F.A.Q.

Output Measurement Parameters – Lux vs Lumens

Lux indicates the intensity at a given point, while lumens indicates the total “amount” of light.

Measuring in lumens would be a good choice for say fixed lighting fixtures in rooms and other similar indoor or outdoor locations where the light is meant to evenly illuminate an area. For flashlights, lumens would also be good if the beam profile is 100% spot or 100% spill, then we can have a good idea of the intensity because there is no variation in intensity throughout the beam profile.

The majority of flashlights have beam profiles which are made up of a hot spot and spill. If measurements are given in lumens, we do not get an accurate idea of the intensity of either the hot spot or the spill beam. Instead we will need to estimate and roughly divide the hot spot and spill values base of the total “amount” of light given out which was measured in lumens.

So by having the output values in lux, you can get direct intensity info of the hot spot and flood without the need to estimate or guess. All lux measurements are taken at 1 meter.

Output Rating System

Output ratings are based on beam quality such as tint, profile, regulation and runtime. Not just intensity. I rate output relative to the type of light source or emitter so as to be fair and stay within the performance capabilities based on the source type.

For example, a Luxeon I based product with an output rating of 6 will produce less light compared to an XR-E based product with an identical output rating of 6. This is to prevent future discrepancies as newer and better light technologies become available.

Power Sources – Types of Batteries Used

Here’s a list of default cells I use for output and run time measurements unless otherwise stated in the respective reviews. Batteries such as 14500 and 18650 are rechargeable Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) cells. They’re usually not sold at regular electronics stores, but are widely available online such as from eBay or hobbyist stores.

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