Inova Mini Floodlights?

StoneDog

StoneDog

Gold Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2002
Messages
146
Does anyone have any experience with these? With five blue, red, green, whatever LED's and a 20 hour rating from two lithium batteries they look like they might rank high on the gadget scale...

How much light do they actually produce? More than a comparable Maglite? How about those Surefire flashlights?

Jon
 
I doubt LEDs will ever be as bright per se as the Surefire style bulbs.

As others have alluded to, the Inova X5-T puts out more of a floodlight/area light whereas the Surefires put out a spotlight. If you wanted to illuminate something across the street or a dark alley or are looking for a lost pet, I'd use the SF. The Inova excells at normal chores like looking for a dropped object at your feet, navigating around the room in the dark, working on a computer or car, looking under the stove, etc.

The Inova lights up an area just enough for normal tasks where the Surefire would certainly be overkill (and bright as hell - enough to make you squint in dim to dark conditions). The white Inova I have makes the Surefire's beam appear yellow. The Surefire is rugged, but I believe the weak point is the bulb. This is also where the Inova excels - it appears it can take a BEATING (I've knocked it around pretty good) and is waterproof to 150' or so.

Best thing is that it is a mizer on batteries relative to the Surefires. The fact that it runs off the spent E2e's batteries is what sold me on it.

Both are great for their respective tasks.
 
The Mini Mag with fresh batteries will out throw the Inova. The Inova puts out a much more even beam with no dark spots. The Inova gives more than enough light to navigate by. The Mini Mag is a great light, it has stood the test of time. Overall the Inova is better.

Paul
 
The Inova X5 is a great light for when you don't need an ultra-tactical-killer-ninja-light.

Where does it beat the Mini-Mag? Runtime, beam color, beam evenness, looks, permanent/temporary tailswitch, no need to focus.

If you're serious about lights, a mini-mag is not the best option. You could buy one and then get a drop-in modification, but that adds up to the price of the Inova X5 already.
 
While the Inova X5/X5T are good LED lights and represent good values, you will not get anywhere near 20 hours of usable light.

If lucky, you'll get 7-10 hours, after that the light emitted is nearly useless for any task other than possibly acting as a "marker" in your tent.

Go to Brock's (of candlepowerforums.com) http://www.uwgb.edu/nevermab/led.htm and click on the run-time tests link about 1/2-way down to see for yourself.

Summarizing Brock's results, with new batts (in 1000 mcd units) the Inova X5T registers:

-0:00 98
+5:45 50
+7:00 20
+9:30 08

and soon after doesn't even register on Brock's GE lightmeter. (Note: it may still be glowing for the remaining "claimed 20 hours", but its certainly not going to be illuminating anything.)

This BTW coincides with my experience with one of the original Inova X5's I used on a houseboating trip.

Hope that helps.
 
I posted this yesterday...after using it last night I can already notice the beginning of the same problem :mad: ...

At first I was pretty happy with my X5 (the first version)...until it started flickering. I didn't pay much attention when the light first started having problems- it got progressively worse- to the point where the light would shut itself off. I sent the light back to Inova. They sent me a replacement. A month or so went by, same problems. I sent the light back and two weeks later I have another light (I asked if they could send me the updated light since the old version had so many problems...they sent me the old one ). I am hoping it keeps working...I am pretty dissappointed with the light to say the least. If this light goes through the same flickering ordeal I don't think it will be worth my time sending the light back - the shipping costs I have paid will almost pay for another light . I have no confidence in the light and I don't carry it anymore. The people at Inova's customer service didn't seem too concerned that I somehow received two defective lights . I would suggest going with a Surefire. I have an M2 and I couldn't be happier...not a single problem.

Matt
 
If you're serious about lights, a mini-mag is not the best option. You could buy one and then get a drop-in modification, but that adds up to the price of the Inova X5 already.


The Opalec Newbeam conversion for the mini-mag is about $30. If you don't already own a mini-mag, add another $10. It is almost as expensive as the Inova.

More importantly though, the Inova takes very expensive 123 lithiums. The Opalec/mini-mag runs on easy-to-find 50 cent AAs. And because the Opalec is fully regulated, you get eight hours of constant output. It will also run just as brightly on rechargeables and on batteries that are too weak to power other devises.

