worlds first triple MCE MR16 Maglite bike light

[etc]

Very cool.

[txgp17]

That is friggin awesome.

I can't wait till Gene Malkoff offers a MC-E in his M60 drop-in. Or Fenix starts putting them in their lights.

[racingsnake]

Trout,
What batteries do you use? Do you have a UK supplier for them?

[trout]

Wildwood on here is a good bet for batteries .

I have PM d you his email address

[Lelle64]

Is it possible to buy one from you ?

[trout]

Is it possible to buy one from you ?

Lelle64

I quess everything is for sale I only have that one and it is just a test bed
for me to mess around with .

But I could make you one

I have no idea on the cost , and am still experimenting with various optic/reflector setups at the moment

[stevemorg]

Trout,

did you have any luck re. the quad R2 we discussed by email?

cheers

[Lelle64]

Lelle64

I quess everything is for sale I only have that one and it is just a test bed
for me to mess around with .

But I could make you one

I have no idea on the cost , and am still experimenting with various optic/reflector setups at the moment

Trout , I will go on to buy your triple MCE MR16 Maglite bike light.
Just give mee the price for the kit.
lennart.carlsen@home.se

Br
Lelle64

[MtLuke]

Trout, what kind of run times are you getting running that configuration?

Eric S

[trout]

Trout, what kind of run times are you getting running that configuration?

Eric S

Hi Eric.

I did a runtime test on full power






the vf of the setup is 18.63v

current draw from the battery was 1.44A

and ful to empty runtime on max power 1200ma
so each string seeing 600ma

battery started @ 16.83 v

and died @ 12 v when the protection circuit kicked in
the light ran for the duration with out dimming no temp as smudge took his meter back .

It ran for 2 hours 49mins

battery 14.8 liion 4400mah

[csshih]

yea man, the beamshots are missing.
I just see a bunch of daylight shots.
you getting power out of that water bottle?

[dom]

Nice one Trout
Squinting at your pic above -it looks like the top part of your mount has turned white?

I wonder why :-)
Not more of your barsink ideas is it?

Cheers
Dom

[trout]

Nice one Trout
Squinting at your pic above -it looks like the top part of your mount has turned white?

I wonder why :-)
Not more of your barsink ideas is it?

Cheers
Dom

Cheers Dom.

Yes the plastic mount was quite flexible and I did not trust it for off road .
and yes the aluminium top makes quite a difference heat wise .
I have the temp set at 60 degrees and never had it trip yet .

[pgarcia]

Trout, Your light is fantastic. I would be interested in buying one from you also! I am a commuter, is there a way to make it have more of a "low beam" effect. Either way I'm interested. You can email me a price.

thanks

Paul G
paulgarcia65@gmail.com

[dnlwthrn]

Trout, great looking light!

You'll be very pleased with the narrow optic I think. I've got both the narrow and the wide MR11 Khatod triples for my Q5 light, and the difference between the two is great. You should see a vast improvement in throw with a decent amount of spill at the same time.

[trout]

Hi Paul .

Thanks
I would love to sell you one but I cant sell one yet as I am unhappy with the beam
The photos make it look better than it really is .

it is too much of a flood monster and lacks punch in the centre .

I am trying lots of different optics and reflectors so when I am happy with the beam then I will sell
the od one ..

Watch this thread and I will be posting any updates.

Cheers Chris


dnlwthrn

It is not bad but still not what I was hoping for .

I have some Boom reflectors on the way so will try them asap

[dnlwthrn]

Hmm. Now that I think of it, I originally ordered the narrow Khatod, and then got the second optic when Cutter had some custom (6* maybe?) optics made by Khatod. I think the Khatod "narrow" is listed as a 10*, but seems wider than that. I'll have to try to verify this.

Of course, my setup is on the MR11 triple MCPCB, so that may make some difference as well. Who really knows?

edit:

After checking, the "narrow" lens I have is a 4* and I think the original lens I got was a Khatod 10* (which is REALLY floody!)

