Cordless Spotlight Hype

[Patrick Dunford]

There seems to be a lot of hype over the different models of cordless
spotlight being marketed by Jaycar and other resellers in Australia and
NZ.

This is the information I can glean about the models that Jaycar sells:

Cat ST3300 "1 million candlepower", 6V 4Ah, 55W H3 bulb, approx running
time 10 - 15 minutes. Spare bulb type

Cat ST3302 "2 million candlepower", 6V 4Ah, 55W H3 bulb, approx running
time 10 - 15 minutes. Spare bulb type SL-3221

Here is the first piece of hype. The only difference between these models
is the size of the reflector. Does going from a 100 mm reflector to a 130
mm double the output of light? What do these terms like "1 million
candlepower" really mean anyway?

Cat ST3304 "3.5 million candlepower" (manufacturer claims 3 million). 12V
4Ah, 100W H3 bulb, approx running time 10 - 15 minutes. Some retailers
are selling almost identical lights claiming "5 million candlepower".

Cat ST3310 "10 million candlepower". 12V 7AH, 100W H4 bulb, approx
running time 40 minutes? (two power output levels)

So is the H4 bulb three times brighter for the same power output than the
H3 bulb at 100 watts?

One problem you will strike is the difficulty of getting bulbs for the 6
volt models. I have seen models marketed using 15W, 25W and 55W bulbs.
Jaycar has limited stock only of the 25W bulb which is for a model they
are phasing out, and ongoing stock of the 55W bulb which is for a current
model. They are the sole source of supply it seems in either country for
these 6V bulbs.

The 12V 55W and 100W bulbs H3 and H4 are standard automotive lights and
easy to obtain.

The usefulness of the smaller models is severely limited by the small
capacity of the batteries. The 6V 55W models can be made more useful by
fitting the 25W bulb (limited availability only) while the 12V 100W
models can be fitted with a readily available 55W bulb for a doubling or
more of the charge life.

I wonder how many hundreds of the cheaper lights with a 10 - 15 minute
running time have been bought, used once and put aside as of limited use?

 

[John Tserkezis]

Patrick Dunford wrote:

There seems to be a lot of hype over the different models of cordless
spotlight being marketed by Jaycar and other resellers in Australia and
NZ.

Welcome to the marketing smoke, mirrors and various animal excrement.

They're probably not lying, because that would be wrong, they are however,
taking advantage of measuring in units that are meaningless in real life, or at
least meaningless in the application for which it's intended.

They are measuring light exposure across a given area. The 2M candlepower
light just concentrates the light to a sharper beam, so it is effectivly
brighter over a given area. Never mind the fact it covers less area.

If they were to specify the actual total amount of light emitted, it would be
the same, after all, it's the same bulb, same supply, it only makes sense it
would have the same total light output.


Audio is an industry full of smoke, mirrors and other crap all courtesy of
their respective marketing departments.

Like when TV stations claim commercial break audio is no louder than normal
program material. (Sure, the peak levels are no higher, but the averages most
certainly are)

Similarly, anyone claiming a percentage increase or reduction of sound level
(usually referred to with sound proofing). Percentage of what? Depending on
what they leave out, it could mean a little, or it could mean a lot.

--
Linux Registered User # 302622 <http://counter.li.org>

 

[James]

"Patrick Dunford" <patrickdunford@nomail.invalid> wrote in message
news:MPG.1b14b00afed65f90989778@news.paradise.net.nz...

There seems to be a lot of hype over the different models of cordless
spotlight being marketed by Jaycar and other resellers in Australia and
NZ.

This is the information I can glean about the models that Jaycar sells:

Cat ST3300 "1 million candlepower", 6V 4Ah, 55W H3 bulb, approx running
time 10 - 15 minutes. Spare bulb type

Cat ST3302 "2 million candlepower", 6V 4Ah, 55W H3 bulb, approx running
time 10 - 15 minutes. Spare bulb type SL-3221

Here is the first piece of hype. The only difference between these models
is the size of the reflector. Does going from a 100 mm reflector to a 130
mm double the output of light? What do these terms like "1 million
candlepower" really mean anyway?

