The magnifying lens even got me a job once! They did the "here, tell me about this" and handed me a populated PCB. It was tiny SOT23 sized stuff, and it just seemed the obvious thing to do to use the hand lens on my knife. The tweezers went long ago, and the screw in the scissors stripped its threads, I should really get another one I suppose.



Sat on top of it is a fairly standard Mini Maglite LED. I think it is a Luxeon 3W LED. Usually lasts around 6 months on a pair of 2700mAh NiMH AA cells. Nothing especially rare about it, there are a million and one LED flashlights out there now. The Maglite ones always feel nice and tactile and robust though, with O-rings and that really solid feel. I bought the LED one when a cell swelled up inside my old Mini Mag and proved almost impossible to get out.

The absolute killer part though, is the thing you probably didn't see in the photo. Clamping the torch to the knife is a magnet. It is a black nylon clip that slides (fairly snugly) up the Maglite, and has a flat base with a magnet in it. This does 2 things. Firstly it stops the £$"% rolling across the desk or whatever, and ending up on the floor. Secondly, it means you can clamp it to a convenient ferrous surface (PC  case, car wing, engine etc) when you need to use it, leaving both your hands free. I leave mine either stuck on the side of the PC (don't worry, it is away from the hard drives) or on top of my toolbox so it is always there. Without the clip, the old one just ended up being put somewhere where it wouldn't roll, where it tended to get damaged or forgotten. I think it cost me about £2:50, I only bought it to raise my order level to get free postage!

The one I have is by a company called Night Ize, who seem not to make it any more. I wonder if they had patent problems or something.

[ziq8tsi]

I have a Fenix L0D, which is the predecessor of the LD01 and has basically the same case.  Mine uses a Cree XR-E Q4, rather than the Q5.  It is rated 15% lower lumens on max, and 15% lower battery life at 9 lumens than the current LD01.

I was surprised that Dave did not mention pulse width modulation (ie. flashing) and then studied the regulator behaviour in each of the modes without reference to this.  On my L0D it is obvious that the regulator provides the max mode current, and the other modes are produced by PWM of this same current.

Does the LD01 use PWM, and at what frequency?

Perhaps I am particularly sensitive to this, but I find it really annoying that devices use PWM at such visible frequencies.  In the UK we are now seeing LED pedestrian lights flashing annoyingly (though LED traffic lights do not).  I estimate the PWM frequency of the L0D at 100Hz plus or minus one order of magnitude.

I understand the logic of regulating a single current and then pulsing it, but I wish they would use higher frequencies.  Admittedly the flashing is not so noticeable in dark conditions, but it is very noticeable when using or demonstrating the device against any background light.

My L0D also does not have gold plated contacts.  They appear to be tinned instead.  Would it help the long term performance for me to coat these with conductive silver paint?

[EEVblog]

There is no noticeable flicker at all on the LD01, and I did not have have physical access to the electronics so could not measure anything. I do not know if it uses PWM directly on the LED or not.

Dave.

[ElektroQuark]

Chinese military version:

[dmlandrum]

I so want one of those shovels now! 

[TheWelly888]

^^^
Trouble with the shovel is that it has sharp edges on the sides so take care when rowing that inflatable dingy! And I would hate to have that on my back pack!

Also the edges will get blunt if used as a shovel and pick. Oh and the hammer is a nightmare to aim.

Oh for the days when we called a spade a spade. 

Oh out of interest here is a web page: http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/taosusu/product-detailVqKEehXOnGrU/China-Multifunctional-Tools-WJQ-308-.html

[saturation]

I was in the market for a new high lumen LED pocket light, and after much data finding, settled on the Fenix LD01.  While doing the research I found it was the same model Dave reviewed almost 2 years ago.

However, that model has been quietly improved without barely a notice from Fenix to its marketers.  Although the table below shows the lumens have dropped, the real improvement appears in the capabilities of the new LED in the newer model.  Its capable of more lumens/watt, but in the case of the LD01, its potential isn't realized as it requires more than the AAA supply delivers.

