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The EcoStar
New Design for 2012 The Eco 2 |
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(Economy lamp) Economy of power consumption, economy of weight, economy of cost. Similar to the WorkStar it has no external heastsinking and is therefore no heavier than a standard Oldham lamp. The LEDs are designed to heatsink into the existing metal of the headset, the bracket and other metal fittings. Using Cree XM-L and XP-G technology it offers a choice of either an area light suitable for caving use from SW1, or wide beam from SW 2. There is a single Cree R5 XP-G emitter mounted bare right up against the glass, the other Cree XM-L behind a large reflector. The lamp is designed to run of parallel Li ions at approx 4V, and recharges off a standard Oldham charger, although a dedicated Dual channel charger is available. (Battery packs contain electronics to enable this) Built on unused ex military (expired shelf life) Oldham headsets. Most look like brand new. 2 fully independent lighting circuits. SW1 powers the bare emitter at 3 different settings. Low setting is suitable for chatting in a group etc and provides enough light to see what you are doing, however it is possible to look directly at the lamp without being dazzled. Medium and High provide suitable even 'daylight lighting' for close in photography, viewing formations etc, it very closely simulates natural daylight. This is a very pleasant illumination, somewhat reminiscent of the old carbide lamps, and eminently suitable for tight, wet cave systems. SW2 also has 3 settings, low medium, or maximum which draws 1.4 amps from the battery to produce an output of 520 lumens. Most exploration can be done comfortably on the low setting, which only draws a measly 0.39 amps from the battery and on test has given over 12 hours on the tiny 2 cell helmet mounted power pack! At this point the lamp does not go out but continues to burn but on a vastly reduced output This is what is usually called a 'slow death'. Some people consider that this is essential in a caving lamp. Many of these lamps have been sold and the only design issue has been with the red Deans connector plugs, most issues have been resolved by simply cleaning the plug. However, we are now fitting the same yellow XT60 connectors as the Trigon, but the other way round so that an 8V power pack cannot be fitted to a 4V lamp. We have never had a single issue reported to us with these connectors. Further, we have now modified the electronic circuits to give even more efficiency, the lamp will now burn brighter longer. The LEDs in this lamp are driven by a series of parallel chips that each outputs 350 mA, or 0.35 amps in old money. The beam has 4 or these, the flood has 3, both in independent circuits. As a single chip is capable of driving the LEDs to output over 100 lumens you probably have more chance of winning the lottery than being left without a light, unless of course, something happens to the battery. Further, as an alternative to the the Li Ion power pack, the new model is suitable for running off 4 AA batteries, either standard or rechargeable. On test the lamp gave full output on standard mode for 4.5 hours and then continued to burn for hours after until I got fed up with looking at it. 4 AAs is a convenient number as they come in packs of 2 and recharge in either 2s or 4s, devices that run off 3 AAs are a nuisance.
The AA battery holder is shown below. It is of very sturdy construction, nothing flimsy about it.
1 lamp, 1 by 2 cell helmet mount battery pack, plus fitting kit. Price £85 plus £10 post and packing, total £95. Recharges of any standard Oldham charger. ADD £20 for dual channel dedicated charger ADD £8 for 1 by 4 cell AA battery holder with built in short circuit protection DEDUCT £15 for a conversion of your existing good condition Oldham headset. P and P includes insurance on this lamp. Note that neither charger or AA battery holder is included with this lamp in the above deals. If you do not have a suitable Oldham charger we can supply own own dual power pack charger for £20 extra as described above, the cost of the whole lot together with post and packing (insured special delivery) is now £115, or £123 if you want the AA battery holder as well.
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Cree Technology
Cree Inc introduce a new generation of high efficiency LED emitters: "CREE Breaks 200 Lumen per Watt Barrier These new R5 XP-G and XM-L emitters are used in the the EcoStar. |
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Temperature readings, both taken at the LEDs and on maximum settings and at MAX OUT time. Room Light 48 degrees Centigrade Beam 52 degrees Centigrade Low Beam setting duration tested to 12 hours, lamp continued to burn after this but on reduced light level. |
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Picture left is the EcoStars beam pattern at a distance of 4.5 metres. The line is a one metre scale. Picture taken on full power. The lamp is very bright and it is very obvious that my stated light outputs are an understatement.
Lower picture on the left is the EcoStar after 14 hours on Standard Mode, still burning although very diminished, but enough light to get you out of Dodge.
The EcoStar Underground. I tried the EcoStar in Carlswark Cavern, Derbyshire, alongside a standard Oldham and a Fenix TK11. My general impression was of a lamp very pleasant lamp to use, it grows on you. The bare emitter was just the job for cavers; see the close up of the flowstone below. Although done on the previous model, this is the same output as the current models medium daylight mode. ALL PICTURES ARE STRAIGHT OFF THE CAMERA WITH NO MESSING.
Above: Daylight Mode on medium setting
Above: Standard Oldham bulb caplamp
Above: Passageway in a mid Wales slate mine with lamp on LOW setting, same camera settings as Oldham above.
Above: Standard Oldham bulb caplamp in slate mine chamber.
Above: Same place, same camera settings, EcoStar on LOW beam.
EcoStar, same again but medium setting.
Above: EcoStar with beam on high. Many will say that this is all the lamp you will need. |
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