Silviron
Flashlight Enthusiast
OK, some folks wanted to know how the Carclo SIDE EMITTER optics work along with a reflector.
This was just a "quick and dirty" test to get a basic idea. I didn't try to maximize a hotspot or find the geometry for the most pleasing beam or anything.
I just took a moderately good sized reflector out of the junk box.. Not even sure what it came from. It is 2.22 inches in diameter and really close to 1 inch deep. Had to bore out the base of the reflector to ~.70 inch diameter to fit the functional part of the optic in.
I didn't want to use one of my "pristine" 3 watt stars for this, and the only other thing I had handy was an OLD 1 watt white star. Not even sure of the bin, but I think a P. Maybe a Q. mounted on a little circular heatsink, and using one of the 10071 SE optics
On a Li-Ion battery this rinky dink setup pulled 400ma @ 3.996 V (load) and the hotspot was about 500LUX at 1 meter..... Not bad for a one watter not seriously overdriven..
Beam pattern is ALMOST up to M*g quality though: /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
This setup looks to give a pretty decent throw to at least 100, possibly 150ft. Not really a fair test though, because I was trying to juggle all the components at once and hold the reflector into the right place and orientation without my fingers getting in the way of the beam.
I've never had a regular side emitter Luxeon nor even seen any light in person that uses them, so I am really no judge to compare them to the Carclo SE optic. The optics ARE supposed to be significantly more efficient than the SE led itself... but that is just based on Carclo's own statement. I have no idea if reality matches the marketing info.
But, the best 1 meter LUX reading from one of those early 1 watters shining through a NX-5 optic that I remember measuring was about 350....
So, I'd assume that matching a Luxeon 3 to a reflector with an optimum geometry, you could get a heck of a bright spot and pretty good throw..... The downside is that the optic takes up a heck of a lot more room than a plain SE Luxeon emitter..... So it would be more practical for BIG flashlights, spotlights or maybe some sort of fixed installation than for a pocket light.
But, it is worth experimenting for those that are into that sort of thing.....
This was just a "quick and dirty" test to get a basic idea. I didn't try to maximize a hotspot or find the geometry for the most pleasing beam or anything.
I just took a moderately good sized reflector out of the junk box.. Not even sure what it came from. It is 2.22 inches in diameter and really close to 1 inch deep. Had to bore out the base of the reflector to ~.70 inch diameter to fit the functional part of the optic in.
I didn't want to use one of my "pristine" 3 watt stars for this, and the only other thing I had handy was an OLD 1 watt white star. Not even sure of the bin, but I think a P. Maybe a Q. mounted on a little circular heatsink, and using one of the 10071 SE optics
On a Li-Ion battery this rinky dink setup pulled 400ma @ 3.996 V (load) and the hotspot was about 500LUX at 1 meter..... Not bad for a one watter not seriously overdriven..
Beam pattern is ALMOST up to M*g quality though: /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
This setup looks to give a pretty decent throw to at least 100, possibly 150ft. Not really a fair test though, because I was trying to juggle all the components at once and hold the reflector into the right place and orientation without my fingers getting in the way of the beam.
I've never had a regular side emitter Luxeon nor even seen any light in person that uses them, so I am really no judge to compare them to the Carclo SE optic. The optics ARE supposed to be significantly more efficient than the SE led itself... but that is just based on Carclo's own statement. I have no idea if reality matches the marketing info.
But, the best 1 meter LUX reading from one of those early 1 watters shining through a NX-5 optic that I remember measuring was about 350....
So, I'd assume that matching a Luxeon 3 to a reflector with an optimum geometry, you could get a heck of a bright spot and pretty good throw..... The downside is that the optic takes up a heck of a lot more room than a plain SE Luxeon emitter..... So it would be more practical for BIG flashlights, spotlights or maybe some sort of fixed installation than for a pocket light.
But, it is worth experimenting for those that are into that sort of thing.....
