DaveSebring
Newly Enlightened
Yes to me the 250 is a little more throwy, I just took them both outside in the dark and the 200 seems a bit more floody, and the 250 a bit more throwy.
HDS Systems EDC # 17
- Thread starter Bullzeyebill
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Yes to me the 250 is a little more throwy, I just took them both outside in the dark and the 200 seems a bit more floody, and the 250 a bit more throwy.
Hogokansatsukan
Flashlight Enthusiast
All lights that have shipped from HDS since March 2014 have the new firmware.
So does that correlate to a very noticeable increase in throw on the 250 model? If it is then I might consider one. Maybe a clicky to make full use of the moddoo clip which have been sitting at home and doing nothing.
Deleted member 14754
Flashlight Enthusiast
My 250's have a more defined hotspot than my 200.
Factor in the extra 50 lumens on high and it does throw a little more.
Just keep in mind that my 250's were received right before the reflectors ran out.
Not sure how the new reflectors match up.
Factor in the extra 50 lumens on high and it does throw a little more.
Just keep in mind that my 250's were received right before the reflectors ran out.
Not sure how the new reflectors match up.
DaveSebring
Newly Enlightened
To my eyes it's noticeable, enough so that I would make a point of taking the 250 with me on dark walks over the 200.
Hiro Protagonist
Enlightened
The HDS models keep getting better and better. Keep up the great work!
Thanks guys! It's good news after all. I will consider the 250 models when more funs are available.
I own four HDS lights and love them all. The thing i really like about them is the UI flexibility and how it fits in my hands. I have bought all my lights used due to the high prices (which I am fine with - it's a part of the luxury feeling buying something not found everywhere).
Now I am thinking of buying a Tactical UI since this would give me three modes available from off (rotary low, the 3/4 position and the full turn position). But before I buy one I would like to know if the "old" tactical UI shown at SHOT ever was put into production? This was the one where there where four modes (two tactical and two click on) available on the rotary ring instead of rotary control and the two tactical only modes which are sold now.
I really like the idea of knowing exactly output when turning on the light, not needing to click when on. I tend to increase output a lot more on my rotary than when I use my clickies, resulting in less battery time, so I prefer pre-programmed levels.
I am guessing that due to the supplier issues around then the design was changed before ever produced, but I would like to know for sure. If available I would rather pay premium for a used (and very rare) light than buying the new model.
To sum it up, was this light ever produced?
Edit:
One more question. When using the rotary "double steps', which step is skipped? I am guessing even numbers since max is available any way, but just want to make sure they have not removed the lowest level.
Now I am thinking of buying a Tactical UI since this would give me three modes available from off (rotary low, the 3/4 position and the full turn position). But before I buy one I would like to know if the "old" tactical UI shown at SHOT ever was put into production? This was the one where there where four modes (two tactical and two click on) available on the rotary ring instead of rotary control and the two tactical only modes which are sold now.
I really like the idea of knowing exactly output when turning on the light, not needing to click when on. I tend to increase output a lot more on my rotary than when I use my clickies, resulting in less battery time, so I prefer pre-programmed levels.
I am guessing that due to the supplier issues around then the design was changed before ever produced, but I would like to know for sure. If available I would rather pay premium for a used (and very rare) light than buying the new model.
To sum it up, was this light ever produced?
Edit:
One more question. When using the rotary "double steps', which step is skipped? I am guessing even numbers since max is available any way, but just want to make sure they have not removed the lowest level.
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Megatrowned
Enlightened
:wave: Welcome to CPF Hilux. You started your posts is the right thread. From my own experience, HDS light have the best user satisfaction/$ ratio. Don't get me wrong, there are many other nice lights. But many of them cost far more, as don't offer nearly as much.
However, you prob know all this because you own three already! :thumbsup:
Congrats on the new lights and the getting the 140 replacement. I glad you decided to come out of the shadows, and join in Hilux! I'd say welcome but, .... you've already been here awhile, although incognito lurking in the shadows! ... :grin2:
Pops
Just in case ... :tinfoil:
bondr006
Flashlight Enthusiast
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- Apr 30, 2007
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- 2,147
- City & State/Province
- Cary, NC - Home of the Bright, Land of the CREE
Got my Rotory 250 last week. My EDC 250 clicky is out for delivery today. I'll post some pictures of the both of them later. I am excited.
ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond
Flashlight Enthusiast
I was browsing around on the HDS site to try and find out more information to the firmware changes and functionailty. I found an interesting article linked from the Site Map page about driver design. http://www.hdssystems.com/Articles/PowerSupplyDesignForLedFlashlights.pdf
Reading through it talks about closed loop designs that self correct for changes in current. It also talk about open loop designs that would require external calibration to work properly. It also talks about how Vf can between LEDs can vary up to 3/4 to 1 full V (something we all know from the Cree spec sheets)
When you look at Henry's site it talks about how each type of light offers a "calibrated" amount of lumens and it make me wonder about which driver is being used. If each light is calibrated with an open loop and external equipment, then how would the light react to LED swaps? It seems that depending how different the characteristics are between the calibrated original LED and the replacement LED there could be quite a varience in output.