If you use your flashlight very much at all, the Opalec mini-mag will be far less expensive if the price and availability of batteries is considered.

That said, I don't own the Inova. I suspect is is much brighter that the Opalec/mini-mag.

Scott
 
Brock's Flashlight Runtime Comparison page

Check this out, has some runtime and candela ratings for some lights. Very useful.

Note that the Inova used is the dimmer X5, not the X5T (which should be a little bit brighter). I use my X5T to suck up used Surefire batteries, so I the fact that it uses 123's is a good thing, for me.

I see that the Inova does indeed get less runtime than the Opalec Newbeam. I might spring for one of the conversions, since my Mini-Mag is just sitting here useless, and I figure any serious flashaholic should at least have a drop-in mod. :)
 
Although I've never been a huge flashlight nut I do have a number of 2D and 3D Maglites laying around the house and in my vehicles... Makes sense to go with the NewBeam product.

I sure would like one of those SureFire Centurion models but I really don't "need" something that bright. This is pure utility for me...

Thanks for your help everyone.

Jon
 
I asked my fiancee for an Inova X5T for christmas- I have a REALLLLYYY good chance of getting it :)

I also will be getting a Surefire M2 (maybe another model, but I am mostly sure about the M2) sometime soon.

I decided on the Surefire because I want a powerful light that will be freakin' bright up close, as well as have the power to illuminate things at a distance. This will be a light to carry when the sun goes down, to use in a self defense situation if need be (light as a force tool), to light up the paths I walk on at night around here, etc.

Since the Surefire takes lithium batteries, it only mades sense to get an Inova for 2 reasons:

1) Inova is a better EDC light for daylight chores: lighting up the area behind a tv, a computer, and other nooks and crannies. Small, portable, powerful

2) The Inova will use dead batteries from a Surefire.

So, that is why I have decided on these lights. I don't know if it helps in your decision, but it may be informative nonetheless.

I would go lurk on candlepowerforums, though, and check out the mods some of those guys do. The 5w luxeon mods for 2D cell mag lighs are awesome by the looks of things! And the green 5W luxeon mod for the Surefire M2 must be alien technology... there is no ther explanation for it!

P.S., I have a min-mag that is dead (didn't work well after many years, I took it apart... oops!) and a Super Pelilight. THey are cool lights, for sure. Cheap and batteries are cheap. But I am looking forward to powerful light and flawless beams. I have decided that quality of light for my uses is worth the higher battery price.
 
Crayola - I couldn't find anything specifically about the Luxeon 5w and Maglites. I'm not techie enough to do a conversion myself (which is why I like the NewBeam drop-in from Opalec) so that option may be out.

I did see the SureFire green 5w TerraDestroyer. Neat light but I think it'd get way too hot too quickly to be an EDC.

Jon
 
StoneDog:

That TerraDestroyer is cool eh! I am not sure if they even sell that mod, especially because it does get pretty hot.

As far as the 5W luxeon mods, I'll try to get more info on that for you. www.elektrolumens.com is one guy/place that comes to mind. there are a few others.. oh... I'll go dig some up...

http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/lambda3.htm

That should take you to a review of an LED mod for 2D maglights. Contact info for the modder is there.

http://www.inretech.com/

That is a company which produces mods for MAgLights. I don't see a 2D mod on the sight, but e-mail them. I think they would be able to make something for you for a very decent price.

I don't know a whole lot about flashlights, so don't hold me to any of this! :)
 
Originally posted by LongRifle
At first I was pretty happy with my X5 (the first version)...until it started flickering. I didn't pay much attention when the light first started having problems- it got progressively worse- to the point where the light would shut itself off.
Click to expand...
I have a NightBuster 8x, and the first generation of flashlight had the same problem. There were a lot of complaints and returns, so the manufacturer redesigned it. I have the second generation of flashlight, and the problem is much reduced. However, it still flickers a bit, always during the second hour of runtime. Not before and not after. I don't know enough about electronics to speculate why, but it definitely follows this pattern.

I wonder if people will also notice this in their Inova as they use it for longer periods of time.
 
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