CRAZY BRIGHT Spotlight On A Big Heatsink !!! What do you guys recommend ???

[JetPilot]

I am giong to make the brightest spotlight possible on a big heatsink, I am wanting to use twenty 5 - Watt Cree LED's for a total of 100 watts cool white light. I am thinking stars would be best, as I have plenty of room on the large heatsink. Which CREE LED's do you guys recommned ? I am looking at the CREE XP-E LED's as they seem to have the highest light output per watt. What do you guys think about this, are these the best LED's for this ? What is the best place to buy these ? And also what power supply would be best for this project, I know I will probably have to use several...

Also, which optics would I need to make this a spotlight with a narrow beam for the LED's ?? Anyways, any suggestions you guys have will be appreciated.

Mike

 

[Sampolainen]

Go with aspherical optics, they suit your purpose well. Search for the 'Databank 70' and you'll realize that what you describe has already been done.

 

[Flashfirstask?later]

I am giong to make the brightest spotlight possible on a big heatsink, I am wanting to use twenty 5 - Watt Cree LED's for a total of 100 watts cool white light. I am thinking stars would be best, as I have plenty of room on the large heatsink. Which CREE LED's do you guys recommned ? I am looking at the CREE XP-E LED's as they seem to have the highest light output per watt. What do you guys think about this, are these the best LED's for this ? What is the best place to buy these ? And also what power supply would be best for this project, I know I will probably have to use several...

Also, which optics would I need to make this a spotlight with a narrow beam for the LED's ?? Anyways, any suggestions you guys have will be appreciated.

Mike

You want crazy well here you go
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=178130&highlight=Databank

 

[qwertyydude]

Go for Cree xp-g lumens per watt at 1 amp simply can't be beat.

 

[hank]

Put the heatsink in a water jacket; then you can run a steam whistle from the safety valve.

 

[JetPilot]

Go for Cree xp-g lumens per watt at 1 amp simply can't be beat.

I agree with this and found the CREE XP-G LED's on Stars at LEDSupply, they are expensive at just over 8 dollars each, but I pretty much expected that. I also see buck puck 1000 mA power supplies. It will take 10 puck power supplies to supply 30 LED's, given the size, I think I can squeeze 30 LED's onto the large heatsink :twothumbs

My remaining question is the aspherical optics, do they mount right to the LED's ? I do not have any way to machine a special holder or anything like that. Where do you get aspherical optics ? I did a search on them but do not see much information on them.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[AnAppleSnail]

I agree with this and found the CREE XP-G LED's on Stars at LEDSupply, they are expensive at just over 8 dollars each, but I pretty much expected that. I also see buck puck 1000 mA power supplies. It will take 10 puck power supplies to supply 30 LED's, given the size, I think I can squeeze 30 LED's onto the large heatsink :twothumbs

My remaining question is the aspherical optics, do they mount right to the LED's ? I do not have any way to machine a special holder or anything like that. Where do you get aspherical optics ? I did a search on them but do not see much information on them.

Thanks,

Mike

You have to hold 'em at the right distance from the LED for maximum spot. Placement and centering are pretty important.

 

[qwertyydude]

Dealextreme has xp-g's on a 14mm board for as low as $5.67 shipped if you buy 10 or more, $6.80 shipped for regular prices.

 

[ahorton]

I am giong to make the brightest spotlight possible on a big heatsink, I am wanting to use twenty 5 - Watt Cree LED's for a total of 100 watts cool white light.

As mentioned, it won't be the brightest possible.

Also, which optics would I need to make this a spotlight with a narrow beam for the LED's ?? Anyways, any suggestions you guys have will be appreciated.

+1 for the Aspherics but you'll want XR-Es, SST-50s or SST-90s rather than XPs if you want maximum throw.

Buckpucks are probably the most expensive way you could do this. Buy just one or two high current drivers. Search for Taskled or DerWichtel.

