Just got hold of one of ElektroLumens' Luxeon Star MagLites (3Cs in a 2D) and compared to what I've been dabbling in up till now, I simply cannot believe how bright this thing is. Wayne did not install ANY resistors/circuits in it at all ("direct drive"?), and I simply cannot believe how BRIGHT this thin -- uh, did I say that already?
Here is a beamshot 24 inches from the wall next to a LightWave 4000 (on the left), which was the brightest LED I had ever actually experienced in person up to this point, and below it is a LightWave 3000, also on the left:
Then the Dorcy Cool Blue on the left followed by the Photon II/white, also on the left (sorry, by this time I had run out of LEDs to compare with):
I began to feel that this wasn't a fair fight, all those little LEDs bullied around by the powerful Luxeon Star, so I put it up against two of the biggest, baddest xenon incandescents I had handy. I wanted to capture some or all of the incandescent beam "corona" and not just the hotspot, so I had to move the lights in close, to within 8 inches of the wall for lack of wall space (dang pictures and stuff my wife likes to put up all over) -- so in the next pic on the right is a MagLite 4D with RS xenon bulb at tightest focus, followed by a "50,000 candlepower" Hubbel(Pelican?) 3003-C, also on the right:
I wonder how long this 3C LS conversion will hold up, battery- as well as LED-wise...I guess time will tell.
Well, this is all I have right now -- there is another super LED light, probably even brighter, being evaluated as part of an on-the-job thing (I'm an LEO) to which I will have photography access soon -- and then we'll see how Wayne's bad boy stacks up.
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
Wayne, BigH, JR,
Yeah I knew my old Mavica FD-81 would be good for something one day, so I hung onto it.
Thanks again for letting me experience this light, Wayne. I've been hesitant to just Leave it on since I know it's being overdriven, but with the copious heatsinking mebbe I'll eventually work up the nerve.
Yeah I knew my old Mavica FD-81 would be good for something one day, so I hung onto it.
Thanks again for letting me experience this light, Wayne. I've been hesitant to just Leave it on since I know it's being overdriven, but with the copious heatsinking mebbe I'll eventually work up the nerve.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hello Mr Bulk,
Well, somebody's got to try it sometime. Go ahead and leave it on. If it fries, I'll replace the Luxeon Star!
According to Lamda, there shouldn't be any problem. Also, I have one I'm driving just as hard, using Lithium batteries, with no problems yet.
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™: It is ON as of right now...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Great! Anymore, I don't usually keep one on hand long enough to do a battery test. I promised one to Craig (LED Museum), which I hope to send by Monday, for his review.
Wayne Luxeon Star
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lambda: See, I told ya so, sooner or later he's going to go direct drive! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Just had to add that; sometimes I can see the furture..... [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hey Lamda,
I knew you couldn't resist saying that! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Yup, I knew it too! If I sell them with no resistance, for now, I will not guarantee them, except for Mr Bulk, as he is testing this out. As a L.E.O. he will get good use out of it, I'm sure.
Even at 1 ohm resistance, it is seriously overdriven, but at zero ohms resistance, it is extremely seriously overdriven. Well, we'll see.
Craig will get one too, except he get gets one for free. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
Been almost four hours since I turned it on and left it on -- so I took it and my LW4000 into the "darkroom" (it's daytime in Hawaii as I write this) and it still outshines the 4000 by the same margin like in the earlier picture. Entire flashlight including head and casing is very slightly, and also consistently, warm all over, except for a slight drop off near the tailcap. Good heatsinking.
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™: ...Entire flashlight including head and casing is very slightly, and also consistently, warm all over, except for a slight drop off near the tailcap. Good heatsinking.
And the beat goes on...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Charlie, bulk that sucker. :^D
Imagine how hard you could overdrive that Luxeon with a little co2 cooling. Keith
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™: Here it is at 25 hours (LW4000 with fresh batteries on Right): http://communities.msn.com/e5qmoda/s...oto&PhotoID=86
I's sure like to see those pics, but I cannot bring up the images. Not sure what's wrong. You can include the images directly into the post by using the 'IMAGE' button, and entering the exact http:// location.
