This is a compilation of all McGizmo product FAQs and important threads in order to avoid clustering the top of the forum with a multitude of sticky threads.
A notification about updates of the referenced threads will be posted in this thread for your convenience.
McLux I Series (Original)
Out of production; no FAQ.
E-Series Compatible Parts thread can be used as a reference for the modular approach with these parts.
See also McGizmo Product Overview for a quick glance.
McLux II Aleph Series
McLux Aleph FAQ for an extensive review of the complicated Aleph System including various examples, pics and tables.
E-Series Compatible Parts shows the scope of the modular approach of the McLux Series and displays all compatible parts from all manufacturers.
Aleph Tailcap threads / McE2S trouble shooting and information:
McE2S sales thread
Aleph Tailcap discussion thread
Aleph Tailcap discussion thread #2
McE2S: Improvements, Fixes, and Issues
Fine-Tuning my McE2S ... by cy
McLux III Series
McLuxIII-PD
McLuxIII-PD FAQ including some notes about the new drivers Wiz2x2 and NG2x2 as well as the McLuxIII-T and also featuring the McLuxIII-Ti-PD with comments about its the GDx2 driver and the Seoul P4 LED.
McLuxIII-HD45
HD45 FAQ
McLuxIII-27LT
27LT FAQ including the McLuxIII-27LT-S with the Seoul P4 LED.
McLux III Ti Series
McLux Ti Series FAQ thread including variations of those lights with the Seoul P4 LED and the Cree XR-E. The other lights of the Ti-Series (McLuxIII-T and -Ti-PD are to be found in the McluxIII-PD FAQ.
Those are titanium lights expanding on the concept of the McLuxIII Series and were formerly called "mCree" lights. They include the XR19 head, the S27 head with its rare predecessor, the XR27 head as well as the classic head and the PD-Pack, the C-Pack and the 2-cell Cx2 Pack.
Also included is The Mule.
There is a seperate LunaSol FAQ for this new addition to the McLuxIII-Series, the LS20 and LS27 heads.
Don's mCree blog
Don's notes about disassambly for plating purposes
Don's Mule thread
js's LunaSol20 thread
SunDrop: SD, SD-3S, XR-U
Here are some useful threads about the SunDrop, the SunDrop-3S and the XR-U head:
SunDrop-3S preview
SunDrop Three Stage by Peter Atwood
SunDrop-XP by McGizmo, a 2x123 variant
Original Thread by McGizmo, and the update
SunDrop XR-U and XR-U head
The Haiku
Here's Don's introduction thread that includes a description of all parts, lumen and drive current figures, runtimes and even beamshots:
Don's Haiku thread
Beamshots in this shootout.
The Haiku XP-G ... with the XP-G LED and a higher flux of 185 instead of 138 lm.
The Makai
A E-Series compatible 38mm head with different Light Engines. See Don's thread here:
Don's Makai thread
Sales thread with additional info here.
Titanium E-Series bodies
Those do exist in 1xCR123, 2xCR123 and 2xAA variants. Please see the Product overview thread for more details.
Ti 2xAA body thread
The Sapphire
Here is Don's extensive thread about the Saphpire, a titanium 1xAAA light based on the Arc AAA:
The Sapphire
The Sapphire 25 is a variant of the light with the same exterior but a constant current driver running the LED at 25 mA:
Introduction thread with runtime graph
McR-XX Reflectors
Discussion thread about all McR-Offerings.
PDFs on the reflector dimensions
Some beamshot comparisons ... more outside-shots are available on demand.
Other Important Threads
Web Coil Tethers as cool and functional attachment methods, brought to you by McGizmo
Build Pricing and Ordering ... Don's ordering info showing lights and parts that are available directly from him
Shootout including some McGizmo lights
Discussion about High CRI and its significance. See also this thread starting post #90.
McE2S for C/M-Bodies ... the 2-Stage Tailcap for C/M-Bodies discussion. Kit is available through the Sandwich Shoppe.
A Paradox to Thermal Relief ... a very important thread with tons of great info about batteries, runtimes, temperature and how we were wrong all the time! oo:
Issues with the New Generation of LuxIII LEDs ... is about the different positioning of the LED die inthe current generation of the LuxIII and the consequences for photon management.
Thermal properties of titanium ... in relation to the McLuxIII-T
Luxeon bins: the differences
Info about the GD converter and measurements by NewBie in the LED forum
Thread about the Cree-XR white LED and McGizmo lights and projects.
