TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel

TerraLUX TLE-20 new generation Nichia Regel warm white LED based MiniMag AA and MiniMag AAA bulb replacement module. TerraLUX TLE-20 has relatively higher light output as compared to original filament bulb. Nichia Regel LED due to it's warm tint closely matches the color rendering quality of incandescent bulb, yet offers a whiter beam of light. For the same type of batteries TerraLUX TLE-20 will run considerably longer than the incandescent bulb in both types of MiniMag Lights. As the LED replacement is a solid state device, there is no filament to burn out or no glass to break. This makes your beloved MiniMag AA or MiniMag AAA sturdier and last longer without worrying for replacement bulb. Over the period of operation, the incandescent bulb will turn dark due to deposition of tungsten on inner walls of glass bulb in comparison the Nichia Regel warm white LED will remain in good condition for considerably long duration. The Nichia Regel LED operates at higher voltage than original incandescent bulb. For this purpose, Terralux has employed regulated step up electronic circuitry to drive the LED. TerraLUX TLE-20 package includes two custom reflectors, one for MiniMag AA and another for MiniMag AAA. The replacement of incandescent bulb is a simple two step process which involves replacing original reflector with custom reflector and replacing the incandescent bulb with LED replacement. TerraLUX TLE-20 module has gold plated contact pins for better connectivity.
Note: This review is in continuation of TerraLUX review series of TerraLUX TLE-5EX MiniStar2 Extreme and TerraLUX TLE-20 Luxeon. You may find some of the contents similar; however, we have highlighted the major differences wherever necessary.

Light Features:

• Nichia Regel warm white LED
• Custom reflectors for both MiniMag AA and MiniMag AAA
• Regulated step up drive circuit
• Single light output level

Light Operation: The light operation remains same as that of MiniMag 2 AA Light. Twist in clockwise direction to switch ON and focus. Twist counterclockwise to change focus or switch OFF.

The chart showing total output of TLE-20 with various batteries.

TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel LED
Illumination Source	Sanyo Eneloop AA	Alkaline AA
TerraLUX TLE-20	95	100
Original Incandescent	55	65

General Info
ID	50
Light Model	TLE-20 Nichia Regel
Manufacturer	TerraLUX
Review Page & Image	TLE-20 Nichia Regel
Country	United States
Review Date	2008-08-30
Review Update	2008-08-30
Light Vitals
Length	10 mm
Width / Bezel Diameter	12 mm
Width / Tube Diameter	mm
Height (if applicable)	mm
Weight (without battery)	0 gm
Light Source
LED Format	SMD Medium Power
Number of LEDs	1
LED Name	Nichia Regel
LED Power	0.5  Watts
Light Management
Lens Material	Acrilic
Lens Coating (if any)	None
Lens Transperency (typical)	70
Lumen Management	Reflector
Material	Plastic
Beam Type	Variable Focus
Power Management
Converter Type	Step Up
Properties	Semi Regulated
Features	Simple
Batteries Supported, Output & Runtime
Battery Size     Chemistry     Nominal Voltage     # Used     Total Output     Runtime to 75%     Runtime to 50%     Runtime to 25%	AA AA NiMH   Alk   1.2 1.6 2 2 95 100 0 88 0 300 0 409
Switch Options
Switch Type     Switch Properties	Not Applicable Not Applicable
Body Material Options
Material     Properties     Color	Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable
Light Rating
Looks	60
Build Quality	70
Runtime	80
Output	45
Features	20
Usability	75
Bang for buck	50
Overall Rating	57.143

Packaging: TerraLUX TLE-20 is packaged in simple blister type packaging. Single thin cardboard paper based literature displays information about the product on both sides. On the front, listed are the major features and the function of the TLE-20. The kit includes two custom designed plastic reflectors.

On the back side of the TLE-20 packaging, there is detailed information about LED and instructions to replace old incandescent bulb with the new Nichia Regel LED upgrade kit.


Inside the blister package, custom reflectors and TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel LED light module are placed in molded plastic container.