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
Wayne,
BIIIG problem just today -- my computer crashed (musta been that virus going around) and I had to reload everything -- glad I was just able to get back on this site plus restore my e-mail. Yeah anyway I can't get my pics to come up even directly on that site of mine. Thumbnails load just fine, but when I click on them to see the big pics, nothing. Oh well, gotta find a new site, I guess.
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™: Wayne,
BIIIG problem just today -- my computer crashed (musta been that virus going around) and I had to reload everything -- glad I was just able to get back on this site plus restore my e-mail. Yeah anyway I can't get my pics to come up even directly on that site of mine. Thumbnails load just fine, but when I click on them to see the big pics, nothing. Oh well, gotta find a new site, I guess.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Bumber about your computer crashing. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] If you like, you can email me the photos and I can put them on my web site, and you can link to them there in your post.
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ElektroLumens:
Bumber about your computer crashing. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] If you like, you can email me the photos and I can put them on my web site, and you can link to them there in your post.
Wayne<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I CAN'T! Lost it all, will have to take yet another picture (except now it'd be at the 40-hour mark (still HIGHLY usable light BTW). It's about 2 a.m. here now, so I'll have to get something to you tomorrow (when it'll be like 50 hours)!
Say, waitaminute - I may have the floppies from the Mavica -- if I find that I still have those I'll e-mail them to you.
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™: I CAN'T! Lost it all, will have to take yet another picture (except now it'd be at the 40-hour mark (still HIGHLY usable light BTW). It's about 2 a.m. here now, so I'll have to get something to you tomorrow (when it'll be like 50 hours)!
Say, waitaminute - I may have the floppies from the Mavica -- if I find that I still have those I'll e-mail them to you.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
SUPER BUMBER ABOUT YOUR COMPUTER CRASH!!
[img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
Once the current and voltage drops down, the efficiency goes up, and the batteries last a super long time. I had a 3 'D' cell Luxeon modified Mag Lite on for three days. I just got tired of testing it and turned it off. It still produced usable light. AMAZING! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]
My email account never went down like I though it would. Send to <waynej@elektrolumens.com>
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™: HAY! My site is back and so are the pics! If still interested, please try the links again...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™: Well, here it is at 61 hours. Shined it around outside to check the Hawaiian nighttime temperature, and it still generated very useful light: http://communities.msn.com/e5qmoda/s...oto&PhotoID=92<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Wow! 61 hours! I guess it's just a matter of when you decide what level of brightness is enough, as to when the batteries are changed.
I will usually change them out after 24 hours. Of course, I use mine intermittently, and the number of hours the batteries last would be longer than continuous use.
Here's the first beamshots you took, of the Luxeon Star direct drive Mag Lite, incomparison to the Lightwave 4000.
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
I GIVE UP...
Yeah, I give up on the battery runtime test. It seems the ElektroLumens LS MagLite conversion has settled into a dimmer but stable light beam, and at 77 hours I am still able to read the newspaper in total darkness across a small room.
So, being that I want to use the light for other things (like seeing stuff at night during work), I am throwing in the towel...EL LS MagLite: 1, MR Bulk™: -0-...
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™: I GIVE UP...
Yeah, I give up on the battery runtime test. It seems the ElektroLumens LS MagLite conversion has settled into a dimmer but stable light beam, and at 77 hours I am still able to read the newspaper in total darkness across a small room.
So, being that I want to use the light for other things (like seeing stuff at night during work), I am throwing in the towel...EL LS MagLite: 1, MR Bulk™: -0-...
This is a Really nice light Wayne, thanks.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Re: Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™: Hi Wayne,
Thanks for posting these.
The one on top is of the 4000 (left), the one below it is of the LW3000 (also on left).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I'm glad you took those beam shots. I wanted to do this beam snot comparison myself, but I didn't want to buy a Lightwave 4000 (just to take some photos.) The Lightwave 4000 is a very good flashlight. However, it doesn't compare in brightness to a Luxeon Star, even one that is not seriously overdriven like yours.
Brightest LED This Newbie\'s Seen (Yet) -- Pics
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