I know I've swapped a bunch of XP-G to XP-G2 leds in HDS light and to me they've always seemed about as much brighter as I would expect. I never had any issues. I just wonder if that was the luck of the draw or not.
Reading through it talks about closed loop designs that self correct for changes in current. It also talk about open loop designs that would require external calibration to work properly. It also talks about how Vf can between LEDs can vary up to 3/4 to 1 full V (something we all know from the Cree spec sheets)
When you look at Henry's site it talks about how each type of light offers a "calibrated" amount of lumens and it make me wonder about which driver is being used. If each light is calibrated with an open loop and external equipment, then how would the light react to LED swaps? It seems that depending how different the characteristics are between the calibrated original LED and the replacement LED there could be quite a varience in output.
I know I've swapped a bunch of XP-G to XP-G2 leds in HDS light and to me they've always seemed about as much brighter as I would expect. I never had any issues. I just wonder if that was the luck of the draw or not.
Thanks for the warm welcome Megatrowned and AZpops! Mega you raise an interesting point that I've been contemplating since the price increase and that is the satisfaction to dollar ratio. I, for one, think it's through the roof compared to other lights even with the price increase! I've been a casual flashlight fan for years (had several 4sevens, pelicans, and a smattering of other fine budget friendly lights) but it was only when I obtained my beloved executive 140 that I became a raging flashaholic! lol all that said, i may appreciate it more than some because I have an affinity for brilliant engineering and attention to detail which, as I'm sure most know, hds lights have in spades. One interesting feature on my clicky 140 that replaced my old one that went wonky is that it seems Henry is now including the plastic disc under the clicky boot mod which a cpf member devised (if I recall correctly) which completely remedies the wobbly tailstand issue. I don't think I've seen anyone else mention noticing this as a standard feature in lights being shipped now but I may have missed something in the last thread. In any case, this might denote that Henry and/or Dan may be taking cues from the ingenuity of their users to continue the innovation of HDS lights! To me that's a very exciting notion as I love manufacturers that listen to their customer base and never stop improving their designs.
I was pretty comfortable in the shadows pops...I had my trusty HDS light with me to mitigate the darkness lol
the.Mtn.Man
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2008
- Messages
- 2,559
I can't see how there would be any serious problems swapping LEDs since Henry under-drives his emitters anyway. But as you say, the output is definitely going to be affected one way or the other.
neutralwhite
Flashlight Enthusiast
on a note about drivers,...
how does the HDS driver compare then to say other drivers out there ?,..
i mean for example, Prometheus lights have great engineering on the outside, but use a $2 NANGJG 105C on the inside.
i take it Henry's driver is much more superior , reliable right?.
is his worth $2 too?,...surely not.
thanks.
how does the HDS driver compare then to say other drivers out there ?,..
i mean for example, Prometheus lights have great engineering on the outside, but use a $2 NANGJG 105C on the inside.
i take it Henry's driver is much more superior , reliable right?.
is his worth $2 too?,...surely not.
thanks.
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Hogokansatsukan
Flashlight Enthusiast
Only about 4 of these were made. I know for sure that 3 of those 4 were reprogrammed to the latest Tactical firmware. One is in Henry’s pocket, one is in my pocket, one is in a mutual friends pocket, and the other, if it was not sent back, went to a firearms training center that is rather famous. That one may or may not have been sent back, but if it was not, it would most likely be the only one that exists with that original firmware. No more of them will be made.
Tactical lights have the lowest setting of .02 lumens.
I’ll get a photo of it later this week if I can. I'm currently swamped in my own business.
Yes there can be. Each light is calibrated quite specific to the actual LED in the light. Within one batch of LEDs, let’s say the Nichia 219B, very few could say reach up to 200 lumens without overdriving the LED. Some could be 10-15% more efficient driven at the same wattage at 170 lumens.
None are ever overdriven, so an LED swap can increase output but there is an element of “luck” involved.
I read through all posts and let Henry know if there is anything he should pay attention to. He doesn’t have the time to log on daily and sift through everything. Going through the 100 posts that BullseyeBill was kind enough to delete would have been a complete waste of time and probably given Henry a migraine. I have an advantage… copious amounts of RUM. When I find questions in the forum I don’t know the answers to, I talk to Henry and post them here. When I see an interesting idea or a resounding desire for some feature or accessory, I always bring it up to Henry.
I do know that a lot of “assumptions” can happen here, most of them quite contrary to reality and more times than not, done by a Troll, and I attempt to dispel those.
Obviously, I have to be somewhat careful on what I post. The flashlight world is rather competitive and while there are some outstanding and wonderful folks in the business (Don McGizmo, David 4 Sevens, and Gene Malkoff just to name a few of the not just innovative guys but also incredibly nice and just good all around folks with integrity) but then there are some very unscrupulous companies out there who steal rather than innovate, which I will not mention. One of which used Henry’s own drawings to patent some of their products.
So, while I would like to say everything that is coming down the road… I can’t/won’t, but yes, I do listen and report to Henry the ideas that come up on the forum, and just once in awhile, Henry jumps on as well.
Hogo/Thor/Dan over and out.
Interesting find, might explain my mystery.
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