Pacific Tech Notes

Robyn,
Thanks for all the exhaustive work putting all those runtime charts together. No matter what battery that is laying around, be it NiMH, lithium or alkaline AAA/AA or CR2... it is all plug and play.
All we need to go with it is a set of Ginsu knives!

Here is a Comparitive AA & AAA Graphs based on Above Data... in Picture Format for Easy Understanding

I have 3 Pacific on pre-order! I hope to see them soon, since I like the way the regulator works; it seem that it "realizes" what type of battery is powering it.
Also, the level of efficiency and "flat curve" at 1.5 Volts may indicate the use of a sync rectifier and a more overall sophisticate circuitry than a "standard" step-up converter.

RobynS,

is the regulator digital?

Thanks

Anthony

ViReN thanks for the charts.
Certainly makes comparisons easier.

PEAK LED SOLUTIONS

PACIFIC TECH NOTES

8 MARCH 2006


The last test was that of a single NiMH AAA rechargeable battery that went to 2.4 hours before mode changeover. We were hoping for 6 hours with this test of a 2500 mAh NiMH AAA # NH15 type battery. This battery is rated at a discharge rate of 500 mA (0.2C). The AAA # NH12 was rated at 170 mA discharge. The fully charged AA has an internal resistance of 30 milliohms instead of 100 milliohms and at one-half discharge 40 milliohms verses 1200 milliohms for the NH12 battery. The Pacific High Power took a real shine (sorry) to this battery and ran to 8.5 hours before changeover.

Test results, single NiMH AA battery, Pacific High Power:

…………… Start……………219 cP………..Drop….Output % Drop……Hours
……………10 minutes……...215 cP………...4 cP………..2%
……………30 minutes……...213 cP………...6 cP………..3%
……………60 minutes……...210 cP………...9 cP………..4%..................1 hour
……………120 minutes…….208 cP………..11 cP………..5%.................2 hours
……………180 minutes…….207 cP………..12 cP………..5%.................3 hours
……………240 minutes…….205 cP………..14 cP………..6%.................4 hours
……………300 minutes…….203 cP………..16 cP………..7%.................5 hours
……………360 minutes…….200 cP………..19 cP………...9% ...............6 hours
……………420 minutes…….198 cP………..21 cP……….10%................7 hours
……………480 minutes…….195 cP………..24 cP……….11%................8 hours
……………513 minutes…….192 cP………..27 cP……….12%.............8.5 hours
……………514 minutes…….119 cP………100 cP……….46%
……………540 minutes…….. 99 cP ……....120 cP………55%................9 hours
……………600 minutes….…. 29 cP………..190 cP……….87%................10 hours
……………660 minutes….…. ..9 cP………..210 cP……….96%................11 hours
……………720 minutes…..…...5 cP………..214 cP……….98%................12 hours

The battery voltage at start was 1.357 volts. At 21 hours the candlepower output reached zero. At 24 hours the battery voltage was .999 volts.

charts updates.

This is one awesome light.. Thanks RobynS

ViReN,

Thank you for doing these charts - We really appreciate it!!

Robyn

Robin,

You are welcome

ViReN

Thanks for the graphs, Viren

I am going to buy two of them, one for myself and the other for a person that needs brightness and long runtimes. He will understand the extra bodies when the package is opened and the charts are read.

Find the 2AAA VS 1AAA body interesting: twice the cells give 50% more light AND a 50% longer runtime. Two lithium AAA's loaded in the 2AAA Pacific would be over 300cp for 7.5 hours or a great light for roaming around at night. If the night shift is 12 hours long, switch to a lithium AA and no worries about the light ever dimming. If a 2AA body becomes available, figure over 300cp for 26 hours :thumbsup:

The release date for the HA-III version is tomorrow, will the optional bodies be available at that time?

BentHeadTX said:

If a 2AA body becomes available, figure over 300cp for 26 hours

Click to expand...

This is the format that would sell it for me. Is it likely to become available?

Andrew

PEAK LED SOLUTIONS

PACIFIC TECH NOTES

9 MARCH 2006


Starting voltage at the beginning of the test was 3.55 volts and ended at 1.05 volts at 8 hours constant run time.


Test results, Lithium 2 x AAA battery, Pacific High Power:

…………… Start……………335 cP………..Drop….Output % Drop……Hours
……………10 minutes……...329 cP………....6 cP……..…2%
……………30 minutes……...324 cP………..11 cP………..3%
……………60 minutes……...320 cP………..15 cP………..4%................1 hour
……………120 minutes…….317 cP………..18 cP………..5%................2 hours
……………180 minutes…….314 cP………..21 cP………..6%................3 hours
……………240 minutes…….312 cP………..23 cP………..7%................4 hours
……………300 minutes…….307 cP………..28 cP………..8%................5 hours
……………360 minutes…….262 cP………..73 cP……….22% ..............6 hours
……………367 minutes…….222 cP……….113 cP………33%
……………368 minutes…….129 cP……….206 cP………62%
……………420 minutes……….9 cP……….326 cP………97%................7 hours
……………480 minutes……….2 cP……….333 cP………99%................8 hours

6 hours on two lithium AAA's at 300cp (=/- 10%)

Paypal locked and loaded

Charts Updated to reflect 2 Li AAA & also added CR2 in AA Chart...