Don's beamshot database for his Cree creations.
HA-Slate explained
O-Ring and screw sizes as well as assorted parts for various McGizmo lights
XR-19 Head:
Window seal - #019 EPDM (or the GID silicone)
Head to pak seal - #017 Silicone (red)
C pak:
Boot Seal O-ring - #016 Silicone (red)
Boot & Seal Retaining O-ring - #113 EPDM
XR27 & S27 Head:
Window Seal O-ring - 2 x 22 mm Buna (Nitrile)
Window retaining O-ring - #025 EPDM
Head to pak Seal - #017 Silicone (red)
27LT & 27LT-S head:
Window Seal - #023 EPDM
2x head to Pak seal - #017 Silicone
PD Piston:
Piston to sleeve seal - #015 Silicone (use #016 for added protection but stiffer activation)
PD head:
Window Seal O-ring - #019 EPDM
Head to sleeve seal O-ring - #017 Silicone
Mule head:
Window seal O-ring - #017
Window retaining O-ring - #018
Aleph Mule Head:
Sealing O-Ring (under the window) - #017 EPDM
Retaining O-Ring - #018 EPDM
Window: mineral glass watch crystal 20.0 mm x 1mm thick
Aleph McClickie-Pack:
Head O-Ring - #017
Switch assambly - #113 EPDM retaining O-ring and #016 silicone O-ring
Clip screws - #4-40x316 stainless steel and they require a 1/16" hex wrench or driver
LS20:
the window is between two #019 EPDM O-rings
the piston and head/ sleeve O-rings are silicone (#016 & #017 respectively)
If you have a situation where a "dash" size O-ring of 1/16" is a bit too thin, you may find a metric, 2 mm thick O-ring that can fix the problem. That is what I ran into with the Ti 27 heads.
Lumen measurements of some McGizmo lights by precisionworks (Integrating Sphere)
McGizmo PD-S = 4.5 / 116 lumens
Novatac 120P = .23/11/99 lumens
McGizmo LunaSol 20 = 9/73 lumens
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Lights and Parts by McGizmo - NOMENCLATURE
_____________________________________________
With the increasing number of lights and now the new generation of Power LEDs the nomenclature of Don's lights might get confusing. In order to be able to communiate with each other we need to sort it out. For pictures and deeper explanations have a look the the respective FAQ thread or the Product Overview thread.
McLux I Series (Original)
- McLux-TK: the turnkey edition of the very first McLux light; about 125 have been produced, lights with a higher serial number on the clip aren't TK lights
- Heads of the McLux Original Series: Standard head (like the one on the TK), McLux-PR head and McLux-PR/T head
- Power packs: McLux 1x123, McLux 2x123 and McLux 3x123 Power Pack
McLux II Series: Aleph System
- Aleph heads: Aleph1 Head (McR-27), Aleph2 Head (McR-20) and Aleph3 Head (McR-38) as well as Aleph19 Head (McR-19) and Aleph-Mule head (no reflector)
- Aleph battery tubes: 1x123, 2x123, 2x123 flared, 1xCR2, 1.5x123 as well as the Aleph-McClicky Pack for 1x123
- Aleph tailcaps: see the Aleph FAQ for the iterations of the Aleph tailcap. Note that we are talking tailcap only, not switch module
- McE2S 2-stage switch module that fits into the Aleph Tailcap and other tailcaps
- LE (light engine) with the driver and LED of choice
Nomenclature and designators for upgraded versions of various Aleph parts see below.
Other E-Series compatible parts
- McTC Tailcap
- McClicky switch module for the McTC or other tailcaps
- SunDrop head
- (SunDrop) XR-U head (when used with Nichia 083 LED: SunDrop XR-U, with any other LED: XR-U)
- Makai 38mm head
--> E-Series no longer compatible from this point on ...
McLux III Series
Lights using the "x2"-Converters.