Cat ST3304 "3.5 million candlepower" (manufacturer claims 3 million). 12V
4Ah, 100W H3 bulb, approx running time 10 - 15 minutes. Some retailers
are selling almost identical lights claiming "5 million candlepower".

Cat ST3310 "10 million candlepower". 12V 7AH, 100W H4 bulb, approx
running time 40 minutes? (two power output levels)

So is the H4 bulb three times brighter for the same power output than the
H3 bulb at 100 watts?

One problem you will strike is the difficulty of getting bulbs for the 6
volt models. I have seen models marketed using 15W, 25W and 55W bulbs.
Jaycar has limited stock only of the 25W bulb which is for a model they
are phasing out, and ongoing stock of the 55W bulb which is for a current
model. They are the sole source of supply it seems in either country for
these 6V bulbs.

The 12V 55W and 100W bulbs H3 and H4 are standard automotive lights and
easy to obtain.

The usefulness of the smaller models is severely limited by the small
capacity of the batteries. The 6V 55W models can be made more useful by
fitting the 25W bulb (limited availability only) while the 12V 100W
models can be fitted with a readily available 55W bulb for a doubling or
more of the charge life.

I wonder how many hundreds of the cheaper lights with a 10 - 15 minute
running time have been bought, used once and put aside as of limited use?

I have a simple solution.....If you want a decent cordless spotlight by a
Lightforce light and strap a battery to your belt, much better performance,
but price tag to match.

James

 

On Tue, 18 May 2004 23:14:35 +1200, Patrick Dunford
<patrickdunford@nomail.invalid> wrote:

The usefulness of the smaller models is severely limited by the small
capacity of the batteries. The 6V 55W models can be made more useful by
fitting the 25W bulb (limited availability only) while the 12V 100W
models can be fitted with a readily available 55W bulb for a doubling or
more of the charge life.

The 100W H4 model is a H4 automotive lamp like you said.

Basically uses the low / high beam part (dual filament) to obtain the
different power levels so I can see no reason to swap the lamp.

I grabbed one today after chewing through many dolphin batteries as
its recharable in the car and the 12V 7Ah batteries are easily
available for myself.

Let me just say, it's huge.

A friend is also looking at getting one, and working in the automotive
industry is going to have a look at the different lamps that are
available, such as the blue tinge ones.

 

[Patrick Dunford]

In article <b2mra0dpf4urlao66c9nvo4isk3etd2n4o@4ax.com>, David Sauer
says...

On Tue, 18 May 2004 23:14:35 +1200, Patrick Dunford
patrickdunford@nomail.invalid> wrote:

The usefulness of the smaller models is severely limited by the small
capacity of the batteries. The 6V 55W models can be made more useful by
fitting the 25W bulb (limited availability only) while the 12V 100W
models can be fitted with a readily available 55W bulb for a doubling or
more of the charge life.

The 100W H4 model is a H4 automotive lamp like you said.

Basically uses the low / high beam part (dual filament) to obtain the
different power levels so I can see no reason to swap the lamp.

What are the power ratings of the two beams?

I saw the bulb quoted as 90/100W, if the low setting is only 10W below
the high there would be almost no difference in the output brightness and
very little in battery life.

I grabbed one today after chewing through many dolphin batteries as
its recharable in the car and the 12V 7Ah batteries are easily
available for myself.

Let me just say, it's huge.

Yes they are. Repco in NZ had them on special @$79.95 this week. I went
down and decided it was way too big and heavy for my needs.

The main issue with these things is they are not really designed for
continuous operation, so fitting a smaller bulb also makes them less
likely to be damaged by the heat.

I got the "5m million candlepower" one from Jaycar instead and I'll put a
standard 12V 55w H3 in that to raise the charge life.

