Originally Posted by
PaulRivers
P.S. Here's a page from the other site mentioned where he mentions the production date being 3210 -
Philips LED bike light: Run time test
It is in the same location as 2111 on mine. So for better or worse, it sounds the one amazon sent me probably
is an older model. This is a bit of a mixed bag - on the one hand, the newer models supposedly have better electronics, runtime, and led color temperature. But on the other hand, supposedly the "turn the light to low after 75 minutes" timer was only in the newer models, and the older models just run until they run out of battery. When I get done put my new batteries through a few cycles (I've always found new batteries tend to take a few cycles of using them to reach max capacity), I'll test out the runtime (using my Lacrosse Bc9009 external battery charger, and the same physical batteries for each light).
Wonder if he still ships the newer Saferide model from overseas? Maybe I should contact him about the timer issue, hmm...
P.S. Just to add another confusing thought, I had also read though that the on the older model it just ran on high until the batteries ran out, then it shut off. But the one I have, I left it running on my desk, and it switched automatically into low mode (I didn't time it...probably should have). So now I remain...really, really confused, lol.
Did you notice the update:
"Update 2012-1-23: Runtimes of 2 lamps with production dates 0911 and 2111 are ca. 1:25 on high, then taking out a battery and immediately putting it back in again gave another 32 minutes or so on high. Total runtime on high ca. 1:57. This is better than the earlier lamps, but still not 2 hours on high without trickery (taking out a battery and putting it back)."
According to this, the models with the production date 2111 are a slight update from the early model, but not yet a 2. generation model. I think the product number "BF48L20BBLX1" designates 2. gen. models, while "BF48L20BBL" designates the 1. generation.
I don't think even 2. generation models can reach half the run time of the Ixon IQ Premium though (around 5 hours on full power).
AFAIK, the Luxeon Rebel LEDs used in the Philips Saferide are fairly "old";. they simply deliver much fewer lumens per milliampere than the new (Osram?) LED in the Ixon Premium, and there are two of them.