I really like the 4* setup, as it works great on the helmet while still giving a decent amount of spill to use on the bars.

[trout]

I think but it is a bit early yet to get excited .

I thought before I put all three in the triple it would be good to get the ceiling shot for a comparison .

2.2 metres to the cross which is 1 metre each way .

Before you get all spendy and order booms this is the quad Cute 4 narrow optic and 4 Q5s
as this seems to be the best spot out there.




this one is the Rocket ss XRE optic on a MCE and if I could fit 3 in the mag head then this would be my choice



This is the Boom spot reflector on an MCE



So based on these results I have taken the plunge and installed them in the triple .

It is a bit messy with the blobs of silicon to hold them in place but I was at a loss for a way to fix them and this seemed ok
I had to stop the camera down a fair bit for this shot but on the ceiling it is looking good
hopefully it will be the same on the trail .

[trout]

As it has been snowing I did not know what the beamshots would be like so here goes .
I stopped the camera down to 4 seconds @ f5 also.
This is the light head
3 MCE K bin with 3 Boom reflectors smooth spot
running @ 600ma


I took a pointer from Salty and used wellies though they dont show up as good as socks on sticks
It is 100 metres to the car and the first welly is 10 metres . then every 20 metres after.
this is the maxflex low setting

then High but massive reflection from the snow .

This shot I wanted to show the beam shape so went back 5 metres with the camera
and then managed to sprint to the 25 mtrs from the light before the camera fired.
Man was that bright with the snow also and check the huge shadow

Then it was on to the stepladder to ride to the woods for a few more shots .
I just managed to make it to the woods before the darkness got bored with me and wanted to go round and visit Salty

That is me about 30 metres away I am now blind

And a shot from up in a tree to try and get the beam shape again . good job there was no one around

and last what the wildlife see when a well lit ladder is coming through the woods .


So to sum it up
For My light I think that this is as good as it can get and I am well pleased with the result .
and the light will get its front glass fitted and is finished .
ready for the next Crazy light build .


Here is a different set of beamshots

So here we go
Lights 18 inches from the wall I put the tile there for the 90 degree angle ref.
the centre of the beams is the 18 inch mark on the tape
Sorry no single boom shot as they are trapped in the triple now

Triple Boom SS on MCEs

Hi / LO




Ledil Rocket optic on MCE



Ledil Cute 4 narrow optic on 4 Q5 leds

[matt303]

Nice one

Can you stop posting these projects now before I start ordering LEDs and reflectors.

[Bimmerboy]

That is me about 30 metres away I am now blind

LOL. Well, all for the cause I suppose.

Great thread, Trout! MC-E's, machining, optics, machining of optics, beamshots, dodgy looking wellies, impaired wildlife... the works!

A true CPF'ers thread. More double thumbs.

[hootsmon]

This is the BEST post I've read for ages!

But Troutie, remember too much light is never enough! So gotta keep going man.

[matt303]

trout where did you get the boom reflectors from?

Now I've my SL1 I can reuse the driver and batts from my old DIY 3xCree light to have a play with the MC-E

[herulach]

Trout, did you cut the mag down yourself? If I send you one any chance of chopping it for a few beer tokens?

Cheers

[trout]

Matt the Booms came from Cutters


Herulach
Yes sure can do that for you

I have just done one for another build and had it anodised.






Are you in the UK

[herulach]

Trout, am indeed in the UK - would it work with a D Mag? With work and crap it'll be into the new year now before i get chance/money to get the bits together.

[trout]

Trout, am indeed in the UK - would it work with a D Mag? With work and crap it'll be into the new year now before i get chance/money to get the bits together.

yes mine are D cell mags

[Tidra]

how much does it waight,...

LP
I

[trout]

how much does it waight,...

LP
I

All up ready to plug in and go it weighs 236 grammes so no light weight .

but then I am no lightweight either 100kg

[irishdave]

Hi Trout,
I haven't taken delivery yet for my R2 quad build up which will be the first but this has already got me planning the second.
Have you any plans for this and the hiplflex?