Cheap and nasty thrower mod.

[herbicide]

Reading aussiebuddha's thrower and Long John's HID-killer threads just inspired me to get the electricians tape out.


Take one DX AAA cree.
Dismantle a dead poundshop LED torch (cheap, nasty and dim) LED Lenser/UK knockoff. (Well, it's got to be good for something...)

Place bezel with lens over head of victim.
Turn on. Turn on. [insert Much Rejoicing here]
Turn off.
Swathe in tape.

The DX normally has a spill comparable with the P1D CE

With P1D CE (on top) on Normal


With P1D CE (on top) on High


The next step is to find a better lens and mounting solution - much as I like PVC tape, it isn't really a permanent solution, and the lens is a bit battered.

 

[herbicide]

Beamshots!
Sorry for the poor quality, my camera batteries are in the charger.

First up - my DX Cree

Without lens

With lens

And my P1D CE for comparison.

Without lens

With lens

As you can see, it doesn't do much to the spill, just funnels the light from around the hotspot right into the middle.


I did have some distance beamshots, but they didn't come out.
Here's a shot of what the lens does to those poor, unsuspecting photons instead.

I think I'll have to go hunting for lenses now...