 

[doctaq]

if you are running off of ac meanwells are easy

 

[Optical Inferno]

I am currently doing a similar project for work. Now there are a few choices when it comes to LEDs, optics, etc. be sure to do your homework.

I would suggest either Cree XP-G's or even the New Luxeon Rebel ES as your LED source.

If you want narrow beam optics I would suggest something from Ledil, Dialight, or Fraen. They have many different optics for the rebel and XP-G and in many different mounting styles (adhesive backed, heat staked, holder,...)

I assume you are going for AC power...I would use Meanwell power supplies as they have many different designs for LED lighting and are in most cases water and dust proof.

Also, you mention your heatsink but don't describe it. Do you have pics or more information about your heatsink or application??

 

[JetPilot]

I have defintely decided on 30 Cree XP-G LED's running at 1000 mA. I took pictures of the heatsink, as well as some pictures of my last LED spotlight which I am very happy with, but there is not way to attach pictures on this forum

I need this to be a continuous duty spotlight, so the heatsink is very large with a lot of fins, it will dissapate a large amount of heat. The power source will be 12 VDC, so I am going to use 10 of these Power Puck LED drivers, each one driving 3 LED's in series.

http://ledsupply.com/02008b-1000.php

The only thing I am not sure about is what optics to use. On my last spotlight I used some plastic optics that snapped right onto each LED. I like the ease of use of these, and no need to adjust anything :twothumbs I do not remember what kind of optics there were though... I want to make a spotlight with a usable beam, not the narrowest beam. Some of the beam should be narrow but I will also leave some of the LED's with a wider beam to light up around the sides close in also.

So the big question I have left is about optics, Aspherical optics look like incredible high quality, but just beyond what I can do for the installation. Any other suggestions on optics that will just snap on, or mount right to the flat heatsink that to not require me to fabricate a bunch of mounts ?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Th232]

I'm going to have to side with Ahorton here, why not use a driver from TaskLED or Der Wichtel? Two TaskLED Hyperboosts will cost you $80 as opposed to $172.90 if you use ten PowerPucks...

As for your optics, try looking for TIRs. Come in a good variety of beam patterns, which sounds like what you're looking for.
http://cutter.com.au/products.php?cat=Optics+for+XP-C%2FE%2FG

Lots for 4UP, 7UP and single 10 mm boards.

 

[doctaq]

carclo for xr-e optics
or http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-42/40-Degree-CREE-XR-dsh-E/Detail

 

[ahorton]

As for your optics, try looking for TIRs. Come in a good variety of beam patterns, which sounds like what you're looking for.
http://cutter.com.au/products.php?cat=Optics+for+XP-C%2FE%2FG

Lots for 4UP, 7UP and single 10 mm boards.

+1.

The multi emitter XP-G boards are wonderful.

Given that you want a generally usable beam with some flood to it, I suggest going for the narrowest of the 4UP or 7UP TIR optics available.

Reason: When you have 100W (say 10K emitter lumens), you are going to get a lot of flood regardless what you do. My 14K (emitter) lumen spotlight has heaps of flood which is very usable for up to 100m range even though it uses aspherics (narrowest possible). However, if you use wide optics, you'll get more flood but basically no throw beyond the 150-200m range.

Using any TIR optics, your light will have many more OTF lumens than mine and much, much more flood. So I can safely say you will have a very usable flood if you use the narrowest of optics.

 

[JetPilot]

+1.

The multi emitter XP-G boards are wonderful.

Given that you want a generally usable beam with some flood to it, I suggest going for the narrowest of the 4UP or 7UP TIR optics available.

.

You have sold me on the narrow beam optics, there will be enough light spilling over the sides to give me a lot of flood ! I do not know what TIR optics are, and where can I get these ? Also, why would I want multi emitter boards ? I am planning on single emitter STARS, but am always open to new ideas.

Mike

 

[Th232]

Click at the link in my post that Ahorton quoted...

Multi-emitter boards are good because you can fit more LEDs into a certain space. Of course, heat will still be a concern.