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Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 10, 2011 11:35 am
by Caver John
Lava wrote:Well, I think I just stepped off the proverbial cave light "bus" for a few years.

Image

Spark ST6-460NW primary and Zebralight H31w backup. Just a few years ago I couldn't have imagined a setup this small and light with so much runtime and light output.


Nice setup here, inspiring actually. Very clean.
Now this is just my two cents but would it help by switching the two having the zebra flood on the bottom and the spark on top. It looks like the spark may block out some of the flood, if the spark were on top, it would rest nicely atop the flood and out of the way of the beam.
Just throwin it out there...

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 10, 2011 11:48 am
by DeanWiseman
rlboyce wrote:Do any of you know what the spot and spill angles are on the Sparks?


I can do some simple Pythagorean geometry on the wall when I get home this evening.


-Dean

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 10, 2011 11:55 am
by Chads93GT
I will most likely get the new zebra as well only I will mount the spark on top and the zebra on the bottom. The spark sticks out too far and will block the beam of the zebra with it mounted above it. the spark blocks the beam on my fenix hp10 horribly and its mounted directly above it.

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 10, 2011 11:59 am
by rlboyce
Thanks Dean! I think this information may be very useful.

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 10, 2011 3:49 pm
by Lava
Chads93GT wrote:I will most likely get the new zebra as well only I will mount the spark on top and the zebra on the bottom. The spark sticks out too far and will block the beam of the zebra with it mounted above it. the spark blocks the beam on my fenix hp10 horribly and its mounted directly above it.


I had that same thought too, Chad. With regard to my setup in the picture above, the Spark does block the Zebra slightly, but only in part of the spill and not in the spot where I'd typically be looking. I haven't used it underground yet, but I'm pretty sure it won't bother me. Especially since the odds are low that I'll use it much at all.

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 10, 2011 8:24 pm
by DeanWiseman
DeanWiseman wrote:
rlboyce wrote:Do any of you know what the spot and spill angles are on the Sparks?


I can do some simple Pythagorean geometry on the wall when I get home this evening.


Okay, these are not ultra-precise measurements, but I was pretty careful, and repeated the process at least 2 or 3 times. Without the reflector, the spill area is essentially the same size, give or take an inch or two, as it is more of a function of the distance of the LED behind the front lip of the assembly.

So... at a perpendicular distance of 36 inches, the diameter of the wider circle was ~72 inches, give or take...there's a soft edge. The brighter inner circle was at least 10 inches, maybe trying to be 11. Pythagorus tells us that's an angular spread of approximately 45 degrees (each side from centerline), since the distance from the wall is approximately equal to the radius of the illuminated area.

Image

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To verify the measurement on a smaller scale, and I found that the illuminated area was equivalent to a CD-ROM disk when held at 1 and 5/8ths inches from the table. The brighter inner circle was just slightly smaller than the clear plastic area you find on such a disk. Lastly, using a protractor (duh... thought of that while writing this up :doh: ), the beam spread did corroborate with my 45-degree estimation. :banana:


How's that?


-Dean

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 10, 2011 9:08 pm
by Chads93GT
yeah...... what he said........ math n words n stuff. ........ ;) lol

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 10, 2011 9:15 pm
by rlboyce
This was more than adequate, thanks!!!! The diagram really eliminated some of my initial misunderstanding. I first thought you meant 45 degrees as the total spill angle.

So, this means the 500CW has a total spill angle of approximately 90 degrees, and spot angle of 16 degrees. This is very interesting. The H600 is claimed to be 80 degrees spill and 10 degrees spot, which means the projected light is narrower than the 500CW. Hmmm.... I don't like the idea of a narrower profile. I imagine this means it the H600 would probably throw farther which is preferable to some, but as a caver I'm more interested in short to medium range distances. Beamshots or first hand experience with both is the only way to know for sure, but it sounds that the 500CW may have a slightly more desirable beam. This is not mentioning the ability of the 500CW to switch the lens or remove the reflector.

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 11, 2011 2:17 am
by DeanWiseman
rlboyce wrote:This was more than adequate, thanks!!!! The diagram really eliminated some of my initial misunderstanding. I first thought you meant 45 degrees as the total spill angle.

So, this means the 500CW has a total spill angle of approximately 90 degrees, and spot angle of 16 degrees. This is very interesting.


Yeah, I do better with visual diagrams, myself.


-Dean

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 11, 2011 3:20 pm
by DeanWiseman
rlboyce wrote:The diagram really eliminated some of my initial misunderstanding. I first thought you meant 45 degrees as the total spill angle.


The other reason I chose to describe it as 45 on each side, is because I was worried somebody would call me out that the lit area is not, in fact, a true triangle, but rather a rhombus (with a 1-inch side). :yikes: :big grin:


-Dean

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 14, 2011 12:50 pm
by jeffkruse
I just ordered a Spark SD6 460NW. I'll add that to my helmet along with my Apex.

I also love my hand held Fenix PD31. So small and so much light. I find it much easier to move my hand then move my headlamp to look around.

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 17, 2011 9:35 am
by Caver John
Anyone know if/when the sd-6 will be available in AA?

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 25, 2011 3:59 pm
by DeanWiseman
jeffkruse wrote:I just ordered a Spark SD6 460NW. I'll add that to my helmet along with my Apex.

I also love my hand held Fenix PD31. So small and so much light. I find it much easier to move my hand then move my headlamp to look around.




Hey.... does anyone out there HAVE a Fenix HP-11 they use?


If so, let me know. I'm working on something and I'd like to get your input.


-Dean

My slightly disappointing first impression of my Spark SD6 4

PostPosted: Oct 31, 2011 11:04 am
by jeffkruse
I received my Spark SD6 460NW on Friday. I appreciated how the box was packaged for shipping in a simple padded envelope.

The light looks great and the headband looks good to. I was a little disappointed with the threading as I am use to Fenix lights but with a little care they should be fine.
I tried the light on turbo and it only ran for 5 to 7 minutes before reducing the output down to only what I assume was the next lower mode 200 lm.
I tried to switch it back to the turbo mode but it did not change. The light was warm.
There is no mention that running the light on turbo is limited to such a short time. :roll:

So what I end up with is a 200lm flood light that will do short bursts to 460lm.

I also will try to limit it’s exposure to water because it doesn’t seem as rugged as a Fenix.

Overall I am happy with the light but a little disappointed with it. Hopefully I’ll get it in a cave this weekend and see how it does.

Re: Fenix hp-11 or Spark st-6 500cw

PostPosted: Oct 31, 2011 11:17 am
by Stealth Z
DeanWiseman wrote:
Hey.... does anyone out there HAVE a Fenix HP-11 they use?


If so, let me know. I'm working on something and I'd like to get your input.


-Dean


Yep, have a HP-10, HP-20 and a HP-11.
Love the HP10 and HP11, hate the cord on the HP20 - too much crawling in TX caves...
What's the question?