- McLuxIII-PD and McLuxIII-PD-S with the Seoul P4 LED
- McLuxIII-27LT in LuxIII and LuxV variants and McLuxIII-27LT-S with the Seoul P4 LED (27LT means 27L reflector twisty)
- McLuxIII-HD45 in LuxIII and LuxV variants (HD45 means Heavy Duty McR-45)
McLux III Ti Series
- McLuxIII-T: twisty only, smaller light, about 35 pcs. released
- McLuxIII-Ti-PD with LuxIII of choice, can be included in the modular parts mix below
Some modular parts:
- PD-Pack: like the pack on the McLuxIII-ti-PD
- C-Pack: clicky pack in 1xCR123 size
- Cx2 Pack: clicky pack in 2xCR123 size
- XR19 head: Cree XR-E LED with McR-19XR
- XR27 head: Cree XR-E LED with McR-27XR (only very few were released) ... replaced with: S27 head: Seoul P4 LED with McR-27S
... forming the 4 different lights: McLuxIII-XR19-C, McLuxIII-XR19-PD, McLuxIII-S27-C and McLuxIII-S27-PD
- The Mule head, mating with the 1-cell bodies to form a McLuxIII-Mule-PD or McLuxIII-Mule-C
- the LunaSol head with the number indicating head size, like LunaSol27 --> LunaSol20 and LunaSol27
The meaning of the designators
- XR means made for or with the Cree XR-E LED
- S means made for or with the Seoul P4 LED
- R means made for or with the Lumileds Rebel LED
- no designator for the LED means made for or with Luxeon III or Luxeon V LEDs
- PD means Piston Drive Pack
- C means Clicky Pack (with Cx2 being a 2x123 pack)
- starting with the McLuxIII Series numbers describe the reflector size
--> with this system it is also possible to identify altered or upcoming Aleph parts in a very precise fashion, for example an Aleph2-S would be a head with a McR-20S tuned for the Seoul P4 LED and yield non-optimal results with other LEDs.
McR-xx designators
Without a designator the reflector is unaltered and optimised for the LuxeonIII LED, and sometimes also works with the LuxeonV LED.
For dimensions and more info see link above.
- XR --> adapted for the Cree XR-E LED
- S --> adapted for the Seoul P4 LED
- J --> adapted for the Luxeon III "Joker" LEDs
- R --> adapted for the Rebel LED
In the end, this nomenclature should make it possible to identify a light we want to talk about quite precisely ... AND ... it is made in a way that new LEDs and components can be added without altering the current structure.
As all lights and parts as well as reflectors share the relevant designators playing LEGO should be a lot easier than it became in the advent of those new LEDs that played armageddon with our flashaholic world ... despite the increased number of parts.
bernhard
A notification about updates of the referenced threads will be posted in this thread for your convenience.
McLux I Series (Original)
Out of production; no FAQ.
E-Series Compatible Parts thread can be used as a reference for the modular approach with these parts.
See also McGizmo Product Overview for a quick glance.
McLux II Aleph Series
McLux Aleph FAQ for an extensive review of the complicated Aleph System including various examples, pics and tables.
E-Series Compatible Parts shows the scope of the modular approach of the McLux Series and displays all compatible parts from all manufacturers.
Aleph Tailcap threads / McE2S trouble shooting and information:
McE2S sales thread
Aleph Tailcap discussion thread
Aleph Tailcap discussion thread #2
McE2S: Improvements, Fixes, and Issues
Fine-Tuning my McE2S ... by cy
McLux III Series
McLuxIII-PD
McLuxIII-PD FAQ including some notes about the new drivers Wiz2x2 and NG2x2 as well as the McLuxIII-T and also featuring the McLuxIII-Ti-PD with comments about its the GDx2 driver and the Seoul P4 LED.
McLuxIII-HD45
HD45 FAQ
McLuxIII-27LT
27LT FAQ including the McLuxIII-27LT-S with the Seoul P4 LED.
McLux III Ti Series
McLux Ti Series FAQ thread including variations of those lights with the Seoul P4 LED and the Cree XR-E. The other lights of the Ti-Series (McLuxIII-T and -Ti-PD are to be found in the McluxIII-PD FAQ.
Those are titanium lights expanding on the concept of the McLuxIII Series and were formerly called "mCree" lights. They include the XR19 head, the S27 head with its rare predecessor, the XR27 head as well as the classic head and the PD-Pack, the C-Pack and the 2-cell Cx2 Pack.
Also included is The Mule.
There is a seperate LunaSol FAQ for this new addition to the McLuxIII-Series, the LS20 and LS27 heads.