I am posting an update plus adding data to all reviews on the web on this LED light, that hasn't been mentioned elsewhere.

Readers should know that the model number etched on the light and packaging has not changed, but vendors use a confusing mix of old and new specifications. 

Thew new model is actually at least the LD01 R4, but the box and laser etching do not add the R4 suffix.

The table shows the improvements compared to the version Dave reviewed in 2010.  These are Fenix's published numbers, but third party reviews are consistent with those changes.


Estimated Burn Times are in Parenthesis

LD01 Original	LD01 R4
28 Lumens (3.5hrs)	26 Lumens (3hrs)
09 Lumens (11hrs)	03 Lumens (27hrs)
85 Lumens (1hrs)	72 Lumens (1.5hrs)

The biggest change is the 3 lumen setting, which goes to 27 hours.  Low light in adequate for very dark settings, such as moonless nights or inside caves.  27 hours provides enough reserve to serve as an emergency light for 24 hr hiking trips, to cover evenings. The 11 hours was just barely adequate as it makes no allowance for battery wear.  The 26 lumen mode is great for everyday use and cycling at night, and the brightest mode for examining components, such as PCBs.


A best comprehensive technical review of many AAA lights is here, including its brother, the LD01 SS R5

http://www.lygte-info.dk/review/Beamshot%20AAA%20lights%202011-03%20UK.html

The review has nearly all identical specs to the LD01 R4 except a slightly newer version of the LED, it uses the Cree XP-G R5, while the black LD01 uses the Cree XP-G R4:

http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20Fenix%20LD01%20SS%202010%20UK.html


I did a similar power consumption measurement as Dave did in his video.  I'm not so certain about info@lygte-info.dk curves on power, the Cree I tested plateaus; its light output appears constant [ I have no light meter] by maintaining constant power; as the source output voltage drops the current rises, and vice versa.

My Data:

	-----	ADC	-----
VDC	Med	Low	High
1.8	nd	nd	0.491
1.6	0.203	0.022	0.604
1.0	0.361	0.036	note
0.8	nd	nd	1.751
0.7	0.569	0.052	1.290

nd = no data

note = transition was abrupt from 0.8 to 1.6 VDC, unable to maintain 1VDC.

	-----	Watts, V x I	-----
VDC	Med	Low	High
1.8	nd	nd	0.883
1.6	0.325	0.035	0.966
1.0	0.361	0.036	note
0.8	nd	nd	1.401
0.7	0.398	0.036	0.903
Ave	0.361	0.036	1.038

The average power consumption relative to each mode is proportionate to Fenix's data and run times. 

 

[PetrosA]

I got a Fenix TK35 recently for work, and I have to say IT KICKS ASS. Most of the time I'm fine using low or medium settings, but when I need the light for a night time service call or really dark basements/attics, I can set it to turbo and I have 820 lumens in a pocket sized light (well, work pants pockets ). I literally feel like I'm carrying a car headlight around with me now. Amazing how far some of the technologies have come so fast over the last few decades.

[saturation]

Yes, and even more is the bewildering number of models and makers.  However, Fenix has survived while so many flounder.  Since my spec was very clear: single AAA, it narrowed the field but a without a review, they all look alike, who works better?  I think the Danish website did a good job finding the best.



Given the high cost however, this is actually a worthwhile project to make for those who are cash strapped, as without the casing you can put together a powerful LED light for about $10-20, and spend the difference on the casing.  You may be able to retrofit it on any of the poorly made Chinese LED lights than sell for $5-10, alas when you put the cost together, its near that of LD01 and still not be as small unless you custom make the PCB.

I got a Fenix TK35 recently for work, and I have to say IT KICKS ASS. Most of the time I'm fine using low or medium settings, but when I need the light for a night time service call or really dark basements/attics, I can set it to turbo and I have 820 lumens in a pocket sized light (well, work pants pockets ). I literally feel like I'm carrying a car headlight around with me now. Amazing how far some of the technologies have come so fast over the last few decades.