Any controllable RGB flashlights anywhere?

[EricB]

As it is, the only RGB light I know of is the color changing Photon Microlight, but that s the same fixed 7 color sequence. Does anyone make one where you could mix the colors yourself (all you would need is 3 switches; one for each primary); and if not, why?

 

[nekomane]

This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but a bit of modding might result in something interesting?

 

[hausenfefr]

also, not a homerun but at least a double.
http://colorkinetics.com/products/consumer/details/index.htm?prd_id=69

 

[Canuke]

There was a Coast Cutlery "Tac Torch" that I saw at Fry's (both Canoga Park and Burbank locations) that was four LED's, red, green, blue and white, all with independent switches. I thought $40 was a bit tall for it. For some reason, I couldn't find it on Coast's online listing.

 

[meeshu]

I found Coast's website difficult to navigate.

But I think I found the Tac Torch here: http://www.pumaknives.com/?n=store&b=43&pl=228&p=622

 

[EricB]

Thanks, but I was looking for basically something like a Micro Light (but shaped like a regular flashlight/maglite/penlight, etc.; if possible) with RGB LEDS's rather than single reds, greens and blues. The CK Wands, for instance, don't really mix the colors well (you just see separate splotches of R, G and B) ; plus that one is not controllable. It only has different sequences you can choose from). Those Recon lights also are four separate LED's in one.

Just wonder why nobody ever thought of making any such thing. I'm sure it would be a hit!

 

[sotto]

I believe the LED Museum has a recent review (listed in the Reviews forum) on the ZZZ-lite that has a single RGB LED (I don't think it's directly manually controllable however--other than on and off of course).

 

[EricB]

I saw that last night. Nice, and I would probably go for it if it was controllable (though it's not a flashlight).

 

[Solstice]

Canuke:
The Fry's in LA (the one with the Alice in Wonderland theme) had the tac-torch for $30 on sale. I definately would have got it had it not used 3AAA- the only time I'll use that is in a headlamp.

 

[AndyB]

Hmmmm my ZZZ-lite doesn't have a single RGB Led. It's got a combination of red, blue and green leds covered by a plastic diffuser. I wonder if they've changed since I got mine?

-AndyB

 

[sotto]

AndyB:

Maybe you have the ZZZ-Flame rather than the ZZZ-lite. The LED Museum review of the ZZZ-lite says it has only 1 RGB LED.

 

[Solstice]

I've got both ZZZs. Sotto's correct, the Lite has one RGB that even has a slight milky diffusion in the LED itself and the "bottle" is much more opaque so you see the whole unit change color uniformly. The Flame has 1blue, 1green and 2red LED's (since the reds aren't as bright)that are water clear and the bottle is less opaque so that you see the the LED's and their splash patterns on the walls of the bottle.

 

[WildRice]

you would need a milky RGB LED, I have several 4 lead RGB's (clear) and the focus points are all different. At 1 fiit you can clearly see 3 focal rings with a bit of mixing. Even with one of these filed down and placed in a reflector, the colors do NOT mix that well.
Jeff

 

[rwolff]

Check your local wrecking yard for the dashboard cluster from a 2004 Mustang. At last year's Toronto auto show, they were gushing about how you could select any one of 128 colours for the dashboard lights - sounds like RGB LED mixing to me.

Alternately, check the places that sell "appearance" mods for cars. I recall seeing something about lighting (not street legal, but that's irrelevant for flashlights) that could change colour.

 

[AndyB]

[ QUOTE ]
Solstice said:
I've got both ZZZs. Sotto's correct, the Lite has one RGB that even has a slight milky diffusion in the LED itself and the "bottle" is much more opaque so you see the whole unit change color uniformly. The Flame has 1blue, 1green and 2red LED's (since the reds aren't as bright)that are water clear and the bottle is less opaque so that you see the the LED's and their splash patterns on the walls of the bottle.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not to take this thread waaay off track but I do have the ZZZ Lite. I ordered it when it first came out and the ZZZ Flame didn't even exist. My ZZZ Lite has 4 leds in it, 2 red, 1 green, 1 blue enclosed in a plastic diffusing tube and that is enclosed in the "bottle" which is very opaque.. Oooh maybe I have a one of a kind. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-AndyB

 

[Solstice]

Acually, I remember seeing that on the "Dan's Data" website some time last winter. At some point, Technology Associates must have changed the light- cost factors perhaps? (4 leds + inner diffuser vs. one RGB)

 

[cratz2]

Not individually controlled, but I'm pretty sure you can order any of Peaks lights with RGB leds through the custom shop... even the multi LED versions... Just imagine, 3, 5 or 7 RGB LEDs doing their little dance.

