Calling All Superlight Fanatics!

[Ginseng]

Hi all. This forum has recently seen some of the most fascinating and jawdropping work in a long time. Clearly, we are fans of seriously bright lights. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm of the opinion that many brains are smarter than any one brain. With this in mind, I'm wondering if anyone would be interested in working together on a collaborative project to be spec'd, designed, executed and enjoyed by a team of highly interested, intensely creative flashaholics.

The team would all have input into the power systems, the light engine (bulb for all you non-techie types /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif), body and other design details. As to the build, I envision each member contributing what they can and all sharing in the ownership of this ultimate light.

Does this seem like a good idea? I suspect that many of us have secret, even crazy ideas for the light of all lights but may be daunted at the prospect of ever bringing it to reality. Well, I think this just might be the chance to bring the best of the best together to build the best of the best.

Please share your thoughts. Great idea? Stupid idea?

Wilkey

 

[Deleted member 684]

This sounds absolutely crazy Wilkey!

Count me in! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[raggie33]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif ill watch and am excited about the outcome

 

[phyhsuts]

I would very much like to join in. But I am half a world away in Singapore. Is that OK?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Ginseng]

phyhsuts,

Maybe you and Nerd can form the "Pacific Rim" contingent?

Wilkey

 

[AlexGT]

Sure! Whatever I can be of help, I been looking to do something with a PAR 56 and/or 64 with one of the monster bulbs.

Alex

 

[Tweek]

I like the sound of this... I'm game! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Chris

 

[Sway]

Wilkey,

Sounds like a smashing idea /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/buttrock.gif I for one would greatly appreciate input and ideas, you and some of the others have already helped me a lot on my current project which is still ongoing and I have some others I would like to try in the future when I get this one done. I’m more than willing to help out anyway that I can although I am a non-techie type /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Later
Sway

 

[cheesehead]

Sounds like a good way to collect info all in one spot, great idea!

cheese

 

[PaulW]

Wilkey,

I don't know much about lights and their components at this absurd level of brightness, but I am interested in what might be happening here. Like Raggie, I may be doing more watching and cheering than anything else.

I don't know what I can contribute. At this point I don't even have any ideas. But I think something exciting is going on and that this is a great learning opportunity. I will contribute what I can.

Paul

 

[jtice]

While I dont know alot about HID lights and such, I would love to be in on this.

I have a few ideas, and have been wanting to build a HID light, or two.

I have a couple Brinkmann spotlights comming that I want to mod one to a CRAZY bright HID. I think I will use a Carley 3" in it. And a 25 to 35W HID.

I also have a lathe, and could make some parts, maybe help with an attachment of some sort.

Maybe we can all look for a few good HID systems to use, and deside on one, and maybe buy a few at once to save $$$.
Some car systems I have seen are kinda nice, but you have to buy the 2 lights as a set. So maybe 2 ppl can go in on that.

My main problem is, I cant find alot of options with small balasts. AilSnail pointed out one that I think will work though.

 

[cheesehead]

jtice,

Maybe you've already looked there, but ebay has used single HID lights from cars (after they've been totaled). Seem to run about 90-100 bucks for the headlight assembly, which usually includes bulb and ballast (check before bidding). Obviously new would be better, but for a first time project and just general f-ing around, seems to be a good bet. Plus, for some reason I would trust a used assembly from BMW, more than a new one from Wang, Inc.

cheese

 

[Sway]

I am interested in a HID project, something that would compete with the big boys yet inexpensive in scale.

It would really be nice if we could get a reflector guru onboard to consult with and an inexpensive source for parts.I have been doing some looking around custom spun aluminum reflectors and metalizing is not cheep so a suitable inexpensive donor host would be in line.

Later
Sway

 

[cheesehead]

Sway,

Larryk put an HID into his Collins and it sounds like it worked well, so I don't think it's a matter of needing a super-special reflector (although it probably helps a little bit). I think it's just an issue of putting the HID "hot spot" in the right focus.

Eh, what do I know? My plan is to walk around with an HID headlamp from a BMW, hooked up to a car battery in my back-pack (that's my super secret plan).

cheese

 

[Deleted member 684]

I don't suppose filament length will be an issue at our working power levels? From 25 watt HIDs to 150 watt normal bulbs, as long as you have a reflector of a reasonable size to start out with, I think we should all fare pretty well.

 

[gwbaltzell]

[ QUOTE ]
Nerd said:
I don't suppose filament length will be an issue at our working power levels? From 25 watt HIDs to 150 watt normal bulbs, as long as you have a reflector of a reasonable size to start out with, I think we should all fare pretty well.

[/ QUOTE ]

How about 250 watt normal bulbs?

 

[Sway]

Hypothetical Group Question:

With the current state of rechargeables is it possible to build a 36V battery pack that will support a 400W Halogen for around 20 and keep the weight in the portable range?

Now for the hard part didn’t think I would let you off that easy did Ya! It should be made up of 3 12V packs that can be independently charged from an inexpensive wall wart. Would this be possible or would battery pack imbalance be a problem?

Later
Sway

 

[Ginseng]

Hmm,

400W at 36V is about 11A. You could do this with a serial chain of 3 x SLA of approximately 4-5 Ah capacity. That's larger than a V2MCP cell but smaller than a Thor cell. It'd be portable but I wouldn't want to tote it around for very long. Each SLA could be removed and independently charged. On the other hand, you could use 30 nimh cells but that would be huge. Or 60 smaller cells in a 2 x 30 par-ser config.

Plain old HID is ok. Well tested and reliable. It might even be easy to just plug in an auto lamp and make a torch but why take the easy route?

I'm thinking of xenon short arc. You might be familiar with this as the technology behind the MaxaBeam. Not as many total lumens as the Kumkang HID but outthrows it with ease. The short arc means very small light generation volume and thus high focusing efficiency. Just think of what you could do with an Osram XBO 450W Short Arc. 17V, 25A, 13,000 lumens. Or for the slightly less adventurous, the XBO 250W. 13V, 18A, 4,800 lumens. Just think, 13V is a small pack; 11 cells. 18A is something the GP3300 sub-C cells can handle in their sleep. Runtime would be 10 minutes but run a parallel pack for 20 minutes and still only 22 sub-C cells.

Wilkey

 

[wasabe64]

You have my attention!

Don't know of I can provide more than moral support... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

But it's there if you need it!

 

[Ginseng]

I just realized. There's a ballast involved. But still, I think DC-DC ballasts of this rating are obtainable. How about a home brew light that out-throws the MaxaBeam and out-lumens the Kumkang? After all, if you're gonna dream, why dream small.

Wilkey