Love Pacific... Great Charts..

PEAK LED SOLUTIONS

PACIFIC TECH NOTES

10 MARCH 2006


We decided to do one more test of the Pacific High Power by request. This is of a premium alkaline AA (#X91 Titanium) brand battery. It is rated at 3,135 mAh capacity at a 25 mA continuous draw. The premium battery has approximately 10% more capacity than that of a standard AA alkaline battery. Internal resistance starts at 127 milliohms instead of 146 milliohms, and is of Zinc-Manganese Dioxide chemistry. This battery has a cost of 4 to 6 times that of a low cost generic brand. We have included both tests so that the user can determine which the best choice is for the required application.


Test results, premium single alkaline AA battery, Pacific High Power:

…………… Start……………237 cP………..Drop….Output % Drop……Hours
……………10 minutes……...230 cP………..7 cP…………3%
……………30 minutes……...223 cP………..14 cP………..6%
……………60 minutes……...217 cP………..20 cP………..8%..................1 hour
……………120 minutes…….210 cP………..27 cP………..11%................2 hours
……………180 minutes…….206 cP………..31 cP………..13%................3 hours
……………240 minutes…….202 cP………..35 cP………..15%................4 hours
……………300 minutes…….197 cP………..40 cP………..16%................5 hours
……………360 minutes…….195 cP………..42 cP………..17% ...............6 hours
……………388 minutes…….193 cP………..44 cP………..18%..............6.5 hours
……………389 minutes…….133 cP………..104 cP……….44%
……………420 minutes…….128 cP………..109 cP……….46%................7 hours
……………480 minutes…….114 cP………..123 cP……….52%................8 hours
……………540 minutes…….100 cP …….....137 cP……….58%................9 hours
……………600 minutes….…. 86 cP………..151 cP……….64%................10 hours
……………720 minutes….…. 57 cP………..180 cP……….76%................12 hours
……………900 minutes…..….33 cP………..204 cP……….86%................15 hours
……………1080 minutes…….20 cP………..217 cP……….92%................18 hours
……………1440 minutes……...7 cP………..229 cP……….96%................24 hours

The following data table is a reprint of the low cost generic brand battery so that you may compare the test results directly.

Test results, single alkaline AA battery, Pacific High Power:

…………… Start……………216 cP………..Drop….Output % Drop……Hours
……………10 minutes……...209 cP………..7 cP…………3%
……………30 minutes……...204 cP………..12 cP………..6%
……………60 minutes……...198 cP………..18 cP………..8%..................1 hour
……………120 minutes…….193 cP………..23 cP………..11%................2 hours
……………180 minutes…….189 cP………..27 cP………..13%................3 hours
……………240 minutes…….185 cP………..31 cP………..15%................4 hours
……………300 minutes…….182 cP………..34 cP………..16%................5 hours
……………318 minutes…….181 cP………..35 cP………..16%..............5.3 hours
……………319 minutes…….111 cP………..105 cP……….49%
……………360 minutes…….109 cP………..107 cP……….50% ...............6 hours
……………420 minutes…….101 cP………..115 cP……….54%................7 hours
……………480 minutes…….. 93 cP………..123 cP……….57%................8 hours
……………540 minutes…….. 85 cP …….....131 cP……….61%................9 hours
……………600 minutes….…. 77 cP………..139 cP……….65%................10 hours
……………720 minutes….…. 49 cP………..167 cP……….77%................12 hours
……………900 minutes…..….33 cP………..183 cP……….85%................15 hours
……………1080 minutes…….22 cP………..194 cP……….90%................18 hours
……………1440 minutes…….13 cP………..203 cP……….94%................24 hours
……………2880 minutes….....7.6 cP……….208 cP……….96%................48 hours
……………4320 minutes…….1.6 cP…...…..214 cP……….99%................72 hours

Based on Above Data,

Following is the chart

RobynS said:

We do not recommend the Li-on battery of over 3 volts output in the Pacific.

Click to expand...

I can think of three good reasons why this would be true.

#1 More than 3 volts overloads the circuitry.

#2 The Luxeon emitter has a low forward Vf (very likely, in a fully regulated curcuit) and the circuitry goes into direct drive at input voltages over 3 volts, causing the emitter to be grossly overdriven.

#3 Heat issues arising from #1 and/or #2.

I guess what I'm looking for is a Peak Orb (brass, baby! :rock. I realize that was not the intended purpose in the design of the Pacific, however...........

Comments anyone?

Dave

Copied Replies from HERE.

Burgess07-04-2007 06:02 PM
Re: Pacific Tech Notes

Wow, this Peak Pacific info is very handy !


Has the 2xAA battery tube ever actually seen the light of day ?