 

[rgbphil]

Hi EricB,

I'm in the process for starting a new business specialising in RGB lighting, mostly accent or mood lighting.

Just saw your post after finishing the PCB for what you want, thought I'd answer and give myself a bit of a plug at the same time.

It contains 10 100mA 5mm LEDs, 4 red, 3 blue, 3 green. Two PCBs, the LED module 50mm round, controller about 40mm diameter. Currently running at 12V (for fixed spot cans) as LEDs are in series, if it works I'll make another LED head in parrallel for battery (ie torch) operation. Email me if you want to get updates on the prototype progress. First things I have to test is the thermal issues.....these LEDs and dropping resistors do get warm.

Now for the plug....sorry to hijack your post there /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've got flouro replacements with 5 seperate banks of 6 RGB (2R, 2G, 2G) 100mA superfluxes (www.powerleds.com) demonstrated at Brookvale Lighting here in Sydney, Australia (if there are any Northern Beaches types around pop in and say hello to David the store owner, my lights are the pretty things in the back). When I've got business registration all sorted out I'll put up a web site with photos and specs and start supplying to the public. Again depending on market price I'll supply kits or pre-made units. Probably for the torch I'll release the design public domain as a bit of a customer attention grabber (though I'll keep to flourofitting to myself...sorry guys it's my flagship product and I've spent ages doing the PWM control).

For now..some sanity check questions for the forum:
Market prices.....please specify currency....I'll need to convert to Australian dollars.
a) What sort of price would you pay for a model 2 board 400mmx100mm, 5 banks of RGB, 10x100mA superfluxes per bank (4R,3G,3G), 12V AC supply, serial or one button controll? I'm looking at around $AU150 at the moment....is this reasonable?
b) What sort of price would you find reasonable for the RGB spot (or 6V torch)...again in either kit or pre-made form? I haven't even costed this.....another reason to offer it public domain.
User interface:
c) For the torch I'm hoping to get by with a 8pin 12F675 PIC..which is a bit limiting on choices for control pins after the PWM channels are used. I'm hoping to prototype a control system with two potentiometers (or sliders). One to control colour moving through spectrum, one to control intensity. A switch provides a mode control for patterns.....as a potential RGB torch user would you be happy with this instead of seperate RGB sliders? Anyone done this before? Code examples anyone?
Research.
d) has anyone seen any good articles on RGB placement to ensure even mixing? My flouro replacement has less of a problem because it has wide angle LEDs, the spots are more critical....I can never quite get rid of the fringing.

Again, sorry to hijack the post, but.....I just finished designing what you want when I saw it!


I'll get back to the forum with announcements as progress is made.

rgbphil

 

[EricB]

No problem with the plug. If anyone has it, go on and plug it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Still, I would prefer singular RGB (3 chip) LED's (rather than combinations of single color/chip R, G abd B). Are you planning to make your lights with those? (they mix colors better).

 

[rgbphil]

Thanks for that EricB.

As for the 3chip RGB LEDs.....that's a really good point you're making there. I'd like a good single unit RGB LED myself.

Only problem is that it is only the milky type RGB LEDs that work properly when mixing colours. And that means less 'throw' power and more fiddling with reflectors, and certainly less effiency because of the diffusion. Mind you I haven't tried a large array of RGB milky LEDs with a reflector yet....mmmm. Couplets in a 'lava' lamp yes, but at only 20mA per chip it wasn't very bright.
I've tried clear RGB LEDs in 5mm round, superflux and 1W heatsink types (check out www.powerleds.com). In these LEDs the beams dont colliminate and there is a very noticable and annoying divergence. This is caused by one lens being shared by the chips. Instead of a yellow beam, with R/G on...you get two beams one red and one green pointing in different directions. Until the manufacturers figureout how to get the RGB beams to converge into one, I'll keep with the seperate LEDs. Also the power into RGB leds isn't yet enough to be useful...max 50mA with the superfluxes, 150mA with heatsink types..OK not great. Something like a luxeon 5W RGB with good collimator (holographs perhaps??) would be a dream. I'm watching Odd Ones site for his review of the Lamina Ceramics array very closely.......they have RGB versions!

Anyway, should have the electronics finished for the torch next week (fingers crossed).


Phil