Very impressive color figures :thumbsup:
I decided to digitalize the SPD on the datasheet and check them. No surprises, I got almost same results for the typical spectra. Graph correspond to a R4 bin, but fall into a 3 step McAdam ellipse of 3000K (blackbody). CCT of 3040K (typical of 3045K according to datasheet). I got a slightly better CRI yet, of 98 (98,3 exactly), but as well slightly lower R9 (97,46). All figures below 1 point of CRI from the datasheet values, which can be accounted in the margin of error of working from a graph.
The R10 to R16 figures don't correspond to CRI samples, but samples of the R96 metric. With official CIE samples I got:
[TD="width: 152"]TCS2[/TD]
[TD="width: 152"]TCS3[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS4[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS5[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS6[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS7[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS8[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS9[/TD]
[TD="width: 152"]99,69[/TD]
[TD="width: 152"]96,05[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]96,78[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]98,74[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]98,22[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]99,53[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]99,55[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]97,46[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS11[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS12[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS13[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]TCS14[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]86,71[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]98,48[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]96,89[/TD]
[TD="width: 107"]98,89[/TD]
I have calculated the Color Quality Scale as well, of 96,22. Anything over 95 is excellent quality, so color rendering is almost perfect. Color appearance of the light itself would be excellent too, coordinates correspond almost to a blackbody (Duv=0,00081).
The drawback is the efficacy, obviously. For the 26W model, its 46,47lm/W (1220lm, 26.25W (700mA, 37.5V), Tcase=70ºC, Tj about 85ºC), and the 2700K version has lower lm output yet. With a luminous efficacy of Radiation of 261 lm/W(emited), it means an efficiency below 18%. At 350mA (12,42W) efficacy raises to 54,32lm/W (675lm output). But this device seems a good replacement for 35-50W halogens. Similar lm output at half the power, same color quality, 30x lifetime, reduced heat load to AA system and no IR or likely, UV.
Similar products (design and power) from Bridgelux are priced below 30$, so if they sells this one at similar price, it's cost effective, although still on the long run. But for DIYers, it could be right now a faster cost effective alternative to halogens.
Interested on the comment about the emission over 700nm, I have eliminated it on the datasheet. Result: same CRI, R9, CQS, LER enhanced to 287lm/We (that would result on 7,2lm/W more). Eliminating all over 690nm, only R9 drops (to 96), while LER raises to 296lm/We. Eliminating over 680nm, the same, CRI and CQS unaltered, R9 drops to 93, LER goes to 308lm/We, so still excellent color but that would achieve way better lm output.
So phosphors patterns cost a lot. Two red chips (635 and 660nm peaks) would result on similar metrics of color but way better lm output if the phosphor emision were peaked way shorter but keeping emission along yellow and orage. Unfortunatelly, I dont know any phosphor that does it.
Continuing the experiment, cutting emission over 670nm drops R9 to 88 and LER goes to 322. Cutting at 660nm, CRI lowers to 97, R9 to 76 and CQS to 94, still very good figures with LER=340lm/W. Cutting up to 650nm, similar to obtained by using an standard red LED, Ra=93, R9=51, CQS=92. Not as excellent as before, but still very good color rendering (except for deep reds) and LER=361lm/W. Cutting more drops fast all color metrics.
After this analysis, I want to try the experiment of virtually add the emission of orange and/or red LEDs to a blue one using a remote phosphor, as the 4000 o 5000K of Intematix Chromalit and see what happen with color metrics. I would like to calculate the Gamut Area Index aswell, but implementation on Excel is more complicated.