TERRALUX LIGHT ENGINES

TerraLUX Light Engines, retail $(see below) (www.terralux.biz)
Manufactured by TerraLUX (www.terralux.biz)
Last updated 03-24-04


(L-R: Quad Star, Broad Miser, Spot Miser, MiniStar2)


These are replacement bulbs for your Mini-Mag, or PR-base 2, 3, and 4 cell flashlights. Instead of a glass bulb with a delicate filament inside that heats up and glows, TerraLUX bulbs use LEDs as their source of light.

The MiniStar2 for your Mini Mag uses a SE (side emitting) 1.2W white Luxeon Star LED, the Spot Miser uses a 10mm white LED in an epoxy case, the Broad Miser uses four SMD white LEDs, and the Quad Star uses four 3mm white LEDs.

Costs: MiniStar2 is $24.95; Spot Miser, Broad Miser, and Quad Star are $14.95.



To use these, change the incandescent bulb in your flashlight with one of the TerraLUX bulbs. Since this will vary from light to light, I really cannot provide detailed instructions here.

To use any of the PR-base bulbs, remove the bezel (head) and reflector of the flashlight you're retrofitting, remove the old bulb, and insert the TerraLUX in its place. Fit the reflector back on if necessary, and screw the bezel back on. Stomp on the old bulb, sweep up the pieces (don't forget the bulb base), and empty your dustpan in the nearest wastepaperbasket, because you won't need the old bulb anymore. If you're adverse to breaking things, just stash away or throw away the old bulb whole. ;-)

To change the bulb in the Mini Mag with the MiniStar2, unscrew and remove the head, remove the old bulb, and insert the MiniStar2. If it doesn't light up, remove it, give it half a turn, and reinsert it.
Unscrew and remove the retaining ring on the head, and remove the reflector. Replace it with the one provided with your MiniStar2, and screw the retaining ring back on. Now, screw the head back onto the flashlight body. The MiniStar2 should go out when the head is screwed all the way on, just like the original bulb did.

The main differences you'll notice with the TerraLUX Light Engines are that the light will appear whiter, and the batteries ought to last longer.



Battery changing will depend on what kind of flashlight you put the TerraLUX in, so this section won't be all that useful.

The only advice I can offer here is to watch how many cells (1 or 2 cells for the MiniStar2, and 2, 3, or 4 cells for the other bulbs on this page) your flashlight uses; and to be careful that the bulb nipple is positive (+) in polarity and the shell is (-) in polarity on the PR bulb base drop-ins.

Current consumption ranges from 139mA to 304mA at 3 volts DC open circuit (2 cells), depending on the lamp. See individual current consumption figures with each beam photograph below.



Handle and use these as you would any replacement flashlight bulb. They aren't water-resistant, so I can't try to drown them in the sink or tub. Then again, they're loaners, so I couldn't try to drown them even if they were advertised as being water resistant.

They appear to be reasonably sturdy; at least as sturdy as the bulb you're replacing, if not a bit more sturdy. I believe they will withstand errant drops to the floor from desk-height (a little lower than your pee-pee, if you're an average sized male). Let me go find a measuring tape or something and measure that...BRB...looks like about 32".

The Broad Miser (the one with the four SMD (Surface Mount Device) LEDs) is more suitable for use in "tap lites" and other wide-angle applications than it is for reflectored flashlights. That's why its beam looks a bit funny in the picture below. I don't have a suitable light to test it in, so the flashlight I used will have to do.



Beam photo of MiniStar2 at ~12".
Measures 213,100mcd.
Current was measured at 304mA.



Beam photo of Quad Star at ~12".
Measures 35,000mcd.
Current was measured at 214mA.



Beam photo of Spot Miser at ~12".
Measures 16,600mcd.
Current was measured at 139mA.



Beam photo of Broad Miser at ~12".
Measures 8,300mcd.
Current was measured at 183mA.

Note: This lamp was not intended for use in a reflectored
flashlight. But it's all I had available, so there ya go.

All light measurements were taken with a Meterman LM631 light meter.
All current measurements were done with 2 cells (3 volts DC open circuit).
All beam photographs here were taken at approximately 12" from the target.



TEST NOTES:
Samples of these four bulbs were loaned to me by a Candlepower Forums member and received on 03-10-04.

Products were made in Indonesia. A product's country of origin really does matter to some people, which is why I mentioned it on this web page.

Test samples of the PR-base retrofit bulbs installed in an unknown type 2 C-cell flashlight for the purposes of this web page.



Here's a picture of this flashlight for reference purposes. It has a swivel neck, and has three red LEDs on the tail section. I already sent several pictures of this to The Flashlight Museum, and they didn't know what it was either. But it works with these bulbs, so I used it.

Test sample of the MiniStar2 was installed in a Mini Mag I already had handy. It was originally hosting a MagmaLED prototype from Technology Associates, which will be reinstalled when I return the TerraLUX lamps to their owner.


UPDATE: 03-24-04
I have returned these modules to their owner, and applied ratings to the products as shown farther down this page. The "PROS" and "CONS" sections have not been completely filled out because I didn't have these bulbs long enough to determine their pros and cons.


PROS:
Never, ever have to change a blown incandescent bulb again
Lower current usage (longer battery life) than with incandescent bulbs


CONS:
Can get smoked if you put them in a flashlight with too many cells
Spot Miser bulb is dimmer than expected


    MANUFACTURER: TerraLUX
    PRODUCT TYPE: LED replacement bulbs for flashlights
    LAMP TYPE: LED; varies with bulb type
    No. OF LAMPS: 1-4; varies with bulb type
    BEAM TYPE: Depends on what flashlight you put it in
    SWITCH TYPE: Depends on what flashlight you put it in
    BEZEL: Depends on what flashlight you put it in
    BATTERY: 2, 3, or 4 cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 139mA to 304mA
    WATER RESISTANT: No
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: Custom reflector for MiniStar2, otherwise none
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATINGS:

    Star RatingStar Rating
    MiniStar2

    Star Rating
    Quad Star

    Star Rating
    Spot Miser

    Star RatingStar Rating
    Broad Miser





TerraLUX Light Engines * www.terralux.biz






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