First Sandwich, Mixed Results

[bonvivantmike]

I just received my first sandwich and installed it in a brand-new mini-mag light. I have a Madmax Lite Lux 3, and also ordered a new mineral glass and Kroll switch.

It's fairly bright, probably comparable to my Streamlight 3AA Luxeon. But I have to say I'm disappointed with the beam quality. From a few feet away, the beam projects as a ragged rectanglar hotspot, with almost no sidespill. The lack of sidespill isn't a big deal, but I was hoping for a regular and round hotspot.

Is this to be expected, or did I do something incorrectly in assembly?

Thanks, all!

 

[IlluminatingBikr]

You might want to try the NX-05 optics.... I think you got the Fraen-LP with your sandwich.

 

[kitelights]

Ditto. The beauty of the sandwiches is the ability to change optics. It sounds like you have a LP Fraen and it's not centered. The Fraen is great for throw, but the NX05 will give you a smaller hotspot with very nice usable flood spill. So, for another $2-5, you get the option of two lights in one.

 

[shiftd]

I think you get the HD. So any optic won't give you a round and regular hotspot. You need reflector for that. or change your lux to a LD.

 

[nexro]

shiftd,
I have a HD Lux3 too. Will changing to a McFlood help ?

 

[darkzero]

An "ugly" or uniform beam is one of the reasons why I prefer reflectors over optics.

Actually, there is an optic that will give you a nice round hotspot with a HD but you won't get any sidespill like a reflector gives. The optic must be spaced out from the HD and centered of course but it's not nearly as hard to center as with Fraen LPs and NX-05s on HDs. The optic is the NX-01, still my favorite optic in it's size class to this day.


Q3J-HD BB500 @ 7ft.

 

[darkzero]

bonvivantmike & nexro, look here. It should be helpful in helping you choose an optic or reflector for your HD.

 

[nexro]

Thanks, darkzero /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dabiscake]

I second DarkZero on the NX-01...! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[Justintoxicated]

thats not fair for you to tease us with discontinued optics.

I have no idea why they would discontinue the ONLY good optic they make for a lux III but thats life I guess. You should forward them your pics and see if they will ever release them again!

I would suggest to the poster to attempt to modify their reflector for the best resutls. the NX-05 has a very shitty beam with a lux III IMO...You already have the kroll which is required for the reflector mod anyways /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[bonvivantmike]

Justintoxicated, can you give me more information on the reflector mod?

 

[IsaacHayes]

The NX01 and NX05 were originally developed for the LD if I remember correctly. I know the NX01 was at least.

 

[darkzero]

[ QUOTE ]
Justintoxicated said:
thats not fair for you to tease us with discontinued optics.

I have no idea why they would discontinue the ONLY good optic they make for a lux III but thats life I guess. You should forward them your pics and see if they will ever release them again!


[/ QUOTE ]

LOL, sorry bout' that....I've got another pic but I think you've seen it already. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/whoopin.gif

As Isaac stated, the NX-01 and NX-05 were developed for LDs. Lumileds never produced an optics for HDs as far as we know. I beleive they discontinued the optic before anyone even knew about how the NX-01 performed with HD. As far as I can remember it seemed like NX-01s were discontinued even before the 1W HD were released. I wish they would be realeased again. It was hard work and still is finding these over the years. JI, hit me up the end of next week. Depending on what arrives, I may be able to help you with a NX-01.



[ QUOTE ]
bonvivantmike said:
Justintoxicated, can you give me more information on the reflector mod?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's some links that will help you, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

 

[shiftd]

darky, would spacing some space (doh) between the lux and the NX01 cause a drop in light output?

 

[darkzero]

Actually to get the focus as seen above with the NX-01 and a HD you would need to space it roughly about 1.5mm from the emitter. Here's some beamshots at different amounts of spacing from the emitter. The measurements given are not exact, it's just to give you a general idea.

 

[pedalinbob]

FYI: the last few Star/O i have purchased all had NX01's.

Bob

 

[Greymage]

You can also get one of the LDF lenses from flashlightlens.com. It smooths out the beam nicely without absorbing as much light as WriteRight. I use it on most of my non-spot lights.