Excellent.
5sub

Still going strong. If there is a difference in brightness at this point I can't tell. In a a blacked out 12'x14' room it provides just enough light to see around. It isn't enough light to work by and it wouldn't even be nice to read by unless you had it right next to you to light up your book. I have a feeling that it wouldn't be much help if any outside under moonlight. If exploring new territory or searching for something I wouldn't want to rely on it. It is kinda like a big night light. That is pretty much what I have been using it as too. I keep it in my bathroom and when I have gotten up in the middle of the night to use the toilet it has provided me enough light to see what I am doing without being so bright it upsets my night vision and prevents me from getting back to sleep.

At just over 61 hours now 500 seems like an eternity if it makes it that long. At 7 hours a day, which should be more than enough to get by on in twilight hours,  that is 71 days.  The 245 hour lamp would run for 35 days at 7hrs. Since I consider realistic SHTF events to be short term 35 days would likely be more than enough and the extra lumens it provides over the 500hr model would make it far more useful. If not I have more batteries. YMMV but that is the way I see it. I will be picking up more of the 245hr lamps and skipping the 500hr model.. The test will continue for those that are interested though.

AndrewS,

Thanks for doing this review for us.



MtnWalker

500hr model is still going. Just about to cross the 300hr mark.

I bought another one to use for a camp I just got back from. I ran the 245hr model as my main lantern and it was awesome. It lit up our sitting area nicely at night and was great for walking around. The 500hr model was setup on the other side of our camp on the truck since I got tired of using the flashlight over there every time I needed something. It also became the tent light when it was time to turn in. It excelled for this and actually provided a fair amount of light for walking around. I thought it would be mostly useless out in the open but I was wrong. It isn't enough that I would choose it if I had the 245hr model to walk with but I could manage with one if I had to.

Now that I have 2 I will have a frame of reference to compare brightness. When I unpack tomorrow I will try to remember to make a comparison.

Thanks !!

How goes the test ???
5sub

Still running but I haven't compared it to the one with fresh batteries yet. I don't have plans for the night so I should be able to check it out when it gets dark.

17 days/408 hours: still running

Last night I compared the brightness to the one with fresh batteries and at this point light output is less than half of where it started. I almost forgot that when opening the new one that I noticed the packaging states 500 hours on the 3 LED setting and not the night light setting like that website stated. It looks like its going to make it too.

21 days/504 Hours.

It made it. Light output is probably 1/3 or 1/4 if where it started out.

Another winner.
5sub

Dang guys, I had to go out and get myself one of these after reading your posts....

Still running this morning which puts it over the 600 hour mark. Light output is just about negligible at this point though. Last night I went into the small bathroom I have it in with the lights off and I couldn't see more than an a foot or two around it. I had been in a room with the lights on before that so I imagine if my eyes had been focused in the dark a bit it would have been a little more useful but you get the idea of how low it is. This will be the conclusion of my test with this light.

I'm getting the hubby one for Christmas.