BTW, I converted my dolphin to a rechargeable by putting one of those 6V
rechargeable lantern batteries in it that Jaycar sells. Much more use
than the spotlight for general purpose work and gives 8 hours on a
charge. I modified the switchplate to take a charging socket. Just
unscrew the lens and plug in the charger.

 

On Sat, 22 May 2004 11:37:41 +1200, Patrick Dunford
<patrickdunford@nomail.invalid> wrote:

In article <b2mra0dpf4urlao66c9nvo4isk3etd2n4o@4ax.com>, David Sauer
says...
On Tue, 18 May 2004 23:14:35 +1200, Patrick Dunford
patrickdunford@nomail.invalid> wrote:

The usefulness of the smaller models is severely limited by the small
capacity of the batteries. The 6V 55W models can be made more useful by
fitting the 25W bulb (limited availability only) while the 12V 100W
models can be fitted with a readily available 55W bulb for a doubling or
more of the charge life.

The 100W H4 model is a H4 automotive lamp like you said.

Basically uses the low / high beam part (dual filament) to obtain the
different power levels so I can see no reason to swap the lamp.

What are the power ratings of the two beams?

I saw the bulb quoted as 90/100W, if the low setting is only 10W below
the high there would be almost no difference in the output brightness and
very little in battery life.

More like 50 or 55 and 100W

I grabbed one today after chewing through many dolphin batteries as
its recharable in the car and the 12V 7Ah batteries are easily
available for myself.

Let me just say, it's huge.

Yes they are. Repco in NZ had them on special @$79.95 this week. I went
down and decided it was way too big and heavy for my needs.

The main issue with these things is they are not really designed for
continuous operation, so fitting a smaller bulb also makes them less
likely to be damaged by the heat.

I got the "5m million candlepower" one from Jaycar instead and I'll put a
standard 12V 55w H3 in that to raise the charge life.

BTW, I converted my dolphin to a rechargeable by putting one of those 6V
rechargeable lantern batteries in it that Jaycar sells. Much more use
than the spotlight for general purpose work and gives 8 hours on a
charge. I modified the switchplate to take a charging socket. Just
unscrew the lens and plug in the charger.

I also picked up one of the pocket torches, to recharge you just stick
the end into a cigarette lighter socket. Single large LED for a lamp,
not too bad.

 

[George W. Frost]

<David Sauer> wrote in message
news:qjbua0p1tn0a1lrl75t1m3shslph69var4@4ax.com...

On Sat, 22 May 2004 11:37:41 +1200, Patrick Dunford
patrickdunford@nomail.invalid> wrote:

In article <b2mra0dpf4urlao66c9nvo4isk3etd2n4o@4ax.com>, David Sauer
says...
On Tue, 18 May 2004 23:14:35 +1200, Patrick Dunford
patrickdunford@nomail.invalid> wrote:

The usefulness of the smaller models is severely limited by the small
capacity of the batteries. The 6V 55W models can be made more useful
by
fitting the 25W bulb (limited availability only) while the 12V 100W
models can be fitted with a readily available 55W bulb for a doubling
or
more of the charge life.

The 100W H4 model is a H4 automotive lamp like you said.

Basically uses the low / high beam part (dual filament) to obtain the
different power levels so I can see no reason to swap the lamp.

What are the power ratings of the two beams?

I saw the bulb quoted as 90/100W, if the low setting is only 10W below
the high there would be almost no difference in the output brightness and
very little in battery life.

More like 50 or 55 and 100W

What makes you say this ?
I have a 100/130W H4 globe in the bike

 

On Mon, 24 May 2004 19:43:04 GMT, "George W. Frost"
<frosty@iceworks.org> wrote:

More like 50 or 55 and 100W

What makes you say this ?
I have a 100/130W H4 globe in the bike

Bahh, you guys are right. 12569 Philips 12V 100/90W

How are the wattage ratings interpreted?