Don's mCree blog
Don's notes about disassambly for plating purposes
Don's Mule thread
js's LunaSol20 thread
SunDrop: SD, SD-3S, XR-U
Here are some useful threads about the SunDrop, the SunDrop-3S and the XR-U head:
SunDrop-3S preview
SunDrop Three Stage by Peter Atwood
SunDrop-XP by McGizmo, a 2x123 variant
Original Thread by McGizmo, and the update
SunDrop XR-U and XR-U head
The Haiku
Here's Don's introduction thread that includes a description of all parts, lumen and drive current figures, runtimes and even beamshots:
Don's Haiku thread
Beamshots in this shootout.
The Haiku XP-G ... with the XP-G LED and a higher flux of 185 instead of 138 lm.
The Makai
A E-Series compatible 38mm head with different Light Engines. See Don's thread here:
Don's Makai thread
Sales thread with additional info here.
Titanium E-Series bodies
Those do exist in 1xCR123, 2xCR123 and 2xAA variants. Please see the Product overview thread for more details.
Ti 2xAA body thread
The Sapphire
Here is Don's extensive thread about the Saphpire, a titanium 1xAAA light based on the Arc AAA:
The Sapphire
The Sapphire 25 is a variant of the light with the same exterior but a constant current driver running the LED at 25 mA:
Introduction thread with runtime graph
McR-XX Reflectors
Discussion thread about all McR-Offerings.
PDFs on the reflector dimensions
Some beamshot comparisons ... more outside-shots are available on demand.
Other Important Threads
Web Coil Tethers as cool and functional attachment methods, brought to you by McGizmo
Build Pricing and Ordering ... Don's ordering info showing lights and parts that are available directly from him
Shootout including some McGizmo lights
Discussion about High CRI and its significance. See also this thread starting post #90.
McE2S for C/M-Bodies ... the 2-Stage Tailcap for C/M-Bodies discussion. Kit is available through the Sandwich Shoppe.
A Paradox to Thermal Relief ... a very important thread with tons of great info about batteries, runtimes, temperature and how we were wrong all the time! oo:
Issues with the New Generation of LuxIII LEDs ... is about the different positioning of the LED die inthe current generation of the LuxIII and the consequences for photon management.
Thermal properties of titanium ... in relation to the McLuxIII-T
Luxeon bins: the differences
Info about the GD converter and measurements by NewBie in the LED forum
Thread about the Cree-XR white LED and McGizmo lights and projects.
Don's beamshot database for his Cree creations.
HA-Slate explained
O-Ring and screw sizes as well as assorted parts for various McGizmo lights
XR-19 Head:
Window seal - #019 EPDM (or the GID silicone)
Head to pak seal - #017 Silicone (red)
C pak:
Boot Seal O-ring - #016 Silicone (red)
Boot & Seal Retaining O-ring - #113 EPDM
XR27 & S27 Head:
Window Seal O-ring - 2 x 22 mm Buna (Nitrile)
Window retaining O-ring - #025 EPDM
Head to pak Seal - #017 Silicone (red)
27LT & 27LT-S head:
Window Seal - #023 EPDM
2x head to Pak seal - #017 Silicone
PD Piston:
Piston to sleeve seal - #015 Silicone (use #016 for added protection but stiffer activation)
PD head:
Window Seal O-ring - #019 EPDM
Head to sleeve seal O-ring - #017 Silicone
Mule head:
Window seal O-ring - #017
Window retaining O-ring - #018
Aleph Mule Head:
Sealing O-Ring (under the window) - #017 EPDM
Retaining O-Ring - #018 EPDM
Window: mineral glass watch crystal 20.0 mm x 1mm thick
Aleph McClickie-Pack:
Head O-Ring - #017
Switch assambly - #113 EPDM retaining O-ring and #016 silicone O-ring
Clip screws - #4-40x316 stainless steel and they require a 1/16" hex wrench or driver
LS20:
the window is between two #019 EPDM O-rings
the piston and head/ sleeve O-rings are silicone (#016 & #017 respectively)
If you have a situation where a "dash" size O-ring of 1/16" is a bit too thin, you may find a metric, 2 mm thick O-ring that can fix the problem. That is what I ran into with the Ti 27 heads.
Lumen measurements of some McGizmo lights by precisionworks (Integrating Sphere)
McGizmo PD-S = 4.5 / 116 lumens
Novatac 120P = .23/11/99 lumens
McGizmo LunaSol 20 = 9/73 lumens
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Lights and Parts by McGizmo - NOMENCLATURE
_____________________________________________
With the increasing number of lights and now the new generation of Power LEDs the nomenclature of Don's lights might get confusing. In order to be able to communiate with each other we need to sort it out. For pictures and deeper explanations have a look the the respective FAQ thread or the Product Overview thread.
