The XP-L is the same size die as the XM-L2, but it’s placed onto the smaller size board of the older XP-G. Top output is 1193-1268.Ĭontinued advances in LED technology made the XP-L LED available in the spring of 2014. The U3 bin has now appeared in many flashlights. T6 output within the L2, peaks between 1044-1119 lumens. The T6 bin is present in both the XM-L & XM-L2 emitters. It has also omitted the “grid” found on the XM-L. Similar in size (5mm x 5mm) to the XM-L, the L2 has increased brightness by about 20%. Part of what makes the XM-L visually distinctive, is its slightly larger size and a six-line grid across the die. Both of the more recent bins have less flood overall. Overall beam distance (throw) has increased since the XM-L. (*see note) Meanwhile the U2 bin is 7% brighter than the T6. The T6 cannot output more than 910-975 lumens. Differences in the T6 and U2 flux bins include higher brightness. Total lumen output for the original XM-L peaked at near 700. This LED produces a full-flood beam, with less throw than the XP-G. Virtually all flashlights made today use an XM-L LED. Note that the size of the ‘G2’ is a tad smaller, producing a slightly smaller beam. This line also offers throwing capability much closer to that of the older XR-E. The ‘G2’ offers up to 20% more than the ‘G’. The ‘G’ and ‘G2’ line feature a boost in lumens. On the retail level, flashlights with this LED have been known to be sold at cost-conscious big-box stores. It won’t offer a lot of lumens and is capable of over-heating itself to death (causing permanent failure) due to the cheaper mounting material used in the assembly. The XP-C is a low-power LED which offers a much lower maximum drive current than others in the XP family. If you should see a flashlight with this LED…pass on it. Not much different than XR-E except for its size. It WILL however have excellent throw! (enabling the beam to travel at a great distance) Its highest lumen count will be around 300, using lithium batteries. Dissecting The BinsĪ light with this LED (if there’s still one in the clearance closet) will be several years old. Below, are the combinations which you are more likely to see, or have seen. Over the period, there have been many combinations of bins assigned which have not become flashlight components. These codes always follow the model number. And although the reasoning behind the naming of the codes means nothing to consumers, just try to remember that with each sequence of codes, the lights have added more lumens!Īn example of the flux bin codes that have accompanied the LED models (as noted earlier in the article) have had naming references such as Q2, Q5, R2, L2, U2, T6, etc. There’s no denying that flashlights have become brighter over the years. The flux bins are (more-or-less) brightness codes…in the form of a rating. If you didn’t…scroll up and read it before continuing.
If you read the paragraph above, then you’re already familiar with what flux bins are. Please don’t ask me to define that terminology, just know that it exists and it’s one of the components that you should have a basic understand of when looking at flashlight specifications. Each model however has several luminous flux bins. Here a basic roll call of the XLamp LED models that CREE has introduced over the last decade or so.īasically in order of consumer appearance, are XR-E, XP-E, XP-G, XM-L.
It’s not enough for flashlight seekers that they must understand terminologies that relate to lumens, battery types, run times etc… but trying to make sense of the LED models themselves can be quite mind boggling! Alphabet SoupĪll this wonderful technology has created quite a challenge for consumers.
Lumen scale flashlight how to#
Read on to discover how to determine this when shopping for an LED flashlight. These differences, when coupled with the size and shape of the reflector, are what give YOU the user, the beam that you prefer. Some will disagree by adding that it’s the “die size” that has increased.
Some will say that LED’s have become smaller over the years. The research that went into the development of cheaper and more efficient ways of producing light, have almost become a household word! For those interested in handheld flashlights, the CREE LED has become the dominant force responsible for bringing the devices into the 21st century! When You’ve Seen One, Have You Seen Them All? Standard flashlight bezel and LED Forget ‘Grease’ – CREE Is The Word!ĬREE, Incorporated was founded in 1987 at North Carolina State University.
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