Does battery set up affect brightness?

[Godspeed]

Hi, I'm about to purchase my first saber, and was wondering whether the set up of the batteries (Li-Ion vs standard) affects the brightness of the saber. I don't plan to have it on too often so if the brightness is the same, I'm happy with standard batteries. On another note, how much of use can one get from batteries (without seeing a drop in brightness) before needing a recharge/fresh AAAs. I hope I'm posting this correctly  Thanks for the help!

[Master Nero Attoru]

Li-ion setup will give you MUCH better performance, both in brightness and longevity.  Not to mention they provide a constant voltage throughout most of their life, so your saber will be at full brightness for a long time (as opposed to alkalines, which gradually dim).

[Master Bluespike74]

The battery set up does not affect brightness.  What it does affect is your cash pile.  The Li Ion setup can be recharged repeatedly and the pros have already been discussed by Master Nero.

I have a saber with a standard setup and I have already had to replace the batteries but my sabers with Li-Ion setup still have the same batteries and I am nearing the one year mark of purchase. 

I highly suggest purchasing the Li-Ion setup with an additional set of batteries so that you never have to wait on charging times.

The only time this will be an issue is if you live in a country where Li-Ion batteries are prohibited by law.  (I have seen thread in the past to support this claim.) 

[Eiyame]

The battery set up does not affect brightness.  What it does affect is your cash pile.  The Li Ion setup can be recharged repeatedly and the pros have already been discussed by Master Nero.

I have a saber with a standard setup and I have already had to replace the batteries but my sabers with Li-Ion setup still have the same batteries and I am nearing the one year mark of purchase. 

I highly suggest purchasing the Li-Ion setup with an additional set of batteries so that you never have to wait on charging times.

The only time this will be an issue is if you live in a country where Li-Ion batteries are prohibited by law.  (I have seen thread in the past to support this claim.) 

I have to disagree with blue on this brightness with battery set up. It DOES effect the color, but some more than others. But get the Li-On with Buck set up, it will save you a TON in just batteries.

I have the color Bane's Heart and when I put it in my Standard Set Up Stunt Liberator, with rechargeable Ni-Mh batteries it looks like this.



Very bright PINK.

Now in my Shock LE with BuckPlug and Sound Bane's Heart ends up looking like this.



Kinda Pinky towards the bottom near the emitter then fades to a weird reddish/pink color

Even my VA changes color. From looking more like DVA with my Shock and more of a true purple with my Liberator. Though its hard to tell in photos (compare the carpet from the glow) its noticeable in person.

Shock LE with sound, you can see the blue tint to it



Liberator with standard set up, its a bit more purple.



Now on the flip side my silver doesn't really change, but you can see the difference in the brightness

Shock LE



Liberator



Sadly I can't show you the difference in my SRD, since I have yet to get a QD for it.

[Master Nero Attoru]

What Eiyame demonstrated is the effect of different voltages on colors created with RGB LEDs, such as VA or SRD.  With something like GB, CG, or BR you get a difference in brightness but not so much shade.

[Eiyame]

What Eiyame demonstrated is the effect of different voltages on colors created with RGB LEDs, such as VA or SRD.  With something like GB, CG, or BR you get a difference in brightness but not so much shade.

The difference in brightness was demonstrated in the last set of pictures using the AS in a Shock and a Liberator.


**Lets keep things pleasant here
-Nightwing

[Master Nero Attoru]

Nero if you look at my AS blade you can see I ALSO showed the difference with brightness as well.

I know, I wasn't saying anything about that... just wanted to explain the color change part, so people wouldn't think they could get different colors out of just any LED by changing the voltage... it's just plain common sense that there's a brightness change due to greater or lesser power sources

[Sky Dragon c5]

I even notice this with different colours on my Lithiums and grab bags.

[Eiyame]

I know, I wasn't saying anything about that... just wanted to explain the color change part, so people wouldn't think they could get different colors out of just any LED by changing the voltage... it's just plain common sense that there's a brightness change due to greater or lesser power sources

I don't know how colors in a Li-On setup without sound would look because all set ups I have with Li-On have sound. And that would change the color shades a bit becuase with sound the power is being split between the soundboard and the LED.

[Master Nero Attoru]

I don't know how colors in a Li-On setup without sound would look because all set ups I have with Li-On have sound. And that would change the color shades a bit becuase with sound the power is being split between the soundboard and the LED.

I don't have a basis for comparison, because I currently don't have any hilts without Obsidian that have Li-ion, but to my knowledge there wouldn't be all that much of a difference in this case.  The Obsidian board doesn't have a built in driver, so you don't get much interference there to change the voltage.  I have a stunt Dark Arbiter in AB coming with Li-ion setup, so I'll be able to compare that to my gf's Graflex at least (though it's also not an accurate comparison, as the Graflex has FoC so it uses a 10W RGB LED).

[Oramac]

I don't know how colors in a Li-On setup without sound would look because all set ups I have with Li-On have sound. And that would change the color shades a bit becuase with sound the power is being split between the soundboard and the LED.

I typically deal with automotive electrical systems and I'm a bit rusty, but if the Sound and LED were wired in parallel they should both receive full voltage.  If they're wired in series though, the one that comes second will see lower voltage due to voltage drop across the first load.

[eerockk]

Great follow up info to other posts on the boards. I'm glad I spent the extra on the Li-On and buckpuck for my order. These boards are an invaluable place to have rookie questions answered, and I'm full of rookie questions... not for long if I keep reading these posts! Thanks all.

[Master Bluespike74]

I typically deal with automotive electrical systems and I'm a bit rusty, but if the Sound and LED were wired in parallel they should both receive full voltage.  If they're wired in series though, the one that comes second will see lower voltage due to voltage drop across the first load.

The soundboard and LED are wired in Parallel, not Series. 

[Master Bluespike74]

The following is a video I made today using Seoul P4 Red LEDs and 36" (LED to Tip) Heavy Grade Blades.  I used all three battery types discussed.  No opinions were expressed on the video, just a chance to see all battery options under controlled circumstances.  This will allow you to make a decision based on what you see as everyone's ability to see is different.

http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=9729.msg151029#new

[Master Nero Attoru]

The following is a video I made today using Seoul P4 Red LEDs and 36" (LED to Tip) Heavy Grade Blades.  I used all three battery types discussed.  No opinions were expressed on the video, just a chance to see all battery options under controlled circumstances.  This will allow you to make a decision based on what you see as everyone's ability to see is different.

http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=9729.msg151029#new

Nicely done Blue, point!

One thing I wanted to add that I forgot to earlier - color can change greatly depending on some other factors, one being whether or not you have RGB or FoC.  For RGB, Ultra and Deep have mentioned multiple times that the colors don't directly correspond to the single-color options... so the purple setting on an RGB saber isn't necessarily the same as Violet Amethyst.  For FoC they use a different type of LED entirely, a 10W RGB (LEDengine I believe, but don't quote me on it).  This gives a VERY different color, as I saw today when I compared my gf's Graflex with my new Dark Catalyst - both are Arctic Blue, but the Graflex is much bluer in shade.