Or are we still waiting for it ? :sigh:


Thank you all, for your help.


methinks i've gotta' getta' Peak Pacific !

softfeel07-08-2007 07:46 PMRe: Pacific Tech Notes

Are the test results also valid for the new Peak Pacific with SSC P4? or will they be different?

How many amperes are given to the led at the different output levels, XLR, HP, UP and SP?

paulr08-19-2007 12:41 AMRe: Pacific Tech Notes

My results are somewhat inconsistent with the above. I just got a Pacific AA Titanium High Power from another CPF'er. It came with an L91 lithium AA cell that was (I believe) somewhat used, with open circuit voltage measuring 1.694 V. I like to use Eneloop NiMH cells in just about all my AA and AAA equipment these days, so after trying out the light with the lithium cell I swapped in an Eneloop, and found the light was NOTICABLY dimmer with the NiMH than the lithium cell. Measuring the current draw showed about 210 mA current consumption with the lithium cell and 140-150 (wobbled between 0.14 and 0.15 on my meter's 10A scale) with the NiMH. Taking the voltage difference into account, that's about 350 mW for the lithium vs 174 mW for the NiMH (figuring 145 mA @ 1.2V). So the light is drawing about 2x as much power from the L91 as from the NiMH, and is probably about 2x as bright.

I did an impromptu comparison between the Pacific and a Kilimanjaro HP and the Pacific has a brighter hotspot and spill but both are narrower than the Kili's. The Pacific (on the NiMH cell) might have 2x the total output of the Kili on an alkaline, but not more than that. I didn't measure the Kili's power consumption but I believe "high power" means about 20 mA to the led which with reasonable converter efficiency would mean around 80 mA from the battery (1.5V) so the Pacific may be winning in total lumens per watt, but not by a large margin.

I don't know that any of this is necessarily a bad thing, since I'm not a believer in ruler-flat regulation for various reasons, but I'm still surprised my results are so far out of line with Peak's data.

The mechanical complexity of the ti body also seems excessive in my view. It has WAY too many parts and I keep unscrewing the wrong thing by accident. It's a very solid light but I wish the design was simpler. All the modularity features (fittings for momentary switches and mounting gizmos) are probably rarely used, and the multi-functionality gets in the way of doing one thing extremely well. I don't think this light fits the multi-function pattern anyway, since it has just one brightness level. So I think it would be a better light if it were simplified. Remember that a design is perfect not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

I will try writing a review in the CPF reviews section after I've had the light a while longer. Meanwhile I'd say it's like a big brother to the stainless steel Matterhorn that I reviewed a while back:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...ad.php?t=77713

arty08-19-2007 08:25 AMRe: Pacific Tech Notes

I have 3 Pacific heads and lots of bodies. They are all luxeons. The light makes the most sense with AA or CR2 bodies, in my opinion.

I tried the ultra power head with AA, AAA and CR2 batteries. Light output was about 400 cp with the CR2 and 300 cp with the AA. I could see the light dim rapidly when I attached a lithium AAA, and light output tanked over a minute of initial runtime. I haven't used the AAA body since.

I have generally used lithiums, but I would expect the AA should be fine on alkalines or others. The high power heads put out about 230 cp on AA or over 300 on a CR2.

I like the light alot (enough to buy 3 of them), but recommend the other batteries - not the AAA. The CR2 pocket body is very small and fits in a jeans coin pocket. The AA pocket body is easy to handle and compact. HA is probably better for a regular pocket, but the brass has an easier twisty action.

More Copied Replies:

BentHeadTX08-19-2007 08:32 AM
Re: Pacific Tech Notes

I have a Baltic stainless with SSC LED which is the same as the Pacific with a smaller head. Really like the light but am pondering a brass or Pacific UP when the new Seoul V bins become available. The light rides in the side pocket of a Leatherman Charge Ti holster so the larger head is not a problem.

arty08-23-2007 06:28 PMRe: Pacific Tech Notes

My Pacifics with HA or brass CR2 pocket bodies are really small and compact - simple. They are a bit under 2 3/10" long - very compact and useful.

paulr08-23-2007 11:54 PMRe: Pacific Tech Notes

I wonder if something might be miscalibrated about mine, since the output is cut in half when I go from an L91 to an NiMH cell. Is some kind of adjustment or repair possible? Anyone know if the CR2 pocket body is available in titanium? I really wish there were a pocket-type body with a lanyard hole (not the removable post, but a cutaway style hole like a Minimag has, or else a flat thing like on a Fenix P1).

paulr - that is unusual as the original Peak Tech Notes thread over on the MP forums had a NiMH AA runtime test and a lithium AA runtime test and, while the lithium had a longer runtime, the NiMH test started at just a slightly lower output level and lasted for 8 hours before dropping below 50%. Makes me thing something might be wrong with the light?

I don't see much of a difference between NiMH and lithiums other than runtime in my luxIII Pacific.

Yeah, someone else PM'd me saying my Pacific may have a defect. I might call Peak about getting it fixed.