4d mag mod options

[zeramant86]

So I'm thinking about converting my 4d mag into a thrower. I'm still relatively new to this, but as I understand it, XP-Es are considered one of the best for throwers due to smaller die size, right?

So using an aspherical lens, would a xp-e 3-up be better than using say a single xm-l, or the new xpg2?
I'm asuming the 3-up wouldn't really focus as well, right?

Looking for the most lm output I can get focused.

What is the best output I could expect from one of these dies, or any others? I am planning on converting to lithium power source too.

 

[Gunner12]

XR-Es would be better for an lens due to the narrower emitting angle of the LED (more light would be focused). The XR-C would have an even smaller die size, but it can't take as much current and could make the beam too narrow to be useful.

Multiemitter setups are not good with lenses, since you'll get many different hotspots (3 hotspots for 3 emitters). The lens just projects whatever is at it's focal plane, so if you have 3 emitters, it'll project 3 emitters.

4 D cells is fine for a single LED, no need to convert to lithium batteries, especially if you have good NiMh D cells (and i personally prefer easily found batteries).

For throw, I'd get a XR-E R2 and overdrive it a ~1.5A along with a short focal length aspherical lens.

 

[AnAppleSnail]

A 3-up under an aspheric lens would project 3 very-distorted squares into the distance - with a dark clover shape between them. Do one XR-E in the mag reflector, drive it hard, and you'll be happy. Or use an XP-G2 under an aspheric, driven harder.

 

[Chicken Drumstick]

I've got both an XP-G and XP-E drop in and DX ashperic. I personally prefer the XP-G, it just seemed to focus better, less odd colours on the fringes and just seems to perform slightly better.

Without the aspheric lens the XP-E will throw slightly further than the XP-G using the same host and reflector despite the XP-G being rated @ 200 lumens and the XP-E at only 180. But the XP-E with a reflector does make for a smaller tighter hot spot.

I don't have an XM-L Mag, but I've just bought an XM-L T6 'thrower' with similar sized reflector. It throws pretty much as far, but with a much bigger hot spot, I think this is more universally useful if you don't have a specific need for a very tight beam.

 

[zeramant86]

Yeah, that shows the halo effect pretty well. That seems to be fairly common with mags and aspherics. Did you leave the reflector in it? Read on here somewhere that it can cause the halo, I think.

 

[Chicken Drumstick]

Yeah the reflector is still in their. I know ideally it shouldn't be, but it centres the aspheric better and without the reflector I'd need to make a spacer up else the lens is too lose a fit. I did try it without and there wasn't a huge difference. But maybe I should try it again. But I only use it for a bit of fun really, so it's not really an issue. Also outside you don't really notice it much accept for some usable spill infront of you which is handy to see where you are walking.