Here is a closeup of TerraLUX Module and Reflectors


Size Comparison: Comparing size with standard AA battery, the diameter of TLE-5 Luxeon module is about same as that of AAA battery. The overall length of module including the pins is about 20 mm.


Here is another size comparison of TerraLUX TLE-20 size with incandescent 2AA MiniMag bulb. Notice the darkening incandescent bulb. Comparing with the TerraLUX TLE-20 Luxeon and TerraLUX TLE-5EX Ministar2 Extreme LED Replacement.




TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel LED: Here is a closeup picture of the module. The Nichia Regel warm white LED is placed perfectly in center directly. Plastic enclosure encapsulates entire circuitry and protects the inner contents. As the LED is relatively low power consuming device, the need of active heat sinking is not required.


Here is a 360 view composite image of TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel LED light module. All electronics are encapsulated in plastic enclosure and the only parts that are exposed are the LED and gold plated contact LED's.


Installing TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel LED on MiniMag AA: On the back side of packaging instructions to install the LED module are available. Here is the picture for your easy reference.


Installation is very simple process. Please note that we have used MiniMag AA flashlight to demonstrate the LED replacement. Same instructions apply to MiniMag AAA LED replacement. So, with the instructions as above, let's begin installing the TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia LED Replacement. Picture here shows dissembled view of MiniMag 2AA. Open up the head and the bezel as shown below, replace the old reflector with the custom reflector from TerraLUX, reassemble bezel ring back. Next step is to install the TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel LED Light Module. This is even simpler step. Just remove the old bi-pin incandescent bulb by pulling it out and replace it with the new LED replacement module.


Picture here shows installed new custom reflector on MiniMag head and the TLE-20 module.


If it does not light up, remove, rotate by 180 degree to reverse the direction of pins and re install. There, you see light. You might have noticed that the light corona is very pleasant warm in color as against the surrounding.
Caution: Do not look/stare at LED directly! It's extremely bright and may cause temporary or permanent eye damage.


Here is a picture of completed assembly.

The beam from TerraLUX TLE-20's Nichia Regel has definite hotspot with soft edges forming corona. The side spill is also relatively bright. Overall, the beam quality is excellent good. Under extreme wide focus mode the beam develops inevitable donut shape, however for medium wide focus the beam is very acceptable. In fact, the beam of TerraLUX TLE-20 LED Replacement is the best of the other LED replacements available from TerraLUX. The Beam shot Matrix shows TerraLUX TLE-20 installed on MiniMag 2AA flashlight with Alkaline and Sanyo Eneloop NiMH Rechargeable batteries. All beam shots are taken at f/8 aperture with varying shutter speed.

	TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel Alkaline (Spot Focus)	TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel NiMH(Spot Focus)	TerraLUX TLE-20 Nichia Regel (Wide Focus)
1/1000
1/500
1/250
1/100
1/50
1/25
1/10
1/5
1/2.5
1

Equipment Used: Custom built Integrating Sphere with Gossen Mavolux 5032 Class B USB Light Meter as photometer. Mavolux 5032 B USB is high precision, high accuracy and high quality light meter with conformance to DIN 5032-7 and CIE 69 standards. Utmost care has taken to ensure that the light measurements are accurate. Click here to read more about Gossen Mavolux 5032 USB Light Meter.

MiniMag AA Alkaline: Before performing runtime test, we first did test for MiniMag 2AA with standard incandescent bulb. As expected, an exponentially dropping light output starting from roughly 6 Lumens out front. The light output for MiniMag AA on standard incandescent bulb reaches 1 Lumen mark in just about 4.5 Hours.

TerraLUX TLE-20*: So how will the TLE-20 perform against standard incandescent bulb? To test this out, we used THE same Alkaline battery as previous test, but after exactly 24 Hours of the test. i.e. we performed Alkaline test on TLE-20 with an highly depleted Alkaline battery. So what are the results? Well, the light output still starts at 10 Lumens and TLE-20 runs for well over 6 Hours 30 Minutes to 50%. The out front light stayed above 5 Lumens for the first 5 Hours on a depleted battery.