McLux I Series (Original)
- McLux-TK: the turnkey edition of the very first McLux light; about 125 have been produced, lights with a higher serial number on the clip aren't TK lights
- Heads of the McLux Original Series: Standard head (like the one on the TK), McLux-PR head and McLux-PR/T head
- Power packs: McLux 1x123, McLux 2x123 and McLux 3x123 Power Pack
McLux II Series: Aleph System
- Aleph heads: Aleph1 Head (McR-27), Aleph2 Head (McR-20) and Aleph3 Head (McR-38) as well as Aleph19 Head (McR-19) and Aleph-Mule head (no reflector)
- Aleph battery tubes: 1x123, 2x123, 2x123 flared, 1xCR2, 1.5x123 as well as the Aleph-McClicky Pack for 1x123
- Aleph tailcaps: see the Aleph FAQ for the iterations of the Aleph tailcap. Note that we are talking tailcap only, not switch module
- McE2S 2-stage switch module that fits into the Aleph Tailcap and other tailcaps
- LE (light engine) with the driver and LED of choice
Nomenclature and designators for upgraded versions of various Aleph parts see below.
Other E-Series compatible parts
- McTC Tailcap
- McClicky switch module for the McTC or other tailcaps
- SunDrop head
- (SunDrop) XR-U head (when used with Nichia 083 LED: SunDrop XR-U, with any other LED: XR-U)
- Makai 38mm head
--> E-Series no longer compatible from this point on ...
McLux III Series
Lights using the "x2"-Converters.
- McLuxIII-PD and McLuxIII-PD-S with the Seoul P4 LED
- McLuxIII-27LT in LuxIII and LuxV variants and McLuxIII-27LT-S with the Seoul P4 LED (27LT means 27L reflector twisty)
- McLuxIII-HD45 in LuxIII and LuxV variants (HD45 means Heavy Duty McR-45)
McLux III Ti Series
- McLuxIII-T: twisty only, smaller light, about 35 pcs. released
- McLuxIII-Ti-PD with LuxIII of choice, can be included in the modular parts mix below
Some modular parts:
- PD-Pack: like the pack on the McLuxIII-ti-PD
- C-Pack: clicky pack in 1xCR123 size
- Cx2 Pack: clicky pack in 2xCR123 size
- XR19 head: Cree XR-E LED with McR-19XR
- XR27 head: Cree XR-E LED with McR-27XR (only very few were released) ... replaced with: S27 head: Seoul P4 LED with McR-27S
... forming the 4 different lights: McLuxIII-XR19-C, McLuxIII-XR19-PD, McLuxIII-S27-C and McLuxIII-S27-PD
- The Mule head, mating with the 1-cell bodies to form a McLuxIII-Mule-PD or McLuxIII-Mule-C
- the LunaSol head with the number indicating head size, like LunaSol27 --> LunaSol20 and LunaSol27
The meaning of the designators
- XR means made for or with the Cree XR-E LED
- S means made for or with the Seoul P4 LED
- R means made for or with the Lumileds Rebel LED
- no designator for the LED means made for or with Luxeon III or Luxeon V LEDs
- PD means Piston Drive Pack
- C means Clicky Pack (with Cx2 being a 2x123 pack)
- starting with the McLuxIII Series numbers describe the reflector size
--> with this system it is also possible to identify altered or upcoming Aleph parts in a very precise fashion, for example an Aleph2-S would be a head with a McR-20S tuned for the Seoul P4 LED and yield non-optimal results with other LEDs.
McR-xx designators
Without a designator the reflector is unaltered and optimised for the LuxeonIII LED, and sometimes also works with the LuxeonV LED.
For dimensions and more info see link above.
- XR --> adapted for the Cree XR-E LED
- S --> adapted for the Seoul P4 LED
- J --> adapted for the Luxeon III "Joker" LEDs
- R --> adapted for the Rebel LED
In the end, this nomenclature should make it possible to identify a light we want to talk about quite precisely ... AND ... it is made in a way that new LEDs and components can be added without altering the current structure.
As all lights and parts as well as reflectors share the relevant designators playing LEGO should be a lot easier than it became in the advent of those new LEDs that played armageddon with our flashaholic world ... despite the increased number of parts.
bernhard
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