3 XR-E's and a MC-E

[Packhorse]

If you have ready any of my threads you will know I am a fan of dive lights with a tight spot.
But this time I decided I would try and throw some spill in there as well.

Its much the same as my previous can light builds with a couple of changes.
Battery pack 9x18650 2500ma 3P3S
3 XR-E LEDs using aspheric lenses and a MC-E using a reflector
Driver is a Kaidomain 2.8 amp driver running the XR-Es all in parallel and the MC-E seriesed to the XR-E's. Power consumption is about 21 watt.
Switch is a magnet and reed controling a MOSFET.

For referance is a quad XR-E aspheric running at 10 watt.

The pics dont really do the light justice as you cant really see the true amount of side spill.

Bad news is I will never dive with this light, at least not in the short term. Its been made for a diver 800km's away.

 

[Fluor]

Nice build Packhorse! I love the throw!

Are these the lences you are using?
http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut680

And....are you using the holders or just gluing them directly to the led?

 

[Packhorse]

No. I use the 21mm acrylic aspherics from DX

 

[Fluor]

You found anything useful at DX to keep them in place?

 

[Packhorse]

No.

I mount them on PVC tubes with acrylic cement and then cut the diameter down to 17mm on the lathe.

 

[lil_mac]

Packhorse,
[FONT=&quot]How do you think a 4 x-re with 3 aspherics, and one not for the flood would work?[/FONT]

 

[Packhorse]

I think the spill would be some what lacking. Perhaps 2 or each and run them all at 1400ma? (I run my own can light at 1400ma per XR-E)

 

[lil_mac]

Packhorse, on this project could you tell what side of the light the MCE was when you would shine it on an object? I am curious if it would be annoying to always have one side floody and the other side torchy.

 

[Packhorse]

I dont have it any more but its not something I noticed. Perhaps at very short distanced eg 200mm or less but over that the beams merge.

 

[ktronik]

WOW nice one!!

Did you do anything extra to seal the ma*lite??

How deep it is rated for??

K

 

[lil_mac]

I dont have it any more but its not something I noticed. Perhaps at very short distanced eg 200mm or less but over that the beams merge.

Thanks! Your lights get better and better.

Whats next on your list?

Maybe a video light setup, so we can see what diving is like where you live.

 

[Packhorse]

Its all like this

 

[spearsniper]

Awwwww... that sharks a little cutie :thumbsup:

 

[jar3ds]

sweet packhorse... thanks for the pics... your lights always amaze me...

Someday i'm going to come to the WRC Rally New Zealand and then we can go scuba togethah

 

[Fluor]

What happends if the aspheric lens i in direct contact with water? I guess there will be no effect from the lense?

 

[yellow]

no optics guy here, but I would think, that the focusing distance changes considerably.

 

[Packhorse]

I think ( not sure) that a certain company had this exact problem with a light that was produced for them. Looked great on land. Nice sharp beam. But as soon as it was put in the water it turned into a flood light.

When using aspherics under water you need to seal them off so they dont get wet. Otherwise they will not focus the light.

 

[Flo1]

Nice job Packhorse!

What sort of runtime would you expect from this light?

 

[Packhorse]

Nice job Packhorse!

What sort of runtime would you expect from this light?

9 x 2500ma x 3.7v=83 watt hours
Power consumption is 21watts.

Theoretical burn time 4 hours on high. 40 hours on low

Although I would treat it like its a 3 hour pack which means by using rules of thirds you could plan a 2 hour dive using it on high. ( and still have at least 1 hour in reserve).

 

[Flo1]

Thanks. Maths never was my strong point.. :mecry::laughing: