I just compared 3 strobes I happened to have around: 1) Jotron AQ4 Xe original. Single C cell, Xenon tube. 2) Tektite 200 Xe. 2 C cells, Xenon tube and o3) Tektite 200 LED. 2 C cells, LED bulb
All with fresh batteries reading 1.6V each at start. I made no attempt to measure flash brightness over time.
FR = Flashs/seconds
FR at 0 24 36 48 hrs
AQ4 Xe 1/1 1/2 1/4 1/8
T200 Xe 1/1 1/1 1/8 1/15
T200 LED 2/1 4/1 3/1 2/1
The T200 LED was the clear winner. Subjectively the flash intensity seems to have started declining after 24 hrs, but it may be my imagination. The FR seemed to go wild 24-36 hrs, almost never seeming to be off, before finally calming down.
The T200Xe did fine till 24 hrs, then became erratic. Sometimes not flashing for several seconds, then giving a burst of flashes before calming down. Movement seemed to trigger pent-up flashes. It was the quieter of the 2 Xe tube devices.
I was surprised the ancient single cell AQ4 did better than the equivalent Tektite. I suspect the T200Xe hare, flashing more frequently, burns up it's 2 batteries faster than the AQ4 tortoise. No trouble hearing the loud click with every discharge.
All of these units will do the job out to 24 hrs. The T200LED is the best choice for sheer endurance, followed by the AQ4.
Note: the AQ4 has now been superseded by the AQ4 MkII. I believe this is also an LED device...
I thought it was interesting....I have some video at various time points, but it is monumentally dull to watch.
Disclosure: the Tektites were bought retail 'off the shelf' over the years. The AQ4 was cannibalized from my broken 1980s unit and a donor unit (DoM 2007 I think) from BhuddaSummer, another SB contributor in Japan. Thank you Dude...
All with fresh batteries reading 1.6V each at start. I made no attempt to measure flash brightness over time.
FR = Flashs/seconds
FR at 0 24 36 48 hrs
AQ4 Xe 1/1 1/2 1/4 1/8
T200 Xe 1/1 1/1 1/8 1/15
T200 LED 2/1 4/1 3/1 2/1
The T200 LED was the clear winner. Subjectively the flash intensity seems to have started declining after 24 hrs, but it may be my imagination. The FR seemed to go wild 24-36 hrs, almost never seeming to be off, before finally calming down.
The T200Xe did fine till 24 hrs, then became erratic. Sometimes not flashing for several seconds, then giving a burst of flashes before calming down. Movement seemed to trigger pent-up flashes. It was the quieter of the 2 Xe tube devices.
I was surprised the ancient single cell AQ4 did better than the equivalent Tektite. I suspect the T200Xe hare, flashing more frequently, burns up it's 2 batteries faster than the AQ4 tortoise. No trouble hearing the loud click with every discharge.
All of these units will do the job out to 24 hrs. The T200LED is the best choice for sheer endurance, followed by the AQ4.
Note: the AQ4 has now been superseded by the AQ4 MkII. I believe this is also an LED device...
I thought it was interesting....I have some video at various time points, but it is monumentally dull to watch.
Disclosure: the Tektites were bought retail 'off the shelf' over the years. The AQ4 was cannibalized from my broken 1980s unit and a donor unit (DoM 2007 I think) from BhuddaSummer, another SB contributor in Japan. Thank you Dude...